landmark
Valkenburg Marl Caves
Hill-country Valkenburg hides Roman-era marl tunnels, a ruined castle and the Netherlands' only true hilltop drives.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeNetherlandsLimburg
Merkelbeek
Limburg, Netherlands · Europe
About Merkelbeek
Merkelbeek works well as a base: 20km from Hoge Kempen National Park.
Merkelbeek is in Limburg, Netherlands, with about 1,700 people. You drive on the right here.
Merkelbeek (Limburgish: Merkelbek) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Beekdaelen, about 9 km northwest of Heerlen.
The village was first mentioned in 1283 as Merkelbeke. The etymology is unclear. Merkelbeek started in the Early Middle Ages along a brook and developedRead more
into a road village.
The Catholic St Clemens Church is a three-aisled church with built-in tower with needle spire which was built between 1876 and 1878. In 1935, the choir was replaced by a transept and choir in Gothic Revival style.
Merkelbeek was home to 309 people in 1840. It was a separate municipality until 1982, when it became part of Onderbanken. In 2019, it was merged into Beekdaelen.
Where to Stay in Merkelbeek
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Merkelbeek?
Within an hour or so of Merkelbeek: Valkenburg Marl Caves (13 km), Hoge Kempen National Park (20 km), Vrijthof Maastricht (21 km), Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Merkelbeek?
The nearest famous roads are Baraque de Fraiture, Mosel Valley Wine Route and Moselle Valley Road (B53).
Where is Merkelbeek?
Merkelbeek is in Limburg, Netherlands.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,720
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- Limburg
- Timezone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Coordinates
- 50.9539, 5.9407
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Netherlands
Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.
Full driving guide for NetherlandsTags
Worth the detour from Merkelbeek
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Hoge Kempen National Park
Belgium's first national park, a heath and pine landscape in Limburg with six gateway entrances and visitor car parks.
20 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Vrijthof Maastricht
A grand cafe-ringed square anchored by two medieval churches in the Netherlands' oldest, most Burgundian city.
21 km · about 25 min drive
cathedral
Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom)
The first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany, built by Charlemagne as his palatine chapel in the 9th century.
22 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Vaalserberg Drielandenpunt
The Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Thorn
The 'white village' of Limburg: an entire former abbey-principality of whitewashed brick lanes and cobbles beside the Maas, painted white in the Napoleonic era to dodge a window tax and kept that way ever since.
24 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Gileppe Dam
A 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.
41 km · about 45 min drive
racetrack
Circuit Zolder
A Belgian circuit tragically linked to Gilles Villeneuve's death in 1982, with a rich history in Formula 1 and touring car racing.
48 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near Merkelbeek
- 23 kmVaalserberg DrielandenpuntThe Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
- 41 kmGileppe DamA 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.
- 51 kmSignal de BotrangeAt 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.
- 80 kmBaraque de FraitureBelgium's second-highest point at 652 m, a windswept Ardennes plateau crossroads on the N89 with a small ski station and sweeping high-fen scenery.
Driving in Netherlands
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€2.04/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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