Beringe lies at the end of the Grand Canal du Nord, built by Napoleon and now known as the Noordervaart. The canal, surviving tramway traces and artworks give the village several historical points of reference; at the same time, walking and cycling routes lead into the surrounding countryside. You can focus your stay on local history and art, or also set aside time for trails in the countryside.
Canal and Transport History
The Noordervaart runs in a straight line northeast from Nederweert to Beringe, where it ends at a small harbour. The N275 also follows the canal: it is an important link between Weert and Venlo. In Beringe, you can therefore encounter two distinct transport histories—the history of the waterway built by Napoleon and that of the road along its present-day route.
Tramway traces add to this picture. The Beringe–Venlo line arrived in 1912 and strengthened trade with larger towns in the region. Part of the 1912 tram depot has been preserved, as have the tram houses dating from 1914. The two dates help place these surviving structures in their historical context.
Art Connected to Beringe
The cube-shaped artwork The Balance of Change was created by Ruud Simons in 2002. It represents the balance between preserving a village’s identity and dealing with change and progress in modern society. The work thus brings together two themes that need not be seen as opposites: looking at what has grown over time and engaging with change.
The artwork Napoleon evokes the connection to the Noordervaart in a different way. A vertical wave continues into brickwork. It represents the end of the canal and Beringe, which, figuratively speaking, rose from the water. Viewed together, the two works offer different perspectives: The Balance of Change explores change, while Napoleon links the origins of the village to water through imagery.
The square in front of the parish church features the mosaic artwork Vijf Mozaïeken. Up to 400 residents of Beringe laid it themselves. Here, the focus is on residents’ participation, while the other artworks offer interpretations of village identity and local history. The Kuuzemonument is also connected to a local tradition: the Vasteloavend in Beringe traditionally begins and ends there.
Trails and Nature Around Beringe
Numerous walking and cycling routes with tourist junctions lead from Beringe through the surrounding countryside. A specific local point of interest is the 5x Beringenbos: this wooded area covers around 1.5 hectares and was planted in 2011 to compensate for green space lost when the industrial estate in Beringe was expanded. You can reach the woodland via Meijelseweg. Part of De Groote Peel National Park lies near Beringe and can be reached by bicycle.
A circular route along the four canals is another option for a cycling trip: it is 30 kilometres long, mostly traffic-free, and starts at Café ´t Hukske, Kanaalstraat 121, 5986 AE Beringe. The Noordervaart Route can be travelled by bicycle or on foot. The Liberty Route Europe also passes through Beringe. These different trails and routes give you several ways to include local history and time outdoors in your stay.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
If you are looking for a holiday rental in Beringe, you can start by deciding what interests you most: would you mainly like to discover the canal’s history, tramway traces and artworks, or also set aside time for walking and cycling routes? For a stay focused on art, there is also the Kunstroute in the municipality of Peel en Maas, organised by KunstHelden and held every two years; Beringe is one of its venues. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the specific event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Baarlo, Panningen, Helden, Meijel, Grashoek, Egchel, Kessel, Maasbree.
For the broader travel overview: Peel En Maas.
