Easy hikes and walks in Bunder- En Elslooërbos

Is NO LONGER emptied! No more money for NATURE. Volunteers from IVN Elsloo built a wooden walkway near the Kromme Dijk in the first week of January '26. This makes the popular hiking trail along the Hemelbeek accessible again. This is a temporary solution pending definitive measures by Staatsbosbeheer, the owner of this forest area. They will also be consulting with the municipality of Stein and IVN again soon. Unfortunately, Waterschap Limburg is not contributing to a solution because they no longer empty the sand trap, causing the area to suffer not only from waterlogging but also to fill up with sand and silt.

The tea house in Kasteelpark Elsloo, locally known as ’t zomerhuuske, is temporarily closed to visitors. Last summer, the historic structure was once again damaged by arson.

These four chairs with a small table in the middle are shaped like a four-leaf clover.

In 1848 the chapel was built here, using the building materials that were left over from the construction of the Saint Augustine Church in Elsloo. ’t Bluuske is the name for the chapel of Catsop. Bluuske is a contraction of belhuuske (little bell house). The chapel had a dual function. It was not only a chapel, but also the carrier of the alarm bell of Catsop. In case of fire and unrest, the bell was rung, and then all able-bodied men had to gather (there were high fines for not showing up). The location of the chapel is connected to the legend of Winand van Meers. The wall painting tells the legend of Winandus van Elsloo. A group of pilgrims, including Winandus, makes a journey to the Holy Land. After the visit, his companions begin their return journey on Easter Day. Winandus found this day too honorable and left a day later. A passing rider saw this hasty pilgrim and took him along on his horse. Winandus said that he wanted to catch up with his former companions. A few hours later, Winandus was, much to his surprise, already home again. He did not understand what had happened, but the rider said: "You have given Our Lord the honor that is due to Him".

The Elsoër forest is the steepest slope forest in the Netherlands! All sorts of spring streams flow through the forest. This special ecosystem is home to rare forest plants and aquatic animals such as newts and frogs. This piece of nature is so special that it has been included as a protected area by the European Union.

This sand trap catches the sand and silt carried by the fast-flowing water. It prevents the stream from silting up and causing flooding.

The majority of shipping traffic going to Belgium and France via the Meuse flows through the Juliana Canal. The canal begins north of Maastricht at the Borgharen weir as a branch of the Meuse, and ends approximately 36 km further at Maasbracht, where the water flows back into the Meuse. The canal follows the course of the Meuse, which flows slightly west of the canal and forms the border with Belgium there (the "Grensmaas"). To the east of the canal runs the A2 motorway. The canal is named after Princess Juliana. On October 22, 1925, the then 16-year-old princess came to Limmel to symbolically break ground. At Elsloo, the Scharberg had to be dug through in 1929. During these works, a soil layer rich in shark teeth from the Miocene was exposed.

Rogue Youth, They can't keep their hands off anything. 'There's a lot of outrage' after fire at Elsloo teahouse 30/08/2025 The teahouse in Elsloo Castle Park was severely damaged by fire during the night from Friday to Saturday. Car tires were likely set on fire inside the teahouse, causing significant damage. "There's a lot of outrage among local residents," says Dion Groenestijn, who lives near the teahouse. "It's really affecting people, especially since this isn't the first time." Third fire Groenestijn told L1 on Saturday that the building had also been hit by a fire in 2020. "Fortunately, it wasn't too bad then and the damage was easily repaired." It was much more serious in 2015: the teahouse burned down completely. "There were doubts about rebuilding it at the time. Fortunately, they ultimately did. Because the teahouse is truly a landmark for us." Source/Info: • 08/2025 https://www.l1nieuws.nl/nieuws/2978162/verontwaardiging-is-groot-na-brand-in-theehuisje-elsloo • 10/2025 https://limburg.headliner.nl/item/poort-van-kasteelpark-elsloo-s-avonds-dicht-na-veelvuldig-vandalisme-camerabewaking-nog-niet-ingezet-limburger-199536