Valkenburg, only a 20 minutes drive east of Maastricht is a gorgeous little town with lots to see and do. Surprisingly for the Netherlands, there are hills, and so many of the Valkenburg highlights are about things that are either on top or under the hills. There are hills with chairlifts (A GoGo Valkenburg), and there are hills with castles.
The Valkenburg Castle is a 12th century, considered to be one of the most important Dutch fortifications, and the only Dutch castle set on a hill. It has seen many regional wars mostly with the Spanish and the French making their way up to conquer the north, so there’s not that much left. But, a walk through the ruins is a step back in time, and with some unique panoramic views of the picturesque Valkenburg old town.
Location:
Definitely one of the highlights in visiting Valkenburg, and it is usually combined with a tour of the nearyby underground man-made tunnels. Do not miss this if you’re in the area.