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Limburg

Eijsden-Margraten

Groeve de Hel

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Netherlands

Limburg

Eijsden-Margraten

Groeve de Hel

135 people recommended this place

Recommended by 135 hikers out of 140

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Savelsbos

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Location: Eijsden-Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands

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3. Groeve de Hel – Beech Avenue in Savelsbos loop from Rijckholt

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Tips

April 5, 2025

How old the Great and Small Hell quarries are is difficult to say with precision, but they are certainly sixteenth century. A clue can be found in a small niche where the date 1587 is thinly scratched and almost illegible on the 24th day…. Furthermore, a single date from the seventeenth century and various dates from the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Quite a few inscriptions can be found in the hell quarries, such as somewhat cryptic: “Sister of the sunbeam, a white rose in the bouquet, a lily on the foliage, a swan whose down does not recognize its border, a star in the blue firmament”. Or edifying: You who enter here, let all feuds go”. And what about: “Never again will I come here to the accursed caverns”.

Sometimes visitors to Hell could barely save themselves. “Today, the 1st (February).. Around 12 o’clock in the morning of 1823, a terrible number of blocks fell down, under which the three of us had stood, named Matthijs Ramakers of Margerate, Matthieu Schrijnemaekers Gronsfeld W. Theunissen. We thank God that he has preserved us from death”.

A major collapse occurred in June 1965. This was not surprising, as the stability of the Kleine Hel in particular was questionable. Several columns showed cracks and there had been a lot of overexploitation. Not long after, the entrances were closed. Nevertheless, in December 1982, members of the Vereniging tot Natuurbehoud managed to visit the Helgroeve. A report of the trip can be found in Ut Wiet Klief of July 1984. During the trip through the marl corridors, the nature lovers came across a number of inscriptions, sometimes just a name, then again a year.

A number of inscriptions that were encountered spoke for themselves. Two examples: ‘I am in Hell, I know that. I am all alone here. The devil knows where my comrades are.’ Or what about: ‘Watch out for those who love the Devil, because here in this place that has always borne the name of Hell, the devils are innumerable.’ Or: ‘He who looks at this monster (devil) is even more mad than he who made him.’ ‘Workman from this mountain, what you are now I have been and what I am now (skeleton) you will soon be.

Anyone who wants to read more about the most fascinating text in the quarry according to the author of the above article or wants to know everything about the accident of January 17, 1893, goes to historischekringcadierenkeer.nl/nieuws/55-publicaties-keerder-kroniek/kent-u-deze-plek-links/928-de-hel.html

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Outdoor Aixplorer

June 2, 2020

Old marl quarry. The entrance was closed for bat protection.

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Outdoor Aixplorer

June 2, 2020

Very nicely located in the forest. The entire forest is crisscrossed with old pits.

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Elevation 120 m

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Saturday 4 October

18°C

10°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 34.0 km/h

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Location: Eijsden-Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands

Groeve de Hel

1. Bemelerberg Cave – Strooberg Quarry loop from Berg en Terblijt

2. Groeve de Hel – Riesenberg Vineyard loop from Cadier en Keer

3. Groeve de Hel – Beech Avenue in Savelsbos loop from Rijckholt

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