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Maastricht Mestreech
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 50°51′N 5°41′E / 50.85°N 5.683°E / 50.85; 5.683
Country	Netherlands
Province	Limburg
COROP	South Limburg
Area (2006)
- Total	60.06 km2 (23.2 sq mi)
- Land	56.80 km2 (21.9 sq mi)
- Water	3.26 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Population (30 June 2008)
- Total	117,548
- Density	1,957/km2 (5,068.6/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Coordinates: 50°51′N 5°41′E / 50.85°N 5.683°E / 50.85; 5.683 Maastricht (Dutch (southern) & locally [maːˈstʁɪçt] or Dutch (northern) [maːˈstrɪχt]( listen); Limburgish (incl. Maastrichtian) Mestreech [məˈstʁeːç]; French Maëstricht (archaic); Spanish Mastrique (archaic)) is a city and a municipality in the southern part of the Dutch province of Limburg, of which it is the capital. The city is situated on both sides of the Meuse river (Dutch: Maas) in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border. The city is part of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, a Euregio whose other main cities include Aachen, Germany and Hasselt and Liège in respectively Dutch-speaking and French-speaking Belgium. The municipality borders the Dutch municipalities of Meerssen to the north, Margraten in the east, Eijsden in the south, and the Belgian municipalities of Lanaken and Riemst, respectively, to the west and southwest.

Nowadays, Maastricht is widely known as a centre of tradition, history and culture^[1], and popular with tourists for shopping and recreation. It is the location for various educational, with some partial to fully anglophone, establishments including the Maastricht University (including the University College Maastricht), the Maastricht School of Management, parts of Zuyd University of Applied Sciences (including the Maastricht Conservatory, Academy of Dramatic Arts Maastricht and Hotelschool Maastricht) and a United World College. Consequently the city has a large international student population.

Etymology

The city's name is derived from Latin Trajectum ad Mosam or Mosae Trajectum, meaning "Mosa-crossing", and refers to the bridge over the Meuse river built by the Romans during the reign of Augustus Caesar.

A resident of the city is referred to as a Maastrichtenaar in Dutch whilst in the local Maastrichtian dialect as either a Mestreechteneer or the colloquial Sjeng (derived from the French name Jean).

"Oldest city of the Netherlands" dispute

There is some discussion as to whether Maastricht is the oldest city of the Netherlands: By some Nijmegen is considered to be the oldest mainly because it was the first settlement in the Netherlands to receive Roman city rights. Maastricht never received Roman city rights but as a settlement it may be considerably older.

The Maastricht claim is furthermore based on the city's unbroken chain of habitation since Roman times. A large number of archeological finds confirms this. Nijmegen has a gap in its history: There is practically no evidence of habitation in the early Middle Ages.

History

A view of the public park in Maastricht.

Maastricht, church: Sint Servaasbasiliek

Paleolithic remains have been found to the west of Maastricht, between 8,000 and 25,000 years old. Celts lived here at least 500 years before the Romans came, at a spot where the river Meuse was shallow and therefore easy to cross. The Romans later built a bridge and a large road to connect the capitals of the Nervians and Tungri, Bavay and Tongeren, with the capital of the Ubians, Cologne.

A 13th-century city-gate: the Helpoort or Hell's Gate.

Saint Servatius was allegedly the first bishop of the Netherlands. His tomb, in the crypt at the Basilica of Saint Servatius, is a favoured place of pilgrimage: Pope John Paul II visited it in 1985. The golden gilt shrine containing some of the saint's relics is carried around the town every seven years. The city remained an early Christian bishopric until it lost this position to nearby Liège in the 8th century.

Middle Ages

In the early Middle Ages Maastricht was part of the heartland of the Carolingian Empire. It later developed into a city of dual authority, a condominium (international law), with both the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the Duchy of Brabant holding joint sovereignty over the city. It received city rights in 1204.

The role of the Dukes was occupied by the Dutch States General from 1632 onwards when the city was taken from the Spanish by Frederik Hendrik. The important strategic location of Maastricht in the Dutch Republic resulted in an impressive array of fortifications around the city.

Bulwark of the Netherlands

The most famous Siege of Maastricht occurred here during the month of June, 1673 as part of the Franco-Dutch War, because French battle supply lines were being threatened. During this siege, one of history's most famous military engineers, Vauban, synthesized the methods of attacking strong places, in order to break down the fortifications surrounding Maastricht. His introduction of a systematic approach by parallels resulted in a rapid breaching of the city's fortifications. (This technique, in principle, has remained until the 20th century the standard method of attacking a fortress.)

After the breaching of the fortifications occurred, Louis XIV's troops started to surround the city of Maastricht. Under the leadership of Captain-Lieutenant Charles de Batz de Castelmore, also known as Comte d'Artagnan, the historical basis for Alexandre Dumas' D'Artagnan Romances, the First Company of Mousquetaires du Roi prepared to storm a rampart located in front of one of the city's gates. D'Artagnan was killed by a musket shot on 25 June 1673 during a night attack on the Tongerse Gate (this event was portrayed in Dumas' novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne).

Maastricht surrendered to French troops on 30 June. The French troops occupied the Dutch city from 1673 to 1678. It was subsequently restored to Dutch rule. The French again took the city in 1748 as part of the War of Austrian Succession, and again the city was restored to the Dutch that same year. The French would return once more in 1794, when they annexed the city to what would become the French Empire. Maastricht became the capital of the French département of Meuse-Inférieure.

Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Map of the Netherlands in 1843 after Belgian independence and retrocession of Limburg.

After the Napoleonic era, Maastricht became a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 and the capital of the newly formed Province of Limburg. When the southern provinces sought independence from the North to form Belgium in 1830, the garrison in Maastricht remained loyal to the Dutch king, though the surrounding countryside came under Belgian control. Arbitration by the Great Powers in 1831 awarded the city and the eastern part of Limburg, despite being geographically and culturally closer to Belgium, to the Netherlands and the rest to Belgium. The North and the South did not initially agree to this and it would not be until the 1839 Treaty of London that this arrangement became permanent.

Because of the resulting eccentric location Maastricht often remained more focused on Belgium and Germany than on the rest of the Netherlands. Due to its proximity to the Walloon industrial basin, Maastricht industrialised earlier than most of the Netherlands. It thus retained a distinct non-Dutch character until the First World War forced the city to look northwards.

