Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU) to Kerkrade

The drive from Brussels Airport to Kerkrade

Kerkrade lies 135 km (84 miles) east of Zaventem, close to the German border. The journey normally takes about 1 h 26 m, and you cross from Belgium into the Netherlands along the way. Kerkrade is booked less often than the big-city routes, but it is available on request like any other destination. Allow some extra time if you travel during the weekday morning or late-afternoon rush, when the roads around Brussels and Liège can slow down. Bad weather in winter can add time as well.

Choosing a vehicle

Couples and small families fit comfortably in a private taxi, available for 1-3 or 1-4 passengers. Choose the 1-4 option if you travel with four people or carry a lot of luggage. For larger parties, there are private minibuses with 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 or 48 seats. These suit tour groups, sports teams, business delegations and wedding or conference guests heading to the Kerkrade area. Pick the vehicle by passenger count and luggage rather than by seat number alone, so everyone travels without a squeeze.

Kerkrade and where to stay

Kerkrade is a town in the Dutch province of Limburg, right on the border with Germany, and it is a former coal-mining town. Its best-known landmark is Rolduc Abbey, a large historic complex on the edge of town. The town also has the Cube design museum. Aachen in Germany is only a short distance away, which makes Kerkrade a practical base for visits on both sides of the border.

• Abdij Rolduc: the abbey complex also works as a hotel, restaurant and conference venue, and it is one of the town's best-known places to stay.
• Kasteel Erenstein: a castle in Kerkrade that houses a hotel and restaurant.

Meeting point

Your driver waits at Java Coffee House in Brussels Zaventem Airport, holding a personalised name sign. The spot is easy to find once you have collected your luggage.