Valkenburg Netherlands Camera
August 8, 2008
Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each destruction of the city was followed by subsequent restorations. This also holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the city, of which now only a ruin remains. In December 1672 it was destroyed, not to be rebuilt. Only two city gates (the Berkelpoort and the Grendelpoort) and a part of the citywalls survived destruction. Valkenburg is no longer a fortified city but retained its importance nevertheless.
Valkenburg is situated in a beautiful part of the Netherlands which is perfectly suited for walks or (mountain) bike tours through the hilly terrain. Although the municipality Valkenburg aan de Geul only has about 18.000 inhabitants, it hosts about 1 million nights a year. Valkenburg has the oldest still existing railway station building in the Netherlands.
