Hückelhoven offers cycling routes, countryside and mining history as different focal points for a stay. The town is located in the Rur lowlands and has a well-developed network of cycling routes for short outings as well as longer tours. Walks and nature watching are among the activities available at Lake Adolfosee; Millicher Halde provides another place to enjoy outdoor activity and views. Schacht 3, the Mineral and Mining Museum, and the Protestant parish church round out the options with industrial, museum and architectural history. For your planning, it is therefore helpful to consider which themes you would like to shape your stay: cycling and countryside, or a closer look at local history.

Cycling in the Rur Lowlands

Hückelhoven’s network of cycling routes is suitable for short outings and longer tours. A numbered junction system helps you plan routes that can include the Lower Rhine Route or the RurUfer Cycle Route. This lets you tailor your tour planning to your preferred distance. The flat stretches along the Rur are considered family-friendly cycling terrain. When choosing a route, you can therefore take two aspects into account: the distance you want to cover and the flat character of these stretches.

Millicher Halde and Lake Adolfosee

Millicher Halde is a recreational area in Hückelhoven. From there, you can enjoy views over the town, surrounding settlements and the wider landscape. A footpath of about 1.7 kilometres leads from the entrance on Gronewaldstraße to the Himmelstreppe viewing platform. This approximate distance gives you a concrete idea of the route between the entrance and the platform and helps you assess this stretch as part of your visit to the spoil tip.

A guided hike called “Die Schöne” is also offered on the spoil tip for groups of six or more. This gives you two different ways to visit the same place: take the footpath to the Himmelstreppe as a destination, or join the guided group hike. Walks and nature watching are possible at Lake Adolfosee. It offers another option alongside the spoil tip for anyone who would like to spend time outdoors during their stay.

Mining history and special places

Schacht 3 is a place to explore the area’s industrial past. The site is an industrial monument and is considered a landmark of Hückelhoven’s mining era. Visits to the Barbarastollen are possible as part of guided tours, including for groups of ten or more. Arrangements may need to be made in advance; check beforehand if you are planning a visit. This makes a possible visit to the tunnel a distinct activity, separate from a walk or cycle ride.

Another historical reference is the miners’ settlement Auf dem Hansberg: the former Sophia-Jacoba mine began building it around 1920. Alongside the industrial monument, the settlement thus points to another facet of mining history. The Mineral and Mining Museum offers tours by prior arrangement, as well as microscope evenings for children, young people and adults. Advance registration is required for these programmes. The Mineralien- und Bergbaufreunde association is dedicated to minerals and fossils.

Architecture beyond mining

Hückelhoven’s Protestant parish church adds another architectural history highlight. It is a Neo-Gothic brick hall church, built in 1890/91. Its protected organ façade dates from the first half of the 18th century, making it older than the church building itself. The construction date and the fittings offer two different perspectives on the history of the same building. For visitors who do not want to explore Hückelhoven solely through its mining history, the church offers another subject to discover in the town.

Discover more destinations: Erkelenz, Bocket, Geilenkirchen, Heinsberg, Gangelt, Selfkant, Waldfeucht, Tüddern.

Back to the main travel overview: Heinsberg.