Maastricht
Maastricht is a metropolis situated in Netherlands split on both sides of Maas River. It’s the capital of the province of Limburg and it’s located between Germany and Belgium. Maastricht is an extraordinary city, famous for its education, local folklore, culture and history. The town is very popular among the tourists all around the world. The visitors go there for recreation and shopping.
If you’re looking for a great place to relax and spend some time, then you have to go to Maastricht. The town centre is spectacularly cobblestoned, the cathedrals are impressive and the buildings and houses are magnificent. The city is renowned for the multicultural atmosphere, the excellent shops and exquisite cuisine.
Before starting your adventure in Maastricht you can go to the tourist office. The staff over there will be more than happy to help you with national, regional and local suggestions. They will also offer souvenirs and maps. You’ll be advised to start your visit with the city centre. This is certainly the best free sight in the metropolis. There are 2 main squares in the centre. The Markt houses the Stadhuis or the Town Hall and big markets on Fridays and Wednesdays. In the Vrijthof you’ll find the amazing St Jan’s Cathedral and the beautiful St Servaas Church.
The civic buildings are also some interesting attractions. The Town Hall was already mentioned, but you can also visit the University Maastricht Library, the Universiteitssingel, the Grote Looierstraat and the City Library. Maastricht has also plenty of museums. Some of the best are the Spaans Gouvernement (collections of paintings, glassware, pottery, porcelain, silver and furniture from the 18th and 17th centuries), the Natuurhistorisch Museum, the Derlon Museum Cellar, the Centre Céramique and the Bonnefantenmuseum (an art museum).
Be a local at Maastricht
There are many things that you can do in Maastricht in order to feel like a real local. First of all you have to go to one of their traditional cinemas, Minerva Cinemas and Lumière. Next, you could try going to a coffee shop. In Maastricht, the soft drugs such as magic mushrooms, hash and weed are legal, so if you’re over 18 years old and want to have some great time you have plenty of coffee shops to choose from.
Last, but not least, you could find more about the culture of this city in order to understand it better. Visit the art fair called European Fine Art Fair or go to the Uitbalie, a place where numerous cultural events are organized.
Off the beat attractions
A very interesting attraction in Maastricht is represented by the Saint Pietersberg Caves. This local marlstone mine has more than 20.000 passages that were built over the centuries. Formerly, these caves were designed as shelters during bombings and sieges. This is certainly the most outlandish landmark of Maastricht.
The Kazematten also deserves a visit. This group of bunkers was used by the soldiers when they fired at invaders. It’s now opened for the public.
In order to see the most of this wonderful city, you must visit Maastricht during the months October, September, August, July, June or May.
