← Maastricht Marathon·1 night

Valkenburg: Marl Caves and a Castle Ruin After Maastricht

A small hill town in the Dutch province of Limburg with underground marl quarries, a ruined castle and a gentle walking street.

Duration1 night
TransitNS train from Maastricht to Valkenburg, about 20 minutes
DepartsMaastricht Centraal

After the Maastricht Marathon: Valkenburg

The Route: Maastricht → Valkenburg → Schiphol Airport Logistics: NS train, about 20 minutes, usually with a change at Heerlen. Valkenburg station is a 5-minute walk from the town centre. Marathon Month: May Duration: 1 night

Maastricht ──(about 20 min, NS)──> Valkenburg
                                      │
Schiphol Airport (AMS) <──(about 2h30, NS)──┘

Valkenburg sits in a fold of the only hill country in the Netherlands, and underneath it the rock is hollow. For centuries people quarried a soft limestone, marl, from beneath the town, and the abandoned tunnels hold chalk carvings, a chapel, and a constant temperature of around 10°C. Above ground is a castle ruin, a main street of cafés and a view of a ridge called the Cauberg, which is famous in cycling.

Pay with a contactless card or OVpay and check the NS planner for connections.

May in Valkenburg: highs of 16°C to 18°C above ground, with showers. The caves are cool, so bring a layer. Check opening hours, because some attractions open for limited days.

Night One: Valkenburg

The Gemeentegrot, the municipal cave, is an easy, level underground walk with guided tours of about an hour. Entry costs around €10 and prices vary, so use the figure as a guide only. Check the current schedule and book ahead. The paths are damp and uneven in places, so wear shoes with grip.

The castle ruin sits on a hill at the edge of the town centre. The path up is steep, so view it from below, or take it slowly if your legs allow. Nearby, the main street, Grendelplein and Theodoor Dorrenplein, is flat and pedestrian, with benches.

Hotels cluster around Grendelplein and Theodoor Dorrenplein. Confirm lifts and breakfast times when you book, and ask for a ground-floor room if stairs are a problem.

Dinner is simple, with cafés serving Limburg vlaai, a fruit pie, and zuurvlees. Reserve on weekends.

Arrive on Sunday evening or Monday morning, and leave luggage at the hotel on arrival. If you want an easy extra walk, follow the Geul stream to the edge of town on a flat path.

Getting to Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Valkenburg to Schiphol takes about 2 hours 30 minutes by train with changes. Check the NS planner. Airport station is beneath Schiphol Plaza, with lifts to the terminal.