Riemst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Riemst gives Visit Limburg’s “Cycling Underground” a second chance, planning a 350-meter path in Kanne, reviewing past studies, with Mayor Mark Vos leading, aiming to boost tourism and the local economy.
As VRT News reported, the municipality of Riemst, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, is giving the “Cycling Underground” project a second chance. The municipality says the project is important for tourism and local heritage.
A lot of public money and effort has already been spent on it. Mayor Mark Vos (CD&V) said the project should not disappear.
“We believe in the potential of ‘Cycling Underground,”
he said.
“It can attract visitors and strengthen the identity of our municipality. We want to start fresh and make the project succeed.”
“We see it not only as a lever for the local economy, but also as a unique opportunity to bring the exceptional marl landscape to the attention of a wide audience,”
the mayor said.
What is Riemst planning for the 350m “Cycling Underground” project?
The municipality of Riemst is taking a careful approach to the “Cycling Underground” project. Officials are not rushing any decisions. The municipal council has asked Visit Limburg to provide all existing plans, studies, and documents. These materials will form the basis for a new permit application.
Mayor Mark Vos (CD&V) emphasised the importance of preserving past work.
“We don’t want to start the designs from scratch. That would waste years of work and investment,”
he said.
“The plan that was created was solid and included compromises to satisfy different interests. It would be wrong to throw all of that away. We want to use these documents to move the project forward responsibly and efficiently.”
“Once we have those documents, we can start submitting a new permit application. Based on that new permit, we also hope to find a number of partners who want to join us,”
Mayor Mark Vos (CD&V) said.
The “Cycling Underground” project in Riemst, Belgium, is part of Visit Limburg’s broader initiative to enhance the region’s cycling infrastructure. Building upon successful projects like “Cycling through Water” (2016) and “Cycling through the Trees” (2019), the “Cycling Underground” aims to offer a unique cycling experience by creating a 350-meter underground cycling path through the Mathus Marl quarry in Kanne, near Riemst.
The initiative in the Mergelland region was stopped by Visit Limburg. The province said there was not enough support for the project. Riemst disagrees and wants to continue. As of January 2025, the municipality of Riemst is reviewing existing plans and studies to determine the feasibility of moving forward with the project.
