Three Countries, One Day

The goal for the day was to get from Maastricht to Robertville, Belgium in order to hike westward through a valley the next morning. This route worked out nicely to take in some sights along the way:

Drielandenpunt

The first stop was the point where the Belgian, Dutch, and German borders meet. Much like the Four Corners Monument in the US, it’s just a place for tourists to stop and spend a few dollars. The cafe turned out to be quite good for a snack and a cup of coffee with a spectacular view. There were also play areas for children and a labyrinth, but that was for an extra fee and appeared to be closed anyhow. Given how close this was to the next stop, no regrets.

ADDED BONUS: The highest point in the Netherlands is located almost right next to the three-way border. The lesson is that if you’re in Dutch territory and the elevation is going up, you’re not going to be in Dutch territory for very long. Note that they made sure to include the extra half-meter of elevation over 322.

Aachen, Germany

There isn’t too much to say about Aachen. The signs are in a different language, but it’s surrounded by the same hills and fall leaves as Limburg. It has a moderate number of historical buildings, making for a rather pleasurable three-hour visit. The standout was the interior of Aachen Cathedral. Every inch of it is a work of art.

This is the regional flatbread called “Flammkuchen.” The bread is thin and cracker-like, and it’s spread with crème fraîche (something like sour cream). This one is topped with pastrami, egg, Manchego cheese, and what appears to be arugula. Coming to the table with preconceptions from countless pizzas and flatbreads, the first bite is surprising, and even a bit confusing to the palate, but the shock gives way to the realization that it’s delicious.

There’s always time to turn around for one last shot on the way out.

Robertville – Previewing the Hike

Robertville sits on a man-made lake with a dam on the north side. Just northwest of the dam, a castle overlooks a valley with a stream flowing through the length of it. Arriving during daylight hours allowed for taking a walk around the east side of the castle and getting an overview of the terrain. The sheer size of it and the tree cover make it look rather intimidating for a hike, but, even with a loaded pack, it turns out to be less exhausting than wandering through Ghent for an entire day.

Hey, look, it’s a wooden bridge that must be part of the trail! What bridge? Let’s zoom in.

Look at the dark spot in the lower-right quadrant, just to the right of the foreground tree’s yellow leaves. Noticing it gave a moment of pause, wondering if it was really a good idea for a solo hike. (SPOILER: It was.)

Somehow the room fit right in with being in such a small town.

At least the view out the window was nice.

Up Next

Photos from the hike and the now-completed visit to Luxembourg are on the way. This is being written from Dinant, Belgium a few hours before heading back to the Netherlands to stay in Rotterdam.