Brace yourself! The temperature in the cave is 12 °C, so a jumper or cardigan is recommended.
Brrr! It’s 12 °C in the cave
Home Stories about the cave Cycling History
Price from €10 45 minutes Suitable for all ages
Join our passionate guides on a journey through cycling history and discover what makes Valkenburg and cycling inextricably linked. Special moments in cycling history are captured within the passageways of the Gemeentegrot. Up here on the Cauberg, cyclists battled for victory during the Amstel Gold Race. At the foot of that same hill, the winners gaze out at you from the walls of the cave.
During a guided tour, there is between 15 and 62 metres of marl above your head.
The network of passages in the Gemeentegrot was created by centuries of marl quarrying by block cutters.
The temperature in the cave is around 12 degrees all year round, with high humidity
In Cycling History, sport and history come together within the walls of the Municipality Cave. The idea originated during the first World Cycling Championships in Valkenburg in 1938, when a local entrepreneur suggested immortalising the winner in the cave. Since then, cyclists who finished on the Cauberg during major cycling races, such as the Amstel Gold Race and the Tour de France, have been immortalised in the gallery. Behind every drawing lies a story of struggle, rivalry and legendary victories. Today, the Cauberg is still part of various cycling races, although unfortunately the finish line is no longer here.
Before you set off on your tour of the Gemeentegrot, it’s a good idea to know a few things in advance. Here you’ll find some practical information to help you start your tour well prepared.
So always bring a jacket or jumper with you… even in summer.
All our guided tours are accessible to older people, visitors with reduced mobility and visitors with pushchairs.
For adults, tickets cost €11.25 online and €12.50 at the box office. For children aged 4 to 11, tickets cost €8.75 online and €10 at the box office.
The Cycling History exhibition is normally only available for groups of 10 or more people. For group bookings, please fill in our contact form so that we can arrange a suitable date and time together. Individual visits are possible during special events. This will be announced in advance on our website.
“The Cycling Gallery is special to me because it’s where my interest in cycling meets the stories of the cave.”
Stone breakers often worked as a sort of self-employed tradespeople: if you had the tools and found a suitable spot, you could get started.
In 1980, a music video featuring Julio Iglesias and the dancer Penny de Jager was filmed in the cave.
On average, a block-breaker extracted about one block of marl from the cave each day.
Discover the stories of those who have visited before you and find out why they consider the Valkenburg Municipal Cave the perfect day trip. From its impressive history to its mysterious passages, our visitors share their unique experiences that make the tour an unforgettable experience. Find out why you too should discover this special place.
4.3 based on 7,5k reviews
We went on a wonderful walking tour here with an experienced guide. They took their time to show us everything. Our questions were answered thoroughly and it was a really enjoyable tour.
It was a lovely experience, but what really stood out were the explanations provided by our guide and the train driver. It’s definitely something worth doing if you’re in Valkenburg.
We went on the train tour today. It was a lovely experience and our 8-year-old son absolutely loved it. The guide/conductor/driver was very friendly. He gave a clear and interesting explanation, and we got a good sense of just how big this cave is.
Informative in every aspect, covering history, traditional crafts and the war. All these topics are covered, and above all, it’s an enjoyable walk underground.
Highly recommended if you’re in Valkenburg. We did the walking tour, which was great fun. The guide was really enthusiastic and cracked a few jokes along the way. We took part with our two children, and they had no trouble keeping up.
Quite a surprise. A hidden world underground. The guide on our little train had to combine his driving skills with a good narrative about the history, the drawings and the sculptures. Even our teenagers thought it was cool (and chilly, so bring a jumper or jacket).
A fascinating tour exploring the lives of the stone breakers in Valkenburg. Along the way, there are interesting artworks and depictions of what animals and nature might have looked like in the past.
Ger the guide is brilliant. We went with a group of eight, including four children, and it was really interesting and told in a really entertaining way.
Take a look at our FAQs. Can’t find the answer to your question? Please feel free to contact us.
There are approximately 70 kilometres of tunnels, 30 kilometres of which are accessible.
Do I need to book a guided tour of the cave?
No, the cave can only be visited with a guide.
Would you like to book the ‘Cycling History’ or ‘Taking Shelter in the Municipal Cave’ tour as a group, or bring your class along for a school trip? Please leave your details via the contact form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Na het doorgeven van de voorkeursdatum en -tijd wordt er contact opgenomen om te bevestigen of dit mogelijk is. Zo niet, dan kijken we samen naar een andere datum en tijd.
Find out everything you need to know to plan an adventurous trip to the Municipal Cave. That way, you won’t be caught off guard… we’ll save the surprises for inside the cave itself.
Every day on the hour from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Every day at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm
Give the gift of an adventure with our voucher.
All our guided tours are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
The temperature in the cave is 12°C, so do bring a jacket or jumper… even in summer.
043 601 2271
