10x celebrating May holidays with kids in North Limburg
The May holidays are the ideal time to get out and about with the family. The region is in full bloom in May; asparagus is coming off the land and temperatures are often already lovely for a day outdoors. In North Limburg, you notice that the holiday rhythm is just a gear down; perfect for that much-needed quality time with the kids. Whether you seek the peace and quiet of the Maasduinen or the action in one of our theme parks, space is everywhere. We have listed ten locations for you that you should not miss this May holiday.
1. Venturing out and boating on the Mookerplas
2. Strolling through the Arcen Castle Gardens
3. Hands in the clay at Ceramics Centre Tiendschuur in Venlo
4. Exploring the Maasduinen National Park
5. On the trail of George and the dragon during the Dragon Walk in Beesel
6.A day at Toverland amusement park
7. A day in the May holidays to Mind Mystery
8. Dive into Gennep's history with Archie
9. Dive into the past of peat at Museum Peel en Maas
10. On and around the water at Leuker Lake
Published on: 26 March 2026
Last updated on: 26 March 2026
1. Venturing out and boating on the Mookerplas
In the far north of northern Limburg you will find the Mookerplas. A green place, where families lounge on the beach and kids are busy with landing nets at the water's edge. On the water, all kinds of boats pass by: from floating terraces and sailing boats to pedal boats and luxury sloops. Hire your favourite, pack a picnic basket and spend a relaxing day on the water together. With a bit of sunshine, sailing on the Mookerplas will soon feel like a holiday abroad.
Editor's tip: rent a luxury sloop, E-chopper or motorboat from Marina Mookerplas or Dolfijn Mook to explore the lake. If you really want to get away from it all, sleep on the water in one of the houseboats so it feels like you have your own floating island. After sailing, you'll be on the Mookerheide for a nice walk within a two-minute drive (or a ten-minute walk).
- When are you welcome? Mookerplas is open from sunrise to sunset.
- Nearby accommodation tips: at Vakantie bij Meeussen sleep in small atmospheric bungalows near the lake and the Mookerheide
- Practical: Ideal for a private picnic on one of the many lawns.
Witteweg, Molenhoek
2. Strolling through Arcen Castle Gardens
In May, flower and parkCLHATTRNORM_1 Kasteeltuinen Arcen looks colourful. The scent of the thousands of blooming flowers meets you even at the entrance bridge, while the waterfalls in the gardens provide a soothing background sound. For children, there is a fun scavenger hunt and a mini-golf course beautifully set among the greenery. Nice to know: the gardens are home to bright blue peacocks that sometimes make loud noises. When a peacock unfolds its tail among the flowers, your photo opportunity with the kids is complete.
Editor's tip: walk to the centre of Arcen in ten minutes for an ice cream at the beloved ice cream parlour Clevers.
- When are you welcome? Daily from 10:00 to 18:00
- Practical: book online in advance to skip the queue at the box office.
Lingsforterweg 26, Arcen
"What I personally really like is that you can order a picnic basket in the castle gardens. You then get a well-stocked basket and cloth and pick your favourite spot in the gardens yourself. "
- Amanda de Nijs (editor)
3. Hands in the clay at Ceramics Centre Tiendschuur in tegelen
On the estate of Holtmühle Castle in Tegelen is the Tiendschuur. In this historic building, you can see how craftsmen make moulds on the turntable. Tegelen's clay history is tangible here in the huge, authentic kilns where ceramics used to be baked. You stroll among an extensive collection of historic pottery, from detailed sculptures to tableware.
Especially for children, there will be a walk-in afternoon at the studio on 22 and 29 April 2026 between 14:00 and 16:00. The children will first look around the museum together to get fun ideas among the old vases and sculptures. Then they will get to work in the museum workshop with a lump of clay to make their own design. Be sure to put on old clothes, because it's okay to get a bit dirty in the workshop.
Editor's tip: after claying, drive 5 minutes to the Jochumhof Botanical Garden in nearby Steyl for a beautiful terrace view of the Meuse.
- When are you welcome? Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
- About the walk-in afternoon for kids in the May holidays: during the walk-in afternoon in the workshop, there is room for 12 children aged 6 to 12. Reservations are required via this page about walk-in afternoons in the studio.
- Practical: Free parking in the car park of Holtmühle Castle.
Kasteellaan 8, Tegelen
4. Exploring the Maasduinen National Park
This is the starting point for a day in the National Park. In the unique building that literally hangs in the lock box, you will find both the visitor centre and Bosbrasserie In de Sluis. From the floating terrace you look out over the Reindersmeer, while the children have fun in the De Boskoel play forest. Did you know that the Maasduinen are the longest river dune belt in the Netherlands? Here you can come face to face with a crane or a smooth snake sunbathing on the sand. The rangers of Het Limburgs Landschap will be happy to tell you more about these special inhabitants.
Editor's tip: take a walk around the Reindersmeer and cross the lake with the draw ferry. You'll automatically come across it when you leave from the visitor centre.
- When are you welcome? National Park de Maasduinen is open in the summer season (April to October) from Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 6pm and on weekends and holidays from 10am to 8pm. In the low season (November to March), the park is open on weekdays from 11am to 5pm and at weekends until 6pm
- Practical: Parking is paid (Parkplaats de Sluis), proceeds go directly to the maintenance of nature.
