Lottum is a village in the municipality of Horst aan de Maas, in the Dutch province of Limburg. The village has about 1,950 inhabitants and an area of 2,226 hectares and is located about 10 kilometers north of Venlo, on the river Maas, as the crow flies, and used to belong to the municipality of Grubbenvorst, which merged in 2001 with the municipality of Horst aan de Maas.
Lottum had its own alderman's bank around 1610, after it was elevated to a free barony in 1608 by Archduke Albrecht. The deed with an image of the coat of arms dates from 1651. It depicts Saint Quirinus as a knight with a lance in his right hand. To the left of Quirinus is the church patron Saint Gertrudis of Nivelles with a crook in her left hand, along which a mouse climbs up.
The region surrounding Lottum, a village in the Dutch province of
Limburg along the Maas River, has evidence of human settlement dating
back to the Roman era, with archaeological finds indicating early
habitation. The village itself was first documented around 1100 under
the name "de Lutmo," though the origins of this term remain uncertain.
It grew as a medieval settlement near the river. A local church was
established circa 1400, marking a key point in the community's religious
and social development. Up until 1563, the lordship of Lottum was under
the control of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Quirinus, located in
Neuss, Germany. Following this period, ownership was handed over to
Christoffel van Wylick, and the estate stayed within his family lineage
for generations. In 1608, his descendant, Johan Christoffel van Wylick,
received the title of baron from King Philip III of Spain, elevating the
family's status.
Due to the Treaty of Munich in 1648, Lottum
integrated into Spanish Guelders, shifting later in 1713 to Prussian
rule. By 1815, it was incorporated into the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
a status that persisted even following the Belgian Revolution and
subsequent secession in 1830-1839. In the 19th century, Lottum had a
modest population of about 241 residents in 1840, and it briefly
featured a railway station on the Nijmegen-Venlo line from 1883 until
its closure in 1938, with the building demolished in 1973.
Rose
growing began in earnest around 1900, transforming Lottum into a
renowned "rose village" that now produces approximately 70% of all roses
cultivated in the Netherlands. At its peak, rose cultivation employed up
to 30% of the local population, contributing significantly to the area's
economy and identity. Since 1922, a biennial Rose Festival has
celebrated this heritage, initially held annually for a decade before
evolving into a major event every two years. Revived in 2022 as the
"Feast of the Rose," it features elaborate rose mosaics using millions
of buds, garden fairs, live music, food stalls, children's activities,
and demonstrations like rose harvesting and art workshops, drawing
visitors from afar. In recent editions, such as 2024, highlights have
included celebrity rose christenings, like the "Misty Memory" variety.
Lottum boasts several well-preserved historical landmarks that
reflect its rich past. Borggraaf Castle, originating in the 16th century
around 1550, features a double moat and was expanded over time, with the
east wing dated to 1555, a U-shaped lower court added in 1736, and a
square north tower completed during a 1926 restoration. This private
estate, once an aristocratic residence with a history spanning over 300
years, remains in excellent condition and can be viewed from the nearby
road.
Kaldenbroek Castle, first referenced in 1394, serves as a
monumental country house rather than a traditional fortress, having
undergone extensive renovations that give its main building a
19th-century appearance. Situated near a nature reserve around an old
Maas arm, it was sold in 1687 to Philip Carel van Wylich, Baron of
Lottum, amid financial dealings, and now includes holiday accommodations
while maintaining its historical charm. The site is in good condition
and offers a glimpse into Limburg's aristocratic heritage.
The
Houthuizer Molen is a striking belt windmill reconstructed in 2007-2008
as a replica of the original round stone structure destroyed by German
forces in 1944 toward the end of World War II. Lottum has a long milling
tradition, with wind and water mills documented since the Middle Ages.
Today, this landmark along the road to Grubbenvorst operates as a
functional mill, grinding local grains like Limburg spelt and whole
wheat into flour and meal for sale, and stands as an imposing symbol of
the village's resilience.
St. Gertrudiskerk, the Catholic parish
church, traces its roots to around 1400 but was rebuilt as a
three-aisled basilica-like structure in 1950-1951 after the original
15th-century building was blown up in 1944 during wartime destruction.
The tower was later added in 1958-1959, completing its modern form while
honoring its medieval origins.
The Chapel of St. Quirinus, likely
established around 1638 by Jacob van den Hondskamp—a devoted church
master of the Lottum parish—serves as a small pilgrimage site. Hondskamp
initiated an annual pilgrimage to the abbey in Neuss, tying the chapel
to the village's historical abbey connections.
De Rozenhof Lottum
stands out as a premier rose garden and knowledge center, showcasing
thousands of sustainable, healthy garden and pot roses with an emphasis
on biological balance. Visitors praise its beauty even in the
off-season, friendly staff, and treats like rose cake served on a sunny
terrace. Open from May to October, it provides inspiration and
information on rose cultivation, aligning with Lottum's floral fame.
Lottum is located on the west bank of the Maas, at an altitude of
approximately 19 meters above sea level. The Siebersbeek flows from
the Schuitwater nature reserve through Lottum into the Maas. The
area around Lottum is mainly characterized by rose cultivation. In
the southwest there are heathlands.
The Molenbeek runs near
the hamlet of Houthuizen, which flows into the Maas a few hundred
meters further.
The Siebersbeek nature reserve is located
near the estuaries of both streams. To the south of this lies the
Kaldenbroek nature reserve.
Rose cultivation and
festival
More than 70 percent of the Dutch rose cultivation comes
from Lottum. In number, this concerns more than 20 million roses,
according to data from the Dutch horticultural organizations. Lottum
is the "Rose Village of the Netherlands". Every even year, the Rose
Festival takes place in Lottum around the second Sunday of August.
There are then gardens with mosaics and art objects decorated with
countless rose buds throughout Lottum. The festival each time
attracts 50,000 circs visitors. There is also the Rozenhof with a
knowledge center, in which all 65 rose varieties can be found that
have ever received the designation "Top rose" or the German
designation "ADR-rose". There is also a rose cycle route.
Lottum is one of the three villages where - at least according to tradition - the Gekke Maondaag (Dutch: Gekke Maandag) has been celebrated for several centuries. This is celebrated in Lottum one week before carnival. The "Gekke Maondaag" is a folk festival in which different floats and carnival-related groups run in a parade. The other two villages where this festival is celebrated are Velden and Grubbenvorst.
Arriva bus line 88 (Venray - Venlo via Broekhuizen and Meerlo) comes
through Lottum.
Until 1973, Lottum had its own station, although
passenger traffic was discontinued in 1938.
A ferry service runs
from Lottum across the Maas to Lomm. In the summer months there is
also a pedestrian and bicycle ferry between Arcen and Lottum.
On June 4, 1996, the body of a dead woman was found in
Lottum. Because the region is known for growing roses, she is called
the Rose girl. On October 29, 2010, it was revealed using DNA
techniques that it was 19-year-old Josefa from Poland.
In Berlin
there is a street named after Lottum because of the noble family of
Wylick van Lottum who lived in Lottum in the twelfth century. Its
descendants were Prussian officers.