Weert

Weert is a town in the Dutch province of Limburg. The town borders North Brabant and Belgium and is called The gate of Limburg. The community has almost 50,000 inhabitants.

Understand

Weert is a lively old town between North-Brabant, South-Limburg and Belgium. You can shop and it regularly hosts various events. In the vicinity are beautiful nature areas where you can make lovely walking and cycling tours.

History

Weert was first mentioned in a document in 1062. In that time it belonged to the County of Horn. This county was first governed from Horn, but later Weert became the capital. From that time Weert got an urban relation with canals, ramparts and gates. In 1414 Weert received market rights. Around 1500 the city experienced its golden age. Earl Jacob Ι of Horn built a new castle, called The Neijenborg. The St. Martinus church was built and the monastery was expanded. Due to the distastrous 80 Years War, Weert declined to a country town. The castle was destroyed in 1702 during the War of Succession. The recovery came after the construction of the Zuid-Willemsvaart in 1825. These days, Weert is one of the largest cities in Limburg.

Tourist information

Get in

By car

The A2 national highway from Amsterdam to Maastricht passes Weert 30 km south of Eindhoven. Coming from Roermond in the east follow N280 for 24 km. Parking your car in Weert will not be a big problem. There are four parking garages:

  • Stadhuisgarage - Beekstraat 54
  • Ursulinengarage - Nieuwe Markt 5
  • Kromstraat garage - Kromstraat 16
  • Poort van Limburg - Bassin 5

By bus

The bus station is opposite the train station. Line buses to Weert:

Local bus lines are 41 and 42 and both will run through the center.

By train

Weert is on the InterCity railway between Amsterdam Centraal and Maastricht via Eindhoven with two trains an hour in each direction during the day. Weert also lies on the railway between Schipol and Heerlen via Eindhoven also with two trains an hour in each direction during the day

Get around

To visit the city and the surrounding nature, the bicycle is an excellent means of transport.

  • Rijwielshop NS, Stationsweg 17a, ☏ +31 95 5121. To rent a bike, you need a valid identification. You pay a deposit ranging from €50 (for the simplest bike) to €145 (for a tandem). A bicycle without gears with coaster costs about €7.50 to €15 per day. This price includes insurance against theft. Often it is also possible to rent a touring bike with gears, a tandem bicycle or an electric bicycle 

If you need a short rest and you sit down on a terrace for a cup of coffee, don't forget to order a piece of vlaai. Weert is well-known for its pies (Weerter vlaai) which are richly stuffed and available in many flavors.

See

Weert has been voted the greenest city in the Netherlands. This is not only due to the many green in the city but also to the surrounding nature which are nice places to visit for a walk or for cycling.

  • Kempen Broek. This nature reserve is located on the borders of Belgium, North-Brabant and Limburg. It is the remnant of an out-stretched swamp with some higher, dry sand ridges stabbing above it. After partial reclamation it has become a mosaic of different landscapes. It is a special and varied landscape with marshes, dunes, forests, moors, valleys and agricultural areas. Hikers, bikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers can explore at their own pace the set routes. 
  • De Ijzeren Man, Geurtsvenweg 1. The Ijzeren Man is a recreation area and part of Kempenbroek. It is named after a lake that originated in 1912 by a sand quarry. The area has a subtropical swimming pool, a petting zoo, a nature camping and a visitors center where all kind of associations inform visitors about nature and geology with educational materials. 
  • St Martinuskerk (Saint Martin Church), Markt 1, ☏ +31 495 532110. Tu-F 11:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00, Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 14:00-16:00. This church dates from 1456 and with its 72-m-high tower it dominates the city and is well visible from all directions. The church has beautiful stained-glass windows and a striking interior light. In the 1970s, unique 15th- and 16th-century ceiling paintings were uncovered and restored. Guided tours for €35 for up to 20 people. 
  • Maria Hart Abbey, Maasstraat 17, ☏ +31 495 453045, . The abbey of the sisters Birgittinessen lies flat beside the splendid St Martinuskerk in the centre of Weert. The sisters Birgittinessen have already inhabited the convent since 1843. You can contact the abbey as there are possibilities for staying into the abbey. 
  • Kleipijpenoven (Clay pipe kiln), Noordkade 52. Built in 1856, this oven is the only remaining working worth clay pipe kiln in Western Europe. An overview of the pipes made ​​can be seen in the Gemeentemuseum 
  • St. Rumolduskapel, Molenpoort 27. First Sunday of the month 10:00-12:00. Tripartite closed hall church from the 18th century and is now memorial chapel for the fallen during World War II. 
  • Prehistoric urnfields, Trancheeweg 5 (About 200 meters west of the Trancheeweg on the Boshoverheide.). On an area of ​​approximately 2 ha are about 100 mounds of different sizes from the Bronze Age (about 1000 BC). This is the largest urnfield of the Netherlands. 
  • 🌍 Openluchtmuseum Eynderhoof, Milderspaât 1, Nederweert-Eind, . Open-air museum which aims to relive the daily life in the Peel Region around 1900, featuring around a dozen houses and workplaces. (updated Oct 2021)

