Enchanted paths

800,000 people visit the Dreiländerpunkt annually. There, at the highest point of the Netherlands, where Belgian, German, and Dutch borders meet, numerous attractions draw visitors.

However, you can also explore this attraction on quiet trails through the border forests. From Karlshöhe past the telecommunications tower “Mulleklenkes” (133m), we follow the course of the former Landgraben, a medieval fortification made of earth wall, ditch, and beech hedge. It ran over 70 kilometers around the rural areas of the Aachen Empire and protected the lush forests from wood robbers. In 1611, boundary stones engraved with the city emblem, an eagle, signaled the rightful owner. Two eagle stones are encountered on the route: hidden near the German-Belgian border barrier and later on the path near the Wilhelminaturm. Along the current borders, remnants of the old wall and the beech hedge with their old, gnarled tree rows can still be glimpsed. At the Beeck turret, we also come across one of the old watchtowers by the Landgraben.

Then a vast meadow area opens before us. It lies on the German side and boldly penetrates the Belgian forest with a narrow strip. The small turnstile "Rüttchen" marks the inconspicuous border crossing. Like through a green tunnel, the path continues onto the Geusenweg. In the 18th century, this hidden church path between Eupen and Vaals allowed Protestants, once insulted and persecuted as “Geusen” (beggars), a tolerant island amid a predominantly Catholic environment.

With a view to the west of the city, the route ascends to the Dreiländerpunkt. Eagle stone and a play station of the nature experience path allow visitors to experience old and present boundaries in the forest. We leave the forest hideout and enjoy the quieter end of the Dreiländerpunkt with its observation tower including skywalk and dining establishments featuring wonderful viewing terraces. After a break, we use the quiet forest path along the old Landgraben border, away from car traffic. At the end of the parallel section, anyone who wishes can dive into the Dreiländer hustle and bustle. Here await: Dreiländerpunkt, highest point of the Netherlands, labyrinth, and Baudouin observation tower.

Returning via the Königsweg, a popular hiking trail to the Dreiländerpunkt, greetings quickly alternate between “Hallo”, “Middag” or “Bonjour”, revealing the diverse origins of the visitors. Soon we reach the next pilgrimage route, this time in the proper sense. Since 1863, the eight-kilometer-long Bittweg, which is also part of the Camino de Santiago, has been used once a week on Wednesdays by pilgrims journeying from Aachen to Moresnet-Chapelle. The path in the border forest has served throughout history as an escape route in times of war or as a smuggling route. At the concrete teeth of the Westwall, war and peace meet. Propagated by the Nazis as an insurmountable defensive line, the fortification from 1938/39 was already outdated five years later and could not resist the liberation by the Allies. The adjacent pilgrimage cross commemorates war victims and calls for peace in Europe.

Highlights along the route:

1 Landgraben, Eagle Stones

2 Geusenweg

3 Wilhelminaturm Skywalk

4 Dreiländerpunkt, Highest Point of the NL, Baudoin Tower, Labyrinth

5 Bittweg

6 Westwall