The route 'Maastricht round trip through Voeren and Limburg' is without a doubt a winner of its kind. The road quality is sublime, the views fantastic, the route surprising and the break options extensive. The route starts and ends in Belgium but takes you to the most beautiful (and only ...) hilly part of the Netherlands where dreaming about galloping knights on white horses seems to be a daily activity. Winding roads over rolling slopes are your part in this 142-kilometer route.

The starting point (RP1) is located in Bilzen on the Grote Markt where, apart from the beautifully beautiful 'old' town hall, there are several opportunities to meet and there is also sufficient parking space.

After 3.5 kilometers the 'beauty' of the route starts with the approach to the Castle of Alden Biesen (RP4). Then the route takes you through the Belgian Limburg agricultural landscape to the Walloon border, where the cornering game really starts.

At route point 10 you can, if desired, make time to visit the Fort of Eben-Emael. More information can be found in the attached link, but the story of this - completely built in the mountain - fortress is at least noteworthy. The guns of the Fort fired one shot and then only as a test. And the Germans needed only one bomb to take out the entire fort. Bizarre… and a blot on the Belgian military system…

After this point the first two pins present themselves. Just before the second, when you leave the plateau, you will find a beautiful viewpoint at route point 11. Many people stop here to enjoy the view, but the parking options are rather limited. You can only park on the edge of the road. However, if you drive in duo or in a limited group, a small break is certainly possible. In clear weather, you can look at three countries at the same time and get an impression of the economic and military importance of the region.

After the pins you drive over the suspension bridge (enjoy the architecture for a while) to the zone between the Albert Canal and the 'Maas'. These two arteries have made a flourishing regional economy possible, also due to the presence of the so-called 'Mergel', a very soft limestone with excellent construction properties. Many houses in the region are therefore built from this marl stone, quarried in the region itself. So be careful not to suddenly disappear into a hole. Because of the 'mining' of the marlstone, large parts of the region are tunneled and occasionally a tunnel sometimes collapses…
There are two highly recommended 'marl' highlights on this route: the aforementioned fortress of Eben-Emael and the village of Valkenburg which is mentioned a little further.

Before arriving in Valkenburg, however, the route leads you through the Belgian Voer region and the Limburg hills. The particularly beautiful Voer region has long been the battleground of the Flemish-Walloon contradiction, a political issue in Belgium. After all, the Voer region is officially Flemish territory, but it is completely surrounded by Wallonia. And when Walloon political groups wanted to seize power, the Flemish sense of combat erupted. To this day, the Voer is and remains Flemish territory, but the discussion has not yet ended.
As beautiful as the region is, you may be aware that the Walloon-Flemish contradiction still breeds underneath. So be very careful if you could broach the subject if you want to enjoy a coffee in café 'De Berwien' just after RP 14. After all, you never know if you will bump into a 'Flamigant' or a 'Wallon'… And if you proclaim the 'wrong' opinion to the 'wrong' person, you might just do it the rest of the way with one eye to put less ... And that would be a real shame on this ride ...

After 'De Berwien' you flirt a few times with the Belgian – Dutch border. Before entering the Netherlands definitively via RP20 you will find Beusdael castle between RP19 and RP20. The route offers you a beautiful approach to this enchanting castle when you leave the Forest Reserve Teuvenerberg. After all, as you descend the hill, you can take a look at this very beautiful castle, which is - even today - completely in private hands. So if there is a (financially strong) knight on a white horse somewhere, it will probably be here somewhere.
It is unfortunate that for the aforementioned reason the female riders may not make it to RP21… Just after route point 21, the drive is made to the famous loop through the Vijlenerbos. Breathtakingly beautiful. No other words for…. A beautiful qualitative road through a majestic forest in which even a number of pins and a so-called 'hollow' road (RP23) have been incorporated.

If you see the opportunity, try driving the loop - or even the entire route - on a workday. In the weekend, and especially in good weather - not only the entire region, but also the Vijlenerbos, is the meeting point for everyone with walking shoes and / or a bicycle. Many tourists know this forest and it is often busy. But don't let this stop you from driving the loop (carefully) anyway. It is best not to cut out the loop and you will notice why when it is ridden.
Because of the crowds on the loop itself, we noticed the first three break options on the route after the loop (RPs 24, 25 and 26). However, there are more to be found in the immediate vicinity. Feel free to stop where there is still a nice spot.
On the way to Valkenburg, the route spoils you even more via the winding and hilly course. You will notice it automatically when you approach Valkenburg.

Valkenburg is a fairly large and pleasant village to stretch your legs. Many establishments invite you to take a seat before or after the pleasant marl caves or castle visits and both are highly recommended. 'Mergelrijk' and the 'Velvet Cave' are just two examples, but the possibilities are endless. For example, the adventurers can even go 'cave biking' while the creative people attend a workshop in marl studio Aarts. The gourmets will find what they are looking for in the beautiful café on top of the mountain, where nice views become their part, provided of course that the ride had not spoiled them enough in this area.
As a small side note, it should be mentioned that you should properly record the engine in Valkenburg. A notified man / woman ...

After Valkenburg, the route takes you back in the direction of the Meuse valley. Where you can do a few pins at the beginning of the route before arriving there is no different here. The bends (RP 39) turn up very unexpectedly, but are therefore no less pleasant. You will then be 'pinched' again between the Maas and the Juliana Canal, crossing some very pleasant small villages (Geule aan de Maas (RP40), Meers (RP41) and Urmond (RP43).
Finally, you reach Berg-Meeswijk Ferry Service via Berg aan de Maas, which not only takes you across the Maas, but also across the Dutch-Belgian border (RP44). Before venturing the transfer, you can enjoy some local specialties (Limburg cakes!) On the pleasant terrace while the motorcycle is safely stored in the spacious and solid parking lot.
The special old ferry mechanism is also worth a look from the terrace. Pay special attention to the accompanying boats upstream…. The ferry service was founded in 1383 and has been in existence for more than 600 years today.

After the crossing, the route guides you to the 'Vrijthof' in Eisden where there is a spacious parking lot (RP49) available, as well as a nice café 't Marktzicht'. Here a very extensive beer list is offered to those who now quite like a Belgian beer.

This route deserves the full 5 star rating. Not only because of the road quality, the beautiful vistas, beautiful small villages and the extensive vistas, but also because of the surprising elements such as the suddenly emerging pins, the existing 'mountains' in perhaps the flattest country in the world and the historian elements that pop up all over the story.

At the end of the ride, don't forget to pick up your female half again. You may find them at the gate of the Beusdael castle…, unless the knight has let them in of course… In that case… strength!

Enjoy!