Alternative Geographical Madness

Noordkaap, Groningen (The Netherlands)

For those interested, there are several fascinating geographical landmarks along the route that are well worth visiting.

Imagine this: you’re standing at the very edge of the country, where the Netherlands ends and the sea takes over. Far in the north, at Noordkaap, you find yourself atop a dike in the province of Groningen. The wind often howls fiercely here, and before you lies the endless expanse of the Wadden Sea.

This spot is located a few straight, uneventful kilometers outside the village of Uithuizermeede. On top of the seawall stands a striking steel sculpture by artist René de Boer. The artwork symbolizes a gateway to the heavens and the horizon—a place where sky and water merge.

This is the northernmost point of the Dutch mainland. There are no buildings or crowds here—just salty sea air, the sounds of birds, and a horizon that seems to stretch on forever. The actual northernmost point of the Netherlands lies on Rottumerplaat, an uninhabited island only accessible with special permission.

On the opposite side of the country lies Sint Anna ter Muiden, near Sluis in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Along a narrow road and canal, you’ll find the westernmost point of the Dutch mainland, marked by boundary stone 369.

Next, we travel to the far east. The village of Bad Nieuweschans, like the northernmost point, is also in Groningen. Just outside its center lies the easternmost point of the mainland, where the Netherlands ends and Germany begins.

Here, history is palpable: once a fortified border village, now a place where Dutch and Germans meet. The country’s easternmost spot is at the A7 highway border crossing, near boundary marker 196.

Finally, we journey all the way south, where the flat Dutch landscape gives way to rolling hills. You drive along winding roads, orchards, and picturesque villages until you reach Klein-Kuttingen in South Limburg.

This is the southernmost point of the Dutch mainland, set in a scenic, hilly landscape. Look out for boundary marker 12, which designates the exact location.

Nearby, at boundary stone 219, you’ll also find Belgium’s northernmost point, in the municipality of Meerle. This geographical curiosity sits amid the vast Kalmthoutse Heide nature reserve, not far from Zundert, the birthplace of Vincent van Gogh.

Lastly, at the border crossing on IJsstraat 13 in Susteren (Limburg), you can visit the westernmost point of Germany. Informational signs at the site detail its unique geography.

This spot also marks the narrowest part of the Netherlands—here, Belgium and Germany are just 4.8 kilometers apart.