20th century

The city did not escape World War II: it was quickly taken by the Germans on 10 May 1940 during the Battle of Maastricht, but on 14 September 1944, Maastricht was the first Dutch city to be liberated by allied forces.

The latter half of the century saw a decline of the traditional industries and a shift to more services-oriented economy. Maastricht University was founded in 1976. In 1992, the Maastricht treaty was negotiated and signed here, leading to the creation of the European Union and the Euro.^[2]

21st century

In recent years, several international conferences were held in Maastricht, like the OSCE-summit in 2003, and several other gatherings during the Dutch chairmanship of the European Union in 2004.

Under previous mayor Gerd Leers, Maastricht launched a campaign against various drug-related problems. The popular and often-praised Leers instigated a controversial plan to move several of the coffee shops - where soft drugs can be purchased in limited quantities - from the center to locations on the outskirts of Maastricht, in a bid to stop (foreign) buyers from entering the city and causing trouble. However, the so-called 'coffee corner' plan did not go down well with neighboring municipalities.^[3]

On a more positive note, large parts of the city center were thoroughly refurbished under mayor Leers, including the area near the railway station, the Market Square, the Entre Deux shopping center and the Maasboulevard. Maastricht looks notably fresher as a result and more large-scale projects are underway, such as the redevelopment of the Sphinx and Belvedère areas.

Institutions and education

Institutions

• Administration of the Dutch province of Limburg;
• Rijksarchief Limburg - archives of the province of Limburg;

Secondary education

• Bonnefantencollege
• International School Maastricht
• Porta Mosana College
• Sint-Maartenscollege
• United World College Maastricht - opened in September 2009 as the 13th UWC.

Tertiary education

• Maastricht School of Management;
• Maastricht University (Dutch: Universiteit Maastricht) also including:
  • University College Maastricht
• Zuyd University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool Zuyd, also has departments in Sittard and Heerlen) also including:
  • Academy of Dramatic Arts Maastricht (Dutch: Toneelacademie Maastricht)
  • Academy of Fine Arts Maastricht (Dutch: Academie Beeldende Kunsten Maastricht)
  • Hotelschool Maastricht
  • Maastricht Conservatory (Dutch: Conservatorium Maastricht)

Economic aspect

Centre Céramique, the public library of Maastricht.

Private companies settled in Maastricht include:

• ENCI - cement industry
• Sappi - South African Pulp and Paper Industry
• Hewlett-Packard - previously Indigo, manufacturer of electronic data systems
• Vodafone - mobile phone company
• DHL - international express mail services
• Mercedes-Benz - customer contact center for Europe
• Pie Medical - manufacturer of medical equipment
• CardioTek - manufacturer of medical equipment for Cardiac electrophysiology procedures
• BioPartner Center Maastricht - life sciences spin-off companies
• European Journalism Centre- nonprofit media center
• Eurocontrol - European Organisation for the Safety and Operation of European Airspace

Neighbourhoods

The Lang Grachtje street in Maastricht.

Maastricht consists of over 40 neighbourhoods. These are in alphabetical order:

• Amby
• Beatrixhaven, Belfort, Belvedère, Biesland, Binnenstad (the city centre), Borgharen, Boschpoort, Boschstraatkwartier, Bosscherveld, Brusselsepoort
• Caberg, Campagne, Céramique
• Daalhof, De Heeg
• Eyldergaard
• Hazendans, Heer, Heugem, Heugemerveld
• Itteren
• Jekerdal, Jekerkwartier
• Kommelkwartier
• Limmel
• Malberg, Malpertuis, Mariaberg
• Nazareth
• Oud-Caberg
• Pottenberg
• Randwyck
• Scharn, Sint Maartenspoort, Sint Pieter, Statenkwartier
• Villapark
• Vroendaal
• Wittevrouwenveld, Wolder, Wyck, Wyckerpoort

Neighbourhoods have a number which corresponds to the postal code.

Amby, Borgharen, Heer, Itteren, Limmel, Oud-Caberg, Scharn, Sint Pieter and Wolder all used to be separate municipalities or villages until they were annexed by Maastricht.

Politics

The municipal government of Maastricht consists of a city council, a mayor and a number of aldermen. The city council, a 39-member legislative body directly elected for four years, appoints the aldermen on the basis of a coalition agreement between two or more parties after each election. The 2006 municipal elections in the Netherlands were, as often, dominated by national politics and led to a shift from right to left throughout the country. In Maastricht, the traditional broad governing coalition of Christian Democrats (CDA), Labour (PvdA), Greens (GroenLinks) and Liberals (VVD) was replaced by a centre-left coalition of Labour, Christian Democrats and Greens. Two Labour aldermen were appointed, along with one Christian Democrat and one Green alderman. Due to internal disagreements, one of the VVD council members left the party in 2005 and formed a new liberal group in 2006 (Liberalen Maastricht). The other opposition parties in the current city council are the Socialist Party (SP), the Democrats (D66) and two local parties (Stadsbelangen and Seniorenpartij).

The aldermen and the mayor make up the executive branch of the municipal government. Interim mayor of Maastricht is Jan Mans, a Social Democrat, who was appointed mayor after the popular previous mayor, Gerd Leers (CDA), decided to step down in January 2010 following the so-called 'Bulgarian Villa' affair.

One controversial issue which has characterized Maastricht politics for years and which has also affected national and even international politics, is the city's approach to soft drug policy. Under the pragmatic Dutch soft drug policy, a policy of non-enforcement, individuals may buy and use cannabis under certain conditions from so-called 'coffeeshops' (cannabis bars). Maastricht, like many other border towns, has seen an growing influx of so-called 'drug tourists', mainly young people from Belgium and France, who provide a large amount of revenue for the coffeeshops in the city centre. The city government, most notably ex-mayor Leers, have been actively promoting drug policy reform in order to deal with its negative side effects.

Under one of the latest proposals, the so-called 'CoffeeCorner' plan proposed by previous mayor Leers,^[4] the city council unanimously voted in November 2008 to relocate most of its coffeeshops from the city centre to the outer limits of the municipality, where the sale and use of cannabis can more easily be monitored. The purpose of this plan is to reduce the effects of drug tourism on the city centre, such as parking problems as well as the more serious issue of the illegal sale of hard drugs by so-called 'drug runners' in the vicinity of the coffeeshops. The CoffeeCorner plan, however, has met with fearce opposition from neighbouring municipalities and from the national government in the Netherlands, where the Christian Democrats take a notably more conservative approach to soft drugs than their local party and mayor. Bordering towns and the federal government in Belgium have also opposed the city's policy, citing Maastricht's plan to move the coffeeshops towards the Belgian borders as a violation of European law. The plan has been the subject of various legal challenges and has not yet been carried out.

