Mom getaway to Roermond: 48 hours full of design shopping, delicious food, and me-time

Mothers (and fathers too, of course!) will recognize this: sometimes you just need a night away where everything revolves around yourself. No packed schedule, no gym on Saturday morning, and for a change, no one saying, "I'm sooooo bored" or "I'm hungry." Just two days of you-time with me, myself & I. Or with your mother, sister, or a friend if you really don't like being alone.

Enjoying a leisurely lunch, shopping for yourself in peace, a nice hotel, and treating yourself to something that has been on your wishlist for ages (or something you just stumble upon spontaneously). I firmly believe that a mom getaway every now and then makes every mama a better mother. And you really don't have to go far for that. There are plenty of fun cities to discover close to home!

© Your Little Black Book

This is what you want to do in Roermond during your mom getaway

My latest mom getaway was to Roermond in Limburg , and I have to say I am so surprised. Of course, I had already been to Designer Outlet Roermond after a weekend away in Maastricht. But what I didn't know at all is that Roermond has such a charming historic city center, with trendy restaurants and cozy terraces by the water. Everything is within walking distance. You don't need a car, which makes it perfectly doable by train as well, just like I did.

Designer Outlet Roermond © Your Little Black Book

Check in at Het Arresthuis

I would go back again for the hotel alone. Het Arresthuis is without a doubt one of the most unique hotels in the south. Where prisoners used to stay, you now sleep in stylish and wonderfully luxurious design rooms that still incorporate subtle references to the past. Moreover, the location is perfect. Within a few minutes' walk, you can reach the historic center, the cozy terraces, and Designer Outlet Roermond. After an afternoon of shopping, it is lovely to take a long soak in the bath or have a drink in the bar. You don't even have to leave the hotel for a good dinner, as you can simply take a seat at restaurant Damianz in the evening, which is listed in the Michelin Guide.

The House of Detention © Your Little Black Book

Start the day in the historic city center

Before you go shopping, it is nice to take a stroll through the historic center. Roermond is surprisingly atmospheric, with lovely squares, cozy shopping streets, and old buildings with very distinctive facades. Are you interested in architecture? Then you will naturally come across many buildings by Pierre Cuypers along the way, the Roermond architect who later also designed the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station. A nice spot for a coffee is Thbx Café, which is part of the concept store of the same name. You will find even more nice spots in the Neerstraat, so be sure to walk through there.

Thbx Café © Your Little Black Book

Shopping at Designer Outlet Roermond

When you say Roermond, you say Designer Outlet Roermond . I hadn't been here for a few years, but after my recent visit, I'm going to make it a semi-annual trip. The selection is truly amazing, and I found such great bargains there. I really struck gold, because during the sale period there are extra discounts on outlet prices, and these can really add up. For instance, I scored a beautiful blazer and bag at Isabel Marant, a pair of Prada sunglasses that could easily have been in Carolyn Bessette's wardrobe, and a cap at Polo Ralph Lauren that I already had on my autumn wishlist.

At Sandro, Maje, and BA&SH, there were beautiful dresses and jackets hanging that I still regret not taking home. You will also find shops from American Vintage, My Jewellery, and Essentiel Antwerp there. If, like me, you enjoy investing in designer items every now and then, you can indulge yourself here as well. You can easily walk in and out of shops from Loewe, Gucci, Balenciaga, D&G, Prada, Burberry, Chloé, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, and Tod's, among others. This is just a small selection of what is on offer. In total, there are more than 200 designer and premium brands to be found.

Loewe © Your Little Black Book

I found it so wonderful to be able to shop on my own for a bit. When can you really take the time for this when you are with your family? Trying on sunglasses in peace, going back to that one store because something stuck in your mind while you have a coffee: sometimes it is really nice not to have to take anyone else into account for a change.

In between shopping, there are plenty of places to eat and drink. I had a homemade lemonade at the new Le Pain Quotidien and settled down for lunch at Chez Margot, a French-style bistro. On the way back to the exit, I scored matching linen shirts for my men back home at Polo Ralph Lauren, rounding off a very successful shopping afternoon.

Time for an aperitivo on the Roerkade

The weather was lovely when I was in Roermond, and the terraces looked so inviting everywhere! There are several nice spots to sit with a view of the water. You’ll find many terraces along the Roerkade, but if you can, walk on to the sunny terrace of Bistro & Bar Blend, overlooking the marina and the Maas. A perfect spot for an aperitivo after an afternoon of shopping.

Bistro & Bar Blend © Your Little Black Book

Reserve a table for a special dinner

There is no shortage of good restaurants in Roermond. Do you feel like treating yourself to a culinary evening? There are several establishments included in the Michelin Guide.

