Vierlingsbeek My first post-covid lockdown trip and a new province - North Brabant. I brought the bike (bike tickets have increased to  € 7.50) and cycled from the station, which is tucked away west of Vierlingsbeek through the village.  Opposite the station is a nice looking restaurant/cafe perfect location for waiting on the next train and a busy pancake house - I bypassed these and headed for the watermill, passing some pretty houses along the way. According to all the info you can read by the mill there has been a mill on this site since 1446! 

Venray Picked up a bike at the self-service station and cycled to some castle runs in the direction of Oostrum to Gejisteren was quite around the area but in the other direction, you can head to the city center of Venray and further away is the only German war cemetery in the Netherlands where some 31 thousand Germans are buried . 

Horst Sevenum I rented a bike one of those self service bike lockers and took a spin into the center of Horst where I found a sleepy patch of Limburg and I came across the lace factory . I wasn't sure what to expect but in the end I spent some time here and was fascinated by the machines and the amazing creativity and artistic talent on display both old and modern. I really enjoyed chatting with the custodians there who are defiantly part and parcel of making this collection come to life

Mook Molenhoek Right under Nijmegen, this station which reopened less than a decade ago (the original station building demolished in the 1970s) is at the very top of Limburg. This station is the perfect stop-off point for a walk in the star-shaped nature reserve of Heumense Schans - which is exactly what I did.

Tegelen As the area is well known for it's centuries-old expertise in ceramics and pottery I took a trip to the ceramics museum located in a restored tithe barn on the beautiful estate of Kasteel de Holtmühle (17th century). This estate has been preserved (or restored?) and hosts the tithe barn, castle gates, gardens, ponds, moats and farmlands and all around the Kasteel de Holtmühle are nice walks to explore.

Reuver I arrived in Reuver with no plans. I decided to grab a bike at the station. I peddled until I came across a ferry crossing point. I jumped on and discovered Kessel. The castle there ( Kasteel de Keverberg - the most 'modern castle' in The Netherlands) which was destroyed in the war has been renovated in a unique way with lots of glass and viewing platforms - which offers amazing views over the Mass River.

Swalmen Sitting between Germany and the Mass river I arrived to Swalmen station with my bike in toe and had a small cycle around the area and croseds back and forth over the Schwalm river . On the Markt square is a pub called De Mert which I'd say is lively in the evening although a little quiet when I was there.