Sports

• In football, Maastricht is represented by MVV (Maastrichtse Voetbal Vereniging), currently playing in the Dutch first division - which is actually the second for the top-level division is known as Eredivisie or Honorary division. MVV plays in the Geusselt stadium near the A2 motorway.

• Maastricht is also home to the Maastricht Wildcats, an American Football League team and member of the AFBN (American Football Bond Nederland).

• Maastricht has been the traditional starting place of the annual Amstel Gold Race - the only Dutch cycling classic - since 1998. From 1991 to 2002, the race also finished in Maastricht, but since then the finale takes places on the Cauberg in Valkenburg.

Transportation

By car

Maastricht is mainly served by the A2 and the A79 motorways. The city can be reached from Brussels and Cologne in approximately 1 hour and from Amsterdam in about 2.5 hours.

The A2 motorway that runs through Maastricht is heavily congested and increasingly causes air pollution in the urban area. A large tunnel currently being planned should solve these problems by 2016.^[5]

Due to the high number of visitors, parking in the city centre forms a major problem during weekends and bank holidays despite several large underground car parks. Parking fees are therefore deliberately kept high in order to incite visitors to use public transport or 'park & ride' facilities further away from the centre.

By train

Maastricht central station

The Dutch Railways serves both the main station of Maastricht and a station located near the business and university district (Maastricht Randwyck). A railway branch passes through Maastricht that runs south to Liège, Belgium and north into the rest of the Netherlands, where it has a branch to Heerlen. The old westbound railway line going to Hasselt (Be), is currently being restored. As of June 2009, the Dutch part of this international line has been finished, with tests being conducted in July 2009. This line will also be Limburg's first modern Tram-line. The Tram function (going through to Maastricht Randwyck), will be opened in 2012.^[6][7]

Intercity trains to the city of Alkmaar or Schagen in the province of North-Holland connect Maastricht directly with Eindhoven, Den Bosch, Utrecht, Amsterdam, and several other cities. Commuter trains furthermore cover the regional area, and an international intercity train connects Maastricht with Liège and Brussels in Belgium.

By airplane

Maastricht is served by nearby Maastricht Aachen Airport - often known as Beek locally - with scheduled flights to Alicante, Faro, Girona, Malaga, Pisa, Trapani and popular holiday destinations (e.g. Greece and Turkey) during the summer season. The airport is located about 10 kilometres north of Maastricht's centre.

By boat

Maastricht has a river port on the Meuse river, and is connected with Belgium and the rest of the Netherlands through the Juliana Canal and the Zuid-Willemsvaart.

By bus

Various buslines serve the vast majority of the city and its suburbs. The regional bus network furthermore stretches to most parts of South Limburg as well as to Hasselt, Tongeren and Liège in Belgium, and Aachen in Germany.

Distances to other cities

These distances represent distances in a straight line and distances by e.g. road can subsequently deviate from these measurements.

• Liège 25.5 km. S
• Aachen 31.0 km. E
• Düsseldorf 86.2 km. NE
• Cologne 89.6 km. E
• Brussels 95.1 km. W
• Antwerp 97.8 km. NW
• Luxembourg City 141.4 km. SE
• Utrecht 142.4 km. NW
• Rotterdam 144.5 km. NW
• Amsterdam 175.1 km. NW
• Lille 186.3 km. W
• Frankfurt am Main 228.8 km. SE
• Paris 326.6 km. SW

Language

Maastricht is a city of linguistic diversity, thanks to its location at the crossroads of multiple language areas and its international student population.

• Dutch is the national language and the language of elementary and secondary education (excluding international institutions) as well as administration. Dutch in Maastricht is often spoken with a distinctive Limburgish accent, which should not be confused with the Limburgish dialect.

• Limburgish (or Limburgian), not to be confused with the previously mentioned Limburgish accent, is the overlapping term of the tonal dialects spoken in the Dutch and Belgian provinces of Limburg. The variant of Limburgish spoken in Maastricht (Mestreechs) is characterised by its stretched vowels and Francophone vocabulary influence. In recent years the dialect has been eroding under dialect levelling and a language switch to Standard Dutch.

• French is the historical dominant language of education in Maastricht and its upper class. Between 1851 and 1892 the city had a newspaper catering to this Francophone population called Le Courrier de la Meuse. Nowadays, the language is still a mandatory part of the secondary school curriculum, and it has left its traces in the local dialect and some street names.

• German is, like French, part of secondary school curriculums and widely spoken due to an influx of students from German-speaking countries.

• English has become an important language in education and is the language of instruction for a large part of the Maastricht University's programmes as well as the local International School and United World College. It is also a mandatory part of local elementary and secondary school curriculums.

Culture & tourism

Events & Festivals

• Carnival (Dutch: Carnaval, Limburgish and Maastrichtian: Vastelaovend) - a traditional 3-day festival in the southern part of the Netherlands (February/March).
• 11de van de 11de - the official start of the carnival season (November 11).
• KunstTour - an annual art festival.
• Amstel Gold Race - an annual large international cycling race with start in Maastricht (April).
• TEFAF - The European Fine Art Fair is the world's leading art and antiques fair (March).
• Preuvenemint - a large culinary event held on the Vrijthof square (August).
• Winterland - a winter-themed fun fair and Christmas market held on the Vrijthof square (December/January).
• Inkom - the traditional opening of the academic year and introduction for new students of Maastricht University (August).
• Maastrichts Mooiste - an annual running and walking event.
• Jazz Maastricht - a jazz festival formerly known as Jeker Jazz.
• Jumping Indoor Maastricht - an international concours hippique.
• André Rieu Vrijthof concerts- the famous Maastricht violin player and orchestra director André Rieu traditionally gives a series of concerts on Vrijthof square (Summer).

Furthermore, the Maastricht Exposition and Congress Centre (MECC) hosts many events throughout the year.

