A Weekend in Limburg in Autumn: 3 Places to Visit from Amsterdam.
Looking for a magical autumn weekend in Limburg that also works with a toddler? Do it in this order: Saturday evening at the Enchanted Gardens light festival in Kasteeltuinen Arcen, a night at Hotel Centraal Baarlo in the room with a wooden tree house upstairs, and Sunday at Toverland Halloween Days, where the Pumpkin Farm sits inside a corn field. We just did exactly this with our 2-year-old daughter Lily, driving from Amsterdam and back.
| Trip detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Destination | Limburg, Netherlands |
| Trip length | 2 days, 1 night |
| Starting point | Amsterdam |
| Transport | We went by Car |
| Best suited for | Families, autumn travellers and weekend explorers |
| Main stops | 1.Kasteeltuinen Arcen > 2.Hotel Centraal Baarlo > 3.Toverland Themepark |
| Season | Autumn, with event dates varying by year |
Saturday evening: Enchanted Gardens in Arcen
Enchanted Gardens is the autumn light festival at Kasteeltuinen Arcen, the castle gardens in the Maasduinen of North Limburg. Every evening from 9 to 31 October 2026, a route of about 2.5 km turns the gardens into a walk of light art, lasers, projections and glowing paths. Is it worth it? Yes, it is a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening in October.
We arrived at 7 pm. Tickets are for a specific time slot, and because we had Lily with us, we were let past the waiting line. I am not sure that is an official rule, so ask at the entrance if you travel with small kids.
đź“ŤEnchanted Gardens: Good to know before you go
- OUR TIPS: Book Enchanted Gardens tickets in advance, because it sells out on weekends
- Open daily from 19:00 to 23:00, and from 18:00 on 25 to 31 October because it gets dark earlier after the clock change.
- Evening ticket: 19 euro for adults, 9.50 euro for ages 4 to 17, free for ages 0 to 3. Tickets are sold online only.
- The route is about 2.5 km and takes 2 to 2.5 hours. The route follows the regular wheelchair-friendly path and does not go over grass.
- Parking at the castle gardens is free until 1 November.
- No dogs allowed.
- There are lasers, projections and fast colour changes, so check first if someone in your group is sensitive to light effects.
- By car from Amsterdam: it took us 2 hours
- Public Transport info: over 3H! Not recommended.
- Address: Lingsforterweg 26, 5944 BE Arcen
- đź“ŤEnchanted Gardens, Kasteeltuinen Arcen
👉Official Website: https://www.kasteeltuinen.nl/nl/enchantedgardens
Where do you eat during Enchanted Gardens?
There is plenty, but the lines can be long. We ate at the food stalls around the park. The food truck square at the start of the route has fries, snacks, drinks and poffertjes. Het Koetshuys, also at the start, serves a visitor menu from 17:00 to 18:15 and snacks, sweets and drinks from 18:30. Halfway, the Bergpaviljoen has a broodje Unox, fries with mayo, sweets and drinks. There are vegetarian options, and you can ask about allergies at any food point.
Prefer a sit-down dinner? The official autumn package adds a buffet in the vaulted restaurant of the castle before your walk. Everything is on the official Enchanted Gardens page. Kasteeltuinen Arcen is also on our list of Dutch castles and estates.
Where to sleep near Arcen and Toverland? A room with a tree house in Baarlo
We stayed at Hotel Centraal Baarlo in the village of Baarlo. Our room was modern and spacious, with a big bath, and I loved it. Upstairs there was a wooden tree house for kids. For our daughter Lily, who is 2, this was the highlight of the hotel. She went up and down so many times that we lost count.
If you travel with little ones, look for the room with the wooden house upstairs.
More overnight places we loved are in our unique hotels and B&Bs list.
Good to know about Hotel Centraal Baarlo
- OUR TIPS: Check in to Centraal Baarlo early so kids can explore the room before dinner
- Address: Markt 1, Baarlo
- đź“ŤHotel Centraal Baarlo | https://centraalbaarlo.nl/hotel/
👉 Check rooms and availability for Hotel Centraal Baarlo on Booking.com.
Sunday: Toverland Halloween Days
Halloween Days is the family-friendly daytime version organised by the Toverland Themepark, advised for children under 12, and it is more fun than scary. We went during the day, and the Pumpkin Farm and the real corn maze was the focus of our visit. This year it moved to the new Halloween Village, inside a 7-hectare corn field, and walking through it felt like nothing we have experienced before in the Netherlands. Is Halloween days good for kids? Yes!
In the corn we happily got lost in the Magisch Mais Mysterie maze. Friendly, not scary characters pointed us in different directions or played little games with the kids. After the Pumpkin Farm we did a couple of kids’ rides and the boat ride. All attractions stay open during Halloween Days.
Good to know about Halloween Days
- OUR TIPS: Toverland Halloween Days: go Sunday morning when it opens, before it gets busy
- Open 10:00 to 18:00 on 17 to 25 October, and also on 31 October and 1, 7 and 8 November.
- Children up to 12 may wear costumes and face paint. From age 12 it is not allowed, to avoid confusion with the park’s actors.
- Shows and special experiences are listed in the Toverland app.
- On 20 October there is a HalloWiebe Day with a cast meet and greet.
- Address: Toverlaan 2, Sevenum.
- đź“ŤToverland Halloween Days | Toverland Themepark | https://www.toverland.com/
👉See the official Halloween Days page for the latest dates and tickets.
What happens at Toverland after 6 pm?
At 6 pm the Halloween Nights start with a scare parade, advised for ages 12 and up, and the program runs into the evening. I love scary things and I wish I could join. Maybe next year, without Lily! If you want to avoid the scares, Toverland advises staying away from the entrance area around parade time.
How did we plan this weekend from Amsterdam?
- Saturday: drove from Amsterdam, Enchanted Gardens at 7 pm, slept in Baarlo.
- Sunday: Toverland Halloween Days during the day, then drove back to Amsterdam in the evening.
We went by car because the three stops are spread around Limburg. Looking for more cozy ideas? Browse our seasons in the Netherlands guide or our favorite heather fields for another autumn tip.
FAQ: autumn weekend in Limburg
When does Enchanted Gardens in Arcen run in 2026?
From 9 to 31 October 2026, every evening from 19:00 to 23:00, and from 18:00 on 25 to 31 October.
Is Enchanted Gardens suitable for a toddler?
Children aged 0 to 3 go free, and we took our 2-year-old. The lights, lasers and music are bright, so watch how your child reacts.
How long does the Enchanted Gardens walk take?
The official route is about 2.5 km and takes 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on your pace and food stops.
Are Toverland Halloween Days scary?
Not really. Halloween Days are advised for children under 12 and are about spooky fun. The scary program is Halloween Nights, advised for ages 12 and up.
Can you do all three stops in one weekend from Amsterdam?
Yes, we did it by car: Enchanted Gardens on Saturday evening, a night in Baarlo, and Toverland on Sunday.
Have you been to Enchanted Gardens or Toverland in autumn? Tell us in the comments which stop you would pick first.
Watch our autumn weekend in Limburg: Arcen, Baarlo and Toverland
This is the full video i created so you can see what to expect at each location. Follow @discovertruenetherlands on Instagram and never miss on cool weekend and seasonal tips.