Netherlands, Belgium, & Germany: Cycling Through Time

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW:  If you look at a map of the Netherlands, there is a little teardrop of land in the Limburg Province that hangs off to the south, nestled between Belgium and Germany with the beautiful historic university city of Maastricht in the center. This is the starting point for our 12-day 3-country tour exploring picturesque villages with whitewashed and half-timbered homes, green nature reserves, castles, ancient abbeys, breweries, archeological sites, national parks, Roman history, WWII history and more. The region has been a key player during Roman times, the Carolingian Dynasty, the Industrial Revolution, and WWII up to the present. Distances are on the low side so you can maximize your exploration time.

This loop ride, beginning and ending in Maastricht, takes you on a little-known rail-trail, on numbered and well-marked sections of Eurovelo routes, Meuse (Maas) cycle route, Archeo-route Limburg, German Rur Radweg and others.

This is the second time this tour has been offered so all routes have been scouted and updated from the 2024 tour by your Dutch native co-leader, Margaret. In 2024, this tour was titled Not Just a Flat Netherlands – 3 Country Tour. The tour name has been updated to better reflect the time spent in all 3 countries, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

ITINERARY:  Day 1 We will meet for a 'get to know you' social hour at 5:30 pm at the NH Maastricht hotel. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, settled by Romans at the beginning of the first century.

Day 2 (27 km or 17 mi. 565 m, 1853 ft.) Today we ride a short distance from our hotel in Maastricht which gives you time to explore the Valkenburg area and go cave biking! You can also climb to the Castle Ruins (the only castle built on a hill in the Netherlands) and view the Velvet Caves, a maze of 12th century passageways beneath the Castle Ruins. You can then wander through the Old Town where you'll find many restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Day 3 (66 km or 41 mi, 330 m, 1082 ft.) Today we ride from our hotel in Maastricht for an educational, scenic and varied ride following sections of the LF Maasroute (https://www.lfmaasroute.nl/en), Eurovelo 19 (Meuse Cycle Route https://en.eurovelo.com/ev19) and the Archeo-Route Limburg (https://archeoroutelimburg.nl/en). The landscape along the Maas river bears many traces of the battle between man and water.

Day 4 (53 km or 33 mi. 565 m, 1853 ft.) Today we move from Maastricht to Eupen, Belgium following the Maas River. You will pass through the picturesque town of Eijsden, before heading away from the river. After 28 km (17 mi) you will come to the Abbey of Val Dieu, near Aubel which was founded in 1216 by Cistercian monks. This abbey is a haven of peace in the heart of the land of Herve. You have time to visit the abbey before cycling on to Eupen, Belgium.

Day 5 (85 km or 53 mi. 662 m, 2171 ft.) Today we move to Duren, Germany with a steady climb out of Eupen and then downhill most of the way. Much of today's ride is on the border between Germany and Belgium, following a section of the little-known rail trail the Venn Bahn.

Day 6 (48 km or 29 mi. 687 m), 2253 ft.) Today we move to Vaals, Netherlands, a small city straddling borders.

Day 7 Today is a rest day in Vaals known for the Drielandenpunt, the Tri-point on the Dutch, German and Belgian borders; the only place where the 3 countries touch – just a short distance from the town center. At the Tri-point, you can be in three countries at the same time!

Day 8 (64 km or 40 mi. 676 m, 2217 ft.) Today we move to Monschau, Germany with some gradual climbing following sections of Eurovelo 3 route and the Venn Bahn rail trail through varied landscapes. If you didn't have time to cycle to the Drielandenpunt (Tri-point) yesterday, you will be cycling through it again today when we leave Vaals.

Day 9 Today is a rest day in the charming resort town of Monschau built around the River Rur. Monschau, a historical center for wool production, cloth and trade and is also known for its medieval center with half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets. An optional ride will be provided.

Day 10 (77 km or 48 mi. 584 m, 1916 ft.) Today we return to Maastricht on designated bike paths, unpaved rail trail and quiet roads through quaint villages and forest.

Day 11 Today we have a tour of the underground tunnels in Maastricht. The Caves of Maastricht, or the Maastricht Underground, are a collection of quarries dating back to the 13th century originally dug to mine limestone. 8,000 tunnels are still intact. Over the centuries, art was drawn on the walls and during WWII, the quarry was used to store valuable paintings (including The Night Watch by Rembrandt) and armaments that could be used against the Germans. The military and over 6,000 citizens took shelter in the quarries during WWII.

Day 12 (65 km or 40 mi. 335 m, 1099 ft.) Today you have an option to ride to Tongeren, Belgium, the oldest city in Belgium. You can visit the Gallo-Roman Museum with displays ranging from prehistory to Roman times. In the main square is the 19th-century statue of Ambiorix, a local king who defeated the invading Romans in 54 B.C. The remains of the medieval walls surround the city center.

