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EuropeNetherlandsLimburg

Heerlen

Limburg, Netherlands · Europe

About Heerlen

Heerlen works well as a base: 5 minutes from Terwinselen, 24km from Hoge Kempen National Park.

Heerlen is a town located in Limburg, Netherlands. With a population of 93,084, it is an important destination in Europe.

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

About Heerlen

Heerlen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦeːrlə(n)] ; Limburgish: Heële [ˈɦeə˦lə]) is a city and a municipality in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is the third largest settlement proper in the province of Limburg. Measured as a municipality, it is the fourth largest municipality in the province of Limburg. Heerlen forms

Read more part of the city-region of Parkstad Limburg, an agglomeration with about 250,000 inhabitants and encompassing 8 municipalities. It is to the east of Maastricht and north of the German city of Aachen. After its early Roman beginnings and a modest medieval period, Heerlen became a centre for the coal mining industry in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, architect Frits Peutz played a major role in shaping the city as we know it today. His most famous design, and a distinctive building in the city centre, is the so-called Glaspaleis (Glass Palace), listed as one of the world's thousand most architecturally important buildings of the 20th century.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Heerlen

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Heerlen?

Heerlen 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 Heerlen?

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

Where is Heerlen located?

Heerlen is located in Limburg, Netherlands, Europe. The coordinates are 50.8837 latitude, 5.9815 longitude.

What is the population of Heerlen?

Heerlen has a population of approximately 93,084 people, making it a town in Netherlands.

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Quick Information

Population
93,084
Continent
Europe
Country
Netherlands
Region
Limburg
Timezone
Europe/Amsterdam
Coordinates
50.8837, 5.9815

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Netherlands

Police
112
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
Non-emergency police
0900-8844
Driving side
right

Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.

Full driving guide for Netherlands

Tags

EuropeNetherlandsLimburgTown

Worth the detour from Heerlen

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Valkenburg Marl Caves

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

11 km · about 20 min 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.

14 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.

15 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Vrijthof Maastricht

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

21 km · about 25 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.

24 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.

32 km · about 35 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.

33 km · about 40 min drive

landmark

Monschau

Slate-and-timber Eifel town crammed into the narrow Rur gorge near the Belgian border, its lanes essentially unchanged for 300 years; a historic mustard mill still grinds and the castle ruin hosts open-air concerts.

41 km · about 45 min drive

Driving roads near Heerlen

  • Right hereVaalserberg DrielandenpuntThe Netherlands' highest mainland point at 322.4 metres, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet near Vaals.
  • 33 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.
  • 43 kmSignal de BotrangeAt 694m this is the highest point in Belgium, marked by a stone tower on the Hautes Fagnes plateau.
  • 73 kmBaraque de FraitureBelgium's second-highest point at 652 m, a windswept Ardennes plateau crossroads on the N89 with a small ski station and sweeping high-fen scenery.

Driving in Netherlands

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€2.04/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Heerlen.

Meezenbroek

🇳🇱 Netherlands

2 km awayPop. 2,910

Husken

🇳🇱 Netherlands

2 km awayPop. 1,380

Beersdal

🇳🇱 Netherlands

3 km awayPop. 1,620

Kakert

🇳🇱 Netherlands

3 km awayPop. 1,750

Terwinselen

🇳🇱 Netherlands

4 km awayPop. 3,820

Kunrade

🇳🇱 Netherlands

4 km awayPop. 3,405

Voerendaal

🇳🇱 Netherlands

4 km awayPop. 3,035

Lichtenberg

🇳🇱 Netherlands

4 km awayPop. 1,635

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