Museums in Maastricht

• Bonnefanten Museum - the foremost museum for old masters and contemporary fine art in the province of Limburg. Highlights are a series of paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Younger and other Southern Netherlandish artists, and a permanent collection of contemporary art featuring American Minimalism and Arte Povera.
• Museum aan het Vrijthof - local history and art museum in 16th century "Spanish Government" building, featuring period rooms with 17th and 18th-century furnishings, silverwork, porcelain, glassware, etc, and a collection of Flemish Baroque paintings and 20th century paintings from Maastricht.
• Treasury Basilica of Saint Servatius - with religious artifacts from the 4th till 20th century, notably those related to Saint Servatius: The gilded reliquary chest (12th century), the crosier (12th century) and the reliquary bust donated by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (16th century).
• Treasury Basilica of Our Lady - religious artifacts.
• Derlon Museumkelder - a preserved archeological site in the basement of a hotel with Roman and pre-Roman remains.
• Natuurhistorisch Museum - museum of natutal history, exhibiting collections relating to geology, paleontology and flora and fauna of Limburg.

Sights of Maastricht

Maastricht is known for its picturesque squares, romantic streets, and historical buildings. The main sights include:

The Vrijthof square with Saint Servatius Basilica.

The Fortress of Sint Pieter on the hill of the same name.

The small Jeker river runs through the city.

• City Fortifications, including:
  • Helpoort - a 13th century town gate, the oldest in the Netherlands.
  • fragments of the first and second medieval city walls.
  • Hoge Fronten (English: High Fronts) or Linie van Du Moulin - remnants of 17th-18th century fortifications with a number of well-preserved bastions and the early 19th century [fortress] Fort Willem.
  • Casemates - underground network of tunnels, built as sheltered emplacements for guns and cannons. These tunnels run for several miles underneath the city's fortifications. Guided tours available.

• Markt - the Market Square was completely refurbished in 2006-2007 and is now virtually traffic free. Sights include:
  • town hall - built in the 17th century by Pieter Post.
  • Mosae Forum - a brandnew shopping centre and civic building designed by Jo Coenen and Bruno Albert. Citroën Miniature Cars, the world's largest exposition of Citroën miniature cars, is inside Mosae Forum parking garage.

• Entre Deux - a recently rebuilt shopping centre which has won several international awards.^[8] It includes a book store located inside a former 13th century Dominican church. In 2008 British newspaper The Guardian proclaimed this the world's most beautiful bookshop.^[9]

• Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Plein - picturesque tree-lined square with an abundance of pavement cafes. Sights:
  • Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Basilica - 11th-century Basilica Minor.
  • Derlon Museumkelder - a small museum in the basement of the hotel Derlon with mainly Roman remains.

• the Inner City - city centre and main shopping district, including Stokstraatkwartier, Maastrichter Brugstraat, Grote and Kleine Staat, and Wolfstraat. Maastricht is known for its cafés, pubs and restaurants.

• Vrijthof - the best-known square in the city. Sights:
  • Theater aan het Vrijthof - main city theatre.
  • Sint-Servaas Basiliek - Romanesque church of Saint Servatius.
  • Sint-Janskerk - sandstone Gothic church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist with distinctive red tower.

• Sint-Pietersberg - a modest hill just South of the city, peaking at 171 metres (561 ft) above sea level. Sights:
  • Fort Sint-Pieter - an 18th-century fortress fully restored in 2008.
  • "Grotten Sint-Pietersberg (caves) - sandstone (marl) quarry with vast network of man-made tunnels. Guided tours available.
  • Ruine Lichtenberg - a farmstead containing a ruined medieval castle keep.
  • D'n Observant - artificial hilltop atop Sint-Pietersberg.

• Bassin - an old and completely restored inner harbour with restaurants and cafés.

• Parks - there are various parks in Maastricht. The more interesting ones:
  • Stadspark - the main public park on the West bank of the river.
  • Monsigneur Nolenspark - extension of Stadspark with remnants of medieval city walls.
  • Aldenhofpark - another extension of Stadspark with statue of d'Artagnan.
  • Charles Eykpark - modern park between the public library and Bonnefantenmuseum on the East bank of the Meuse river
  • Griendpark - modern park on the East bank of the river with inline-skating and skateboarding course.

The tourist information office (VVV) is located in the so-called Dinghuis - the 15th-century former town hall and law courts building at the intersection of Grote Staat and Kleine Staat.

Local anthem

In 2002 the municipal government officially adopted a local anthem (Dutch: Maastrichts Volkslied, Limburgish (Maastrichtian variant): Mestreechs Volksleed) composed of lyrics in Maastrichtian. The theme was originally written by Alfons Olterdissen (1865–1923) as finishing stanza of the Maastrichtian opera "Trijn de Begijn" of 1910.^[10]

Natives of Maastricht

See also People from Maastricht

• Jan Pieter Minckeleers (1748–1824) - scientist and inventor of coal gas lighting.
• Peter Debye (1884–1966) - Nobel prize winning chemist.
• Gerard Bergholtz (1939) - football player for MVV and the Netherlands
• André Rieu (1949) - violinist.
• Fred Rompelberg (1945) - cyclist and current holder of the World Speed Record Cycling.
• Sjeng Kerbusch (1947–1991) - behavior geneticist
• Benny Neyman (1951–2008) - singer.
• Maxime Verhagen (1956) - politician.
• Bram Moszkowicz (1960) - prominent Dutch lawyer.
• Boudewijn Zenden (1976) - football player.
• Ad Wijnands (1959) - cyclist, Tour de France stage winner
• Pieter van den Hoogenband (1978) - swimmer and triple Olympic champion.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Maastricht is twinned with:

• Liège, Belgium
• Koblenz, Germany
• Rama, Nicaragua

Gallery

City Hall	Public park	Public park	Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Embankment	Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Square	Father Vink Tower
Hells Gate	Jeker river	Lang Grachtje street	Saint Hilarius street	Vrijthof & Saint Servatius Basilica	Saint Servatius Basilica
Saint Servatius Basilica interior	Saint Servatius Bridge	Public library	Square 1992	Square 1992	Bonnefanten Museum
Mosae Forum	High Bridge	Meuse River	Dinghuis	Train station	Sint Pieter
Fortress Sint Pieter	Fortress Sint Pieter	Lichtenberg estate	ENCI Quarry

Panorama from Saint Servatius bridge over the Meuse river

Vrijthof square in the early morning

See also

• Jewish Maastricht

References

Notes

External links

General

• City of Maastricht, official site (Dutch)
• City of Maastricht, official site (English)
• Destadmaastricht.com All you want to know about Maastricht, esp. current projects like Entre-Deux and Mosae Forum
• Famous inhabitants of Maastricht
• M'tricht - International Maastricht Region Portal, All about Maastricht and the Maastricht Region, in English
• my M'tricht - International Maastricht Region Community, Maastricht Region social network and community blog for visitors, students, professionals, locals and (potential) residents, in English
• maestricht.net - Maastricht portal and community blog, esp. neighbourhood information and participation, in Dutch and Maastrichts.

