The German (Railway) Line - (the Netherlands)
The German (Railway) Line has an eventful history going back more than a century. Between 1873 and 2004, both passengers and freight were transported along this unique east-west connection between London, Berlin and St Petersburg.
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A unique piece of history
The German (Railway) Line has an eventful history going back more than a century. Between 1873 and 2004, both passengers and freight were transported along this unique east-west connection between London, Berlin and St Petersburg. Members of royal households and the families of czars travelled on the German Line to visit each other. Dutch and German pilgrims used it to make their way to pilgrimage locations such as Kevelaer and to attend processions in the Dutch villages of Boxmeer, Handel and Boxtel.
This was the time when express trains, hauled by locomoti…
A unique piece of history
The German (Railway) Line has an eventful history going back more than a century. Between 1873 and 2004, both passengers and freight were transported along this unique east-west connection between London, Berlin and St Petersburg. Members of royal households and the families of czars travelled on the German Line to visit each other. Dutch and German pilgrims used it to make their way to pilgrimage locations such as Kevelaer and to attend processions in the Dutch villages of Boxmeer, Handel and Boxtel.
This was the time when express trains, hauled by locomotives such as the ‘Blue Brabander’ transported mail between Northern Central Europe and America. This railway line played an important role in both World Wars. The German Line was closed to passenger traffic in 1950 and in 2004, Dutch Railways ended goods transport on the last remaining section of track from Boxtel to Veghel.
But this is not the final chapter for the German Line. Communities along the Boxtel-Wesel route want you to relive part of this history and have joined forces to achieve this. This partnership has resulted in a website, information panels and a cycling and discovery card. As a holiday maker you can now go out and enjoy the mixture of cultural history and countryside that the German Line currently has to offer!
Relaxing cycle rides along the German Line
Various reminders of the German Line are still visible in the countryside. These are marked out and illustrated on a large scale map. Information panels (i) are located in Boxtel, on the border and in Wesel. Information boards have also been placed at the most historic locations. There are no longer any railway tracks along most of the line, the ‘Boxteler Bahn/Duits Lijntje’, but if you look carefully, you can still see signs in the countryside where the railway line once went.
From one intersection to the next
Take a discovery trip where passengers and freight once made their way through the countryside by using the cycle route network. The main route on the map follows the original German Line route as closely as possible. You can cycle from Boxtel to Wesel (in stages) or you can make a round trip.
Discover the German Line
The route closely follows the old German Line from the Maasbrug bridge in Gennep right through to Wesel. This route is marked out as a main route on the cycle map. It is marked out with the German Line (Boxteler Bahn) logo.
Stay awhile….
The German Line cycle route is no less than 155 km in length. A good enough reason to stop off on your way and enjoy the hospitality of the entrepreneurs along the route.
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Routes reporting point
Routes reporting pointIf there is something wrong on the route, report it here.
Sights on this route
End point
Huyskensstraße 34
Goch
Navigate to endpoint
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