Wittem

Kasteel Wittem is a defunct restaurant located in Castle Wittem in Wittem, in the Netherlands. It was a fine dining restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in 1977 and retained that rating until 1989.In the period 1975–1979, head chef was Jan Vossen. At least in the period 1987–1990, Theus van Schaik was the head chef. Wim Rekko took over, but could not retain the star.The restaurant was part of Hotel Kasteel Wittem, which closed down in June 2009. The owners Marc and Peter Ritzen had run the hotel for 40 years. The hotel reopened, now without a restaurant, in January 2010.In 2008, Kasteel Wittem and Hostellerie De Hamert celebrated with special arrangements the fact that they were together 100 years in business, the first since 1968, the second since 1948.Restaurant-hotel Kasteel Wittem was a member of the Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise, but left after the sale of the hotel in 2009.

Selzerbeek (or Senserbach, Sinselbeek, Sinselbaach, Selzerbaek) is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Limburg in the Netherlands. It stretches over approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) from its source at Aachen to its mouth near Gulpen into the Geul.

Gulpen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣʏlpə(n)]; Limburgish: Gullepe [ˈɣʏləpə]) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is approximately midway between the Dutch city of Maastricht and the German city of Aachen. Gulpen was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Wittem. The newly formed municipality is called Gulpen-Wittem. The village itself derives its name from the river Gulp, which runs straight through the centre of the village and characterises the townscape. There is a Romanesque tower in the old cemetery, which dates from the 11th Century and is the only still existing part of a mediaeval village church. Considering its construction (its walls are up to 2 metres thick) and its location, it probably also served as defence tower, where the local villagers could go in case of danger. The former rectory, which leans against the tower, dates from 1732. It is now being let as luxurious group accommodation. The current Neo-Romanesque St.Petrus church dates from 1924 and was designed by Casper Franssen. A former monastery that was built in 1932 after a design by Alphons Boosten is being used as town hall. The village is home to the Gulpener Brewery. Every year in June, a walking tour of 70 kilometres is organised that is called the Nacht van Gulpen (Night of Gulpen). A little over a thousand people participate in this event each year.

The Eyserbeek (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛisərbeːk]; Limburgish: Ezerbaek [ˈeːzəʀbɛːk]) is a river in the province of Limburg, Netherlands. The Eyserbeek is a right-bank tributary to the river Geul, which later joins the Meuse. Rising in Bocholtz and flowing through Simpelveld and Eys, the Eyserbeek eventually drains in the river Geul in Gulpen. The Eyserbeek lies on the north of the plateau of Bocholtz and south of the plateau of Ubachsberg. Sources of the Eyserbeek can be found in Bocholtz near Hoeve Overhuizen, from where it passes the N281 provincial road, before flowing through the town square of Simpelveld. In 2012 Simpelveld reorganised its town square, which used to cover the river, opening the river to view and creating a new riverbank with bluestone. The Eyserbeek then passes the monumental Oude Molen and Bulkemsmolen watermills, build in 1774 and 1753 respectively, before passing into the village of Eys, which was named after the river. The Eyserbeek eventually drains in the river Geul near the former Motte-and-bailey castle Gracht Burggraaf in Gulpen, where also the Gulp River joins the Geul from the opposite bank.

The Gulp ([ˈɣʏl(ə)p]; Limburgish: [ˈɣʏl(ə)p]; French: Galoppe) is a 21 kilometres (13 mi) long river in eastern Belgium and southeastern Netherlands. It flows through the Belgian provinces of Liège and Limburg, and the Dutch province of Limburg. It is a strongly meandering, fast flowing, left-bank tributary of the Geul river. Because of it strong meanders, it is difficult to determine its exact length. During Roman times, the river was called Galopia or Gulippa, meaning little Geul or upper brook. The Gulp is a real trout stream: flowing fast and rich in oxygen. Brown trout are abundant. The landscape of the narrow Gulp valley resembles much the valley of the Geul: a fascinating mixture of deciduous forests, meadows, farmland, muddy banks, stream pools, orchards and holle wegen (eroded dirt roads).

Wahlwiller (Limburgish: Wilder [ˈwɪldəʀ]) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem. The village is located south of the Selzerbeek. The name of the village is derived from villare, what means "belonging to a villa". In the 14th century the village is mentioned under names as Waelwilre, Wailwilre and Walwilre. The prefix "wael" indicates that the inhabitants were speaking a Walloon language.Wahlwiller is a road village which developed in the Middle Ages on the road from Maastricht to Aachen. It became an independent parish in 1835. The Catholic St Cunibertus Church is a single-aisled church with a small tower. The church up to the windows dates from the 12th century. It has been enlarged and renovated several times.On the northern side of the village lies the Kruisberg, of Amstel Gold Race fame.

Mechelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɛxələ(n)]; Limburgish: Mechele [ˈmæxələ]) is a town in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is a part of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem, and lies about 13 km south of Heerlen.

Restaurant Der Bloasbalg was a restaurant in Wahlwiller, in the Netherlands. It was a fine dining restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in 1985 and retained that rating until 2005.From the beginning till 2005, when he sold the restaurant, Jan Waghemans was the head chef.Der Bloasbalg was a member of the Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise.The restaurant closed down in 2006 and was replaced by restaurant "Les Arômes".

Eys (Dutch: [ɛis]; Limburgish: Ees [ˈeːs]) is a village in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem, Limburg, the Netherlands. The town is located 3 km. from Gulpen and 17 km. from provincial capital Maastricht. Furthermore, it is characterised by its location in the hilly landscape of South Limburg. The village was first mentioned in 1193 in a document of the Sint-Pauluskapittel of Liège, Belgium, and was named after the river Eyserbeek.The Eyserbosweg (the road ('weg') that leads from the village to the forest ('bos')) is one of the hills to be climbed in the yearly professional cycle race Amstel Gold Race, first held in 1966. The organiser is not sure when the Eyserbosweg was first involved in the race. It was also the hill that featured in the Open Dutch Championship Bag Carrying ('zakkendragen'), a race against the clock in which people had to carry a bag with sand up the one kilometer long hill. The weight of the bag was 25 kg (women), 50 kg, 75 kg or 100 kg (men). That championship had its roots in a bet made by a farmer who claimed in 1956 that his farm help would be able to carry a 100 kg bag to the top.

The Aachen Formation (Dutch: Formatie van Aken, German: Aachen-Formation) is an Upper Cretaceous geologic formation in the southern Netherlands and northeastern Belgium and adjacent Germany.It is stratigraphically equivalent to the middle part of the Chalk Group of England, and named after the German city of Aachen.

Gulpener Bierbrouwerij BV is an independent Dutch brewery in Gulpen, Netherlands. The brewery was founded in 1825 by Laurens Smeets.Gulpener makes a lager sold in the Netherlands. Ingredients, such as barley and hops, are sourced from local farmers. These farmers produce their products in ecologically friendly ways.

Le Sapiche is a defunct restaurant in Gulpen, in the Netherlands. It was a fine dining restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in 2000 and retained that rating until 2005.Owner and head chef of Le Sapiche was Sascha Cremers.The restaurant closed down in 2005 when Cremers sold the restaurant.