Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Iron Rhine Railway in De Meinweg

Iron Rhine Railway in De Meinweg

Highlight • Monument

Iron Rhine Railway in De Meinweg

Name: Iron Rhine Railway in De Meinweg
Rating: 2

Recommended by 127 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

De Meinweg

Save

Location: Roerdalen, Limburg, Netherlands

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Iron Rhine Railway in De Meinweg

4.7

(295)

1,033

hikers

1. Bohlensteg im De Meinweg – Dalheimer Mühle loop from Dalheim

11.6km

02:59

60m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.7

(65)

291

hikers

2. Dalheim Mill – Boardwalk in De Meinweg loop from Effeld

11.7km

03:02

60m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.7

(65)

199

hikers

3. Boardwalk in De Meinweg – Rode Beek (Rothenbach) loop from Wildenrath

10.3km

02:38

40m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Tips

July 26, 2025

In 1839, the Netherlands recognized Belgium's independence. The Separation Treaty (also known as the Treaty of London or the Treaty of the XXIV Articles) stipulated that East Limburg would remain part of the Netherlands. This is the present-day Dutch province of Limburg, which separates Flanders from Germany. However, Belgium was allowed, at its own expense, to build a road or canal connection from Antwerp through Dutch Limburg to Germany. Ultimately, a railway, the "Iron Rhine," was chosen.

Construction began in 1869, and the route opened in 1879. The Dutch section runs between Budel and Vlodrop.

After the outbreak of World War I in 1914, invoking Dutch neutrality, the Iron Rhine was closed to German rail traffic. It was reopened after the war, but its importance gradually declined. Between 1915 and 1917, the Germans had built another railway line, the Montzen Route or Montzen Line. The Montzen Route connects the port of Antwerp with Aachen in Germany, via Aarschot, Hasselt, the Voerstreek, and Montzen. It bypasses the southernmost point of the Netherlands. After 1918, Belgium increasingly favored this route because it ran entirely through Belgian territory. It was therefore easier to manage. It was also cheaper, as customs checks were only carried out at the German border.

However, in the late 1990s, there were calls to reopen the Iron Rhine.

Source: historiek.net/ijzeren-rijn-geschiedenis/74869

Translated by Google •

Der Kawuppke 🥾

January 8, 2024

Interesting details at de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiserner_Rhein

Translated by Google •

Denise Pradella

January 14, 2024

Nice to take photos as there is no traffic 😊

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 70 m

Weather

Sunday 21 December

6°C

2°C

-- %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: -- km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Roerdalen, Limburg, Netherlands

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Sint Ludwig Boardwalk – De Meinweg

Bench with a View of the Water Pool at Hooibaan, De Meinweg

Pond and Wetland in the Old Sand Quarry

Roode Beek

Red Cycle Path in De Meinweg National Park

Vijvers en Kapel van St. Ludwig

Bohlensteg im De Meinweg

View of the Pond in De Meinweg

Heathland in De Meinweg

De Meinweg National Park

Iron Rhine Railway in De Meinweg

1. Bohlensteg im De Meinweg – Dalheimer Mühle loop from Dalheim

2. Dalheim Mill – Boardwalk in De Meinweg loop from Effeld

3. Boardwalk in De Meinweg – Rode Beek (Rothenbach) loop from Wildenrath

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️