Why you should pack your bags next weekend for a trip to Roermond
In case you still think that 'outlet center' is no reason for an idyllic dreamy weekend away, then think again. We are quite 'on' the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Roermond. Because the weather is the perfect reason to enjoy the beautiful Limburg to visit, and because it is home to some of the very best outlets in the country (hello Gucci, hello Prada, hello MiuMiu, hello Adidas and more...). Good reasons, immense? And with the historic city center of Roermond within walking distance, the Maasplassen and a handful delightfully quirky staying around the corner is this exactly such destination where you stay longer sticks then planned. Let's go.
McArthurGlen Designer Outlet opened in 2001 on the grounds of an old barracks in Roermond and grew in over twenty years into the largest and most successful outlet center in Europe. We are talking about more than 200 international designer brands with discounts that can reach up to 70%. Bam. And certainly not alone. the usual suspects: from Prada, Gucci, Balenciaga, Moncler, a brand-new Marc Jacobs store and the largest Nike store in the EU and the largest Polo Ralph Lauren outlet in Europe. Plus businesses like Adidas, Michael Kors, Coach, Longchamp, Guess, Rituals, you name it.
The best part: the outlet is a three-minute walk from the historic center of Roermond, it is open 363 days a year (including Sundays), and there are around 25 places to eat and drink, including three Starbucks, a La Place, and plenty of terraces to sit down on between trying on clothes. In short: a day flies by, so it only really becomes fun if you turn it into a weekend. And you can do that in at least three ways:
Whoever says that shopping and culture don't go together hasn't seen Roermond yet. Check in at, for example. Hotel the Arrest House, a former prison right in the city center and one of the most unique hotels in the Netherlands: where cells used to be, you now find stylish rooms and a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere. The next morning you dive into the Resistance site inside, an old industrial site that has grown into a creative hotspot. Step inside the guitar maker's workshop. Marlon Radjin Kewaldar (watching how an instrument is created by hand: hypnotic, even if you can't play a note) and stroll through RRMND Art Gallery.
In the afternoon, you stack up The Little Cheese House local cheeses and delicacies in your bag to then get to the Maasplassen to score a surprisingly luxurious picnic with a view of the water. Then: into the outlet, until the evening. And to finish off, you dine back at Het Arresthuis at restaurant Damianz, where chef Jeroen van Gansewinkel serves refined, seasonal dishes. The next day, you explore the city by bike via the Cuypers Cycle Route which passes churches, mansions and the famous “Grave with the Little Hands”, with a stop at The City Bakers for sourdough and pastry.
Not so much into cheese and guitar playing? Then option 2. Gather a group of friends and start amidst the greenery at Forest House Blankwater, a minimalist group accommodation tucked away on a blueberry plantation. Large windows, lots of light, and everyone immediately switching into that slow-down mode. The next day, out on the Maasplas: SUP yoga for those who want it quiet, or wakeboarding and fliteboarding at Beaver Creek Wake Park For adrenaline junkies (no experience needed).
Have lunch at Mr. Sammi in the ECI Culture Factory, an old power plant that is now one of the city's most creative spots. Afterwards: into the outlet, trying on outfits together, and bubbly on a terrace in between. In the evening, the atmosphere moves to the Stirring quay, where terraces fill up with groups of friends, shared dining, and views of the water. The next day, an introduction to golf at The Range (suddenly everyone turns out to have a hidden talent), lunch on the water at BBQ Donut — literally grilling in a round boat — and a final coffee at Refill Coffee Roastery en Factory on the Weerstand site.
The ideal family weekend is one where no one gets bored, right? Roermond it is. Book the number of rooms you need at Resort Marina Oolderhuuske: chalets scattered along the Maasplassen. You start the morning among the bushes at Blankwater Plantation where families can pick their own blueberries in season (for children, that is a real treasure hunt, truly fun), and afterwards you take a seat on the brasserie terrace, where the berries subtly reappear in pastries and lemonades.
Afterwards, head into the outlet: from colorful kids' sneakers to new favorites for mom and dad, with an ice cream along the way for the complete holiday feeling. In the evening, eat at Brownies & Downies in the center, where people with Down syndrome provide the service with visible pleasure. The next day, you discover the Maasplassen from the water: via Rent a Sloop Roermond You sail at your own pace past small harbors and green banks, steering the children along. Afterwards to the Resistance site, with lunch at Factory, a trial aerial acrobatics lesson at Aerials Gym (floating through the air hanging in silks and trapezes is fun) and, if there is still energy left, skating at OP10 Indoor Skate Hall.
