Beek brings together a tangible cultural history and trails into the South Limburg countryside. A distinctive starting point is the Els Museum, housed in the former distillery of Jacques Hennekens. It is devoted entirely to the herbal liqueur Els La Vera, with authentic copper stills at its heart. A visit includes a guided tour and a presentation on the history of distilling in general and Els La Vera in particular. This offers an insight into both the craft and the history of a particular herbal liqueur.
Cultural history in buildings and places of remembrance
Beek’s buildings and places of remembrance also highlight different aspects of history. Count Arnold was buried in St Martin’s Church in Beek in 1579; his gravestone was discovered in 1990. The two dates refer to different events: the burial and the later discovery of the stone. The chapel of Onze Lieve Vrouw van de Wonderdadige Medaille was designated a municipal monument in 2010. Its twelve-sided structure is made of concrete, iron and glass. It stands at the entrance to Kelmonderbos and can also be reached via steps from Molenberg. Here, a distinctive architectural form meets a location by the woods.
Visitor centre and orientation
The Oude Pastorie offers another way to explore the region: the visitor centre provides information about the history of the region and nature in South Limburg. It was built in 2016–2017 around a preserved remnant of a Vroenhof dating from the late 18th century. The newer building and the preserved older section therefore belong to different periods of construction. The Oude Pastorie is also a starting point for a walk nearby or a cycling tour through South Limburg. The Natuurtransferium Beek is located between Sportlandgoed De Haamen and the Oude Pastorie. For directions, you can follow cycle junctions 113 to 114 or enter De Haamen 1, Beek, as your destination.
Trails through nature and history
For a countryside tour, the Kelmonderbosroute runs through the green area around Kelmond and Klein-Genhout. It follows the distinctive natural landscape along the Keutelbeek and passes through a park, woods, avenues and orchards. Those more interested in archaeological traces will find a different focus on the “Ontmoet de oerboeren van Beek” route: it follows the Keutelbeek to several places where archaeologists have found remains of Linear Pottery culture settlements. Both routes follow the Keutelbeek, but highlight different things—one the landscape, the other traces of early settlements.
Digital and marked information offers further ways to explore Beek’s attractions. The Route vol Verwondering features 360-degree tours and/or audio tours at more than 30 stops. On the Monumentenroute Beek, purple dots mark the monuments; signs on building façades provide additional information via QR codes. A short walk through the town centre also passes many monuments. For a sporting activity, there is Mini Bikepark Beek, where young people in particular can safely learn the skills needed for off-road gravel or mountain biking. The park is also suitable for people with disabilities.
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