The 7 Things I Did In Roermond

Index

Roermond

My first encounter with the city of Roermond was when I was planning my *Camino the Santiago Journey. It is one of the starting points of the Camino in The Netherlands. Besides that Roermond is famous for its Designer Outlet and the architect Pierre Cuypers. Pierre Cuypers was the architect of Amsterdam Central Station and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The Designer Outlet Is The Busiest Part Of Roermond

Most of the people visiting Roermond are there for the Designer Outlet. Some even don't see the city center which is a pity. The Designer Outlet is one of the most famous designer discount shopping area of The Netherlands. It is very busy in the weekends and during holidays. Besides shopping there is also a food court and stalls with food. Most shoppers can stay there all day. I prefer the short walk to the city center for the world famous Limburgse vlaai.

When Hiking a Limburgse Vlaai Is Allowed

On the Limburg part of the Pieterpad almost all resting points have fresh home baked Limburgse vlaai. Although the Pieterpad doesn't go through Roermond. Roermond is Limburg and that means the authentic Limburgse vlaai is also available here. As of this year (2024) Limburgse vlaai is recognized as an European regional product (Streekproduct), which means the Limburgse vlaai can only be produced in Dutch and Belgium Limburg. I like the ones with cherry, strawberries or apple. It gives energy to conquer the last part of the hike.

Roermond Was My Second Stop On My Journey To Become A Peregrina

When planning my Camino de Santiago I went to the Camino shop in Utrecht to get my Camino Portugues book and was told where I could get my Camino passport. One of the places I could get it was The cathedral in Roermond which is one of the starting points in The Netherlands for the Camino. I opted to get my stamp passport in Lisbon, but after my Camino when I was living in Eindhoven I went to the Cathedral of Roermond to see one of the Dutch starting points of the Camino.

Hiking In The surrounding Of Roermond

Although It seems I never started a hike in Roermond, besides city walks. It must be a nice area to hike. I would like to hike in the National Park Meinweg and on my big to do hikes is the Jacobus Pilgrims path. I like hiking in Limburg, although it is far away. I did not only hike almost all the nshikes in Limburg and the Pieterpad in Limburg, but also some less famous local hikes with unknown names as the San Fransiscus, 12km.

The 2 City Walks Of Roermond

There is a difference between hiking and walking. Hiking is walking for longer period on grounds that make me use my leg muscles. City walks are easy walks accessible for everybody. Most city walks take about an hour or two hours with stops to admire buildings, monuments, etc. The hiking speed is less than 4 km an hour. In Roermond I can recomand the Monumentenroute (the monument route) and the Cuypers City walk.

Roermond Is The City Of The Famous Architect Cuypers

The Netherlands has had lots of famous architects through history. Pierre Cuyper is one of them. His most famous buildings are Amsterdam Central Station and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. He also restored buildings and designed furniture. One of the buildings he restored was the Walburgis church in Zutphen. Pierre Cuyper was born in Roermond. The house were Pierre lived and worked on his architectural draws and designs is now a museum. The Cuypers museum is in the Cuypers city walk.

Roermond Is Also A 'Hanzestad'

I stumbled upon the Hanzetijd (Hanseatic period) during a visit to city of Deventer. My luck was that 2023 was the year of the 9 Eastern Hanzesteden (Hanseatic cities) of The Netherlands. These 9 cities are at the moment the most known Hanseatic cities of The Netherlands, but there are more Hanseatic cities in The Netherlands and Roermond is one of them. The Hanseatic period seems to be the start of cities and merchants collaborating together to trade. This part of the history of Roermond is less known than the Designer Outlet of Roermond. 

*I hiked the camino to think about what I wanted further from life and Databeet, not to party like some do on the Camino. I talked while hiking with my fellow hikers, but did not party with them or others. I am not a party animal and liked the quietness and calmness of the camino.