The Roermond of Pierre Cuypers
Roermond, Montfort, Sint Odiliënberg
Architect Petrus Josephus Hubertus (Pierre) Cuijpers was born in Roermond on 16 May 1827, the son of Maria Joanna Bex and Joannes Hubertus Cuijpers, who was a church painter. Pierre never officially changed his name but at the time of his international breakthrough he continued under the name Cuypers. At 17, he left for Antwerp to study architecture at the art academy. After graduating, the good student earned the Prix d'Excellence, toured the German Rhineland and returned to Roermond brimming with inspiration. Cuypers had a predilection for the Gothic style, characterised by the use of pointed arches and vaults. He immersed himself in the constructional features of Gothic and put them into practice. Influenced by Cuypers, Neo-Gothic became big in the Netherlands in the mid-nineteenth century. After completing his first major commission, the restoration of the Munsterkerk, to great satisfaction, the architect was appointed city architect of Roermond in 1852. In the years that followed, the Roermond native built and renovated over seventy churches. These restorations were increasingly criticised, because a Cuypers sauce was poured over every restoration and because his works were considered too Catholic. Done with the criticism, Pierre left for Amsterdam in 1865, where he designed Vondelstraat, the Rijksmuseum, Central Station and many more famous buildings. The now famous architect was also involved in the renovation of the Ridderzaal, designed the throne there and was involved in the design of the award in the Order of Orange-Nassau. An award he would later receive himself. Cuypers worked on into old age and died, in his beloved Roermond, on 3 March 1921. His son and grandson followed in his footsteps, but in addition he influenced a whole generation of architects. This cycle route takes you past his home, designed by himself, which today houses the Cuypershuis, a museum where you can find out much more about the architect. But also past several buildings he designed or restored, past his statue and past his grave. A bicycle tour along all his works would be impractical, but this route combined with his museum will still give you a good impression of the life of this exceptionally talented architect. Photo: The Cuypershuis, Maartje van Berkel Photo Bust: National Archives This Premium cycle route was compiled by our editor: Désirée van Uffelen.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Hondsbergje , 6041 NT Roermond | 33.3 KM | |
|
From
82
to
13
|
2001 M | 2 KM | |
| Head south on Hertenerweg | 382 M | ||
| Turn left onto Gulickerweg | 777 M | ||
| Turn left onto Maastrichterweg | 312 M | ||
| Turn right onto Leropperweg | 530 M | ||
| You are now at section 13 | 0 M | ||
|
From
13
to
81
|
240 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Leropperweg | 240 M | ||
| You are now at section 81 | 0 M | ||
|
From
81
to
27
|
3492 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head west on Gulikerweg | 700 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Gulikerweg | 167 M | ||
| Turn right onto Schoeverstraat | 982 M | ||
| Make a sharp left onto Heideweg | 319 M | ||
| Turn right onto Linnerveldpad | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
|
From
27
to
15
|
1114 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head west on Kleine Bergerweg | 938 M | ||
| Turn right onto Grote Bergerweg | 176 M | ||
| You are now at section 15 | 0 M | ||
|
From
15
to
7
|
3155 M | 3.2 KM | |
| Head southwest on Montforterweg | 286 M | ||
| Turn left onto Linnerweg | 2.5 KM | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Dijk | 54 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Dijk | 302 M | ||
| You are now at section 07 | 0 M | ||
|
From
7
to
3
|
1010 M | 1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Dijk | 82 M | ||
| Turn right onto Broekweg | 928 M | ||
| You are now at section 03 | 0 M | ||
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From
3
to
68
|
3561 M | 3.6 KM | |
| Head east on Broekweg | 3.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 68 | 0 M | ||
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From
68
to
87
|
258 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head north on Slufferterweg | 258 M | ||
| You are now at section 87 | 0 M | ||
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From
87
to
69
|
2241 M | 2.2 KM | |
| Head northeast on Donckerstraat | 1.1 KM | ||
| Make a slight left | 26 M | ||
| Keep right at the fork | 868 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Donckerstraat | 214 M | ||
| You are now at section 69 | 0 M | ||
|
From
69
to
88
|
1777 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head southwest on Donckerstraat | 12 M | ||
| Turn right onto Burgemeester Geradtsstraat | 1.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 88 | 0 M | ||
|
From
88
to
74
|
1900 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head northwest on Roskam | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Communicatieweg | 530 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
12
|
611 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head northeast on Waarderweg | 96 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Linnerweg | 477 M | ||
| Keep right onto Linnerweg | 38 M | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M | ||
|
From
12
to
75
|
1041 M | 1 KM | |
| Head east on Linnerweg | 29 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Linnerweg | 18 M | ||
| Turn left onto Schaapsweg | 15 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hagelkruisweg | 571 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Sint Odiliastraat | 266 M | ||
| Turn right onto Pastoor Siebenstraat | 142 M | ||
| You are now at section 75 | 0 M | ||
|
From
75
to
76
|
1786 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head north on Pastoor Siebenstraat | 92 M | ||
| Continue straight | 8 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Houtkempke | 27 M | ||
| Turn left | 278 M | ||
| Turn right onto Melicker Ohe Weg | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 76 | 0 M | ||
|
From
76
to
14
|
3172 M | 3.2 KM | |
| Head north on Genhofweg | 604 M | ||
| Turn left onto Dorpsstraat | 467 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kerkstraat | 195 M | ||
| Turn right onto Bernhardstraat | 80 M | ||
| Turn left onto Brouwestraat | 72 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Brouwestraat | 150 M | ||
| Turn left onto Marktstraat | 46 M | ||
| Turn right onto Doctor Nolenslaan | 250 M | ||
| Turn left onto Parklaan | 146 M | ||
| Turn right onto John F. Kennedysingel | 4 M | ||
| Turn left onto Parklaan | 311 M | ||
| Turn left onto Wintergatsweg | 468 M | ||
| Continue straight | 109 M | ||
| Continue onto Kitskenberg | 30 M | ||
| Continue straight | 183 M | ||
| Turn right onto Eindstraat | 57 M | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
|
From
14
to
16
|
1493 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head northwest on Ratommerweg | 619 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kitskensdal | 826 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 48 M | ||
| You are now at section 16 | 0 M | ||
|
From
16
to
17
|
1906 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head northeast on Heinsbergerweg | 25 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Heinsbergerweg | 738 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Kapellerlaan | 80 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Kapellerlaan | 965 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 98 M | ||
| You are now at section 17 | 0 M | ||
|
From
17
to
64
|
860 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head north | 37 M | ||
| Turn left | 28 M | ||
| Continue onto Minderbroederssingel | 43 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zwartbroekstraat | 449 M | ||
| Turn left onto Molenstraat | 80 M | ||
| Turn right onto Minderbroederssingel | 43 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Bisschop Lindanussingel | 24 M | ||
| Turn right onto Roerkade | 156 M | ||
| You are now at section 64 | 0 M | ||
|
From
64
to
82
|
1649 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head west on Stenen Brug | 61 M | ||
| Turn left onto Voorstad Sint Jacob | 36 M | ||
| Keep left onto Voorstad Sint Jacob | 797 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Voorstad Sint Jacob | 39 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Voorstad Sint Jacob | 364 M | ||
| Continue onto Hertenerweg | 352 M | ||
| You are now at section 82 | 0 M |