Tourism

• Tourist Board, Dutch, English, French or German
• MaastrichtNet, Agenda for Maastricht with English Section Highlights of the Week
• Maastricht360.nl, 360° view of Maastricht
• FoToL.nl, pictures of Maastricht
• Bonnefanten Museum
• Maastricht Underground

History

• Zicht op Maastricht (Official website about the history of Maastricht)
• Maastricht in Roman times
• Churches of Maastricht
• News report of alleged find of musketeer skeletons
• Webpage about Maastricht fortifications
• Webpage about the 1632 siege
• Webpage about the 1673 siege
• D’Artagnan’s death at the 1673 siege of Maastricht, an article by H. Reuvers in Crossroads
• The history of carnival in Maastricht, an article by H. Reuvers in Crossroads

Higher education and research

• Maastricht University
  • Maastricht Graduate School of Governance
  • Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology - United Nation University UNU.edu
  • Center for European Studies Unimaas.nl (CES)
• Zuyd University (University of Applied Sciences)
  • Academie van Bouwkunst Maastricht (Academy of Architecture)Academievanbouwkunst.com
  • Conservatorium Maastricht (Academy of Music)
  • Toneelacademie Maastricht (School of Dramatic Arts)
  • Academie Beeldende Kunsten Maastricht (Fine Arts School)
• Hogere Hotel School (higher hotel school)
• Maastricht School of Management MSM.nl
• Jan van Eyck Academie Janvaneyck.nl (post-graduate art school)

Resources for expatriates

• Crossroads English-language website for expatriates in Maastricht, published by the European Journalism Centre
• International Women's Club South Limburg a non profit international women's organisation with over 200 members in South Limburg
• Maastricht International Playgroup a non-profit organisation comprising expatriate and local parents living in and around Maastricht

Other

• Vastelaoftrap Kickoff of the carnival days
• WebCAM Maastricht Randwijck WebCAM Maastricht Randwijck
• Maastricht photo gallery

Maastricht and related topics Culture General Bonnefanten Museum · Flag · Judaism in Maastricht · Limburgish language (Maastrichtian variant) Education Maastricht School of Management · Maastricht University (incl. University College Maastricht) · Zuyd University of Applied Sciences (incl. Academy of Fine Arts Maastricht · Academy of Music Maastricht · Academy of Dramatic Arts Maastricht · Hotelschool Maastricht) History First Siege (1579) · Capture of Maastricht (1632) · Second Siege (1673) · Département de Meuse-Inférieure (1795-1814) · Battle of Maastricht (1940) Geography Geology & Hydrology Juliana Canal · Maastrichtian (geological period) · Meuse · Zuid-Willemsvaart Region / Urban area Meuse-Rhine Euroregion · South Limburg · Lanaken (B) (Oud-Rekem · Rekem · Smeermaas) · Riemst (B) (Kanne · Vroenhoven) Politics Local politics (mayors) Gerd Leers (CDA) (2002-2010) · Jan Mans (PvdA) (2010-) International politics Maastricht Treaty (1992) Sports Amstel Gold Race (cycling) · Maastricht Wildcats (American football) · MVV (football) Transportation A2 motorway · Maastricht-Aachen Airport (shared with Aachen, Germany)· Maastricht railway station · Maastricht Randwyck railway station capital of the Province of Limburg, Netherlands

Municipalities of Limburg Beek  · Beesel  · Bergen · Brunssum  · Echt-Susteren · Eijsden · Gennep · Gulpen-Wittem  · Heerlen  · Horst aan de Maas  · Kerkrade  · Landgraaf · Leudal  · Maasgouw  · Maastricht  · Margraten  · Meerssen  · Mook en Middelaar  · Nederweert  · Nuth  · Onderbanken  · Peel en Maas  · Roerdalen  · Roermond  · Schinnen  · Simpelveld  · Sittard-Geleen  · Stein · Vaals · Valkenburg aan de Geul  · Venlo · Venray  · Voerendaal  · Weert See also: Netherlands · Provinces · Municipalities · map

From Wikitravel

Streets of Maastricht

Maastricht is the southernmost city in the Netherlands, and is the capital of the province of Limburg. Situated within walking distance of Belgium and cycling distance of Germany, it claims to be the oldest city in the Netherlands (a claim it shares with Nijmegen). A great place to spend some time, it contains some magnificent buildings and culture, taking the form of plenty of old houses and buildings, lovely cathedrals and a spectacularly cobblestoned town centre. The city is also well known for its fine cuisine, excellent shops and multicultural atmosphere.

Information

Maastricht is an especially popular tourist destination in the Netherlands because of its historical old center and broad shopping possibilities. The city is home to approximately 120,000 people. The University of Maastricht attracts many national and foreign students to the city. Geographically, the city is split in half by a major river (the Maas), with the majority of commercial activity being concentrated on the Western bank of the river, and the train station and the Bonnefanten Museum on the Eastern side.

The VVV [1] is a branch office of the Dutch national tourist agency. The office offers maps, souvenirs, and local, regional, and national travel suggestions. They can be located in Maastricht at Wycker Brugstraat 24, in the city center.

For information about all (cultural) events in Maastricht, try to find a copy of the Week in Week uit [2]. They are distributed all around the city. Also visit Crossroads [3], a webzine in English for expatriates in Maastricht.

Talk

Maybe even more than in other parts of the Netherlands, people know how to speak foreign languages. So don't worry if you don't speak Dutch, many Maastrichtenaars are happy to converse with you in English, German or even French.

Get in

By plane

Maastricht is served by a small airport (IATA: MST [4]) with direct flights from selected cities in Spain. The flights from Amsterdam are discontinued from 26 October 2008.

• Ryanair [5] flies to Maastricht from Alicante (Alicante Airport), Girona-Barcelona (Girona Barcelona Airport), and Pisa-Florence (Aeroporto Galileo Galilei Pisa) in Italy.

Other airports in the Netherlands include:

• Amsterdam - Schiphol Airport is the biggest airport for the Netherlands, and is the entry point for most air-borne travellers. Schiphol is approximately 3 hours from Maastricht by train.

