Image credit: Matt Szaszko, 2019, Fort Eben-Emael, Belgium
Get ready for an unforgettable motorcycle journey through history and Belgian culture! We’ll kick off our morning by gathering at a gas station just off the motorway near Eindhoven, where we’ll fuel up and meet the group before hitting the road. From there, we’ll take the motorway toward Maastricht to make good time, eventually diving into a quick, winding detour through Valkenburg. This corner of the Netherlands is a geographical anomaly; with its steep hills and half-timbered architecture, it feels more like a hidden slice of Germany than the flat polders to the north. It’s the perfect stretch to lean into the corners and wake up the senses before we cross the border into Belgium.
As we transition into the Meuse river valley, we will ride alongside the water, passing the towering steel and stone remnants of the Industrial Revolution. This region was once the coal and steel beating heart of the Low Countries, and the massive infrastructure still standing along the riverbanks serves as a haunting, metallic monument to a bygone era of heavy industry. Before we reach the fort, we’ll stop at a fantastic local quiche place nearby. This spot is a local legend, serving up artisanal, savory tarts that provide the perfect fuel for a long day in the saddle and a chance to experience authentic Belgian hospitality.
Once refueled, we head to the legendary Fort Eben-Emael, once the crown jewel of the Belgian defense. To understand this place, you have to visualize the sheer shock of May 10, 1940. While the Belgian garrison expected a traditional ground assault, the German Luftwaffe unleashed a revolutionary tactic. Under the command of Captain Walter Koch, the specialized Assault Detachment Koch launched a silent invasion. Specifically, the 85 men of Group Granit, led by Lieutenant Rudolf Witzig, landed DFS 230 gliders directly onto the fortified roof of the fort at 4:25 AM. They used top-secret "hollow charge" explosives to pierce the massive steel cupolas, neutralizing the fort’s heavy guns in just fifteen minutes. Since entry to the fort is only possible on Fridays and the weekend, we’ve timed this trip to hopefully descend into the subterranean world of galleries and command centers. If we can't enter, we’ll spend more time exploring the 45-hectare surface plateau, which offers an incredible tactical playground to see the scars of the assault on the bunkers.
From there, we ride toward the skyline of Liège to visit the Inter-Allied Memorial of Cointe. This towering Art Deco monument was built to honor the city’s fierce resistance during the opening days of World War I. In 1914, the forts of Liège stood as the first major obstacle to the German Schlieffen Plan, effectively slowing the invasion of France and buying the Allies precious time. The memorial is a unique international site, featuring individual monuments from various Allied nations—including a striking tower and a Neo-Byzantine church—that overlook the Meuse valley.
As the sun begins to set, we’ll ride back toward the Dutch border for a dinner at Quick. This isn't just a burger joint; it is a quintessentially Belgian institution. Since opening in the 1970s, Quick has defended its territory against global giants with its own unique flavors, like the iconic "Giant" burger and its signature sauce. It’s a fun, relaxed way to cap off the day before we hop back on the bikes for the final leg back to our meeting point near Eindhoven. It’s a day of high-speed motorways, technical hill climbs, and a deep appreciation for the landscape and the history that shaped it.
€185 per rider
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