Wanting to head out close to home? Avoid crowds and ensure you and others are safe

Summer holidays this year are going to be rather different from what we are used to. Many people are staying at home or going on holiday in their local area. Safety is key this year, and this also applies when you head out in your local area. Together, we can limit or avoid crowds and ensure that everyone can stay safe. We asked Visit Maastricht and Visit Zuid-Limburg for tips on how to enjoy your local region safely and responsibly this summer.

Tip #1

City centres are very busy, so avoid crowds and look for the hidden-away, quieter areas in the city such as Maastricht's Sphinxkwartier and Wyck neighbourhoods or Heerlen's Maankwartier neighbourhood. This will ensure that you make the most of your visit and can safely maintain social distance from others.

Tip #2

Have you already been to the most beautiful museums in South Limburg? This includes the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht, SCHUNCK in Heerlen, De Domijnen in Sittard, and Cube Design in Kerkrade – and many more. Visiting a museum is a great way to slow down, soak up some culture, and cool down during a hot summer's day. 

Tip #3

Get your walk on! Put on your most comfy pair of walking shoes and explore the hilly landscape. We recommend a walk around St. Pietersberg Hill or booking a walking tour of the caves and heading underground. In Heerlen, you can explore the Roman district. Sittard is home to De 24 Geheime Tuinen (the 24 secret gardens). We would also recommend visiting the Brunssummerheide recreational area, GaiaZOO, or Kasteelpark Born.

Tip #4

Grab your picnic basket and head out on a culinary afternoon in the park or in nature. What better reason to visit a number of local delicatessens and buy some speciality foods or treats? You could also order a ready-made picnic basket. We recommend searching for options in your local municipality.

Tip #5

Explore South Limburg by bicycle thanks to the 'fietsknooppuntenkaart' (map of cycling junctions). You can order the map on the Visit Zuid-Limburg website. It's the perfect way to explore how much of a paradise South Limburg is for cyclists, thanks to the routes along the Meuse, over the hills, and winding through miles of forests.

For more tips about day trips to Maastricht, visit www.visitmaastricht.nl and for tips about day trips to South Limburg visit www.visitzuidlimburg.com.

Have fun on your local day out! Keep a safe distance from others and consider other people. Above all, remember to enjoy yourself!