Characteristic landscapes

The rolling hill country of South Limburg is not exactly what most people associate with the Netherlands. The region is characterised by a variety of typical and authentic landscapes encompassing farmland, green pastures, valleys and forested hillsides. 

These landscapes often hide rather exotic attractions such as the fossils found so abundantly in the surface layers of the Rooth Quarry or the beautiful orchids which annually grace the Gerendal Valley.

Culture

The local inhabitants have also left their mark on the landscape. Not at all typical of the Netherlands are the square shaped farmsteads with half-timbered buildings made from split stones or marl. The use of the latter has left more marks behind, namely the underground tunnels and caves in Maastricht and Valkenburg which can still be visited today.

Nature

South Limburg is the only area in the Netherlands where calcareous rocks can be found on the surface, resulting in a very calcium-rich soil, which in turn makes it possible for unusual plants to flourish here.