In the southeastern part of the Netherlands, you will find a charming city called Maastricht, the capital of Limburg province which sits between Belgium and Germany. The city dates back to Roman times and over the years was a major trading and religious center as well as an industrial hub in the 19th century. Maastricht is best known as the place where the Maastricht Treaty or the Treaty on the European Union was signed, establishing the European Union, as well as the birthplace of the euro currency.
But the city, apart from its historical significance, offers picturesque streets and city views, memorable landmarks and sights, developed education and business fields, remarkable restaurants and cafes as well as a splendid art scene. If you are planning on visiting Maastricht from Amsterdam, it is possible by train where a one-way ticket costs approximately 30 Euros or you can catch a cheap Flixbus ticket for 15 Euros and spend around 3 hours driving admiring the country’s landscapes.
Maastricht turned out to be one of my favorite cities in the Netherlands that I have visited so far because it is adorable and tranquil yet highly developed and environmentally friendly. While exploring the city, you cannot miss the unique artistic atmosphere and open people that make you feel so welcome. While the city may be considered of a smaller size compared to others in the Netherlands, it still has so much to offer with many wondrous places to visit and things to do. If you are curious to find out what you can discover in Maastricht, keep on reading!
Vrijthof
The largest square in the city center, Vrijthof, is the perfect place to start exploring Maastricht. First mentioned back in 1223 in relation to the majestic Basilica of Saint Servatius, a Romanesque architecture style Roman Catholic church located by the square, in the 17th and 18th centuries Vrijthof was used as a parade ground. Only in the 19th century, it became the city’s main square and attained the appearance it has now. Interestingly, for visitors who wish to travel by car, there’s also an underground parking garage available at the square.
For music lovers, Vrijthof is popular as the place where many events are held during warmer months, the most famous being the Johann Strauss Orchestra concerts conducted by violinist André Rieu. Apart from events, the square is a beautiful place to explore and enjoy Dutch culture in the different cafes and restaurants located by the square as well as visit the main city’s theater Theater aan het Vrijthof, St John’s Church, and various historical buildings such as Spaans Gouvernement Museum, the General’s House and Main Guardhouse.
Ding House (Dinghuis)
The gothic-style building in the old town of Maastricht is truly spectacular with a constructed clock, a beautiful facade built from Belgian marble (Namur stone), and a lookout tower. Built in the 15th century, back in the day it was the tallest building in the city and it served a courthouse role until 1664 and even held prisoners in the building’s cellars. Later, in 1713, it became a theater but today the Dinghuis hosts visitors information center ever since the building’s renovations in 1974. At the visitor center, you can find recommendations on what to see in Maastricht as well as book guided tours, shop authentic products, and get to know locals. The center is open every day, except on Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dominicanen Bookshop
My favorite place that I thoroughly enjoyed in the city center of Maastricht and one that the city is presumably best known for is the Dominicanen Bookshop. Considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, the store is set in a 13th-century Dominican Church with stunning Gothic-style architectural features. Once a holy place, it ceased its course as one in the 18th century and over the years served many functions such as a bicycle shed, a place where carnivals were hosted, a warehouse, and many more.
Since 2006 the church has hosted a bookshop that is filled with many new and old books mainly in Dutch but also in English and other languages as well as many magazines, CDs, vinyls, board games, and stationery. While browsing through the multiple floors of the bookshop, you will be amazed by the architectural beauty and the unique atmosphere that the store has, it’s truly a paradise for any book and history lover. After that, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with a slice of cake at the cafe located at the store with a view of the bookshelves and the large arches of the church.
The Dominicanen Bookshop also hosts many events throughout the year with different lectures, debates, music performances, and more, it’s worth checking out when visiting the city. For more information, you can visit the bookshop’s official website here: https://libris.nl/dominicanen
Basilica of Our Lady
An impressive example of Romanesque architecture is the Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady. Located in the center of Maastricht, not far from the river Meuse that runs through the city, it offers quite marvelous both exterior and interior sights. It is believed that at the same place, the first city’s church was built and presumably the oldest in the Netherlands in the 4th or 5th century. But today’s cathedral was built in the 11th and 12th century, having improvements and restructuring in the following centuries. The cathedral carries artistic features from a regional style, Mosan, as well as some exceptional artworks such as mural paintings, wooden statues, and different objects.
The Basilica of Our Lady surprised me with the unique atmosphere it has – the darkened light, the beautiful courtyard, and the fact that there were only a few other visitors, it also provided quietness and peace like no other place. But the best part was the people that we met there – an elderly man happily showed us around, introduced us to the rich and complicated history of the Netherlands, and gave us some recommendations. The encounter was so heartwarming that it left such a lovely impression of the place and the city overall. The cathedral is open every day until 5 p.m. and is a place I highly recommend stopping by.
Bishop’s Mill
At the back of an amazing bakery called Bisschopsmolen, you will find a real-life watermill that the bakery is named after. Dating back to the 7th century, it is the oldest watermill in the Netherlands which was damaged during the Spanish siege in 1577 but reconstructed in 1609, later fully renovated in 2004. At the bakery, you can taste bread baked with fresh ingredients using the watermill for grinding and other baked goods as well as enjoy a full and hearty lunch. If you are up to some activities, the bakery also offers workshops, guided tours, tastings, and events for children.
