Straelen — From An Airbase To Books And Flowers!

Think of Straelen as a lady that doesn’t reveal her true age.

She says her birthday was almost thousand years ago in 1065, but in reality she’s much older (6th century grave hills have been found here). She’s also magnificently located close to the border of the Netherlands and its city of Venlo. In fact, the ruins of the old World War II Luftwaffe Air Base lies between the two countries and Venlo counts as Straelen’s closest railway station.

A day trip to Straelen is about all that’s needed to really see everything. Unless you’re headed over to the famous European Translator Kollegium, then you’ll be here a while!

Opened in 1978, it houses more than 110,000 volumes of literature, books, dictionaries, and reference guides in 275 languages and dialects and remains home to some 750 people (from 50 countries) a year. Oh, if you’re a bookworm then Straelen could be your Nirvana. ;-)

In a city that was once under French rule (sometime in the 19th century), the town really does retain an utter German flair. And, that can be found in the many grand old manor houses here like the Haus Coull, Haus Eyll, and the Haus Vlassrath.

But, the most unique and historical is the Haus Caen. Built in 1451, its watermill is the oldest in all of the Niederrhein. It is protected by water on two sides, so technically it doesn’t have a moat. It does have, believe it or not, an English garden and a pigeon tower, once used for carrier pigeons, long before the days of DHL!

What Straelen lacks on certain “objects of interest” around town, it makes up for it with heart. The largest flower auction in all of Germany is held here daily. The scents of all those flowers has just got to be considered heavenly!

And, Straelen hosts a Spring and Autumn Festival, A Christmas Market, and a RockMusicFest, so the town can seriously get down to party.

It doesn’t matter why you’re coming to Straelen, be it for the books, the flowers, the festivals, or the history and culture. You will surely love this lovely lady, no matter how old she really is.

 

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