Netherlands, Valkenburg

Valkenburg aan de Geul is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.

History

Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each event is withheld, followed by subsequent restorations. This most definitely holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the city, of which now only a ruin remains. In December 1672 it is destroyed, not to be rebuilt.

For an impression of resistance activities during the Second World War in Valkenburg see Valkenburg resistance.

The present touristic Valkenburg

Nowadays Valkenburg is especially known for its touristic character. There are several attrections within walking distance of the city centre.

The present aim of Valkenburg is to move from mass-tourism for which it was famous during the seventies and eighties (with camping sites full of youths building their own constructions of beer crates) towards the attraction of the more elaborated tourist, who exhibits a more quiet and relaxed behaviour.

Valkenburg is situated in a beautiful part of the Netherlands which is perfectly suited for walks or (mountain) bike tours through the hilly terrain. Although the municipality Valkenburg aan de Geul only has about 18.000 inhabitants, it hosts about 1 million nights a year.

Valkenburg has the oldest still existing railway station building in the Netherlands.