Eygelshoven combines churches, half-timbered houses and historic residences with specific reasons to plan a day out: the Saturday market follows a regular weekly schedule, while the Dutch Mountain Trail starts at Eygelshoven (Kerkrade) station and ends in Maastricht. Its architecture ranges from a half-timbered house dating from 1631 to 20th-century churches. When choosing where to stay, you can make architectural history, a visit to the market and a multi-stage route different focal points of your trip.
Churches and historic buildings
Villa Pierre was built in 1901 as a director’s residence in the Colonial style, commissioned by the Laura en Vereeniging coal mine. Its park was laid out in the style of an English landscape garden. The building and garden thus showcase two different design elements: the architecture of the residence and the design of the park. Huize Henckens represents a different architectural style; it was built in 1796 in the traditional Old Limburg farmhouse style. The comparison therefore goes beyond the construction dates, ranging from a director’s residence to a rural architectural form.
H. Joannes de Doper is an example of 20th-century church architecture. Construction began in 1920, based on a design by Alphons Boosten and Jos Ritzen from Maastricht. It was one of the first churches in the Mijnstreek to use a reinforced-concrete structure. It has been a protected Rijksmonument since 2001. The Old Church provides a contrast with its older architectural style: it is a late Gothic hall church on a hill in the centre of Eygelshoven. Its defensive tower dates from the 11th or 12th century.
De Preekstoel, at Laurastraat 21, is a half-timbered house dating from 1631. After the original building was demolished in May 2020, a faithful replica was rebuilt on the same site. The construction date and the rebuilding are therefore two different points in time: 1631 refers to the half-timbered house, while May 2020 marks the demolition of the original building and the subsequent reconstruction of the replica. Hopel, also known as the “white colony,” was planned around an open courtyard, with the houses grouped around it. Here, the focus is not on a single house but on the planned layout around the courtyard.
Market day and route as distinct reasons to visit
The Saturday market in Eygelshoven takes place every Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00. This makes the day of the week an important factor when planning your visit. Since market hours can change, check the latest information before setting off if the market is an important part of your stay.
The Dutch Mountain Trail runs from Eygelshoven (Kerkrade) station to Maastricht station. The route consists of four stages and passes over seven mountain peaks. Its start and end points indicate its direction; the four stages and seven peaks also show that it is a multi-stage route, not a single stop. Geographically, Eygelshoven is located in the Anstel Valley and along the Worm.
The Old Church is currently used for Sunday Mass, except on the first Sunday of the month. It is also used for special occasions such as baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as for events. These details about its use may change; check in advance if you would like to coordinate your visit with them.
When looking for a hotel in Eygelshoven, it is worth first deciding what brings you to the area. For the Saturday market, the day of the week is important; for the Dutch Mountain Trail, Eygelshoven is the starting station on the route to Maastricht. The churches and historic buildings offer a cultural focus as well. You can plan your accommodation and visits around the market, the route or the town’s history.
Discover more destinations: Kerkrade.
Return to the main travel overview: Kerkrade.
