Name: Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt
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Belgium

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South Limburg

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Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt

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Belgium

Flanders

South Limburg

Tongeren

Lanaken

Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt

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Location: Lanaken, Tongeren, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt

4.0

(10)

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1. Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt – Farm De Hazendans loop from Dousberg-Hazendans

4.63km

01:13

40m

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

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Easy

4.7

(3)

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2. Vroenhoven Bridge – Bridge of Vroenhoven loop from Hees

9.04km

02:21

60m

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

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Intermediate

4.6

(5)

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3. Vroenhoven Bridge – Chorobat Replica loop from Veldwezelt

6.46km

01:41

40m

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

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Easy

Tips

April 16, 2025

The Neanderthal site in Veldwezelt is a unique, protected archaeological site where you travel through time, as it were. This unique archaeological site has been restored, preserved and opened to the public. The structure of the walls is the only one of its kind in North-West Europe.

During various excavation campaigns between 1998 and 2003, remains of at least four Neanderthal hunting camps and a flint extraction site were found.

You will not only get to know the former inhabitants, the Neanderthals, but also the ice ages and the evolution of the climate. Discover life 80,000 years ago, and end only 40,000 years ago.

Did you know: In 2016, the Neanderthal site of Veldwezelt was a laureate of the Immovable Heritage Award.

Opening hours: by appointment. Source and more info on visitlimburg.be/nl/wat-te-doen/neanderthalersite

PS: the former church of the village of Hees is decorated with a work of art consisting of 24 crystal hand axes, referring to the Neanderthals and this site. See komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/7403521

PS2: it is worth pausing at the entrance if you do not have an appointment to visit because of the many information that can be found there.

Translated by Google •

April 16, 2025

In 1995, brick manufacturer Vandersanden NV opened a clay quarry on the left bank of the former Hezerwater valley. Due to the many archaeological sites from the Middle Paleolithic (500,000 to 35,000 years ago) in the immediate vicinity of the clay quarry, archaeological expectations were high. The industrial excavation of the site was therefore scientifically monitored by KU Leuven from the start. When the first flint tools were found at the end of 1997, it was decided to start a large-scale excavation. This was carried out between 1998 and 2003, in six different campaigns.

In addition to KU Leuven, the Institute for Archaeological Heritage (now the Agency for Immovable Heritage) and the Provincial Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren were also involved. More than 200 students of archaeology and physical geography from various countries in Europe, but also from Ghana, Canada and the United States, took part. Various parties from home and abroad supported the project financially. Archaeological finds were discovered and excavated at twenty-four different locations. Seven sites were interpreted as Neanderthal hunting camps.

Due to the spectacular results, the unexcavated part of the site, with profiles several metres high, was protected as an archaeological monument in 2007; at that time only the third in Flanders. Ideas quickly emerged to make the results of the excavation accessible to the general public. To do this, the high, vulnerable profiles of the newly protected heritage had to be protected from damage. This challenge resulted in intensive and constructive cooperation between designers, architects, archaeologists, contractors, coordinators, initiators and investors. And this from the design to the implementation.

Discover this article and many photos of the site on the website of the people of Onroerend Erfgoed at portfolio.onroerenderfgoed.be/project/lanaken-neanderthalersite-veldwezelt

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 110 m

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Tuesday 7 October

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Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: Lanaken, Tongeren, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt

1. Neanderthal Site Veldwezelt – Farm De Hazendans loop from Dousberg-Hazendans

2. Vroenhoven Bridge – Bridge of Vroenhoven loop from Hees

3. Vroenhoven Bridge – Chorobat Replica loop from Veldwezelt

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