Guided by the majestic Maas river...
Hiking trip: Pieterpad - from Groesbeek to Swalmen - 7 days
From Groesbeek, with its rolling hills and vineyards, the route leads through the forests and heathlands of De Maasduinen National Park. Natural beauty alternates with picturesque villages and historic towns, including Venlo, where Limburg culture and hospitality come together. The Maas is your guide, revealing new landscapes; from wooded sand dunes to wide river valleys. This Pieterpad section - a 'must' for every hiking enthusiast - ends in the lively village Swalmen.
Travel to Groesbeek on your own. If you arrive early enough and still have energy after your journey, explore the surrounding forests. It is a wonderful area for walking.
Via the Groesbeek forest, leave the province of Gelderland and enter Limburg. Walk through a beautiful forest area, conquering the Sint Jansberg. In this lovely nature reserve, follow winding paths through the hills, passing lakes, ponds, and hedge-surrounded meadows. Pass Milsbeek, once famous for its pottery. Just before the town of Gennep, at the spot where the Niers and Maas rivers meet, lies the 'Genneperhuis', a fortress that was once impregnable for centuries. In Gennep, admire the Martinus tower, the Mosaic square, and the old market, surrounded by beautiful historic buildings.
Leave Gennep via the dike along the Niers and head towards the Heijen forest. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Maasduinen National Park, shaped by water, wind, and human activity. The park forms the longest continuous ribbon of river dunes in the Netherlands. During a delightful walk, pass the Quin, one of many large, reflective ponds. Rest in Afferden while waiting for the ferry to cross the Maas. Once on the other side, you are in the province Brabant, where you reach your destination, Vierlingsbeek, via the Groeningen hills.
Shortly after leaving the village of Vierlingsbeek, you will reach the ruins of the 15th-century castle 'Makken'. Continue to Smakt, the pilgrimage site of Saint Joseph, and reach the beautiful shifting sand area of the 'Boschhuizer Bergen'. On the Geysteren estate, reach the Oostrum brook and the watermill of Rosmolen. Along this part of the route, you can also admire the St. Willibrordus chapel. Another sight is the former castle farm from 1619, the 'Kasteelke'. Continue your way to the North Limburg church village of Swolgen. In Swolgen you will be picked up for an overnight stay in Venlo.
From Venlo you will be dropped off in Swolgen to continue the route. Just outside Swolgen, enter the Schuitwater nature reserve, located on an old Maas meander. The wet forests here are accessible via wooden boardwalks. Pass the Houthuizer chapel and 'Huys Kaldenbroek', a 15th-century castle farm. Just before the village of Grubbenvorst, pass the Ursuline Convent, and take the ferry across the Maas. On the other side of the water, enjoy a pleasant walk through the beautiful floodplains of the 'Océ-Weerd'. Finally, arrive in Venlo, where you should visit the monument-rich St. Martinus street and the 16th-century town hall.
Leave Venlo behind and set off on the heathlands of Jammerdaal, with its former clay and sand quarries. Then follows the Wambachgroeve, also formed by clay extraction. This transitions into the beautiful 'Holtmühle' nature reserve, right on the German border. Walk along or over the Prinsendijk, where various small bunkers, so-called 'tobruks', from World War II can be seen. Reach the ‘Meerlebroek’ nature reserve, following the fast-flowing and meandering Swalm to the lively village of Swalmen.
After breakfast, the fifth part of the Pieterpad ends here for you.
| Price pp | € | |
| Single room, breakfast | 1,150.00 | |
| Double room, breakfast | 850.00 | |
| Extra services | € | |
| SGR | per piece | 5.00 |
| Pieterpad Routebook? | per piece | -19.00 |
Where will you stay?
Below you’ll find the accommodations included in your journey. Each one has been carefully selected and is well-suited for walkers. All rooms come with a private shower and toilet. If one of the accommodations is fully booked, we will reserve a comparable alternative whenever possible.
Where will you eat?
Breakfast is included in this trip. You are free to choose where to have dinner each evening — there are always one or more dining options within walking distance. During this trip, you also have the option to book packed lunches in advance.
Overnights in Hotels or B&B's
Tourist tax included
Breakfast included, Lunch package optional (can be booked)
App only - including route and points of interest
Also there are clear markings along the way
7-day service hotline
Luggage transport included
The nearest station to Groesbeek is trainstation Nijmegen
There may be parking fees to be paid at the starting location
There are GPS tracks available for this trip
Any ferry crossings are not included
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