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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | attractionsDe MiljoenenlijnSteam train, Heuvelland hills, Simpelveld station, vlaai stop | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in De Miljoenenlijn
👀 For curious travelersattraction ranked #25
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Because it runs on regular Arriva service, you can ride it on a normal ticket and hop off at any station, a flexibility most people only notice after paying for a tourist train. It sits in Limburg, between Heerlen and Kerkrade, near the German border. The scenery is gentle, the crowds thin and the cost low, though nothing here is dramatic. I stepped onto the platform at Simpelveld and saw a tiny red-brick station and a steam locomotive idling beside it.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #25 attraction in The NetherlandsWhat makes it a must-see attraction

Backpackers make time for the line because it shows the Dutch borderlands in a way the Randstad never does. The Zuid-Limburgs Vlaaienexpress and other heritage trains run on the Simpelveld to Schin op Geul route, where a vintage steam engine rolls past orchards and chalky hillsides. Ride it and you cover the hilly Heuvelland in an hour or two, a landscape the flat country is not known for. It also makes a cheap, low-effort day beside Maastricht and Aachen.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Steam train to Schin op Geul: Vintage locomotives pull wooden carriages along the Geul valley on selected days, with the whistle echoing off the hillsides.
  2. Simpelveld station: A historic station that serves as the heritage line’s base, with old rolling stock parked on the sidings.
  3. Railway museum at Simpelveld: Displays trace how the Limburg lines carried coal and passengers across the region.
  4. Schin op Geul stop: A quiet halt in the countryside where walking paths lead into rolling farmland.
  5. Heuvelland views: Orchards, meadows and half-timbered farmhouses roll past the window, unlike the polders further north.
  6. Vlaai tasting: Limburg’s fruit pie is the local specialty, and cafes around the stations serve slices for a few euros.
  7. Kerkrade and Heerlen stops: Regular trains link both towns, so you can
… read more 👉
  1. Steam train to Schin op Geul: Vintage locomotives pull wooden carriages along the Geul valley on selected days, with the whistle echoing off the hillsides.
  2. Simpelveld station: A historic station that serves as the heritage line’s base, with old rolling stock parked on the sidings.
  3. Railway museum at Simpelveld: Displays trace how the Limburg lines carried coal and passengers across the region.
  4. Schin op Geul stop: A quiet halt in the countryside where walking paths lead into rolling farmland.
  5. Heuvelland views: Orchards, meadows and half-timbered farmhouses roll past the window, unlike the polders further north.
  6. Vlaai tasting: Limburg’s fruit pie is the local specialty, and cafes around the stations serve slices for a few euros.
  7. Kerkrade and Heerlen stops: Regular trains link both towns, so you can add city streets to a country ride.
For a first visit, the steam train between Simpelveld and Schin op Geul is the one to book.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near De Miljoenenlijn

Highlight Running Tour

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Guided Tour of Zonneberg Caves in Maastricht

Guided Tour of Zonneberg Caves in Maastricht

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Maastricht Privat Sightseeing City Walk

Maastricht Privat Sightseeing City Walk

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e-Scavenger hunt Maastricht: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Maastricht: Explore the city at your own pace

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Maastricht Highlights Tour with an official Maastricht Guide

Maastricht Highlights Tour with an official Maastricht Guide

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Maastricht 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local

Maastricht 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local

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Discover Maastricht with a self-guided Outside Escape city game

Discover Maastricht with a self-guided Outside Escape city game

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Maastricht through Local eyes! A tour with a Smile!

Maastricht through Local eyes! A tour with a Smile!

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Medieval Adventure in Maastricht: Quest Experience

Medieval Adventure in Maastricht: Quest Experience

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e-Scavenger hunt Valkenburg: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Valkenburg: Explore the city at your own pace

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

The best time for De Miljoenenlijn is May to September, when the Zuid-Limburg Stoomtrein Maatschappij (ZLSM) steam trains run most often between Simpelveld and Kerkrade.
  • Summer (Jun to Aug): 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), daylight until about 21:30, busiest weekends.
  • Spring and Autumn: 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F), fewer people, orchard blossom or fall color on the hills.
  • Winter: 0 to 6°C (32 to 43°F), mostly closed except Christmas specials.
Book weekend departures a few days ahead in July and August.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The best base is Heerlen, about 10 minutes by train from Simpelveld and Kerkrade. It has the widest range of budget beds in the region, a lively student bar scene around the Pancratiusplein, and fast rail links to Maastricht and Aachen. Kerkrade suits you if you want to start at the line’s eastern end and walk across the German border toward Herzogenrath. Valkenburg is pricier and tourist-heavy, yet it works for a social evening with other travelers, and the train station is only a short ride away. Maastricht, 30 to 40 minutes away, has the strongest hostel and backpacker scene. All of these areas feel safe at night.
Best hostels in The Netherlands


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👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A day on De Miljoenenlijn costs roughly USD 45 to 95 including the train ride, food and local transport.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Steam train ticketUSD 15 to 30Day tickets for the Simpelveld to Kerkrade or Schin op Geul route vary by service type; children pay less.
Regional train accessUSD 4 to 10Arriva trains from Heerlen or Maastricht; an OV-chipkaart or contactless payment works.
Food and drinkUSD 12 to 30Station cafés sell coffee and vlaai (Limburg fruit pie) for USD 3 to 6; a pub lunch costs USD 15 to 25.
AccommodationUSD 35 to 90Hostel dorms in Maastricht or budget rooms in Heerlen; Valkenburg costs more.
ExtrasUSD 0 to 15Bike rental or a museum visit, for example the Miljoenenlijn station displays.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan two to four hours for a heritage train ride, or a half day if you add stops. The steam train between Simpelveld and Schin op Geul takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes each way. Adding the railway museum and a vlaai break fills a relaxed afternoon from Heerlen or Maastricht.
Yes, if you enjoy trains, since fares are modest compared with most tourist railways. Expect roughly €10 to 20 for a heritage ride, depending on the route and the day. Many locals also use the regular line, which costs far less, though it is not a steam experience.
Take a train to Heerlen or Kerkrade, which are about 30 to 45 minutes from Maastricht by regional service. From Heerlen, local trains run toward Simpelveld in roughly 15 minutes. Heritage trains run on selected days, so check the operator’s timetable before going.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch attractions near De Miljoenenlijn

Explore more nearby:

  • Hoensbroek Castle—Moated castle, cellars, Knights' Hall, mismatched towers| 10 km away
  • Efteling—Fairytale Forest, wooden coaster, Baron 1898, dark rides| 112 km away
  • Fort Pannerden—Rhine dike, round gun tower, dark casemates, rooftop ramparts| 117 km away

💡 Not sure where to go next?
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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting De Miljoenenlijn

Pair the Miljoenenlijn with a night in Maastricht and a bike ride or hike around Vaals and the Drielandenpunt. It’s a slow half-day, not a headline sight, so treat it as a breather between cities.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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