Castle Ruins & Velvet Cave
Castle Ruins & Velvet Cave
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Stichting Kasteel van Valkenburg (Valkenburg Castle Foundation) was founded in 1924 with the objectives of preserving the Velvet Cave and the ruins of Valkenburg Castle (the Netherlands’ only hilltop castle), as they are now, for future generations and keeping both of these national monuments safe and accessible.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
1,176 reviews
Excellent
402
Very good
499
Average
162
Poor
60
Terrible
53
Amy F
7 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Awesome view of the city! We climbed to the top of the castle and learned a lot along the way. There are signs along the route that explain and show what the castle used to look like.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your nice review!
Written 13 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Albert B
Birmingham, UK105 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
The velvet cave is a must vist brilliant sand figures lovely to see lots of historic events and information and a Dino adventure and a 3 Dee photo part
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veronique B
Ulft, The Netherlands14 contributions
Nov 2022
A lot of things to see, very nice place with a very nice coffee place. A lot of choice on the Christmas market in the cave.
Written 2 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stinsa
Amsterdam, The Netherlands324 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We have visited the castle ruins and caves. We started a tour through the caves. There is not much to see besides some murals. Some of which are nice. You pay for your entrance of course, but the guide claimed to be a volunteer and asked everyone for tips. The tour, only available in Dutch by the way felt forced and not authentic. I also don't believe the person only lived of tips. But I'm certain it was a way to try to increase the tipping.
The ruins are nice to walk through. But they are ruins, so besides a few walls still standing, not much to see.
The ruins are nice to walk through. But they are ruins, so besides a few walls still standing, not much to see.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RupertBear_12
Eastbourne, England, United Kingdom54 contributions
May 2022
The castle is just ruins and there is not much to see. The caves are more like mines and there are drawings throughout. The history of the caves is interesting. You have to go with a guide so check the website for times. I would combine both. From the castle you get a great view over the area. This is a very touristy place and this is reflected in the prices in the cafes, so beware and check beforehand. We stopped during a cycling trip for a few hours. I would not revisit. We had a museumcard - so this was covered, otherwise I probably would have been disappointed.
Written 1 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mangiabenebevimeglio
Rome, Italy1,157 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Nothing of rilevant considering the ruins. In Europe you can visit many historic and cultural sites for free. There were three of us but was absolutely a normal visit no emotions nothing to remember.
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yuni
Limmen, The Netherlands72 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
Worth a visit to explore the ruins. Interesting walking tour reading all information boards and enjoy the views.
Written 4 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jantine S
Zwolle, The Netherlands53 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
The ruins were cool.
The castle was in ruins because the former landlord thought it was a good idea to blow his own castle up.
The caves are not really caves, but mines. So nothing interesting to see there. The tour guide only tells some made up stories about ghosts in the caves. Oh and the guide was a volunteer (tickets cost 13 euro's each) and she does this work to pay for her study. What is not right here? She showed us how dark the caves were (you can't see anything) and she even asked us how dark it would be at night. Like.. what?
The velvet cave was just as many other things in Limburg ridiculous and pointless. Nothing makes any sense. It was just a stone mine where people made some charcoal drawings on the wall, and some fake statues. The stories behind the drawing and statues were all nonsense.
Limburg is a truly beautiful provence of the Netherlands. The nature is stunning, and the city Maastricht is wonderful! But safe yourself the trouble of going to Valkenburg, it's not worth your time if you are interested in real history. The 'caves' are barely more than 100 years old and the history consists of stories that are completely made up.
We had a great time in Limburg though. I would recommend a visit to Maastricht, a truly beautiful city!
The castle was in ruins because the former landlord thought it was a good idea to blow his own castle up.
The caves are not really caves, but mines. So nothing interesting to see there. The tour guide only tells some made up stories about ghosts in the caves. Oh and the guide was a volunteer (tickets cost 13 euro's each) and she does this work to pay for her study. What is not right here? She showed us how dark the caves were (you can't see anything) and she even asked us how dark it would be at night. Like.. what?
The velvet cave was just as many other things in Limburg ridiculous and pointless. Nothing makes any sense. It was just a stone mine where people made some charcoal drawings on the wall, and some fake statues. The stories behind the drawing and statues were all nonsense.
Limburg is a truly beautiful provence of the Netherlands. The nature is stunning, and the city Maastricht is wonderful! But safe yourself the trouble of going to Valkenburg, it's not worth your time if you are interested in real history. The 'caves' are barely more than 100 years old and the history consists of stories that are completely made up.
We had a great time in Limburg though. I would recommend a visit to Maastricht, a truly beautiful city!
Written 25 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
~na
Den Bosch, The Netherlands165 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
It was quite sunny when we visited. There were plenty of information boards put up to read and know about the history behind the various areas in castle ruins which made it quite interesting.
In the guided tour for velvet caves, you must wear a jacket. It was COLD down there. The only negative was that they only do Dutch Language tours.
In the guided tour for velvet caves, you must wear a jacket. It was COLD down there. The only negative was that they only do Dutch Language tours.
Written 3 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Willem H
11 contributions
Jul 2020
The cast was blown u by the Staatsarmy of stadhouder Willem III.
He is also known as King William of England.
He is also known as King William of England.
Written 8 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margaretha Baaij
4 contributions
Wat is de entreeprijs?
Kasteelruïne en Fluweelengrot
Valkenburg, The Netherlands1 contribution
De entree van de Fluweelengrot & Kasteelruïne is 16 euro p.p.
De entree van alleen de kasteelruïne is 10 euro p.p.
Mag mijn hond mee
tim berghof
Valkenburg, The Netherlands1 contribution
Beste gabienne,
Honden mogen gewoon mee met de rondleidingen.
Groet, gidsenteam fluwelengrot
Kan ik ook alleen de ruine bezichtigen
Compass701318
6 contributions
Ja, dat is mogelijk. Bezoek je de grot dan kom je de grot uit in de ruïne. Daar betaal je ook voor. Maar alleen de ruïne bezoeken is ook mogelijk.
Rebecca P
Chicago, Illinois, United States3 contributions
Is the cave only open during Christmas? If not, what are the non-Christmas market hours?
Sc00byD0
Devon, UK272 contributions
I think Carin K has answered the question fully, I have nothing more to add, apart from Valkenburg and the Velvet Caves are a great place to visit.
cherry p
Cannock, UK4 contributions
we are looking to visit a Christmas market and wonder which one valkenburg or cologne. also has anyone used leger or gold star coach trip
Doug C
Eagle, NE126 contributions
I have been to both, and while both are excellent, Cologne has more appeal I think because it is held next to the cathedral. I also don't recall having Glu Wine at the Dutch Market. I have not used either coach line.
Anne
Carlisle, UK4 contributions
Hello, We are thinking of going here in December, but understand there is a steep walk to get there. I would be so grateful if anyone could tell me little bit about that such as how far is it and how difficult might it be with walking stick. Many thanks
Anne
ChristopherWzxs
33 contributions
I saw others who were a bit challenged in mobility & they had no difficulty.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Castle Ruins & Velvet Cave
- Castle Ruins & Velvet Cave is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 - 16:00
- Hotels near Castle Ruins & Velvet Cave:
- (0.03 mi) Pension de Dael
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- (0.09 mi) Petit Hotel De la Ruine
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- Restaurants near Castle Ruins & Velvet Cave:
- (0.11 mi) Koco Bistro
- (0.09 mi) Fixed Gear Coffee - Cauberg
- (0.13 mi) Restaurant Sunndays
- (0.09 mi) La Piazza
- (0.16 mi) Restaurant Zest