Along the Meuse,
through living hedges

↓ Discover the walk

Distance13.7 kmPublic transport walker

Duration± 4 hourswithout a long pause

Rise, fall20 metersheight difference

From, toStarting point Boxmeer StationVierlingsbeek station

74/100

★★★★★

Public transport walker Maasheggen, walked and assessed himself.

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This makes the route special

Boxmeer Castle
Walking along the Maas
Sambeek lock complex
UNESCO Maasheggen area
Groeningsche Berg
Koningskerkje Vierlingsbeek

To take into account

Part of the route runs on asphalt or along traffic

The story of the route

Public transport stepper Maasheggen from start to finish

A route where you automatically slow down because the landscape keeps making you pause for a moment.”

Advertentie

Public transport in Maasheggen, landscape along the way — En route
The walk begins

The walk begins

This walk from Boxmeer station to Vierlingsbeek station takes you through the unique Maasheggen area. You walk along the Maas, between centuries-old hawthorn hedges, through open fields and past quiet villages. It is a quiet, flat route where you really get out of the daily rhythm. And along the way you will see everything: river nature, pollard willows, old farms and maybe even a buzzard in the sky.

Start in Boxmeer: just continue on asphalt

The walk starts at Boxmeer station. The first part is quite a bit of asphalt: you walk through the village, past houses and roads. It’s useful that you can do some shopping here – I stopped at the supermarket myself to pick up food and drinks.

You will soon pass Boxmeer Castle, with its old walls and moat. Then it goes towards the Maas, where the route really begins.

Public transport walker Maasheggen, Start in Boxmeer: just continue on asphalt — Start in Boxmeer: just continue on asphalt
A characteristic moment on this walk.

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Characteristic on the road

Where the Maas opens the landscape again and again

After the first asphalt, a wide river route follows along water, hedges and floodplains, with the Sambeek lock complex as a striking intermediate point.

Along the Maas to the lock complex

From the moment you reach the river, you continue walking along the water for quite some time. It is an open and wide part of the route, with beautiful views over the Maas. You walk on a dike and only hear birds and the rushing of the river.

You follow the Maas to the lock complex at Sambeek. Here you can clearly see how the water is controlled – it is a bit technical, but quite impressive to see.

Public transport walker Maasheggen, Along the Maas to the lock complex — Along the Maas to the lock complex
A characteristic moment on this walk.

The lock complex at Sambeek

The lock complex at Sambeek is a striking point on the route. Here you walk past two large lock chambers and a weir in the Maas. The locks were built to regulate the water level between the higher and lower parts of the Meuse. Large ships use the lock here to sail from one level to the other.

After the lock complex you dive into the real Maasheggen area. The paths become narrower, the hedges higher and the landscape smaller-scale. You walk between braided hawthorn hedges, along grass paths and past old farms. It is green, quiet and varied.

Public transport stepper Maasheggen, The lock complex at Sambeek — The lock complex at Sambeek
A characteristic moment on this walk.

Advertentie

The lock complex at Sambeek, further along the way

Sometimes you have to look carefully at where the path goes, but that’s what makes it fun. You will see many birds and with a bit of luck also deer or hares in the distance.

You do not pass through Groeningen itself, but walk just outside. Nearby is the Groeninge Museum, a small museum that fits in with the landscape full of history. Here the soil changes: you suddenly come across areas with drifting sand. The paths become lighter and drier, and you walk between scattered pines and glades. A nice contrast with the green start of the walk.