Hunsel
Peace, routes and stories...
Between the Meuse and the Peel, tucked away in the rolling landscape of Central Limburg, lies the charming village of Hunsel. A place where time stands still, where farmyards and old lime trees embrace the village center, and where the scent of hay and fresh wood still follows the rhythm of the seasons. Hunsel has around 1,200 inhabitants and is part of the municipality of Leudal. The village is an ideal base for those who love peace and quiet, nature, and discovering stories from the past.
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The heart of the village – St. James the Greater Church
The heart of the village of Hunsel is formed by St. James the Greater Church, a neo-Gothic national monument built in 1875 to a design by the famous Roermond architect Johannes Kayser. The church, dedicated to the apostle James, subtly refers to the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela – a reference that can still be seen today in the shell decorations and symbols in and around the church.
Inside, you will find beautiful stained-glass windows, a magnificent organ, and various works of art that tell the story of Catholic life in days gone by. The church is usually open during the day for viewing or contemplation and is a popular resting place for walkers and cyclists seeking peace and quiet.
Tip: take a short walk around the church to the old rectory (1878) and the surrounding cemetery with its characteristic cast-iron crosses – it exudes the atmosphere of a century ago.
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Walking and cycling – where the stream and the border meet
Hunsel is located in a landscape that invites you to walk and cycle. Several signposted routes start from the village, connecting the natural and historical riches of the region.
On the outskirts of Hunsel flows the Uffelse Beek, a meandering stream that approaches the border with Belgium. Along the stream, you will find a variety of wet meadows, old hedgerows, and quiet paths. Via the network of walking junctions, you can walk towards Leudal – a vast nature reserve full of forests, stream valleys, and historic water mills. Numerous routes intersect here, including the Leudalroute and the Sint-Jacobspad stages.
Recommended: start at the village square in Hunsel, follow the signs to Haler and walk through the stream valley to Ittervoort. Along the way, you will pass old border posts and chapels.
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Smuggling routes and stories from the border
For centuries, Hunsel's proximity to the Belgian border has given it its own unique dynamic. Where today hikers and cyclists pass by peacefully, there used to be a lively trade – not always entirely legal.
During and after the Second World War, there were countless smuggling routes here.
Coffee, butter, tobacco, and spirits found their way across the border at night via sandy paths and forest edges. Smugglers wore special ‘butter bellies’ – leather belts with contraband – and knew every path, fence, and stream by heart. Customs officers (‘commiezen’) tried to catch them, often in vain.
Today, you can experience this history for yourself via the Hunsel–Haler–Neeritter Smuggling Route. A well-signposted walking or cycling tour (approx. 10–15 km) takes you past old guardhouses, border posts, and storyboards. Along the way, panels tell the stories of smugglers' adventures and the warm relationship between villagers on both sides of the border.
Tip for families: interactive assignments are available at the starting points of the Smuggling Route – ideal for a playful discovery tour with children.
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Cycle between villages full of character
Hunsel is connected to picturesque villages such as Neeritter, Ittervoort, and Haler via the Limburg cycle junction network. A favorite route is the ‘Three Village Tour’: Hunsel – Ittervoort – Neeritter – Hunsel (approx. 25 km). Along the way, you will pass orchards, old chapels, and cozy terraces.
If you want to go further, you can cycle via Ell and Kelpen-Oler towards the Weerterbos, where you can spot red deer and birds of prey.
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Enjoy and meet
After a walk or bike ride, you can visit cozy places to eat and relax in Hunsel and the surrounding area. Think of a village café with Limburg flan, a farm terrace, or an atmospheric restaurant in Ittervoort. In the summer, small-scale events take place in the region: music evenings, village festivals, flea markets, and cultural bike rides.
Tip: ask at the Hunsel Village Hall or the local Leudal Tourist Office for information about current activities, markets, or walking guides.
Hunsel in a nutshell
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Hunsel is not a village of grand gestures, but of small moments of happiness: a gnarled oak tree along the country road, the sound of church bells over the fields, the smile of a fellow villager. Anyone who stays here for a while will discover that peace and hospitality are still a matter of course here.
Whether you come for the stories of smugglers, the silence of the stream valleys, or just for a Limburg cup of coffee in the sun, Hunsel welcomes you with open arms.
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Practical information
• Location: Municipality of Leudal, between Weert and Roermond
• Accessibility: Easily accessible via the N273 (Napoleonsweg) and near the A2
• Starting point for walks: Village square or St. James the Greater Church
• More info: www.vvvmiddenlimburg.nl | www.leudal.nl