Stokkem

About the village

Negenoord ©jasonberkley

Thanks to its favourable location on the Meuse, Stokkem used to play an important role in trade across the Meuse. Around the 11th century, the count in Stokkem had a castle built on the banks of the river Meuse, after which Count Arnold VI granted the city rights in 1244. The ramparts, walls and gates of the city date from this period. A major fire in 1605, lootings and the volatile Meuse have left their mark on the town. The original pattern of streets is still clearly recognizable, but few really old buildings have stood the test of time.

Stokkem is a basket-weaving town with a willow culture. At its peak in the second half of the 19th century, an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 baskets per week were produced. The coal industry and the zinc factory in ‘Rotem’ caused a major blow to the basket-weaving industry. Today, you can find references to basket-making everywhere. 

A special place in Stokkem is the Negenoord-Kerkeweerd nature reserve, just opposite the renovated Visitor Center De Wissen. In this former gravel extraction area, nature has been given every opportunity, resulting in a beautiful patchwork quilt of thickets, ponds, riparian forests and nature in the woods. The loam observation tower in the area gives you a great view of the region.   

What is there to do?

Hiking

The area around Stokkem is ideal for exploring on foot. Along the Meuse and in the nature reserves, you can stroll and in Stokkem and 'Oud-Dilsen', you can get a glimpse of what life was like in the olden days. The ferry in Rotem/Grevenbicht, which takes you to the other side of the river Meuse, allows you to discover the Dutch side of the RivierPark Maasvallei. For those who like some help to get started, a few tips:

  • Discover the hiking area Stokkem with large grazers, thickets, arable farming, old Meuse, mud watch tower, nature reserves ‘Bichterweerd’, ‘De Broeken’, ‘Negenoord’ – ‘Kerkeweerd’ and ‘Meerheuvel’. The green hiking trail in this hiking area is wheelchair-friendly.
  • Explore remarkable patrimonial sites and monuments with the FARO Heritage App (tour 'erfgoedwandeling Stokkem') 
  • Set off with a Meuse Explorer in tow.

 

Cycling

Thanks to the extensive cycling route network in Belgium and the Netherlands, you can create your own cycling route using junctions that are indicated in both directions. This way, you can decide which direction you want to go and how long your ride will be. Why not, during your bike ride, take a ferry to the other side of the river Meuse? That way, cross-border cycling in the RivierPark Maasvallei becomes hassle-free. You can join the cycling route network via junction 49 in ‘Dilsen’ or junction 50 in ‘Meeswijk’ (ferry). You can park on Tugelaplein in Stokkem (P11, Tugelaplein) or near the Visitor Center De Wissen’ (P10, Negenoordlaan 2). You can map out your cycling route using the cross-border map RivierPark Maasvallei.   

 

Visits

 For more information and tips, please visit Visit Dilsen-Stokkem.