Hidden in the hillside forest of the Bergse Heide on the northern edge of the Margraten plateau lies the Viltergroeve... a silent witness to centuries of marl quarrying in South Limburg. This former quarry, also known as the Berg van Willemke or Velterberg, forms a transition between plateau and valley, where the landscape suddenly drops steeply for several meters.
Marl, the soft limestone characteristic of the region and used to build many Limburg houses and churches, was once extracted from this quarry. The tunnels of the Viltergroeve are a reminder of the hard work of the block breakers who practiced their craft underground. Today, it is a place of tranquility, a piece of history slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Around the quarry lies a rich hillside forest with common oaks, bilberries, heather, and ferns. Bats hibernate in the marl tunnels, making the quarry an ecologically valuable site. Hikers who come here notice how silence, coolness, and history intertwine: the smell of a damp forest, the soft light between the trees, and the realization that centuries of geological time lie hidden beneath your feet.