• Eindhoven - Eindhoven Airport is about an hour and a half from Maastricht, and mainly serves discount and charter airlines.

• Rotterdam - / Rotterdam Airport is another Dutch airport, located about 2.5 hours from Maastricht.

Due to Maastricht's proximity to the Belgian border, some visitors prefer to use Belgian airports:

• Brussels - /Brussels Airport, another Belgian airport, is the second largest airport (after Schiphol) within 2 hours distance of Maastricht, and is another decent option for arriving by plane. A journey to Brussels is slightly under 2 hours by train, which to some people makes the airport a more attractive option than Schiphol.

• Charleroi - Brussels South Charleroi Airport is Brussels' second major airport, also within train distance to Maastricht, and mainly caters to discount airlines (notably Ryanair).

• Liege Bierset - Liege Airport is located in Belgium, about a half hour from Maastricht.

By train

Maastricht is well served by train, with train stations (Maastricht, near the centre of the city, and Maastricht Randwyck, in the south). There are two trains departing from Maastricht Station to the northern destinations every hour. Some popular destinations include:

Prices in this table are one-way and non-reduced fare. For more information check the NS English language website. Local trains will take you to Valkenburg, Heerlen & Kerkrade, four times every hour.

There is an extensive rail system in the Netherlands. Travelling by train is generally a good experience in the Netherlands, although Dutch people will often complain that the trains are late and full. National train services are run by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), and an elaborate timetable system including price information is available on their website. Prices for trips are determined by distance, with longer distances costing less per km than shorter ones. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office in the train station's main hall, but you can save yourself an extra service fee by buying your train ticket from a yellow-and-blue electronic ticketing machine (note that some machines only accept European pin passes/debit cards and only older machines accept coins). Wherever you plan to buy your ticket, make sure you buy it before boarding the train, as it is not possible to buy a ticket on-board and you'll risk a € 35,- fine (in addition to the ticket price). Tickets can be bought as either one way tickets, or as a same-day or same weekend return. If you plan to return in the course of a couple of days, you should simply buy two separate one way tickets.

Visitors who intend to travel a lot by train in the Netherlands may consider purchasing a Voordeelurenabonnement (Off Peak Discount Pass), which will set you back € 55,- but entitles you and three fellow passengers to reduced-fare tickets (40% off the price). Reduced-fare tickets can be bought from the same ticket-vending machines. The card can be purchased from any NS Ticketing Office, although an address is required (you are initially issued a temporary paper card, which will be replaced by a plastic card about 3 months later).

International trains

An hourly service connects Maastricht with Liege, Belgium. There is also a cheap, direct high-speed train connection to Brussels (1,5 hours), where you can switch trains to Paris and London. Check out the Maastricht-Brussels Express website for more information on this connection.

For further information on international train journeys, check timetables and train fares at the Belgian Railways, the French Railways, or Die Bahn (German Railways) websites.

By car

There a two motorways from and to Maastricht: A2 (Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Sittard, Belgium and France - "Route du Soleil") and A79 (Heerlen, Aachen).

• Bus 50 from Aachen serves Maastricht on an half-hourly basis. Generally, travellers pay €5,00 for a ticket, which actually allows all-day travel on South Limburg bus routes, including those to local cities such as Heerlen.

• Belgian busses come and go to Hasselt, Tongeren, Lanaken and Liege.

• Eurolines Netherlands has a bus stop at the Central train station in Maastricht. In Liege is the Belgian Eurolines stop, which serves different routes to the Maastricht stop.

The City Wall in Maastricht, with the 13th century main gate in the background

By Car

Travelling by Car can be painful in Maastricht, largely due to the fact that most of the city centre is pedestrian-only, and also due to the horrendous parking rates. It is often easier to park your car outside the town centre and either walk or bus into the city.

By Bus

The city has a bus system called the Stadsbus ("City Bus") that travels over most of the city and to surrounding areas. Tickets can be bought on the bus, or in advance with a pass called a Strippenkaart "Strip-card".

You can purchase the Strippenkaart at the train station, or any post office or newsagent. There are two denominations, € 6.80 and € 20.10. The lesser of the two has 15 strips on it, and the larger 45. So, each strip costs about € 0.45, and each trip on the bus takes at least 2 strips. So a ride on the bus might cost about € 1. Depending on where you go, the fare increases. This is much cheaper then buying the fare on the bus, as a trip purchased from the driver might cost between € 1.60 and € 2.40. The "Stippenkaart" is valid on city buses/trams/metro all over the Netherlands, so even if you don't use all the strips in Maastricht they won't be wasted.

By Train

Trains run four times per hour between Maastricht Centraal Station, and Maastricht Randwyck station (at the South of the City), at a cost of €2.20.

By Foot

This is by far the most attractive option as it allows travellers to see the beautiful winding streets in the centre of the city, as well as experience the cultural melting pot that Maastricht's location allows. A particularly nice walk outside of the centre is along the river, from St Servaas Brug (The Stone Bridge near the entrance to the city) down to the JFK Bridge (near the bottom), which goes through Maastricht's largest park. Visitors can then cross the JFK bridge and go to Maastricht's modern art museum - the Bonnefanten (see below).

By Bike

Can't believe this wasn't mentioned already. There are thousands of bicycles in Maastricht, often the young gents give their girlfriends a lift on the parcel carrier at the back, the girls sat "side saddle". A charming sight, and you can join in the bicycle culture very easily, there are several bicycle hire shops in Maastricht. At around €10 per day (2006 prices) you can explore the flat country of South Limburg. Dutch traffic law is heavily biased towards the cyclist, so you might find cars slowing down to let you pass when they are pulling in to a side street which you are about to cross - no sane car driver is going to cut you off since in the case of an accident the cyclist is always presumed innocent unless grossly negligent. Also while there are many one-way streets in Maastricht, almost all if not all of them have a cycle lane going the other way up the street. Very handy. I would dispute the previous reviewer's assertion that foot is the most attractive option, for me it has to be the bicycle.

Maastricht-Biking offers 2 hour guided city tours off the beaten track. Online reservations on their website [6].

The Vrijthof, Lit Up at Night

• Perhaps one of the best (free) sights of Maastricht is simply to admire the two town squares in the centre of the city; The Vrijthof, which features the massive St Servaas Church and St Jan's Cathedral; and The Markt, which features the Town Hall (Stadhuis) and on Wednesdays and Saturdays, markets.
• The Vrijthof regularly hosts large festivals at various times throughout the year, including autumn and winter festivals. The Carnaval before Lent is an amazing occasion where (it seems) the whole city dresses up in costume and parties until the early hours. It really has to be seen to be believed, this is a North European Mardi Gras, hence colder and darker than its American cousin.