Mills

In the municipality of Weert (consisting of Weert and several surrounding villages) many mills can be visited. Basically every Wednesday afternoon and on Saturdays one or more mills are opened for viewing. For information on opening times and making an appointment see the website of Molens in Weert (in Dutch only).

  • St. Anna - Keent, Keenterstraat 1. Built in 1912, the remarkable white painted Mill St. Anna has been restored. Voluntary millers ensure that the grinder is running regularly and served. 
  • St. Anna - Tungelroy, Tungeler Dorpsstraat 75. In 1875, on the outskirts of the parish Tungelroy a round stone belt grinder, St. Anne Mill, was built. The mill replaced two older mills along the Tungelroysebeek. In 1967 the interior was largely renewed and followed by a second restoration. The mill grinds regularly through the use of volunteer millers. In the mill, old miller tools and grain farming attributes are exhibited. 
  • St. Jansmolen - Stramproy (Saint John Mill), Molenweg 16. This wooden mill was built in 1804 to replace a windmill that was located a little further from the village. The Saint John Mill is the most striking windmill of the municipality of Weert and one of the oldest windmills of Limburg. To convert and wheeling the mill on the wind, the millers have to move the entire mill. The mill was restored in 2008-2009 and volunteer millers ensure that the mill turns and grinds. 
  • De Nijverheid, Veldstraat 54. This mill was built in 1903. This stone corn mill is an instruction mill of the guild of volunteer millers. The grinder is running regularly. 

There are more mills in Weert which, however, are privately owned and therefore not always open to visitors. A visit to the only watermill in Weert may also be worth it as the mill is situated beautifully in the landscape.

  • Broekmolen, Grensweg 8, Stramproy, ☏ +31 495 562253, . On demand. The watermill in its current form, built of stone, dates from 1738. In the 19th century the mill was expanded and partly used as a farmhouse. In January 2010, the mill was made ​​suitable for the generation of electricity. 

Do
  • Guided tours and Walking tours, ☏ +31 613761344. During a guided city walk you can get acquainted with the past and present of Weert. The walk takes about 2 hours. Besides a city walk, there are several other hikes, such as a culinary walk and walk to the urn field. The city walk is €35 for a group of maximum 20 people. 
  • Covered wagon ride (Hippotel), Trancheeweg 22, ☏ +31 495 550102, . M-F 10:00-22:00, Sa Su 09:00-20:00. Take a wagon ride to enjoy in a rustic way the surroundings. The wagon has space for up to 18 people and has an experienced facilitator. €65 per hour. 

Museums

Buy

In the historic center are many shops, retail as well as boutiques and specialty shops. De Munt is a covered shopping mall. There is a theater and a music school. Antiques is for sale in De Stadsbeurs.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Camp sites
  • Resort De IJzeren Man, Herenvennenweg 60, ☏ +31 495 533202. The site is attractive nestled among a large number of nature reserves in an alternating forest and meadow landscape. 
  • Paluda, Telheidestraat 1, ☏ +31 495 563040, . Paluda is a naturist association since 1980 with its own grounds of 0.6 acres south of Weert. The site is easily accessible and uniquely situated on the edge of the nature reserve de Tungeler wallen. 

Go next

Visit close by Belgium or head further to South Limburg. To the north is Eindhoven the largest city of Southern Netherlands.

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