Otherwise, the following tips in and around Roermond also remain very good options:
Roermond has much more to offer: try a combo day, for example: a bit of culture, a bit of shopping, a bit of culinary. If you stay an extra night, you've got yourself a wonderful weekend (or go during the week, when it's a bit quieter). We drove the castle route. The Arcen Castle Gardens are about a twenty-minute drive from Roermond. The seventeenth-century castle has no fewer than fifteen gardens, all of which are connected to each other, so you can enjoy yourself there for a while. After all that strolling through the garden, it's time to continue to Venlo to make a pit stop food hall MOUT. There are a lot of trendy food trucks gathered here, so getting a tasty lunch is no problem. From kibbeling to Vietnamese crepes or vegan hair salon. Great pit stop, food hall MOUT.
Now that the foundation has been laid, it's time to shop around Designer Outlet RoermondIn terms of atmosphere and layout, the outlet is a bit reminiscent of Movie Park and feels like a village in itself. There are no attractions (except for a magnificent carousel); you come here to score designer items at a discount. And if there is one thing we love, it is discounts. You don't just get them on designer brands, by the way; brands like Puma, Adidas, and My Jewellery have stores here too. There is even a Le Creuset store, for the kitchen princes and princesses among us. Dangerous for the wallet… Designer Outlet Roermond
Time to drop off your suitcases and (designer) bags at the hotel, which could very well be the Arresthuis in Roermond, a former prison. The large entrance gates, the former courtyard, the bars on the windows, and the cell doors serving as toilet doors: everything has been preserved. Since its construction in 1666, this remarkable building has served many functions; from Bishop's palace to military hospital, barracks, and Palace of Justice. Ultimately, the building served as a prison which was closed in 2007, after which the hotel opened its doors. For fine dining you can also go there; bee in-house restaurant Damianz eat your culinary dishes with a criminal twist (some dishes refer to the old prison) in a chic setting.
NOW Nautilus, with a dike of a terrace overlooking the water, is one of the best places in the city to watch the sun go down. Outside if possible, because we would also like to grab those last rays of sunshine. No problem if an unexpected downpour hits the country, because you can also enjoy a very cozy stay inside. Add to that the fact that they have an excellent menu and that the service is very friendly and you understand why you want to come here.
In contrast to the Designer Outlet - which is anything but historic, but nice and new - the city center of Roermond is. Cozy streets with ditto restaurants and boutiques that are worth a visit. If you prefer to experience some more culture, simply walk or drive to the next castle. The small and nice Hattem Castle is located around the corner from the outlet and just over the German border Schloss Dyck. This castle is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. Wearing your new designer suit you can parade like a real baroness.
Nice route, right? A bite-sized guide for a nice weekend away, where you no longer have to think about what you want to do next. For even more tips in Roermond and in the vicinity of Designer Outlet Roermond, we also have some tips & tricks here.
Designer Outlet Roermond is open every day from 10:00 AM to 20:00 PM and on weekends they even open at 09:00 AM and until 21:00 PM.
Around Roermond, in addition to the aforementioned castle route, there are also two other nice routes to drive (or cycle if you dare..). You can go along the water, where you can join Strandbar Bruis or NU Nautilus. Rent a boat to enter the Maasplassen and eat on the water or make it even more active by wakeboarding or water skiing at Beaver Creek Wake Park.
If the offspring goes to Roermond, the family route is a hit. Forty minutes further south you will find Brunssum, where you will find a sweet children's farm and a climbing forest in Park Het Plateau in the Schutterpark. A five-minute drive from the Schutterspark you will find the last great tip: the Barefoot Path. Here you can walk over and through all kinds of obstacles and there are tables here and there to have lunch at.
More tips
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Appetizers in an old prison: it is possible at Damianz in Roermond
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Kasteeltje Hattem in Roermond is the sweetest smallest castle in the Netherlands for dining and spending the night
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Good Italian food at Terra Nova in Limburg, Roermond
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Hot & happening: Mr. Sammi Bistro Bar (Central Limburg, Roermond)