Car park National Park de Maasduinen: Bosserheide 3E, Well
5. On the trail of George and the dragon during a Dragon expedition in Beesel
In Beesel, the dragon is never far away. On this family walk, you will walk through the village and part of the outlying area, diving further and further into the legend of Saint George and the dragon along the way. Along the way, you will pass benches with a dragon symbol. If you scan the QR code there, you can download the free app Erfgoedroute Limburg to unravel more of the dragon story. Meanwhile, you search for good hiding places for the dragon, which, according to legend, only appears here once every seven years.
Editor's tip: Also fun with the kids nearby is Billybird Drakenrijk. An indoor and outdoor playground where the dragon theme is implemented.
- The route is always accessible
- Rainy day? Put on boots, as you will also walk on unpaved paths during the route
Billybird Drakenrijk is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Starting point route: Hoeve de Bongerd, Markt 13, Beesel
6. A day at Toverland amusement park
Sevenum is all about magic. As soon as you enter Toverland, you notice that everything has been thought of; from the upbeat music in Port Laguna to the detailed wooden roller coaster Troy. The park is divided into different worlds, keeping it clear for families. While the older kids seek speed in the 'Fēnix', you and the little ones can enjoy the boats at leisure. Did you know that there is often extra entertainment during the May holidays? That makes the day just that little bit more complete. Book your tickets for Toverland
Editor's tip: after a day full of roller coasters, somewhere nice to eat with children? At Pancake House Patershof in Panningen, you're in the right place. The atmosphere is relaxed, the pancakes are always to your liking and there is plenty of room for children to play.
- When are you welcome? Toverland is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
- Nearby accommodation tips: Bergerhof in Sevenum a fine place to spend the night. You sleep on a historic farm, in the greenery and close to Toverland. There is plenty of room for children to play, including a trampoline, go-karts and animals in the yard.
Toverlaan 1, Sevenum
7. A day in the May holidays to Mind Mystery
At Mind Mystery , you won't believe your own eyes. Everything here is about optical illusions and wonder, inside and out. The house upside down is of course the big eye-catcher, but the Ames room, the mirror maze and the other surprising photo spots also make this an outing that keeps children amazed. You run from one strange observation to another. And before you know it, you yourself will have some doubts about what you see.
Editor's tip: feel like going out after? About five minutes from Mind Mystery is Kasteel Huys Ter Horst, a castle ruin where all kinds of outings can be enjoyed by friends and families. Think e-chopper tours, castle lord for a day and a murder dinner.
- When are you welcome? For current opening hours, always check Mind Mystery's website(booking a time slot in advance is mandatory)
Jacob Merlostraat 1, Horst
8. Dive into Gennep's history with Archie
In Gennep, history suddenly becomes a lot more fun. At the Zandpoort archaeological site, download the Erfgoed Route app and discover the archaeo route in which you come face to face with Archie, the virtual archaeologist, on location. Through modern techniques, you will dive into the medieval story of the old city gate and discover what Gennep used to look like. That makes this no ordinary stop, but a short adventure where children soon start looking differently at what is around them. Along the way, the walk becomes a real experience route, with QR codes at special points marked with a post with a dragon on it. Download the Heritage Route app here.
Editor's tip: Have the kids got the hang of it? Then also drop in at Tourist Info Gennep in the old town hall. There, on the ground floor, you can see the exhibition '1641 Beleef de Belegering' on the siege of the Genneper Huys.
- Practical: Need a sweet snack? Get an ice cream at SMELT on the market in Gennep
Market (VVV), Gennep
9. Time travel with the family at Museum Peel en Maas
At Museum Peel en Maas, you step right into the history of the region. You walk through a former monastery and discover stories from different times, from the Romans and World War II to everyday life in the past. Fortunately, there is also plenty to do for children. They can go on a treasure hunt through the museum, try to crack a mysterious World War II chest and experience for themselves what the 1992 earthquake must have felt like.
Editor's tip: still fancy something tasty afterwards? Then sit down at Branie Fun & Food in the Heldense Bossen. You can have lunch there and there is also a children's menu.
- When are you welcome? Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.
Aan de Koeberg 3, Helden
10. On and around the water at Leuker Lake
Leuker Lake is all about being outdoors. By the water, on the water or just with your feet in the sand. You can float, play and get a breath of fresh air, while children have fun on the beach. Prefer something more active? Then hire a pedalo, canoe or e-sloop and head out onto the lake. This is how to turn a few hours on the water into a complete outing. Hire a boat at Leukermeer here
Editor's tip: on Leuker Lake, you have the chance to meet a pair of friendly swans.
De Kamp 5, Well
The national May holiday in 2026 falls from 25 April to 3 May. Many schools additionally use the advisory week before that. So always check the school guide or school website for the exact dates.
In northern Limburg, you can go in all directions during the May holiday. Sail on the Mookerplas for an afternoon, wander through the Kasteeltuinen Arcen, discover nature in National Park de Maasduinen or experience a day full of attractions in Toverland. A visit to Mind Mystery, Museum Peel en Maas or the Tiendschuur in Tegelen is also fun with children.
Discover more golden spots in North Limburg to visit during the May holidays.
If you want to get away for a few days, there are plenty of great places to stay with the family in northern Limburg. Consider a stay on the water at Leukermeer in Well or choose BoeBaDoe Farm in Beringe, where you sleep among the animals and experience farm life up close. This way, you can easily turn a day out into a complete May holiday.
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