Berkelpoort

The Berkelpoort is one of the three medieval city gates of the South Limburg fortified town of Valkenburg. The heavily restored gate made of Limburgish marl has been protected as a national monument since 1967.

In 1329, the fortress of Valkenburg was besieged by Duke Jan III of Brabant and defended by Walram II, son of Reinoud van Valkenburg. After the capture, the castle and fortifications were demolished. During the reconstruction, it was decided to change the layout of the town to better defend it in the future. The bed of the river Geul was slightly shifted northward, and a city wall was built around the town center, equipped with towers and three gates, and connected to the castle of Valkenburg on the Heunsberg. The gate, which was probably built around 1335, is named after a certain Heinric van Birckelaer, owner of the fief Nederheim, now known as Neerhem.

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