23 April 2021

Long Distance walk RivierPark Maas Valley is Hiking Route of the Year 2021

The Long Distance walk in the RivierPark Maas Valley in Belgian and Dutch Limburg has been declared the Hiking Route of the Year 2021. The jury made their choice known on the first day of the Fiets en Wandelbeurs Online Experience.

As with the event itself, the awarding of the accompanying Hiking Trophy took place 100% digitally because of the restrictive measures in place. The other nominees were hiking Network ‘de Merode’ (Belgium), Streekpad Westfriese Omringdijk (Netherlands), Pad van de Vrijheid (Netherlands) and the Oude Bondswandeling from Nijmegen to Plasmolen and back (Netherlands).

Major extension of route

The Long Distance walk in the RivierPark Maas Valley was extended in 2020: from 52 km on the Flemish bank to a renewed long distance route of 137 km in a loop on both sides of the Border Maas. With Maastricht in the south and Maasbracht in the north. This border-crossing route connects the 11 communities in the RivierPark Maas Valley and brings you through the most beautiful landscape and lively villages.

Plus points

The jury praised the RivierPark route for its attention to areas of unspoilt nature and hiking through fields and meadows, the good signposting in both directions, the border crossing character and the co-operation between Belgian and Dutch partners. The jury rated the handy website, which enables visitors to combine the RivierPark route with local walks both in Belgium as well as in the Netherlands, as a plus point, along with the well documented map folder.

Just as in previous years, recent or recently changed routes from the Netherlands, Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg could try their hand at winning the honorary title. A total of 17 nominated routes were tested out practically by the jury, hiking hundreds of kilometers in the process.

More information: Rivierparkmaasvallei.eu.