First plans to make a tramlijn from Maaseik to Lanaken came in 1886. But the province of Limburg was not in a hurry and it lasted several years before the plans came through. The local communities, who had to pay also a part of the capital, were not eager to give money to the line. Only when the plan changed and the plans became to extend the line to Maastricht, then there was enough positive result. It lasted until 1897 until the plans could be made definitive. For the part of the line in the Netherlands (community of Maastricht) the NMVB was given allowance to make that part of the line. The line Eisden - Lanaken - Maastricht was opened in january 1898, the part to Maaseik some months afterwards.

Finance: 900.000 franc (state: 375.000, province Limburg: 300.000, local communities: 50.000).