A small hillside wood, migratory birds and views of the surrounding countryside: Vrouwenbos reveals a distinctive side of Beek. The wood lies on a slope, surrounded by fields and pastures, and has rich ground vegetation. It provides a refuge for migratory birds. At several points along the Vrouwenbosroute, views open up across the landscape. Here, woodland and viewpoints offer two distinct impressions.
Woodland, water and protected nature
Kelmonderveld is also defined by its habitats: marshy grasslands meet hillside woods where badgers and bats live. In Kelmonderbos, numerous springs feed a stream that flows towards Beek. Those interested in how woodland and water interact will find a different aspect of the landscape here than in the open Vrouwenbos, surrounded by fields and pastures.
Landgoed Genbroek covers 18.5 hectares, is a protected natural area and is open for low-impact recreation. This type of recreation is a useful point of reference for understanding the area. The landscape’s history is reflected in Huize Genbroek: the building was first constructed as a farmhouse around a courtyard in the 17th century, and was not converted into a stately manor house until two centuries later.
Paths with different stories
The Levensloopje focuses on memorial sites. As part of the Gedenkparken project, the route links the Levensbomenbos with the old Sint Martinus cemetery in Beek and follows wooded paths through Kelmonderbos. The Kelmonderbosroute takes a different approach: it runs through the green area around Kelmond and Klein-Genhout, along the Keutelbeek, and through parks, woods, avenues and orchards. Along the way, you’ll see old farmsteads and traditional half-timbered houses. This makes it easy to distinguish a route linking memorial sites from one featuring landscapes and village scenes.
Historical traces also take centre stage on two other routes, but in different ways. Rondje Creativiteit follows the former border between the Spanish Netherlands and the Dutch Republic; boundary markers make the border visible. Ontmoet de oerboeren van Beek leads to several archaeological sites where remains of Linear Pottery settlements have been discovered. One route draws attention to a former border, while the other focuses on much older traces of settlement.
Buildings, mills and local culture
Banxhuis is a historic 18th-century monument and the former building of Beek’s Schepenbank. From 1793, it served as the Schepenbank’s meeting place: justice was administered and mortgages were registered there. The Openluchttheater in Spaubeek tells a different story of construction. Work began in 1920 at the initiative of Reverend Eduard Beckers, and the theatre was completed in 1922. Since July 2023, it has been designated a municipal monument and is considered to have significant cultural-historical and landscape value.
The church in Genhout, dedicated to Saint Hubert, dates from 1937. It was built under the direction of Maastricht architect Alphons Boosten and is known as an artists’ church because of the many artists who contributed to it. The Sint-Hubertusmolen also has a specific history: farmer Willem Kerckhoffs of Klein Genhout had it built in 1802. In summer, free guided tours are offered on Wednesday afternoons when there is enough wind. If you plan to take a tour, check before your visit that the date and wind conditions are suitable.
The Elsmuseum Beek is dedicated to Els La Vera herbal liqueur. The museum is housed in the former building of Distillerie Jacques Hennekens. Volunteers demonstrate small-scale distillation using historic equipment; a small tasting may be offered after the visit. The museum thus combines the story of a local product with an insight into how it is made.
Activities and getting around
There are various ways to get active. Mini Bikepark Beek is freely accessible from sunrise to sunset; use is at your own risk. Young people in particular can learn, in a safe environment, the skills needed for off-road gravel and mountain biking. The bike park is also suitable for people with disabilities. Numerous Nordic walking, hiking and cycling routes start at Sportlandgoed De Haamen; there is also a network of mountain bike and horse-riding trails. Sportlandgoed offers recreational and competitive sports, as well as sports activities for older people and people with disabilities.
Natuurtransferium Beek serves as a start and end point for hiking, mountain biking and cycling routes and is open to visitors every day. Beek is also a junction on the Route vol Verwondering, making it possible to join the route here. For your journey, Sportlandgoed De Haamen offers another useful point of reference: it is close to the A2 and A76 motorways and has plenty of free parking. Depending on whether you’re interested in nature trails, local history or sports activities, each of these different starting points gives your stay a different focus.
Discover more destinations: Spaubeek, Beek, Maasgouw, Roerdalen, Bergen, Mook En Middelaar, Eijsden-Margraten, Echt-Susteren.
For the overview of the wider region: Limburg.