Day 13 Departure Day Return of rental bikes this morning.

RIDE RATING: The ride rating of this tour is 2B, with 11 ride days, 5 mandatory. The mandatory ride days have an average distance of 65 km or 41 miles and 635 m or 1639 feet elevation. Day 5, a move day, is 3 miles over the top distance of 50 miles for a B rating. Some routes have short, steep grades. Most of the riding will be on dedicated cycle paths or on quiet farm roads. Some sections are unpaved on hard packed gravel or dirt; some sections are on main roads with bicycle lanes. All routes have been planned with RideWithGPS, following designated international routes and regional and local routes.

LOGISTICS: The tour starts and ends in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands. To get to the centrally located NH Maastricht hotel from Schiphol Amsterdam airport, there are direct trains to Maastricht Central station which leave regularly; then there is another short train ride or taxi to the hotel.

We will be riding mostly on paved trails and on dirt or crushed packed-rock paths, roads, and cobblestones for short stretches. All bikes for this tour should have at least 32 mm tires. Road bikes are not suitable for this tour. E-bikes are acceptable. Tandems are accepted but are difficult to transport on local trains should the riders opt to shorten any day’s route by taking the train.

Rental bikes will be available through COURTENS BIKE SPORTS (Courtensbikesports.nl) in Maastricht. Participants are responsible for and must pay separately for their bike rentals. The ride leader will arrange for delivery of the bicycles to the hotel on day one. We will arrange for storage of your bike box at the hotel if needed - please confirm with the ride leader if you need storage. Arrival one night before the start date is recommended for those who have rented a bicycle. It is the participant’s responsibility to book the extra night – the leaders will provide details about the starting hotel.

ETIAS Travel Authorization: ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa waiver for short-term stays in Europe and has been in the works for almost a decade. ETIAS is not a visa but it will be required for some travelers to the EU, including Americans and Canadians. The roll-out is currently expected to begin at some point in 2025. More information on the requirement will be provided to tour participants by Spring 2026. More information can be found here: https://etias.com.

LODGING AND MEALS: The tour cost includes 12 nights’ accommodation in 3-4 star hotels, including breakfast, 12 happy hours with a glass of wine/beer or soft drink and 7 group dinners where participants will be responsible for their own drinks. Lunches and daytime snacks will be on your own with many options to choose from along the routes.

WEATHER: The average September high temperature is approximately 65F (18C) with lows averaging 49F (9C) and being in the mountains there is likely to be some rain. Riders should be prepared for all types of weather.

LUGGAGE: The van will transport the luggage each move day. Each rider is expected to drop off their luggage at the announced time. Participants are expected to handle their own luggage and to help with loading and unloading the van. Due to limited space and handling requirements, we limit everyone to two pieces of luggage. Each piece of luggage must not exceed 25 lbs. Two small duffel bags tend to work well.

CUE SHEETS, MAPS AND GPS FILES: RWGPS routes will be provided approximately 1 month prior to the start of the tour. Participants will receive an email containing a link to the EVENT file. Participants will need to have downloaded (at the minimum) the free version of the RWGPS app to receive the voice turn-by-turn directions. RWGPS can be run on a Garmin device and/or smartphone. Participants wanting cue sheets or maps will need to print their own from the file provided.

COST AND ADMIN: The tour cost is USD $3000, which includes luggage transfers on all mandatory ride days. The cost is based on an exchange rate of 1 Euro = 1.16 USD. A deposit of $2000 is due within 7 days of being accepted on the ride. The final payment of USD $1000 is due March 1, 2026. The final payment may be adjusted depending on the USD/Euro currency exchange rate.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leaders and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

SINGLES AND SOLO: Singles and solos are a great addition to any ride and are most welcome to join. A “single” is a participant who wishes to share a room. It is highly recommended that singles find their own roommate prior to signing up. The Ride Leader will assist in matching up singles who apply for the ride. If a single rider is accepted by the Ride Leader, they will be moved from the Waitlist to the Pending list and instructed to disregard BAC’s automated payment requests. Thesingle rider will have a reserved spot for 14 days. If a roommate is not found in this time frame, the single rider will be moved from the Pending list back to the Waitlist. If a roommate is found, both single riders will then be put on the Pending list and their deposits and all other payments due will be required at that time.

A “solo” is a person who does not wish to share a room and pays the solo supplement of $1,100 by check or Zelle by March 1, 1026. Instructions for making the solo supplement payment will be shared with solo participants as needed. Due to limited hotel capacity, this tour will only accept 2 solos.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs onto the tour and what costs can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for additional costs incurred by a single occupying a double room. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean up. We ask all participants not to interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENT: Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible.

SIGN-UP: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is a $100.00 international ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed and you have signed the ROL, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.