You begin from Herzogenrath train station and go straight across the border to Kerkrade. On the way, you will pass one of the best zoos in the Netherlands and the World Garden at the Mondo Verde family fun park. On this tour, you will get to know the natural and cultural points of interest around Kerkrade and Herzogenrath. Natural highlights include the idyllic forest, field and meadow landscapes along the Wurm Valley, the Craneweyer, and the botanic garden in Kerkrade.

The largely untouched river course of the Wurm exhibits impressive dynamics as it makes its way to the sea. The force of the flowing water changes the water landscape constantly, as new watercourses, gravel shoals, erosion banks, dry river beds and floodplain forests continue to emerge. In the World Garden, you can visit all the most beautiful places on earth in one day. Stroll the 250,000 m² and admire English and Japanese gardens, the Alhambra, the Trevi Fountain, the Russian Taiga, the tropics and even a desert (more information at: www.themaparkmondoverde.nl). Also visit Craneweyer, the only reservoir dam in the Netherlands, and the must-see botanic gardens.

Along the way, animal lovers will want to stop at Gaia one of the Netherlands’ most beloved zoos (and which has been voted the most beautiful zoo in the Benelux three times running for its innovative and unique zoo concept). Here you will come face-to-face with the most spectacular animals in the world. See mighty gorillas in the “rainforest”, and watch monkeys climbing free in the trees above you in the squirrel monkey forest. Then you’ll suddenly find yourself in the frozen Taiga, encountering musk ox, lynx, wolves and noble reindeer (for more information, see www.gaiazoo.nl).

And the route also has cultural highlights. In addition to the world gardens in the Mondo Verde park, you will also find historic buildings along the route, including Rode Castle, the hallmark of the town of Herzogenrath, 13th century Erenstein Castle, and the impressive building complex of Rolduc Abbey, the largest preserved monastery complex in the Netherlands. More recently, the monastery has taken on a new life as a hotel and conference centre.

Highlights along the way:

• Rode Castle
• Wurm Valley
• Erenstein Castle
• Gaia Park
• Cranenweyer
• World Garden Mondo Verde
• Continium Discovery Center
• Rolduc Abbey