Things to do in the Heuvelland: days out around Partij-Wittem
From the Three-Country Point to the Valkenburg caves: fourteen year-round days out within 20 km of Remise, with a tip for afterwards.
Out and about in the Heuvelland
What is there to do around Gulpen, Wittem and Vaals?
Remise sits on the Partijerweg, at the foot of the Gulperberg and right between South Limburg’s best-known days out. The Three-Country Point, the Vijlenerbos forest, the caves and castle ruins of Valkenburg, the Gulpener brewery, the Miljoenenlijn steam train, GaiaZOO, Maastricht and Aachen: all within 20 km. This page lists them all, with the distance from Remise and a tip for afterwards with each one.
Dated events such as markets, Christmas markets and carnival are in our what’s on page. Walking or cycling from our door? See Walking and cycling routes.
- Fourteen year-round days out within 20 km of Partij-Wittem
- Distance from Remise and directions in one click
- A tip with every day out: lunch, dinner or a beer afterwards
Walking and nature
Nature and walking
The hills, woods and stream valleys around Partij, from our own Gulperberg to the Three-Country Point. All free, always open.
Photo: Bert Kaufmann, CC BY-SA 2.0 Nature
Gulperberg en Geuldal
Gulpen, Mechelen en Epen · 1 to 5 km away
The Gulperberg starts literally behind Remise: at the top stands the statue of Mary, looking out over Gulpen and the Geul valley. Follow the Geul upstream past Mechelen and Epen, through sunken lanes and meadows dotted with half-timbered houses.
Remise’s tip: our circular walks Over de Gulperberg (9.3 km) and Langs de Geul (7.6 km) start and finish at our door.
Photo: Paul van Galen, CC BY-SA 4.0 Sight
Klooster Wittem
Wittem · 1 km away
A Redemptorist place of pilgrimage since 1836, with the Gerardus chapel, a monastery garden, a bookshop and a monastery shop. The church and garden are free to visit; Sunday mass is well attended.
Remise’s tip: our walk Via Klooster Wittem (7 km) passes the chapel and a vineyard with a view.
Photo: MartinD, CC BY-SA 4.0 Nature
Vijlenerbos en Vijlen
Vijlen · 6 km away
The largest unbroken forest in South Limburg, with waymarked walks from the car parks on the Epenerbaan. Vijlen is the highest village in the Netherlands; its church stands at 200 metres, with views far into Belgium.
Remise’s tip: after a morning in the woods it is a ten-minute drive to our terrace for lunch.
Photo: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 4.0 Sight
Drielandenpunt
Vaals · 10 km away
The highest point in the Netherlands (322 metres), where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. With the Wilhelmina Tower, Europe’s largest maze and playgrounds; the woodland paths around it cross straight into Germany and Belgium.
Remise’s tip: get there early, as weekends are busy; then eat at your leisure at ours, a quarter of an hour back towards Gulpen.
Sights and days out
Sights and attractions
Beer, steam, marl and warm water: the Heuvelland’s best-known days out, all within a quarter of an hour’s drive.
Photo: Romaine, CC0 Brewery
Gulpener Bierbrouwerij
Gulpen · 3 km away
The Heuvelland’s brewery has brewed with local barley, hops and water since 1825. Tours with tasting by appointment, and the Brouwlokaal in the centre of Gulpen has the whole range on tap.
Remise’s tip: our beer list has the Gulpener beers on tap, including the seasonal ones.
Photo: E v Schoonhoven, CC BY 3.0 Steam
Miljoenenlijn
Simpelveld · 5 km away
Historic steam and diesel trains on the old line between Simpelveld, Valkenburg, Kerkrade and Vetschau in Germany. Runs from April to October and around Christmas, with a museum at Simpelveld station.
Remise’s tip: our cycle route Langs de Miljoenenlijn (44 km) follows the line.
Photo: Romaine, CC0 Underground
Grotten van Valkenburg
Valkenburg · 14 km away
Miles of marl passages beneath the town, hewn by block cutters since Roman times. Visit the Gemeentegrot with a guide or by little train; the Fluweelengrot lies beneath the castle ruins. In December both become Christmas markets.
Remise’s tip: underground it is always 12 degrees; bring a jumper and warm up afterwards with a zuurvlees stew (sweet-sour beef) at ours.
Photo: Kleon3, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl Sight
Kasteelruïne en kabelbaan
Valkenburg · 14 km away
The Netherlands’ only hilltop castle, a ruin since 1672, overlooking Valkenburg and the Geul valley. A few hundred metres on, the cable car takes you up to the Wilhelmina Tower, with a toboggan run back down.
Remise’s tip: combine the ruins with the Fluweelengrot cave beneath; one ticket covers both.