• City Library [7] Plein 1992

• University Maastricht Library, Grote Looierstraat 17 (centre) & Universiteitssingel 50 (Randwyck)

• The Stadhuis (Town Hall) in the Markt (City Centre)

• Bonnefantenmuseum, Avenue Céramique 250, ☎ +31 (43) 329 01 90 (info@bonnefanten.nl, fax: +31 (43) 329 01 99), [8]. Tue-Sun: 11.00 am - 5.00 pm; Mon: closed, except on public holidays. The museum is the foremost museum of Old Masters and contemporary art in the province of Limburg. The contemporary art collection contains works by an international group of artists. In addition to contemporary paintings, the collection also includes projections and gallery-sized installations. The collection of Old Masters emphasises on 16th and 17th century Flemish paintings, including major works by Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens. In addition, the collection comprises magnificent medieval sculptures by Jan van Steffenswert, early Italian paintings and a presentation of Maastricht silver. Adult: €7.50; child 13-18: €3.50; child under 13: free entry.  edit

• Centre Céramique, Avenue Céramique 50, ☎ +31 (43) 350 56 00 (mail@sbm.nl, fax: +31 (43) 350 55 99). Tue and Thu: 10.30 am - 8.30 pm; Wed, Fri, Sun: 10.30 am - 5.00 pm.  edit

• Derlon Museum Cellar, Plankstraat 21, ☎ +31 (43) 325 21 21. Sun: 12.00 am - 4.00 pm. The museum is not wheelchair accessible. Before the restoration of the Derlon Hotel started, Maastricht's city archeologists undertook an extensive survey of the site. The Roman finds, from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th century, are considered that important that it was decided to conserve them and exhibit these to interested parties. The following can be seen in the cellar of Derlon Hotel: part of a 2nd and 3rd century square, a 3rd century well, part of a pre- Roman cobblestone road and sections of a wall and a gate dating from the 4th century. Free entry.  edit

• Natuurhistorisch Museum, De Bosquetplein 7, ☎ +31 (43) 350 54 90 (mail@nhmmaastricht.nl, fax: +31 (43) 350 54 75), [9]. Mon-Fri: 10.00 am - 5.00 pm; Sat-Sun: 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm. The museum outlines the natural history of southern Limburg. Modern displays offer an insight into both the recent and distant past. Among the museum's highlights are the remains of enormous Mosasauriers and Giant Turtles found in marlstone at the St Pietersberg caverns. Fossils of all shapes and sizes show how South Limburg has changed in the course of the last 300 million years. Adult: €4.50; child 4-11: €3.00; child under 4: free entry.  edit

• Spaans Gouvernement, Vrijthof 18, ☎ +31 (43) 321 13 27 (info@museumspaansgouvernement.nl), [10]. Wed-Sun: 1.00 pm - 5.00 pm. The museum contains period rooms with mainly 17th and 18th century furnishings, including furniture, silver, porcelain and pottery, glassware and paintings. Two of the rooms have been decorated in the mid-18th century Liège-Maastricht Regence Style. Adult: €3.00 (exposition: €4.00); child under 16: free entry.  edit

Saturday Flea Market in Maastricht

• The Caves [11] - a local Marlestone mine, tours given in Dutch

• Coffeeshops (eg. Mississippi on the Wilhelminakade, at the Maas quai)

• 'Regular' shopping centre, known for its exclusivity.

• Lumiere Cinema [12]

• Minerva Cinemas [13]

Coffeeshops

In the Netherlands, the policy regarding soft drugs (such as weed, hash and magic mushrooms) is lenient. Therefore, there are several coffee- and headshops where you can buy these products. It is tolerated to buy up to 5 grams of marijuana. Make sure you bring your identification card or drivers license with you, because the shops are very strict about age and they will check it no matter how old you look. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter a coffee- or headshop.

The coffee shops in Maastricht have a lot of foreign customers, so they are able to understand Dutch, English, French and German. The Mississippi boat is the most popular with coffee shop visitors from abroad. It is a coffee shop built in a large boat which lays in the Maas river and is certainly worth visiting.

• Visit the Uitbalie [14] in the Theater on the Vrijthof for (last minute) tickets to almost any cultural event. Pick up a Week in/Week uit with its weekly English agenda published by MaastrichtNet [15], or see what students are upto on wikimaas.org.
• Find out more about life in Maastricht through Crossroads [16], a webzine for expatriates in Maastricht published by the European Journalism Centre [17].

Ekoplan

In Autumn 2007 a collective made an English Map of Maastricht, the Ekoplan, listing as much fair trade, organic (dutch: 'eko'), second hand and vegetarian initiatives in Maastricht they could find. The map is distributed on strategic spots in town (eg. Stayokay hostel), and also available on-line [18]

Eat

Eating out in Maastricht is seldom cheap, with most restaurants catering to a posh older crowd, rather than the student population. On weekdays, good and relatively low-priced sandwiches can be had at Deli Belge and Somethin' Good, both on Tongersestraat, close to the Economics and Law faculties of the Universiteit Maastricht.

• Eetcafé Ceramique, Rechtstraat 78, ☎ +31 (43) 325 20 97 (info@eetcafeceramique.nl, fax: +31 (43) 325 16 13), [19]. Wed-Mon: 5.30 pm - 10.30 pm; Tue: closed. Three-course meal: €26.00 / table wine: €3.00 by the glass.  edit
• Eetcafé De Preuverij, Kakeberg 6, ☎ +31 (43) 325 09 03, [20]. Mon-Fri: 10.00 am - 10.00 pm; Sat-Sun: 12.00 am-10.00 pm. If you are really hungry, but don't want luxury food then visit this place. Try the Vesserslatien sandwich (cock-and-bull story sandwich). At night it is a popular drinking venue with students of Maastricht University. Three-course meal: €12.50.  edit
• Sour Meat (Zuurvlees in Dutch or Zoer vleis in the local dialect)

Drink

Maastricht has many bars, restaurants, pubs and dance clubs, located on Vrijthof and Market Squares, and in the centre of downtown it's nearly impossible to walk around and not see anything to do.

• Maastricht is great for a night out (Maastricht is home to both a University & Institute). therefore, lots of students, also lots of foreign companies are based here so a mixture of international pubs & clubs can be found here.

