The dancing procession of Echternach, as you may know, moves in a rhythm of three steps forwards and two backwards until the finishing post is finally crossed. Progress in my work as a nature and landscape developer can feel similarly snail-like. But I am pleased to report that we have at last crossed the finishing post – or at least a halfway post. Join me on my trip to the beautiful village of Vaals in the south of the Netherlands, well-known as the place where three countries meet but also for its glorious countryside.

View over the environs of Vaals.

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Before leaving the office in the morning, the skies are still grey, but on approaching Vaals at about one o’clock, the sun is already gaining the upper hand. Habitura and ASR Vastgoed are going on an outing this afternoon with the council of Vaals to visit some sites that badly need a quality impulse. Yes, even such a beautiful place as Vaals has its derelict spots and our intention today is to sign a letter of intent (LOI) to take those in hand.

This being Limburg, we are received with coffee and delicious flan – which is one of the bonuses of being sent on a mission to this region. After some introductory words, we board the coach to visit an obsolete business estate just outside the village. The true extent of the problem is brought home to us as we follow a path behind the buildings and cross over to German territory. There we see a picturesque valley with a brook that the business estate entirely conceals from sight. To compound the problem, there is hardly any room on the Dutch side to develop nature. That’s a big pity, but it can be changed.

Other sights on our scenic tour include an enormous disused sandpaper factory that needs to be tackled and a dilapidated farmhouse in the outlying area to the south-west of Vaals. The challenge is to give this region a robust economic impulse, while preserving its natural beauty.

Sandpaper factory Vaals.

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Our excursion ends in Hotel Kasteel Bloemendaal, an old monastery which has been extended in a magnificent manner. There we sign our LOI, have a drink and a bite to eat.

“So where does Echternach come into it?,” you may be wondering. Well, progress has been made, but our procession is not yet over. The ideas for a quality impulse must be developed into business cases, together with the parties immediately involved. So you can take it from me: we still have many steps backwards to make. But if the metaphor fits, then we at least have the consolation that one day we will cross the finishing post. Vaals deserves no less.