There has been a lot of commotion about the intention of the municipality of Vaals to issue far fewer permits for cycling tours. South Limburg is a special place for cycling enthusiasts because you can cycle un-Dutch steep climbs here. Advocates from the cycling world and the recreational sector are calling on the municipality of Vaals to abandon the downsizing plans.
As the first municipality in Limburg, the municipality of Vaals wants to put a brake on the number of cycling tourists who travel through the municipality on organized tours. The tours surrounding the classic 'Amstel Gold Race' are also scheduled to be cancelled. Major cycling events would no longer receive a permit to pass through the municipality of Vaals.
There has been a policy to regulate cycling tourism since 2013
South Limburg is known as the most important cycling region for cycling in the Netherlands. Many tens of thousands of visitors flock to this area every year to cycle individually, in an organized or unorganized context or to participate in one of the many cycling tours. Cycling and cycling make an important contribution to the branding and economy of this area. But the increase in the number of (un)organized cycling tours has also put pressure on the area in the past. That is why a policy was developed in 2013 that provides relief from centralized pressure through distribution, maximization of the number of cycling tours and central coordination between tour organizers and municipalities. The fact that the policy is working is evident from the fact that the number of participants in organized tours has fallen since then. Figures from Strava show that the number of recreational (unorganized) in South Limburg has grown significantly since 2013.
Source and more information at: Policy Cycling Tours South Limburg – Euregio 2023
Interest groups protest
There are now fierce protests from various sides against the intention of the municipality of Vaals. Leo van Vliet, the big man behind the Amstel Gold Race cycling race, was one of the first to express his concerns during a city council meeting. Although the cycling race itself is not up for discussion, the related tours are subject to discussion. Van Vliet: “It is precisely those tours, and the income from them, that are important for the stakeholders who support the Amstel Gold Race.”
Business organizations HISWA-RECRON and Royal Horeca Netherlands jointly sent a letter to the municipality calling on them not to agree to the proposal: “The effects of your decision have a major impact on the economy and employment in the tourist recreational sector, the catering industry, retail trade and the supply sector. Not only in your own municipality but also in the neighboring municipalities of Vaals. We have serious doubts as to whether these interests have been sufficiently taken into account in your assessment. Careful management therefore requires that these interests must be seriously taken into account and taken into account. Especially if a decision like this leads to a potentially irreversible situation. Cycling tours and races account for many millions of expenditures in catering, hotels, recreational accommodation at campsites and bungalow parks and retail in the region. Many people have already booked accommodation to climb the Vaalserberg on April 13. The municipality of Vaals, with its special location, is a key municipality on the route.”
More information: KHN en HISWA RECRON
Also the Dutch Touring Cycling Union (NTFU) reacts displeased: “No lines can or should be drawn from tours such as Limburgs Mooiste, Mergelheuvelland 2-Day and the many small-scale tours that are organized by and for cycling enthusiasts. The NTFU therefore wants to make a stand.
We find it unacceptable that cyclists are once again victims. The number of tours and participants has been restricted in South Limburg since 2014. This means that the numbers have fallen by more than 20 percent in parts of the municipality of Vaals itself to read. The NTFU therefore believes that it is no longer just cyclists and tours that cause crowds in the Limburg hills. More and more people like to go out and there are more and more different types of cyclists on the cycle path. It is certainly not fair to target sporty cyclists again.”
More information: www.ntfu.nl