IVN Maastricht

IVN Maastricht

Drabbelstraat 7

6212 XL

6215 EE Maastricht

"How are you connected with the Jeker valley?"

Every fortnight, IVN Maastricht organises the well-known Jeker round trip on Sunday mornings. Departure at 09.30 from the Statieplein in Kanne.

Natuurtuinen Jekerdal, our home base, is where our working groups meet, where we organise lectures, courses for young and old, and it is also the departure point for excursions and walks through Jekerdal.

We also organise activities for Scharrelkids. Here, we bring children aged 4 to 12 into contact with nature. For instance, there are Ditch Days. With IVN Nature Guides, the children discover animals and plants in and around the pond in the Nature Gardens and, of course, the Jeker.

A special place is our Jubilee spot 'Oak and Beech' on the western slope of St Peter's Mountain. On the 25th anniversary, an Oak and a Beech were planted. At the 40th anniversary, a work of art consisting of a flint bench, a Hornbeam and a plaque was realised and recently, at the 50th anniversary in 2021, a corten steel staircase with a poem was built to the Jubilee spo

The poem is by Chrit Merckelbagh:

Between oak and beech

eyes wander like birds

Free over Jeker and valley

stay a while longer

later can be later

On top of the Cannerberg behind Chateau Neercanne, IVN Maastricht maintains the site of the Bandkeramiekers 'Hoogcanne'.

"What's important to you about the Jeker Valley?"

IVN brings nature closer to people because the more people love nature, the better they will take care of it. That's why IVN Maastricht aims for a nature-inclusive Maastricht and surrounding area, in which nature is part of everyday life. In this way, IVN wants to work together with others to build a healthy society in which nature is taken for granted again.

Many of IVN Maastricht's outdoor activities take place in Jekerdal. Jeker valley is a popular place among Maastricht residents for recreation: for walking, sports and of course enjoying culture and nature.

There is plenty of opportunity to experience nature up close in the Jeker valley: the Sint-Pietersberg, the ENCI forest, the Cannerbos, the Popelmondedal with Devil's Cave, the Kannerhei. These values of the Jeker valley, an area that IVN Maastricht cherishes, IVN Maastricht wants to preserve and, where necessary, restore and develop the ecological values.

IVN Maastricht also cherishes the cultural-historical values along the monumental urban Jeker and its gems in the valley: Château Neercanne, the hamlets of Lombok and Nekum with former mill buildings and, of course, lovely Kanne.

Because of the common love for - and concern about - the Jeker and the Jekerdal, IVN Maastricht gladly accepts the invitation of Leve de Jeker to build together on a future in which the Jeker and its valley regain its original meaning: an inspiring lifeline for city, village and country, in short: to strive together for a drinkable Jeker that, together with its valley, becomes a lively source of joy, vitality and abundance.