Venlo, Brüggen, Steyl

Venlo is a vibrant city along the river Maas. You can stroll through the historical streets, along the Maaskade and past historical buildings such as the beautiful town hall and large churches. With so much beauty, your love for the city will immediately blossom. But from Venlo, you can also cycle into fantastic Dutch and German nature reserves in no time at all! With this cycle route, we take you to unlimited natural beauty.

Just after crossing the German border, you will arrive in the Nettetal, the valley of the river Nette. Cross the lakes of the Krickenbecker Seen with your steel horse. Around the lakes there are several points where you can take in the view. At the information centre you can learn more about the origin of this wetland and the flora and fauna that you can find here. You then follow the trail down to Lobberich. On the way, be sure to stop at junction 12 to stand on the little bridge. This is a popular photo point, and when you see the colours of the sky reflecting on the water, you will immediately understand why.

The cosy, typical German town of Brüggen is a perfect place for a break. You will find many cosy terraces, but also places of interest such as a large monastery and castle dating back to the Middle Ages. The Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park is located around Brüggen. The cycle route takes you through the western part of the park, the Brachter Wald. Until 1996, this area was one of the largest ammunition depots in Western Europe. The contrast of the wide roads and abandoned military buildings against the beautiful nature feels surreal.

Slowly but surely, it is time to cycle back to the Netherlands. As soon as you leave the Brachter Wald, you are back on Dutch soil. A beautiful stretch along the river Maas awaits you, taking you past Steyl. It is also called the Kloosterdorp. With a protected villagescape, five monasteries and more than 50 national monuments, this is a special village to cycle through.

This romantic cycle route, full of characteristic sights, picturesque lakes and eye-catching nature, will make you fall in love with Venlo and its surroundings. Are you also head over heels in love?