Jekerdal

From Maastricht, you’ll find yourself surrounded by greenery surprisingly quickly. In the ‘ Jekerdal ’, the River Jeker winds its way through fields, grasslands and rolling hills. Grapes grow on the sunny slopes, and in the distance lies the Mount Saint Peter. A landscape that seems almost un-Dutch, yet is simply part of Maastricht.

Green, rolling and full of life
The River Jeker, the variations in elevation and the limestone-rich soil combine to create a varied landscape. The slopes are home to unique grasslands and woodlands, whilst lush greenery thrives along the River Jeker. Part of the ‘ Jekerdal ’ is therefore designated as a protected nature reserve.
Amidst all this greenery lie fields, grasslands and vineyards. People have been using this land to grow crops for centuries. Nature and agriculture literally sit side by side here. It is precisely this combination that gives the ‘ Jekerdal ’ its distinctive character.

Wine from Maastricht’s soil
The sunny slopes and the limestone in the soil are ideal for growing grapes. This is clearly evident on the Louwberg, where the first vines of the Apostelhoeve were planted in 1970. This marked the beginning of the revival of viticulture in the Netherlands.

A little further on, Maastricht wine is also produced at Hoeve Nekum . The long rows of vines have now become an integral part of the landscape.

Walking and cycling through the valley
The ‘ Jekerdal ’ is a lovely area for walking or cycling. Paths run alongside the River Jeker, between fields and vineyards and across the green slopes. To the south, the valley continues towards Kanne in Belgium. The Mount Saint Peter is also nearby.

That’s what makes the ‘ Jekerdal ’ so surprising. Maastricht city centre isn’t far away, but nestled between the River Jeker, vineyards and green slopes, the city suddenly seems a lot further away.