North Limburg

Shepherded by the Ice Age, shaped by water and wind and inhabited for millennia, North Limburg and the area around the Meuse Dunes has a unique character. The dunes along the riverbed of the Meuse, for example, have peculiar shapes thanks to the west wind. The one-sided wind has caused the dunes to erode in the middle, giving them the shape of a horseshoe. The picturesque villages in the area such as Siebengewald, Bergen and Afferden also have a distinctive appearance. The surrounding forests and ancient burial mounds complete the atmosphere. You can safely call it Non-Dutch, because you soon feel like you're abroad when you cycle a bit through this area. It is not only the castles and castle ruins that make the area so beautiful, no, also the flora and fauna are very special. You can encounter a beaver dam, inhabited by beavers! But also other special animals such as mountain goats, cranes and a wide variety of birds of prey live in this area. The most beautiful part, of course, is the Maasduinen National Park itself. Many animal species that you cannot find anywhere else in the Netherlands are found here. Different species of snakes, lizards, butterflies and bats are busy day and night finding food along the banks of the Meuse River.