cathedral
Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom)
The first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany, built by Charlemagne as his palatine chapel in the 9th century.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeNetherlandsLimburg
Vaals
Limburg, Netherlands · Europe
About Vaals
Vaals works well as a base: 10 minutes from Vijlen, 30km from Hautes Fagnes.
Vaals is in Limburg, Netherlands, with about 7,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Vijlen, about 4 km away.
Vaals (Dutch: [vaːls] ; Vaals dialect: Vols [vɔls]) is a town in the extreme southeastern part of the Dutch province of Limburg, itself in the southeast of the Netherlands.
The municipality covers an area of 23.90 km2 (9.23 sq mi).It is situated in the western foothills of the Ardennes–Eifelrange and lies some 23 kmRead more
(14 mi) east of Maastricht and 5 km (3.1 mi) west of the German city of Aachen.
Vaals directly adjoins both Belgium and Germany. As such three national borders meet at a point known as the Drielandenpunt and very near the highest point in the Netherlands, the Vaalserberg. The Vaalserberg was previously known as "Hubertusberg", so named for the eighth century St.Hubertus.
Where to Stay in Vaals
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Vaals.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Vaals.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Vaals?
Within an hour or so of Vaals: Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) (5 km), Valkenburg Marl Caves (17 km), Gileppe Dam (21 km), Vrijthof Maastricht (25 km).
Are there any good drives near Vaals?
The nearest famous roads are Baraque de Fraiture, Mosel Valley Wine Route and Moselle Valley Road (B53).
Where is Vaals?
Vaals is in Limburg, Netherlands, about 4 km from Vijlen.
Road trip
Drive to Vaals
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Vaals. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 6,970
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- Limburg
- Timezone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Coordinates
- 50.7708, 6.0181
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Netherlands
Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.
Full driving guide for NetherlandsTags
Worth the detour from Vaals
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Valkenburg Marl Caves
Hill-country Valkenburg hides Roman-era marl tunnels, a ruined castle and the Netherlands' only true hilltop drives.
17 km · about 20 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.
21 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.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Monschau
Slate-and-timber Eifel town crammed into the narrow Rur gorge near the Belgian border, its lanes essentially unchanged for 300 years; a historic mustard mill still grinds and the castle ruin hosts open-air concerts.
29 km · about 35 min drive
national park
Hautes Fagnes
Belgium's highest, wildest plateau of peat bog and boardwalk trails, often the snowiest corner of the country.
30 km · about 35 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Signal de Botrange
At 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.
30 km · about 35 min 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.
33 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Vaals
5 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 21 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.
- 30 kmSignal de BotrangeAt 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.
- 62 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
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Vaals.
Plan a trip around Vaals
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Vaals.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.