Tweet04-08-2010 om 13:46 by Amanda Potter

Last Saturday Dan & I visited three countries in 3 seconds. We stood at the highest point in the Netherlands, climbed a tower in Germany, and get lost in a labyrinth in Belgium. Where was all this? At Drielandenpunt of course.

Drielandenpunt, or 3-land point, is a well known tourist attraction marking the spot where the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium come together. Just outside the town of Vaals, it sees a lots of buses and families who visit for the hiking, playground, and (probably) outdoors atmosphere. I went because of fond memories of a similar attraction in the US (Four Corners), and was thrilled to finally make it out there after intended to visit for a year.

The first attraction to see if the observation tower. After walking up to the Drielandenpunt and taking the required “standing in three countries” photos, Dan and I climbed to the top of 50 m tower via a tall (somewhat scary) staircase. It was worth it though. The 360 degree view is stunning, revealing a wide forested area and nearby towns and cities on the horizons. Each country is indicated by large signs, so you always know where you're looking.

Following a quick lunch (friet met zuurvlees; the food was overwhelmingly Dutch), we also explored Drielandenpunt’s hedge maze, a labyrinth intended to take approximately 40-50 minutes to solve. After several close encounters, both with the intended water traps and the unintended dodging hazard of small children, we finally made it to the middle. A simple, but content sense of accomplishment followed us out of the maze and down into Vaals the same way we came in. On foot.

Drielandenpunt also happens to mark the highest point in the Netherlands, the top of Vaalserberg, which is 322.5 m above sea level. To be fair, that’s isn’t much, but it is far enough and high enough to provide a leisurely hike to and from the attraction either along the Dutch-Belgian or Dutch-German borders. Bring your appetite and, if you’re curious, swing by the Drielandenpunt website for a discount ticket for the labyrinth that includes free coffee.

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