Vaals

Vaals is a town and municipality in the southeastern Dutch province of Limburg, located near the border with Germany. The municipality encompasses the town of Vaals and the village of Vijlen, with a population of about 11,000 people. The area is characterized by the Limburg hills and a long history as a cross-border locality.

Geography and landmarks are the main features of Vaals. It lies close to Aachen in Germany and is renowned for the Vaalserberg, the highest point in the Netherlands at 322.4 metres. Nearby is the Drielandenpunt, the Three-Country Point where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. The area surrounds border markers and a viewing area that attracts visitors year-round, along with forested and rural scenery typical of the Limburg landscape.

Economy and transport in Vaals reflect its border position. Cross-border trade and tourism are important, and many residents commute to nearby Germany and Belgium for work. Vaals is connected by road to surrounding Limburg towns and to the German border, and it is served by regional rail and bus services that link the town with the wider Dutch and cross-border networks.

History and culture in Vaals are shaped by its location at a major border crossroads. The town has a mixed Dutch-German cultural influence and Limburgish linguistic elements alongside standard Dutch. Its built heritage includes religious and civic buildings typical of Limburg towns, reflecting centuries of cross-border interaction and trade.

Overall, Vaals is defined by its border proximity, natural height of the Vaalserberg, and the Three-Country Point, making it a notable gateway in the southeastern Netherlands.