If you are staying at Het Arresthuis, just like me, be sure to reserve a table at Damianz. They cook with seasonal ingredients here, and every dish is an experience. Expect familiar dishes, but with an international touch.

Another good restaurant is Rura by Naomi & Joey. Casual fine dining, as they call it themselves, and the dishes are like little works of art on a plate. Classic techniques, seasonal Dutch products, and an atmosphere that is less stiff than you would expect at a restaurant of this level.

The restaurant I've put on my list for my next visit? That's definitely ONE! This Michelin-starred restaurant is located in a former factory, and the industrial details are still visible everywhere. What makes this restaurant special is the large urban vegetable garden, where a large portion of the ingredients are grown in-house. The remaining products are sourced regionally, ensuring you enjoy an evening filled with the very best Limburg has to offer. If you want to dine here, plan your getaway from Wednesday through Sunday. As soon as I've been here next time, I'll let you know how it was!

After a long evening of dining, you roll straight into bed at Het Arresthuis. I found it so nice to simply be able to walk to the hotel.

Damianz © Your Little Black Book

Day two in Roermond

At first, I was thinking of just going back and forth for a day of shopping at Designer Outlet Roermond, but I am so glad I turned it into an overnight stay. In the morning, I started with some lovely me-time before breakfast. A long soak in the bath, a leisurely breakfast (because you really want to take your time for breakfast at Het Arresthuis), and then a quick trip into town. After all, there are plenty of fun things to do in Roermond.

Discover the creative side of Roermond

After a day of shopping, it is nice to discover another side of Roermond. Less than ten minutes from the city center lies the Weerstand site, a former industrial location that has grown into a creative hotspot in recent years. Old factory buildings form the backdrop here for studios, hospitality venues, and local entrepreneurs. It is a place where you realize that Roermond is much more than just an outlet destination.

A nice hotspot for coffee and a treat is La Fabrique. Here you can drink coffee made from beans by Refill Coffee Roasters, which is also located on the premises. If you are an art lover, be sure to stop by the RRMND Art Gallery, which features rotating exhibitions by contemporary artists.

Lunch (or dinner) at Mr. Sammi

Another cool industrial spot you really shouldn't miss is Mr. Sammi. Just like ONE, the restaurant is located in the ECI Cultuurfabriek, a former power plant that has been transformed into a creative hotspot. The industrial building alone is worth a visit. Inside, there is a relaxed atmosphere, and if you can't decide from the lunch menu, simply order the tasting menu featuring a selection from the chef. Mr. Sammi is also open in the evening, so should you decide to stay an extra night, this is also a great place for dinner.

Roermond © Your Little Black Book

With the kids next time?

Although this trip is all about a mini mom-cation, I will definitely bring my husband and son along next time, so we can discover Roermond from a completely different perspective again.

These are fun tips for families:

• Rent a sloop and go boating on the Maasplassen.
• In the area around Roermond, there are various fruit growers where you can pick whatever is in season. For example, blueberries in the summer at Plantage Blankwater.
• Take an introductory aerial acrobatics class at Aerials Gym.
• Go skateboarding at OP10 Indoor Skatepark.
• And of course, go shopping at Designer Outlet Roermond, because they have lots of fun shops for children there too. From new sneakers at Nike or Adidas to Polo Ralph Lauren. Finish the day with a ride on the carousel, always fun with kids!
• I mentioned them before, but Mr. Sammi and La Fabrique are also nice spots to go to with kids.

Just a quick overview of the YLBB shortlist for Roermond

Nicest hotel: Het Arresthuis
Best lunch: Mr. Sammi
Best shopping: Designer Outlet Roermond
Nicest creative hotspot: Weerstand site
Best coffee: Thbx Café
Nicest aperitivo: Bistro & Bar Blend
Michelin-starred dinner: ONE
Special dining: Damianz
Casual fine dining: Rura by Naomi & Joey
Nicest walk: Historic city center, Munsterplein & Roerkade

Neerstraat in Roermond © Your Little Black Book

Looking for more inspiration for a weekend in Limburg?

On Your Little Black Book, you will find many more tips for a weekend in Limburg . You might immediately think of Maastricht as a base, but Roermond is now also on my shortlist as a great base for discovering more of Central Limburg. Combine your overnight stay or weekend, for example, with a day on or around the Maasplassen, a visit to De Meinweg National Park, or a route through nearby villages. That way, a weekend of shopping immediately feels like a mini-vacation.

Have fun!

With love, Anne 

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