Valkenburg Aan de Geul - The Present Touristic Valkenburg

The Present Touristic Valkenburg

Nowadays Valkenburg is especially known for its touristic character. There are several attractions within walking distance of the city centre. To mention a few:

• the Valkenburg Holland Casino,
• the Steenkolenmijn,
• the Sauna & Welness resort Thermae 2000,
• the former marl quarries (with charcoal drawings, some of which date back to the time of the Romans).
• the Sint-Gerlachus church in Houthem Sint-Gerlach. (The only religious building with frescos (paintings on marl) in the Netherlands).

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.