Selzerbeek and surroundings by MSP Canvas

About "Selzerbeek and surroundings"

by MSP Canvas

About the artwork

Selzerbeek, Sinselbeek or Senserbeek (German: Senserbach) is a brook in Dutch Limburg that rises about one kilometre across the border in Germany. Much of its course forms the Dutch-German land border between Mamelis and Vaals. It runs from its source in Germany, southeast of Vaals through Vaalserquartier, Vaals, Lemiers (Oud-Lemiers), Mamelis, Nijswiller, Wahlwiller and Partij to flow into the river Geul just west of Partij.

The stream has traditionally had a ford at Mamelis where several field roads converge. At Mamelis there was also a water mill called the Schoeërmolen or Oude Molen. Further downstream, there are two more water mills. The second water mill is the Mill of the Redemptorist Monastery in Wittem. The third water mill, the Wittemermolen, is located on the Wittem-Wijlre road (Wittemer Allee); a mill branch was constructed in the Selzerbeek to run this middle-stroke mill. West of Partij, the Selzerbeek flows into the Geul. This is a kilometre before the Gulp and Eyserbeek flow into the same stream at the level of motte Gracht Burggraaf (near Gulpen); this is also where the mill branch of the Selzerbeek, via the Eyserbeekloop, flows into the Geul. The confluence of four rivers made this brook valley a strategically important place.
The Selzerbeek valley is bordered on the north side by the Plateau of Bocholtz with the Schneeberg and the Kolmonderbosch. On the south side, the Plateau of Vijlen rises.

The stream gives hamlet Sinselbeek its name.
The N278 (national road) between Vaals and Gulpen runs largely through the Selzerbeek valley. The Maastricht-Vaals tram line also ran through the valley in the early 20th century, ending at Vaals Station.