The Best Cycling Routes in South Limburg

The 245 km Amstel Gold Race route is the full experience, packed into one unforgettable ride. It’s a big day out, loaded with Dutch climbs that just keep coming. The route starts by heading north with what might seem like a gentle roll-out, but don’t be fooled. There’s proper hill climbing in that first stretch too. Around the 100 km mark, you join the official tour route in Valkenburg, and from there it’s all up and down. Make it to the finish and you’ve seen everything South Limburg has to offer, one climb at a time.

This route with unkown climbs still packs over 1000 meter of climbing in less than 80 kilometers. Things start of with a passage through the Mathieu van der Poel Allee, which got it name after the memorable victory of MVDP in 2019. From there you'll hit climbs like Hoebesweg, Loorberg, Groenenweg, Rugweg after which you briefly cross into Germany for the Lemierser climb. Back in the Netherlands you don't take the Eyserbosweg but instead take the Eyserweg up the Trintelerberg, a friendly alternative. From there you ride towards Stokehm to tackle the steep and short Doodeman Climb, which is the final challenge of the day.

This route’s main attraction is the Abbey of Val-Dieu, which means a quick hop across the border into Belgium. Starting from Valkenburg or Gulpen, you’ll cross into Belgium early on and climb a few hidden gems like Hagelstein and Mabrouck before dropping down to the Abbey. It’s a great mid-ride stop, whether you're after a cold beer, a coffee, or a soft drink. Just keep in mind there's still about 45 kilometers left on the route. On the return leg, the climbing continues with Côte de Rosmel, Les Waides, and La Heydt. The Altenbroek climb gets you back into the Netherlands, and the Bemelerberg wraps it all up before your final descent into Valkenburg.