Three Countries and the Hills of the Netherlands - Full Itinerary
THREE COUNTRIES and the HILLS of the Netherlands 7th–11th July 2027 ·
Five days, four nights, one base near Maastricht.
Little lanes, rolling hills, castles and café stops—with a bit of Belgium and Germany thrown in. Unpack once and enjoy three full days exploring.
Wednesday 7th July
Meet at our hotel in Ashford in readiness for our morning jaunt across the Channel on a Le Shuttle SAVER FARE at just £112 return. A meet up in the bar and a group ride brief to make sure we are all on the same page.
Thursday 8th July
Across the Channel to Maastricht
An early (ish) Channel crossing, then we ride through Belgium towards our base near Maastricht. A practical travelling day, using some motorway to leave time for breaks and a comfortable arrival. Check in, get settled and gather for a welcome dinner and our first evening pint.
Friday 9 July
The Mergelland Route
A full day discovering the hilly corner of the Netherlands (yes there ARE hills and we are going to ride them !), quiet lanes, half-timbered houses, villages and countryside views. Follow the signed Mergelland driving route through places such as Eijsden, Slenaken and Epen, with coffee, lunch and photo stops. Include Vaals and the Three-Country Point (Drielandenpunt), where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. The published driving loop is currently around 114 km, leaving plenty of time to explore. Maybe a castle-view stop and a detour through the vineyard country around Vijlen. We return to base for dinner and an evening in Maastricht.
Saturday 10 July
Three Nations, One Great Ride
Our longer riding day: leave Maastricht through the Belgian countryside, head towards Eupen, then cross into Germany for Monschau. Park up for lunch and a wander around the old town, before returning through Belgium’s Pays de Herve, with a proposed stop at Val-Dieu Abbey. Its courtyard, basilica and park are open to visitors, and there’s a restaurant for refreshments. Any guided visit would need arranging separately, then, back to Maastricht for our final dinner—three nations explored!
Sunday 11 July
Homeward Bound
Breakfast, pack up and ride back through Belgium to the Channel crossing, with breaks along the way. Accommodation can be arranged for you if you prefer to stay near Ashford on our return rather than ride all the way through to your base.
Our accommodation is a luxury apartment at the Dormio Resort just outside the City of Maastricht with four twin rooms each with their own bathroom (one with a bath), a living area with TV, open plan kitchen and dining area, furnished garden terrace with outdoor fireplace, jacuzzi, sauna and outdoor shower.