To immerse yourself fully in the historical place filled with delicious scents, you can also book a room at the bakery’s Bed and Breakfast where in the morning you can taste the famous Limburg pie also called Vlaai. The bakery is open every day from early morning till 5 in the evening and is closed on Mondays.
Saint Servatius Bridge
Located in the center of Maastricht, you will find the oldest bridge in the Netherlands, named after the first bishop of Maastricht – Saint Servatius. Crossing the Meuse River, the limestone and concrete pedestrian bridge was built between 1280 and 1298, and for a while, until the 1930s, the bridge was the only one connecting both sides of the river in the city. Over the years, it faced some renovations and improvements but after World War II and some major damages to the construction, the bridge was rebuilt in 1948. Nowadays it offers not only beautiful views of the city and the river but also allows you to conveniently cross it to the other side of the city to explore more of Maastricht.
Sphinx Passage
At one of the most interesting parts of the city, the Sphinx Quarter, you will find the longest tile passageway in the Netherlands. The 120-meter-long exhibition represents the city’s ceramic industry of the Sphinx factories and Eiffel building, today an industrial monument, with approximately 30 ‘000 tiles and other decorations. The tile panels tell the story in 26 parts of the tile industry in Maastricht over 200 years of production and is fascinating to learn more about through the artworks. Connecting the Eiffel Building and Pathé Cinema, the Sphinx Passage is open to visitors every day for free – in summer months it’s open until 10 p.m. but in winter months till 8 p.m.
While visiting the Sphinx Passage, you cannot miss the Sphinx Quarter which hosts many industrial buildings that are redeveloped into creative and innovative centers. Filled with different businesses, restaurants and cafes, shops, and entertainment options, it is a great place to learn about the industrial history of Maastricht which was the first industrial city in the Netherlands as well as enjoy a variety of memorable activities.
Museums
In Maastricht, you will find several unique and fascinating museums with exhibitions worth exploring. Here are some of the most popular and notable museums to visit in the city:
- Maastricht Museum to learn more about the city’s history from prehistoric times around 7000 years ago to the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. The museum is closed on Mondays and one adult ticket costs 9 Euros;
- Natural History Museum where you can learn about the area’s wildlife and landscape in a period from historic times to this day. It’s open every day, except on Mondays, and one adult ticket costs 9 Euros;
- Bureau Europa is a captivating place where you can explore exhibitions and debates around architecture and urbanism. One adult ticket to the museum costs 5 Euros and it is open every day except on Mondays and Tuesdays;
- The Museum of Illusions is the perfect place to learn about science through a fun and exciting way – optical illusion. The museum is open every day, except on Mondays and Tuesdays, and one adult ticket costs 16,50 Euro;
- Marres, House of Contemporary Culture is a great place to explore art in different forms through exhibitions, workshops, and events and even through delicious food at their vegan-friendly Mediterranean-style restaurant. A regular ticket to the museum costs 10 Euros but more information can also be found on their website here;
- In the Museum of the Art of Printing you can learn about the Maastricht’s printing tradition, the history of the printing press, and the artistry of making printed images for an entrance fee of 5 Euros;
- Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof is a captivating museum with multiple exhibitions per year that showcase different topics ranging from pop culture to contemporary art and so much more. The museum is open every day, except on Mondays and one adult ticket costs 12,50 Euros;
- The Bonnefanten museum offers different exhibitions of both old masters and contemporary art from not-so-well-known artists. Apart from exhibitions, you can also expect to find workshops, lectures, and even free audio tours. The museum is open every day, except on Mondays and one adult ticket costs 17,50 Euros.
Cafes that I enjoyed
While visiting new cities and towns, for me an irreplaceable part of the trip is looking for a cozy cafe with the best drink and food options. In Maastricht there are plenty of amazing places but here are two that stood out and I would recommend stopping by if you have the chance.
Piece of Cake is quite a popular choice by many visitors and I can see why – it is located in a stunning place with spacious rooms, breathtaking decor, and chandeliers that make you feel like stepping into a romantic movie scene. The cafe serves homemade desserts such as cakes and cupcakes but you can also enjoy a hearty breakfast or lunch. One of the most famous treats that you can get there is the signature cupcakes that are available with different toppings and flavors. Honestly, the cupcakes were a little bit too sweet for us but they offer so many different kinds of foods and desserts for everyone’s taste there that it’s worth visiting and enjoying the marvelous atmosphere.
Another worthwhile stop is the Sweet Coffee. This place was not only inviting with the bright and lovely interior, but it also had an amazing coffee, served with a heavenly tasty whipped cream in a separate jar and even a delicious cookie. The atmosphere and people were so wonderful and it’s also a perfect place to catch up with some work if you are looking for a place to do so since they have available Wifi for customers and a spacious seating room.
Final thoughts
I wholeheartedly believe that Maastricht should most certainly be on your list of places to visit in the Netherlands if visiting the country. The city is worth seeing not only because of its historical and political importance but also because of the beauty and charm of the place. Maastricht is also so convenient to explore where the main sights are within walking distance, making it such a walkable city. I absolutely loved visiting the city and would highly recommend it for every kind of traveler – whether you love museums, city views, or amazing restaurants, there’s something for everyone!
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