Midweek by camper in the heart of Limburg
As digital nomads searching for a farm in Spain or France, Jolien and Lukas are regularly on the road in their colorful camper van, "Dolly." In their quest for self-sufficiency, Limburg was still undiscovered territory. How's a midweek of online work and small adventures in the Hart van Limburg region?
Day 1: Small adventure on the Roer
We drive our campervan, Dolly, along long lanes and past green fields to Sint Odiliënberg. Ramon is waiting for us there, standing next to a brightly colored canoe. He gives us instructions and tells us that catfish up to 1,5 meters long can be found in the Roer River, and that we might spot kingfishers and even the rare bee-eater along the way. The current carries us on the eight kilometers to Roermond. We enjoy the beautiful nature reserve. The route is open to the public for four months of the year. We're at the tail end of the season and are fortunate to have beautiful September weather. An hour and a half later, Ramon is waiting for us at the finish line, just before Roermond. We drive Dolly to Landwinkel Schurenhof in Vlodrop, run by Ramon's family. We enjoy a well-deserved coffee and pie on the cozy farmhouse terrace on the Roer River.
Day 2: Cheese tasting in Nederweert
Have you ever tried beer cheese, coffee cheese, or cheese with Mexican spices? We're "testing" our taste buds at Mildershoof Cheese Factory in Nederweert. This dairy farm makes its own cheeses, which you can sample and buy at the cheese and delicatessen shop on the farm or in the heart of Roermond. Farmer Anton takes us on a fascinating tour of the cheese factory and ripening room. He collaborates with local businesses such as brewers, coffee makers, and delicatessens. We're fans of the truffle cheese. How many kilos would fit in Dolly?
Just a half-hour drive from Germany, Belgium, and Brabant, you'll find Kreijelhof Camper Site in Ospel. Situated on former asparagus fields, there are 17 paved pitches and a small grassy area. Kreijelhof is open year-round. The facilities are excellent, with beautiful sanitary facilities, a wheelchair-accessible bathroom, a washer and dryer, and good Wi-Fi.
Day 3: An adventure tour through the Groote Peel
In the early morning sun, we drive Dolly from the camper site towards De Groote Peel National Park. At De Pelen Outdoor Centre, we meet guide Ine, who has been volunteering here for years. The "experience tour" through the former peat extraction area, also fun with children, takes about an hour and a half and leads through a landscape of water, marsh, and peat. Ine tells us how to bandage wounds with ribwort plantain, cure coughs with pine buds, and collect a jar of scents. From lookouts, we see the large herbivores that manage the area, a buzzard, dancing dragonflies, and even a smooth snake along the path. We almost lose track of time, but we have to catch the ferry from Kessel to Beesel to explore the other side of the Meuse.
The ferry takes us from Kessel to Beesel in less than a minute for €3,70, and we attract quite a few visitors with Dolly. On the other side, we visit Molen de Grauwe Beer (Grauwe Beer Mill). This old sawmill is situated on a hill to catch some extra wind. It's like a small museum. They have the most delicious tea and cake, and on Saturdays, a volunteer miller is always available to give a tour. We found it very interesting.
Tip: Take a stroll through the Ouddorp neighborhood with its old houses, white facades, and colorful gardens. Enjoy pie and coffee (a cold beer, in our case) at one of the terraces on the charming square in the Dragon Village of Beesel. Dragons are everywhere—a bronze statue in the square, in the mosaic artwork by the church, on signs on the front doors, and even on the lampposts.
Day 4: Work and enjoy
Despite all the fun adventures, we still have to work. We do this (partly) online, with Dolly serving as our office. We're happy with the excellent Wi-Fi at Camping van Kempenhof, which has a total of 38 spacious pitches. Owner Janine runs the campsite with her mother Corrie, and her brother Rick runs a pizzeria with a covered terrace on the property, where we enjoy a delicious pizza in the evening.
Day 5: In the footsteps of the Vikings
The Norman Route, a walk of approximately five kilometers, begins in Asselt at B&B Het Rozenhofje. The information boards with audio stories take us back to the time of savages, battles, and ancient crafts. We walk through the picturesque village center, past the Dionysus Church, the Asselt Cultural History Museum, and the harbor of Ascloa. Behind the fields full of pear trees, sugar beets, and corn, we see a beautiful farmhouse looming. The Genaenhof, a municipal monument near Swalmen, was once a dairy farm. Now, nature, small-scale agriculture, and social functions play a significant role in this multifunctional farm. We pet the sheep, browse the vegetable garden, and buy two delicious apple juices in the farm shop. What inspiration for our own farm dream!
We park Dolly in the field of the welcoming Maasterras campsite, right on the Maasplassen lakes. Time to get some work done. In the evening, we watch the sailboats on the water and enjoy a delicious dinner at Restaurant Boei.
As avid campers, we highly recommend the Hart van Limburg region. Here, you'll find all the comforts of home, yet it feels like you're abroad. The Meuse River, the farmland, the national parks, the cultural heritage – and everything is easily accessible by camper.
Bio: Lukas (36) and Jolien (38) live in Amsterdam with their cat Pablo. Jolien works as a freelance illustrator at Studio Stunner and Lukas is flexible in his job as a risk managerA year and a half ago, they bought a cheerful rainbow camper (a 544 Hymer B1988) and named it Dolly. You can follow their adventures on Instagram. https://instagram.nl/@drivingdolly.
