Junction bikes between Bree and Maaseik

Beautiful nature reserves trump on this trip that takes you from Bree to Maaseik. Along the way you drive along the nature reserves Zig and Goort. They consist of groves, meadows, fields, low peat bogs and 17 ha of ponds with reed edges and swamp zones. After enjoying a nice picnic – plenty of spots on this route! – you end up at the Maas, near the border with the Netherlands. You will arrive at "De Spaenjerd", the largest inland port in Western Europe. We continue our journey along the Maasdijk, to Aldeneik, the hamlet around which Maaseik has grown. We conclude with some interesting sights such as Nieuwenhof Castle and the Keyartmolen.

1. Appointment in Tongerlo (Bree) on the square (V) formed by the Dorpstraat and the Poststraat. Café 't Sjasse has been here since 1885, now also as a bicycle café. Cycle to the church and take the Solterweg on the left just before and follow direction junction 14. You immediately have to turn left again, into the Pastorijstraat. First drive 50 m further to the Itterbeek, to the Galdermansmolen (1), a grinding watermill of the underlay type from 1770. Via the Pastorijstraat and the Schransstraat, immediately on the right, you reach the Groenstraat, which leaves the village of Tongerlo to the right. Through an open agricultural landscape you follow the very long Groenstraat to the end.
2. On the corner, with the Holy Ritakapel (2) from 1979, take the Diekerstraat on the left, on kinrooi territory. Along a grove and meadows to the busy Bree-Kinrooi road. Carefully over and then follow the Belestraat. At the intersection with the Mariakapelletje, take the Broekstraat to the left. Between the fields and the meadows you reach junction 14. Turn right here, towards junction 18, then past a small, tall orchard and between meadows and fields. Broekstraat becomes Kampstraat and a little further the Brandstraat takes you to the left at the nature reserve de Zig. Past a charming blue and white chapel, turn left at the end of the Brandstraat.
3. On the territory of Molenbeersel continue through the nature reserve the Zig. Please note, carefully cross the Weertersteenweg. On the other side continue through the Doorslagstraat, direction Zig and Goort. Cross the Lossing and cycle past parking 2 of nature reserve Zig en Goort. Then the Grote Renne over and past parking 1 of Zig and Goort with a very nice picnic area. The Manestraat and the Heyerbeemdstraat lead you around the nature reserve. Further between corn fields and then between meadows and vegetable fields. Just before junction 18 you drive past the chapel of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. Junction 18 is located at a crossroads. Right in front of you is border marker 140, with a picnic area. However, our tour turns right here, in the Manestraat, towards junction 19. Cross the Itterbeek and take the Dolenweg on the left at the crossroads. After a farm with an information board about leek cultivation you arrive at junction 19. Turn left here, towards junction 20, with beautiful views and an agricultural landscape. In Hoeve Engelenveld you can taste farm ice cream (daily, from Easter Monday to October).
4. . Borgitter Castle At the end of the narrow Lakerweg is junction 20. On the left, on the corner, is the classicist castle Borgitter (3) (18th century, with corner tower from 1610 in Meuse style). On the neerhof is the Borghmolen, a 17th-century water mill. The Kasteelstraat goes left to the Dutch Neeritter, whose church can be seen behind a vegetable field. Follow the Kasteelstraat to the right, direction junction 21. Via the Kleine Kasteelstraat you reach the busy Venlosesteenweg. On the right is the former customs office. On the other side you follow the Vijverbroekstraat, a narrow asphalt road, further on car-free. You cycle past the Vijverbroek nature reserve (140 ha of breeding area for marsh and water birds) and then climb into Kessenich. Junction 21 is located at Tearoom De Luije Hook. Here you choose on the right, the Kerkstraat, direction church and junction 22. Climb past the old water pump to the church and turn right behind the picturesque white house. You climb out of Kessenich via the Meierstraat and then take the Kempweg on the left. On the left is a large gravel lake. Continue to a square with a chapel-like building containing a crucifix. Turn left here, continue past the church of Geistingen and turn left again before 't Orgelhuys. Along the front of the church to the Steenberg (4). From the terrace of the tavern of the same name you have a beautiful view of the gravel lake with sandy beach and marina De Spaanjerd (5).
5. Along the Maas Cycle further along the Dalerweg, along the gravel lake, with on the right the ivy-covered old mill hull (1806) of Ophoven. At the T-junction turn left and past some catering establishments to the Maas. Next to hotel-restaurant-tavern De Spaenjerd, also a bicycle café, is junction 22. From 1 May to 30 September you can also transfer to Stevensweert in the Netherlands. But our tour continues over the Maasdijk, to the right, towards Aldeneik, the hamlet around which Maaseik grew. Past restaurant and camping park De Leeuwerik and café-tavern De Sjeiven Dörpel. At junction 25, follow the Houtweg to the right, towards junction 27, until you reach the busy Venlosesteenweg. Follow it to the right for a moment, carefully crossing to a road only for agricultural vehicles. Past some farms and the football field of V.V. Ven carefully cross the busy Kinrooi-Maaseik road (Weertersteenweg) and via the Gremeloseweg to junction 27. Turn right, direction junction 28, now in the Vlakerweg. In a bend you will see Castle Nieuwenhof and further on the more modest Castle Oudenhof.
6. Jagersbos At junction 28 straight ahead, direction junction 13, through the Jagersbos nature reserve with beautiful picnic area to a busy road (do not cross!). Make a sharp left turn here and continue cycling along a dead end road. Via the Veestraat, to the right, and the Tiendestraat, again on the right, you come to the busy Kinrooiersteenweg. Be careful about it and then follow the Old Pit. Furthermore through a beautiful nature reserve with bushes, meadows and meadows, private property of Schutterij Sint-Anna from Voorshoven and forbidden access. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along this winding road with limited traffic. Via the Solterweg you come to junction 13 with picnic area and to the pedestrian bridge Gruitrode-Solt (do not cross). Now follow the towpath with stately trees, next to the Zuid-Willemsvaart, to the right until junction 12 with passantenhaven (5) and café De Kieper, with terrace and view of the canal. Just in front of the café is the Keyartmolen. This watermill from 1139 had a wooden underlay wheel until 1923, which was replaced by a now completely silted turbine. Now cycle towards junction 14. At the church of Tongerlo, which you had been eyeing for a while, straight on to the square where you started.