• Be sure to check out these places to go drink and have a good time: The Highlander, Falstaff, Twee Heeren, Metamorfoos, C'est La Vie, Take5, and De Allabonneur. They all are very welcoming and have great music to dance to.

• Maastricht is known for its yearly "Carnival," a tradition celebrated in many towns in the south of the Netherlands.

• Stayokay Maastricht, Maasboulevard 101, ☎ +31 (43) 750 17 90 (maastricht@stayokay.com, fax: +31 (43) 350 01 47), [21]. This hostel opened its doors on 5 April 2007 and offers 38 rooms. It has a deck looking over the Maas river and is a delightful place to have a beer in the evening. Prices start at €21 (breakfast included) for an overnight stay in a dormitory.  edit

• Cafeshamrock (city centre, from 20euro) http://www.cafeshamrock.nl/hostel/hostel.htm

• Hip Hotel St. Martenslane Maastricht, St. Maartenslaan 1-7, ☎ +31 (43) 321 11 11 (info@st-martenslane.com, fax: +31 43 310 07 12), [22]. Hip Hotel St. Martenslane Maastricht is the most affordable trendy Bed & Breakfast designe hotel in Maastricht city centre.  edit

• Bastion Deluxe Hotel Maastricht, Boschstraat 27, ☎ +31 (43) 321 22 22 (fax: +31 (43) 321 34 32), [23]. Bastion Deluxe Hotel Maastricht is part of a Dutch chain of four star hotels at sub-four star prices. If you are used to the full four star service this will be a disappointment, but it is only a five minute walk into the city center of Maastricht and provides free wireless internet service.  edit

• Hotel MABI, Kleine Gracht 24, ☎ +31 (43) 351 44 44 (info@hotel-mabi.nl, fax: +31 (43) 351 44 55), [24]. The Hotel MABI, just off the market place, must be owned by a group of dentists. Little jars of sweets are everywhere in the public spaces. However, that is about the only redeeming feature of the hotel.  edit

• NH Hotel Maastricht, Forum 110, ☎ +31 (43) 383 82 81 (nhmaastricht@nh-hotels.com, fax: +31 (43) 361 58 62), [25]. The NH Hotel Maastricht is about a 25 minutes walk from the city center, but very convenient if you are attending a conference or fair in the Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre [26] next door. The hotel is comfortable enough, however, only the "deluxe" rooms really come up to the standards of other NH hotels. The standard rooms look tired by comparison, and some of them are quite noisy.  edit

• Hotel De Pauwenhof, Boschstraat 70, ☎ +31 (43) 350 33 33 (info@pauwenhof.nl, fax: +31 (43) 350 33 39), [27]. De Pauwenhof is a small hotel with a family run feel. It has recently been refurbished with air conditioning in all 15 rooms. There is no restaurant in the evening, but with all the eateries in central Maastricht within a few minutes walk, who really cares?  edit

• Design Hotel Eden, Stationsstraat 40, ☎ +31 (43) 328 25 25 (info.designhotel@edenhotelgroup.com, fax: +31 (43) 328 25 26), [28]. If you're bored of identi-kit hotel rooms then Design Hotel Eden will be a breath of fresh air. All the rooms are comfortably furnished in a variety of modern styles. You'll appreciate a philosophy that doesn't put a desk in your room so you can relax properly; and with the centre of Maastricht less than 5 minutes walk away that's easy to do.  edit

• Crowne Plaza Maastricht, Ruiterij 1, ☎ +31 (43) 350 91 91 (cpmaastricht@bilderberg.nl, fax: +31 (43) 350 91 92), [29]. Crowne Plaza Maastricht is quietly situated in the city center on the river Maas.  edit

• Hotel Derlon, Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 6, ☎ +31 (43) 321 67 70 (info@derlon.nl, fax: +31 (43) 325 19 33), [30]. Ideally located on the most beautiful square of the city.  edit

• Kruisherenhotel, Kruisherengang 19 - 23, ☎ +31 (43) 329 20 20 (info@kruisherenhotel.com, fax: +31 (43) 329 30 30), [31]. A beautifully renovated gothic monastery in the center of Maastricht, complete with a church, is a rather spectacular stage for an unusally stylish hotel.  edit

Cope

Religious services

Holy mass in Catholic churches in Maastricht:

• Sint Servaas Basilica [32], Keizer Karelplein. Sat: 18:00; Sun: 10:00, 11:30; Mon-Sat: 09:00 (Sint Servaas chapel)

• Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basilica [33], Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. Sat: 17:00 (crypt), 18:30; Sun: 09:00, 10:00, 11:30; Mon-Sat: 09:30

• Sint Matthiaskerk, Boschstraat 99. Sat: 17:30; Sun: 11:15; Tue-Fri: 08:30

• Sint Petrus Banden [34], Oude Kerkstraat 10 (Maastricht Heer). Sat: 19:15; Sun: 08:30, 09:45; Mon-Fri: 19:00

• Basiliek van het H. Sacrament [35], Markt, 6231 LR Meerssen. Sun: 11:00; Mon & Tue: 19:00; Wed & Fri: 08:00

Directory of Christian churches in Maastricht: [36]

Saint John Chrysostom Orthodox Church [37],St. Maartenslaan 37. Check website for service times.

The terraced Chateau Neercanne located just before the Belgian border

• World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial: take the N278 9.5 kilometers (6 miles) east of Maastricht. The cemetery is located just west of the village of Margraten. Open daily except for December 25 and January 1; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cemetery is the final resting place for 8,301 American military dead. A monument is inscribed with the names of 1,723 Americans whose remains were never found or identified. The site contains a chapel and museum with three engraved operations maps describing the European Campaign.

• Caves in the Sint Pietersberg: Although the limestome caves are actually mines, it is nice to take a guided tour through the belly of the berg. In the Second World War, the Dutch stored their national arts collections in a vault in the hill, and a lot of engravings - some more old than the other - are to be admired. Entrances lie at several places on the mountain, and are well within walking distance of the town center. Plan in advance to make sure you can get in.

• Fort Eben-Emael: A Belgian WW2 fort no longer in use, but open to the public on certain weekends. Very close to Maastricht, just south across the Belgian border.

• Valkenburg aan de Geul: This historic town was beseiged many times and many traces remain to be seen, including Valkenburg castle. Along with tours of the old mines there is also a popular spa and a casino.

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1. Maastricht