43 Mergelland route
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RouteXpert Hans van de Ven (Mr.MRA)
Last edit: 28-08-2025
Route Summary This is the crowning achievement of the ANWB's endangered routes. The South Limburg Mergelland region offers an almost foreign landscape with hills, sunken lanes, and picturesque villages. The roads are winding and challenging, perfect for motorcyclists. Sights like Maastricht, Simpelveld, and the Vijlenerbos forest add a touch of color to this ride. ★★★★★
As the name suggests, a tour through the Mergelland in South Limburg.
This is the 43rd and final route in the series of 43 Endangered ANWB routes. These were published in Promotors between April 2015 and September 2016.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
3h 41m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
105.26 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review You start in Slenaken at De Boswachter and quickly climb towards Epen and Camerig, where the landscape immediately treats you to panoramic views and winding roads. In Vijlen, the highest church village in the Netherlands, you'll experience the unique mix of hills, half-timbered houses, and vineyards. Via Mechelen and Wittem, you'll continue through the Geuldal Valley, passing monasteries, chapels, and old farmhouses. Simpelveld shows how marlstone defines the region's landscape, while the roads continue to challenge you with short climbs and descents. At Klimmen, you can pause for a moment and enjoy a view that lives up to the village's name. A stop at Pleinzicht completes the experience. The route then continues towards Maastricht, the cultural capital of Limburg. From the city, you delve back into the hills, past orchards and sunken lanes. Via Sint Geertruid, Noorbeek, and Hoogcruts, you'll cycle through the characteristic rolling hills of the Mergelland region back to Slenaken. A final stop at De Boswachter rounds off this tour perfectly.
The Mergelland route is undoubtedly the most beloved ride in the series. It's a series of highlights: winding roads, expansive views, and the unique atmosphere of South Limburg. A must-ride for every motorcyclist, and the ultimate conclusion to the 43 endangered routes.
Suggested breaks, information, fuel and viewpoints included in the route
• TSP – Tour Start Point; De Boswachter, Slenaken - Half-timbered restaurant with terrace, Burgundian atmosphere, limited opening hours.
• TIP – Tour Info Point; Vijlen - Highest church village in the Netherlands, surrounded by hills, forests and vineyards.
• TIP – Tour Info Point; Mechelen - Idyllic village in the Geuldal, with half-timbered farms and marl caves.
• TIP – Tour Info Point; Wittem - Known for its monastery and pilgrim chapel, starting point for tours through the Mergelland.
• TIP – Tour Info Point; Simpelveld - Characteristic Mergelland village, known for its marlstone and rolling hills.
• TPP – Tour Pause Point; Climbing - Picturesque village on a ridge, with a rich history and beautiful views.
• TPP – Tour Pauze Punt; Pleinzicht - Cozy café-restaurant in Klimmen, suitable for lunch or dinner.
• TIP – Tour Info Point; Maastricht - Cultural capital, gateway to the Heuvelland and Mergelland.
• TBP – Tour Fuel Point; Lukoil, Eijsden - Unmanned gas station, open 24/7, ideal for a fuel stop.
• TIP – Tour Info Point; Sint Geertruid - Village in the Heuvelland, surrounded by orchards, hills and marl caves.
• TPP – Tour Pauze Punt; Café 't Hemelke - Cozy cafe with terrace and affordable menu, long opening hours at weekends.
• TEP – Tour End Point; De Boswachter, Slenaken - Atmospheric half-timbered restaurant, Burgundian ending point of the route.
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Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Limburg
About this region
Limburg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlɪmbʏr(ə)x] (About this soundlisten)) is the southernmost of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands. The province is bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north and by North Brabant to its west. Its long eastern boundary forms the international border with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. To the west is the international border with the similarly named Belgian province of Limburg, part of which is delineated by the river Meuse. The Vaalserberg is on the extreme south-eastern point, marking the tripoint of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
Limburg's major cities are the provincial capital Maastricht (pop. 121,565[5]), as well as Venlo (pop. 101,603) in the Northeast, and Sittard-Geleen (pop. 92,661) and Heerlen (pop. 86,832) in the south. More than half of the population, approximately 650,000 people, live in the south of Limburg, which corresponds to roughly one-third of the province's area proper. In South Limburg, most people live in the urban agglomerations of Maastricht, Parkstad and Sittard-Geleen.
Read more on Wikipedia
Limburg's major cities are the provincial capital Maastricht (pop. 121,565[5]), as well as Venlo (pop. 101,603) in the Northeast, and Sittard-Geleen (pop. 92,661) and Heerlen (pop. 86,832) in the south. More than half of the population, approximately 650,000 people, live in the south of Limburg, which corresponds to roughly one-third of the province's area proper. In South Limburg, most people live in the urban agglomerations of Maastricht, Parkstad and Sittard-Geleen.
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All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Brabant composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Brabant has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
But not only light, matches and Brabant cosiness in Brabant, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Brabant has to offer. For this, the MyRoute app RouteXpert has put together a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Brabant composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Brabant has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
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But not only pie, marl and coal in Limburg, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Limburg has to offer. For this, the MyRoute app RouteXpert has put together a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Limburg composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Limburg has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
But not only pie, marl and coal in Limburg, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Limburg has to offer. For this, the MyRoute app RouteXpert has put together a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Limburg composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Limburg has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
View Route Collection