NR411: Spargel, Rosen und noch mehr / Von Walbeck über Arcen nach Venlo und zurück

The starting point of this tour is the Geldern district of Walbeck, known as the asparagus village. Since 1929, Walbeck has been the stronghold of asparagus cultivation on the Lower Rhine.

We start our tour at the Steprather Mill. The mill dates back to the 16th century and is one of the oldest on the Lower Rhine. Other sights include the unique Kokermühle mill, Walbeck Castle, and Steprath House.

We cycle through the landscape shaped by the Maas and Niers rivers and cross the German-Dutch border after just a few kilometers. From here, it is not far to Arcen, the former fortress town on the Maas. The remains of the customs gate 'de Schanstoren' (watchtower) and the never-completed 'Fossa Eugenia' canal at the border with the German town of Straelen recall this era. The main attraction of Arcen is the beautifully restored castle gardens. The cosy town centre invites visitors to relax in various restaurants and cafés. The recommended Ijssalon Clevers, whose terrace at the rear offers a magnificent view of the Maas and the opposite riverbank, where the church tower of Lottum, our next stage, can be seen on the horizon, is a must-visit.

We take the bicycle and pedestrian ferry to the other side of the Maas and cycle through the fields to the rose village of Lottum. With around 2,000 inhabitants, the village produces 70% of the Dutch rose production. The famous rose garden is a pilgrimage site for many rose lovers from home and abroad.

We pass through the village of Grubbenvorst and then reach the green city of Venlo, whose origins date back to Roman times. Those who looked carefully when entering Venlo may have noticed a small area with grapevines in the city outskirts. Indeed, Venlo is set to become the largest wine-growing region in the Netherlands. Today, however, Venlo is best known in Germany as a shopping city, not least because many stores open on German public holidays. In some areas, shops are also open every Sunday afternoon. Definitely worth seeing are Venlo’s old town with its market square and historic town hall, and the modern Maas boulevard with its marina.

From Venlo, we follow the Maas northwards. In Velden, we leave the Maas floodplains and head towards the border, where we encounter the Lommerheide, a heathland landscape with peat lakes, pine forests, and a wandering dune. Afterwards, we reach Arcen and the Maas again. We cross the Maas floodplains once more and then head east through a holiday area with hotels, campsites, and bungalow complexes such as the Roompot holiday park 'Klein Fink', gently nestled in the forest and lake-rich landscape. From here, it is only a short distance to the border, behind which we soon reach Walbeck again, the final point of our eventful tour.