The best mountain hikes around Meerssen

Along the entire Belgian-Dutch border (458 km), border posts were placed pursuant to the treaty of Maastricht of 8 August 1843. The demarcation of the border begins with border post number 1 at the Drielandenpunt in Vaals and ends with border post number 365 in the Zwin, west of Retranchement in Zeelandic Flanders. The cast-iron posts are provided with black-painted coats of arms of Belgium and the Netherlands in relief, the year 1843 and the post number. Between the cast-iron posts, 356 bluestone auxiliary stones or intermediate stones were also placed. These boundary stones are smaller than the cast-iron posts and are located at places where a country road crosses the border or at equal distance between widely spaced border posts, or where the border makes a corner at a very short distance from each other. Border post 365 was the last post until 1869. Further on towards the North Sea, the border was formed by the Zwin estuary. After the area was diked, border posts 366 to 369 were placed. They bear the year 1869.

Sint-Pietersberg offers a unique mosaic of open chalk grasslands and light-permeable forests, worth visiting for every nature lover. On the 'Sint-Pietersberg' you will feel like you are in a foreign country. Where else can you find such beautiful hills and such a special marl landscape? The Plateau of Caestert consists of valuable slope forests and chalk grasslands, a rare biotope in Flanders. Beneath the forests and grasslands are unique marl quarries, which form a true paradise for a dozen species of bats.

The Neercanne castle is built on the original site of Roman fortifications whose caves still exist and are used as a wine cellar. In the hall, the original staircase with a railing on wide columns is still present. Weapon trophies are depicted in relief on the ceiling. Currently, the castle is used as a hotel and restaurant. The restaurant has been awarded one star by the Michelin Guide.

This seems to me more like a depot or loading and unloading area (or something else) than a mine entrance, because I don't think horizontal mine entrances ever existed in Limburg, at least not for the coal mines. You could only go down through the shafts.

Boundary marker 1845 doesn't exist. Each marker is marked 1843, the year, and a number from 1 to 369.

Very challenging and very steep. Be careful here. There is a rope, best to use it.

Hidden among the greenery of Hoge Kempen National Park lies a silent witness to the past: an old mine entrance. This entrance recalls the time when coal was mined deep underground here—the black gold that made the Limburg region bustle with activity for decades. What was once a place of hard labor, dust, and noise has now been replaced by tranquility and nature. The surrounding forests and hills have reclaimed the land, but the contours of the mining past remain visible in the landscape. The weathered brick gates and the occasional palpable cooler air at the entrance evoke images of the miners who descended here day in, day out. Today, this place stands as an impressive historical monument within the nature park. A reminder of human resilience and of the transformation from industry to nature.

Keienstrand lies on the shore of a clear lake in the Hoge Kempen National Park. This spot has a primal quality: large, rounded stones lie scattered along the water's edge, the wind gently blowing across the surface. It's a place that invites peace and reflection… where you can sit for a moment, listening to the lapping of the water and observing the play of light and shadow on the stones. The stones are a reminder of the geological history of this landscape, shaped by gravel extraction and nature restoration. Now, Keienstrand is a haven for both people and animals: dragonflies buzz above the water, birds skim low over the shore, and the scent of pine fills the air.