Photo: Romaine, CC0 Spa
Thermae 2000
Valkenburg · 14 km away
Thermal baths with naturally warm spring water of 32 to 36 degrees, indoors and out, on top of the Cauberg. With saunas, a beauty centre and views over the Heuvelland.
Remise’s tip: go in the morning when it is quiet, and round off the day with dinner at ours, twenty minutes’ drive away.
For families
With children
Animals, gardens and snow: three days out children never tire of, half an hour’s drive away.
Photo: Donarreiskoffer, CC BY-SA 4.0 Zoo
GaiaZOO
Kerkrade · 14 km away
A zoo in a valley with giraffes, rhinos, gorillas and a big playground. Voted the Netherlands’ most beautiful zoo several times.
Remise’s tip: our children’s menu has chips with a croquette, frikandel or chicken nuggets, and a children’s ice cream with a lucky dip for dessert.
Photo: E v Schoonhoven, CC BY 3.0 Park
Mondo Verde
Landgraaf · 16 km away
World gardens, a small zoo and attractions for children on one site. From a Japanese garden to an Italian village square; at its best in spring and summer.
Remise’s tip: at weekends we open at 12 noon, so a morning in the park and a late lunch at ours fit together perfectly.
Photo: Maurice van Bruggen, CC BY-SA 3.0 Snow
SnowWorld
Landgraaf · 16 km away
Europe’s largest indoor ski hall, with snow on five slopes all year round. Also a children’s slope, sledging and, outside, the longest staircase in the Netherlands up the Wilhelminaberg.
Remise’s tip: after an afternoon on the slopes, a burger or spare ribs at ours taste even better.
A day in the city
Cities
Two cities twenty minutes’ drive away, each worth a day. Stay near Remise and you can easily do both.
Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0 City
Maastricht
Maastricht · 18 km away
Terraces on the Vrijthof, the Basilica of Saint Servatius, shopping in the Stokstraat and the bookshop in a Dominican church. Beneath Mount Saint Peter lie the caves and Fort Sint Pieter.
Remise’s tip: park on the edge of the city and drive back via Gulpen; we are on the road to Vaals.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 City
Aken
Aken (Aachen) · 20 km away
Charlemagne’s city, with the cathedral (a World Heritage site), the town hall, the Printen gingerbread bakers and the Carolus Thermen spa. In December the Christmas market around the cathedral is one of the finest in Germany.
Remise’s tip: many of our guests come from Aachen; the Rosenmontag parade and the Christmas market are in our what’s on.
After the day out
Food and drink at Remise
From every day out on this page you are at our door on the Partijerweg in Partij, between Gulpen and Vaals, within half an hour. At weekends we open at 12 noon for lunch, coffee with Limburg vlaai and dinner; on weekdays from 5 pm for dinner and drinks, with the kitchen open until 8.30 pm. If you are staying nearby, you can reach us by bike or on foot.
- Weekend lunch: sandwiches, soups and salads
- Dinner from burgers to spare ribs and zuurvlees (sweet-sour beef)
- Craft beers from Gulpener, Kompel and Belgian brewers
- Where to stay within walking distance, for more than one day in the Heuvelland
Good to know
Questions about days out in the Heuvelland
What is there to do near Wittem and Gulpen?
Within 20 km of Remise you will find the Three-Country Point near Vaals, the Vijlenerbos forest, the Gulperberg, Wittem Monastery, the Gulpener brewery, the Miljoenenlijn steam train in Simpelveld, the caves, castle ruins and Thermae 2000 in Valkenburg, GaiaZOO in Kerkrade, Mondo Verde and SnowWorld in Landgraaf, and the cities of Maastricht and Aachen. They are all listed above with distance and directions.
How far is the Three-Country Point from Remise?
About 10 km, a quarter of an hour’s drive via Vaals. The Three-Country Point is the highest point in the Netherlands; with the Wilhelmina Tower, the maze and the surrounding woods it fills half a day. Afterwards it is a quarter of an hour back to our terrace in Partij.
Which days out are good when it rains?
The Valkenburg caves (always 12 degrees), Thermae 2000, SnowWorld, the Miljoenenlijn steam train and a tour of the Gulpener brewery. And of course a long lunch or an afternoon at the bar at Remise, with 27 speciality beers.
Can I eat at Remise after a day out?
Where can I stay to spend more days in the Heuvelland?
The page Where to stay lists nine B&Bs, hotels and farmhouses within walking or cycling distance of Remise, from a 13th-century brewery farm to Wittem Castle.
Distances are as the crow flies from Remise. Opening hours, prices and seasons change: always check the attraction’s own website. More answers in the frequently asked questions.