The best running trails around Maasgouw

The Meerse Kamp in Stevensweert is an area with a small lake, known for its ponies, donkeys, and playground, and is considered a paradise for children. It's a popular spot for fishing, walking, and jogging, and offers plenty of space for the animals.

The Molenplas premium hiking trail runs around the Mühlensee lake. At just over five kilometers, it's the shortest of the "Wasser.Wander.Welt" premium hiking trails, which are characterized by excellent signage and a wonderful natural experience. I'll show you what awaits you along the way: 👉 https://www.netreisetagebuch.de/premium-wanderweg-molenplas/

Plenty of space, ideal parking

The history of Thorn goes back to the 10th century when, around 992, Count Ansfried and his wife Hilsondis founded an abbey of which their daughter Benedicta became the first abbess. In the centuries that followed, this abbey developed into a palace with an exclusive women's monastery, also called a stift. The centre of the stift was the abbey church surrounded by various abbey buildings. The head of the stift was a princess-abbess and she shared the administration with the chapter that consisted of canons (priests), among others. This stift was intended to prepare high-ranking women (stiftdames) for a marriage with a man of the highest status. The stiftdames lived in noble houses, dressed according to their status and had a small court. They did not take monastic vows and were free to leave and marry. About half of these canonesses were unable to find a suitable husband and they therefore continued to live in the canon for the rest of their lives. The princess-abbess did take the monastic vow and oath. (Styling and living)

In Stevensweert is the Meerse Kamp, a lake directly on the Oude Maas River. We happened to pass by and saw a beautiful park with seemingly good hiking trails. Since we were there anyway, we immediately checked out the route around the Meerse Kamp. In March 2016, the current park around the Meerse Kamp was created by a diverse group of volunteers. Traditionally, there was already a standard orchard near the current orchard, and over the course of the project, the existing orchard was expanded to its current size. The fruit from the fruit trees is used to make juices and beverages. The orchard contains not only apple trees, but also cherries, pears, plums, and walnuts. This variety ensures that wild bees are attracted and take care of pollination. Two playgrounds have been built in the park. A nice detail is that one of the climbing frames was built by Stevensweert residents! There was a need for additional playground equipment, but no budget was available, so a group of residents decided to design and build their own. A beautiful climbing tractor has been in the playground since August 2021. Source: https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/stevensweert-park-meerse-kamp/

A great hike that I would happily recommend, also because of the many animals along the way.

This circular hiking trail begins at the Hompe windmill, which has been used as a grain and oil mill since 1722 and leads around the Molenplas (Mill Lake). Two-thousand-year-old trees, salvaged during gravel mining, now stand here as prehistoric monuments. A rich birdlife and plants typical of wetlands offer a very special natural experience. Free-roaming Galloway cattle and a herd of Konik horses graze the area. A dam made of boulders serves as stepping stones between two lakes (there is also a bypass if the water level is too high). Source: https://www.wa-wa-we.eu/de/wanderwege-details/molenplas.html

The bridge at the Schuttersweg in Roermond spans the Oude Maas, a former branch of the Maas that is no longer used for shipping. The bridge connects Echt with Stevensweert, while the beautiful landscape remains intact. From the bridge you have a good view of the green, water-rich environment, which is now used a lot for recreation and water sports. Extra nice in summer, then you will find plenty of activity here!