Roman remains, mining history, architecture and street art give Heerlen several cultural highlights. A Roman cellar with five wall niches, the Glaspaleis, a modern fashion house from the 1930s, and artworks ranging from small hidden paintings to large murals show just how varied these themes are. When planning your trip, you can choose your own focus: archaeological evidence, urban development or art in public spaces.
Roman Remains and Mining History
At the Romeins Kwartier, Coriovallum is presented as a Roman city beneath the present-day city. You can view a Roman cellar on site through a viewing window; an information panel explains the remains. The five wall niches probably held statues of gods or oil lamps for lighting. The Via Belgica walk “Te voet door Coriovallum” includes the cellar. The Romeins Museum, formerly called the Thermenmuseum, preserves the impressive remains of the oldest building in the Netherlands, a Roman bathhouse.
At De Vondst, visitors can sort archaeological finds at the Archeohotspot table. Through the glass walls of the Restaura workshop, you can watch restorers at work. The Nederlands Mijnmuseum offers a different perspective on the region’s past: its four floors explore the importance of coal, the heyday of mining, its darker side and the future of the mining region. The museum is accessible to wheelchair and rollator users and has a lift and an adapted toilet.
Architecture, Art and Cultural Events
Heerlen’s architecture also tells the story of different chapters in the city’s history. Peutz designed the Royal Theater, which opened in 1938. The Glaspaleis was built in the 1930s as a modern fashion house and designed by Peutz for entrepreneur Peter Schunck. At the Glaspaleis, SCHUNCK Museum presents a changing program of exhibitions, activities and projects. The free exhibition “U bevindt zich hier” is located in the gallery above the ground floor; check whether it is available before your visit.
Heerlen’s street art ranges from small hidden paintings to large murals by international artists, and can be viewed for free. The 4 km Street Art Route takes you to notable murals and smaller hidden artworks. If you want to explore art in the cityscape, this route has a clearly stated length and stops of varying sizes.
Another cultural event is Cultura Nova, an international arts festival held for ten days each year at the end of August. The program includes theater, dance, music, film and visual arts at special locations throughout the city. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific dates before making arrangements.
City Walks and Nature
The 3.8 km city walk through Heerlen Centrum traces Heerlen’s development from a Roman settlement to a distinctive modern city. Together with the Herinneringswandeling, it is fully wheelchair accessible. This means you can take both history and accessibility into account for these two specific routes.
Terworm, near Heerlen, is a varied nature area and estate. It forms part of the Geleenbeekdal Natura 2000 site. The landscape includes marshes, fields, deciduous woodland, sunken lanes, a stream and straight ditches. Visitors can walk on the estate to the Ruïne Eyckholt; the Rondje Terworm route is suitable for wheelchair users and strollers. Heerlen also offers opportunities for walking and cycling in green surroundings, with climbs, descents, panoramic views, and distinctive plant and animal species.
Getting There and Practical Information
From Heerlen Centraal station, you can walk straight into the city center via the Maankwartier. Designed by artist Michel Huisman, the station district brings together architecture, art and city life, making it part of the route into the center. If you’re traveling by bike, there’s a free, supervised bicycle parking facility at Akerstraat 20, with space for 196 bicycles and e-bikes, as well as charging stations for batteries. Check the opening hours before you travel.
When choosing cultural sites, it’s also important to consider practical access: the Schelmentoren is not wheelchair accessible due to the tower’s historic character. It houses the original prison cells where Bokkenrijders were held until their sentencing. Centuries-old stories are brought to life there through interactive touchscreens and life-size projections. Theater Heerlen has wheelchair-accessible facilities. Tours of Sint-Pancratiuskerk take place on Saturdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., unless weddings or other activities prevent them from going ahead; check the date before your trip.
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