Grotwoning Greetje Blanckers

Grotwoning Greetje Blanckers is a limestone cave dwelling carved into the hillside with interconnected chambers spanning approximately 18 meters in length and 4 meters in width. The space includes a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and sleeping areas arranged throughout the carved stone rooms.

The Claessens family created this dwelling in 1858 by carving into Sint-Pietersberg hill to escape Maas River floods, paying 9 guilders annually in rent. Over a century later, a resident maintained life here without electricity or modern conveniences until 1971.

The dwelling carries the story of its former resident, whose long years here reflected a way of living adapted to local needs and available resources. The space shows how people made homes in challenging circumstances.

The dwelling relied on rainwater collection and candles for illumination, reflecting basic living conditions across all rooms. Visitors should expect narrow stone-lined chambers and bring a flashlight to view interior details clearly.

Visitors could once meet the resident directly when guides from neighboring caves brought guests to visit and hear stories about underground life. This personal connection made the dwelling a living record of an extraordinary lifestyle that few people today understand.