A Roman ash chest and part of a Roman road were excavated in the Roman Valley of Bocholtz. These finds provide a tangible connection to the long history of the municipality of Simpelveld—and are just part of what culture enthusiasts can discover here.
Roman traces and historic buildings
At the Roman Exhibition in Bocholtz, visitors can see the original of a remarkable ash chest discovered in Bocholtz in 2003. Check whether the exhibit is available before visiting. Another way to learn about the region’s Roman past is through the free Via Belgica audio walks in Simpelveld: audio stories lead to archaeological sites and tell the story of Roman history. App content and routes may change; check the latest information before setting out.
The Roman heritage of Bocholtz and Simpelveld can also be explored on four free walking and cycling routes. They are 4.6, 11.3, 8.4 and 44.2 kilometres long and are available to download for free. The “Paden van bezinning” take a different approach: they comprise two walks of 7.9 and 7.8 kilometres through the religious heritage of Simpelveld and Bocholtz. The two walks are almost the same length; the four Roman heritage routes cover a much wider range of distances.
The municipality’s Roman heritage also includes Villa Vlengendaal, where the remains of a villa rustica have been preserved. Villa Vlengendaal has been a Rijksmonument, or Dutch national monument, since 1983. At Hoeve Overhuizen, outbuildings, barns, a chapel and a closed courtyard building made of limestone have been preserved. Each of the various buildings tells its own story of the area’s history.
Church, monastery and remembrance
The Jacobus de Meerdere Church in Bocholtz was built by P. Cuypers between 1869 and 1873 and extended on the choir side by H. Koene in 1953. The older section is Neo-Gothic; its layout comprises a nave, two aisles and a transept. Comparing the original building with the later extension makes the different phases of construction tangible.
The Bocholtz memorial window commemorates another chapter in the town’s history. Maastricht glass artist Hub Levigne created the monument in 1951 using mouth-blown stained glass. It recalls the hardships of the Second World War and the Dutch fight in Indonesia, then known as the Dutch East Indies. It depicts two residents of Bocholtz who lost their lives in the war.
At the Museum de Schat van Simpelveld, craftsmanship and monastic history come together. Housed in a listed monastery, the museum displays finely crafted embroidery, paintings, golden chalices, wax figures and medieval sculptures. The exhibition also offers a glimpse into monastic life in the early 20th century. The museum is accessible to people with disabilities and wheelchair users; check the practical details before your visit.
Experience the railway and the landscape
The Miljoenenlijn is closely associated with Simpelveld: visitors can depart on a steam train from the nostalgic station. The railway also offers steam train and railbus journeys through the hills of South Limburg and the Parkstad region. Operating days vary; check the timetable before your visit. The historic station complex also includes a small railway museum. The museum at the station covers the history of the Miljoenenlijn, the Aachen–Maastricht line, the Limburg Tramway Company and Limburg’s mining industry. The Miljoenenlijn depot houses a collection of locomotives and railway carriages; access to work areas may vary.
The landscape of the municipality of Simpelveld is shaped by the Eyserbeek valley, with its steep slopes and hilltop plateaus offering wide-ranging views. A special place to explore is the Hellingbos, a park-like deciduous forest. It contains at least 14 Stations of the Cross and a Lourdes grotto. The forest is open to visitors; check the conditions before your visit.
The “Wandelen in Simpelveld-Bocholtz” walk also passes through the Roman Valley of Bocholtz. It runs near a Miljoenenlijn stop, from which an authentic railbus travels to Simpelveld’s main station. Since train services depend on operating days, it is worth checking the timetable. For cycling, the 19-kilometre Kalkbaan long-distance cycle route is an interesting option: it starts in Simpelveld and connects to the 125-kilometre Vennbahn. The “Rondom plateau Bocholtz Simpelveld” cycling route is rated moderate. Check the latest route information before setting off.
In Bocholtz, the publicly accessible Bard Dubi nature playground adds a place to play to the cultural and landscape highlights. The site has various play structures, a sand area, climbing features and an amphitheatre. Alongside historical discoveries, visitors can therefore enjoy a very different place and focus.
Discover more destinations: Simpelveld, Bocholtz, Roermond, Valkenburg Aan De Geul, Roerdalen, Bergen, Heerlen, Kerkrade.
Back to the main travel overview: Limburg.
