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EuropeGermanyNorth Rhine-Westphalia

Geilenkirchen

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany · Europe

About Geilenkirchen

Geilenkirchen works well as a base: 10 minutes from Übach-Palenberg, 33km from Hoge Kempen National Park.

Geilenkirchen is a town located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 28,334, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Geilenkirchen sits in Germany, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Berlin time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Geilenkirchen to your route.

About Geilenkirchen

Geilenkirchen (German pronunciation: [ˈɡaɪlənkɪʁçn̩] , Limburgish: Jellekerke [ˈjæləˌkæʀ˦(ə)kə]) is a town in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx. 15 km (9.3 mi) north-east of Heerlen and 20 km (12.4 mi) north of

Read more Aachen. It was the site of Operation Clipper in November 1944. The town gives its name to nearby NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. The base is home to seventeen E-3A airborne early warning and control aircraft flown by aircrew from over fourteen nations. On 24 July 2019 the highest temperature ever recorded in Germany was measured in Geilenkirchen at 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) during a heat wave that affected much of Europe. The record was broken the following day when temperature in Lingen reached 42.6 °C (108.7 °F).

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Geilenkirchen

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Geilenkirchen?

Geilenkirchen offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Geilenkirchen?

Plan your road trip to Geilenkirchen with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Geilenkirchen as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Geilenkirchen located?

Geilenkirchen is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe. The coordinates are 50.9674 latitude, 6.1176 longitude.

What is the population of Geilenkirchen?

Geilenkirchen has a population of approximately 28,334 people, making it a town in Germany.

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Quick Information

Population
28,334
Continent
Europe
Country
Germany
Region
North Rhine-Westphalia
Timezone
Europe/Berlin
Coordinates
50.9674, 6.1176

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Germany

Police
110
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.

Full driving guide for Germany

Tags

EuropeGermanyNorth Rhine-WestphaliaTown

Worth the detour from Geilenkirchen

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

cathedral

Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom)

The first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany, built by Charlemagne as his palatine chapel in the 9th century.

22 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Valkenburg Marl Caves

Hill-country Valkenburg hides Roman-era marl tunnels, a ruined castle and the Netherlands' only true hilltop drives.

23 km · about 25 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Vaalserberg Drielandenpunt

The Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.

25 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Thorn

The 'white village' of Limburg: an entire former abbey-principality of whitewashed brick lanes and cobbles beside the Maas, painted white in the Napoleonic era to dodge a window tax and kept that way ever since.

29 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Vrijthof Maastricht

A grand cafe-ringed square anchored by two medieval churches in the Netherlands' oldest, most Burgundian city.

33 km · about 40 min drive

national park

Hoge Kempen National Park

Belgium's first national park, a heath and pine landscape in Limburg with six gateway entrances and visitor car parks.

33 km · about 40 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Gileppe Dam

A 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.

44 km · about 50 min drive

national park

Eifel National Park

NRW's only national park rewires former forest with wild beech, wildcats and one of Germany's darkest star-filled skies.

46 km · about 55 min drive

Driving roads near Geilenkirchen

  • 25 kmVaalserberg DrielandenpuntThe Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
  • 44 kmGileppe DamA 19th-century dam near Spa crowned by a 13-ton stone lion, with a 78 m panorama tower and forested Ardennes reservoir views a short detour off the Verviers road.
  • 52 kmSignal de BotrangeAt 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.

Driving in Germany

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.78/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Geilenkirchen.

Übach-Palenberg

🇩🇪 Germany

6 km away

Waubach

🇳🇱 Netherlands

7 km awayPop. 2,910

Lauradorp

🇳🇱 Netherlands

8 km awayPop. 3,170

Baesweiler

🇩🇪 Germany

8 km awayPop. 27,834

Abdissenbosch

🇳🇱 Netherlands

8 km awayPop. 1,420

Gangelt

🇩🇪 Germany

9 km awayPop. 11,484

Hopel

🇳🇱 Netherlands

10 km awayPop. 2,240

Schinveld

🇳🇱 Netherlands

10 km awayPop. 4,685

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence