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Natural Monuments

The Balloon Column

Natural Monuments

The Balloon Column

Highlight • Monument

The Balloon Column

Recommended by 46 hikers out of 48

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Location: Venray, Limburg, Netherlands

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Best Hikes to The Balloon Column

4.5

(11)

hikers

1. De ballonzuil – Afleidingskanaal footbridge loop from Overloon

5.06km

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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.0

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2. Annapark Venray – Town Hall loop from Centrum

21.3km

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Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.4

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3. De ballonzuil – Afleidingskanaal footbridge loop from Vredepeel

8.68km

02:11

10m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Marieke Duchatteau

June 2, 2025

Here you are standing at a special piece of history and the oldest aviation monument in the Netherlands. In 1871, a French balloon landed here that had risen a little from the then besieged Paris. The balloon was intended to keep in touch with the non-besieged part of France, but was blown in a different direction by an air current. The crew, who also had secret mail and a few bottles of wine on board, decided to land in the safe Netherlands, after which they continued their journey to their original destination as soon as possible to deliver the secret mail. As a reminder of this historic event, this balloon column was unveiled in 1896.

Translated by Google •

LeLe 🌀

November 7, 2020

The balloon column, the oldest aviation monument in the Netherlands.

On 18 January 1871, a (helium) balloon landed on the heathlands north of Merselo. The balloon had taken off in Paris. At that time, Paris was besieged by Prussian troops and was cut off from the outside world. By launching balloons, contact could be maintained with the unoccupied part of France. However, one of these balloons ended up in a higher air layer and therefore drifted in a northeasterly direction.
The balloon had a diameter of 10 metres and was 25 metres high. On board, in addition to the three-man crew, was secret correspondence for the French government, which had fled to Bordeaux. Furthermore, 150 kilos of letters and parcels, 3 carrier pigeons and 4 bottles of wine.

The balloon descended in Merselo. When the French heard from the farmers that they were in the Netherlands, they felt safe and released all the gas. They said that they had taken off from Paris at 3 a.m. the previous night and that they wanted to travel to Maastricht by train as quickly as possible, so that they could continue their journey from there. After all, they had to deliver the secret correspondence to Minister Gambetta.

After eating a meal, the three Frenchmen were taken to the station with the diligence and left for Maastricht with the folded balloon and all. As a farewell, the mayor received 100 francs for the poor in Venray.

On 18 January 1896, 25 years after the landing, the balloon column was unveiled in the middle of the heath in memory. The small square obelisk now stands on a raised platform, surrounded by trees, and is the oldest aviation monument in the Netherlands.

Source: visitnoordlimburg.nl/nl/luchtvaartmonument-de-ballonzuil

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 30 m

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Wednesday 5 November

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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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Location: Venray, Limburg, Netherlands

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The Balloon Column

1. De ballonzuil – Afleidingskanaal footbridge loop from Overloon

2. Annapark Venray – Town Hall loop from Centrum

3. De ballonzuil – Afleidingskanaal footbridge loop from Vredepeel

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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