Hello everybody. Today begins our trip to the Netherlands. Our first stop (as you can guess from the title) will be Maastricht.

Maastricht is a city located in the province of Limbrugo (the southernmost part of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands) and its important river is the Meuse (already met earlier in our trip to Belgium, do you remember?).

The city is considered the birthplace of the European Union and is the possessor of an important heritage but it is also known for the shopping. Are you curious enough to know the city in detail? Let’s go!

To know more (where to eat, what to eat, where to have fun, acculturate …) continue to read.

All ready for the culture ?? We want all your attention!

 

PLACES TO VISIT (MUSEUMS/THEATERS..)

• First of all we must say that the city is divided into districts. They are: Jekerkwartier, a picturesque neighborhood with old houses and the remains of the city walls. The Latin Quarter of Maastricht full of schools, buildings and universities. Boschstraatkwartier, a rising neighborhood located to the north of the city center. Wyck, an old neighborhood situated on the banks of the Meuse river. Céramique, a modern district that includes a beautiful park (Charles Eyckpark) and the amazing caves of Sint-Pietersberg.
• Helpoort: a gate flanked by two towers. It is the oldest gate in the Netherlands and is located in the Jekerkwartier district.
  
• Waterpoortje: the medieval gate situated in Wyck, used for accessing the city from the Meuse.
• Casemates: underground tunnels that connect the different parts of the city.
• Basilica of Saint Servatius: center of Catholicism in Maastricht, located near the main square of Vrijthof. The church has many relics (including Key of St Servatius) and several sculptures.
• Basilica Our Lady: church located in the historic center of Maastricht. An important site for its relics, for the “girdle of the Virgin Mary” and the ivory collection. The church has a cloister as well.
• Sint-Janskerk: Gothic building characterized by the color red. It is the largest Protestant church in the city and is located near the Basilica of Saint Servatius.
• Derlon Museumkelder: a small archaeological museum with various remains of the Roman era. The museum is located on the lowest floor of Hotel Derlon Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein and it’s free… just don’t forget to book.
• Bonnefanten Museum: contemporary and old art museum. The collection includes medieval sculptures, Italian paintings but also those of the Netherlands.
• Spaans Gouvernement: building that now houses the Museum aan het Vrijthof, (history and art museum). There are various collections of paintings, porcelain, weapons and silverware.
• Natuurhistorisch Museum: a museum that houses collections relating to geology, palaeontology and flora and fauna of Limburg. Behind the museum there is also a botanical garden, all to visit.
• Maastricht Exposition and Congress Centre (MECC): a center that hosts many and various events throughout the year.

Let’s see, now, the two most important theaters of Maastricht.

Theater aan het Vrijthof and Generaalshuis.

 

ENTERTAINMENT (PUB/DISCO/PARKS…)

We hope that you aren’t already tired because we have lots to do… but also to relax, don’t worry!

• The main shopping streets or the street where you can enjoy a nice walk are: Binnenstad, pedestrianized district in the city center with many shops, bars, pubs and restaurants (Grote and Kleine Staat, Stokstraat and Maastrichter Smedenstraat, are the main streets). Vrijthof, the main square of Maastricht. Onze Lieve Vrouweplein, tree-lined square with many cafes. Markt, another square in Maastricht. Here you can also admire the town hall. And then we can find the Mosae Forum, a new shopping center (for those who like cars, inside the Mosae Forum parking garage there is a small exhibition of Citroën miniature cars. A good compromise to make happy both sexes, isn’t it?). Entre Deux, another shopping center, one of the most important (as it has won several international awards), in which we can find “the most beautiful bookshop in the world” as proclaimed by a British newspaper.
•  Along the banks of the Meuse you can have wonderful walks and enjoy a magnificent view, or you can also choose to immerse yourself into the nature and visit the numerous parks present there. Along your walk you will find beautiful bridges, such as the Sint Servaasbrug (oldest bridge in the Netherlands) and the Hoge Brug.

Nature lovers, lots of parks are waiting only for you!

• Stadspark: the main Maastricht park with a mini zoo, several sculptures, medieval remains of the city walls, a branch of the Jeker river.
• Jekerpark: a new park along the banks of the Jeker river, situated almost next to the Stadspark.
• Het Frontenpark: park located t o thewest of the city center. A place full of historical and cultural values.
• Griendpark: park located on the bank of the river with an inline-skating and skateboarding course.
• Very present are the bike paths,s o lots are the paths you can go by bike, such as Biesland and Wolder neighborhoods.
• Maastricht has a river port (Beatrixhaven) and through the Meuse River the city is connected to Belgium. For this reason often is organized a boat trips for tourists from Maastricht to some Belgian cities, as Liège. An opportunity to visit the Belgium as well.
• Lumière Cinema
• Best Escape: escape game.

And if it is true that the night is young and you want to have fun here are the places for you…

• Cafe Cliniq: disco.
• De Alla: disco.
• Cocktail Café Beez: cocktail bar.
• kaffee priem: cafè.
• De Knijnspiep: cafè/ pub.
• Il Cavo Maastricht: disco.
• La Cubanita Maastricht: cafè.
• Cafe de Pieter: cafè with live music.

TYPICAL FOODS

Are you hungry now? Yes? So let’s go together to know some typical dish of the city.

We begin by saying that the Dutch cuisine is not so elaborate but is rich in calories. The contact that the region had in the past with different cultures has made the Netherlands cuisine affected by all them, especially from Indonesian, Surinamese and Antilliana cuisine. The main meal is usually the dinner because the lunch is often eaten in the street and for this the Netherlands has a strong tradition of the street food (you will find, very easily, different kiosks that sell typical street products ). If you are going to eat in a restaurant, you will notice the absence of the antipasto (it is not part of their culture). The wait, however, will be compensated by the bread served with a butter, named kruidenboter containing parsley, chives, garlic, pepper and salt. Two variants may be the knoflookboter (in which garlic predominates over all) and the citroenboter, to the all the ingredients we have already seen, are added the juice and lemon peel. In the Netherlands it is usual accompany the food with milk or fermented milk called karnemelk.

• In the Dutch cuisine is very present the fish such as eel (paling) or mackerel (makreel).
• Humkessoep: potato, green beans and white beans soup.
• Hutspot: dish made of carrots and mashed potatoes, served with beef.
• Stamppot: dish made of mashed potatoes and vegetables with smoked sausage (rookworst).
• Kanterkaas,  Kanternagelkaas: cheese.
• Stroopwafel: a big cookie filled with caramel.
• Oliebollen: the Dutch doughnuts covered with powdered sugar. A variant is the appelbeignet or appelflap (that contains a slice of apple).
• Broodje: a sandwich stuffed with various ingredients, including frikandel (chips and sausages) or kroket (are kind of croquettes stuffed with meat or vegetables ..there are several types)
• The most consumed beers are: Heineken and Trappe but also Grolsch and Bavaria.

 

WHERE TO EAT (RESTAURANTS/CAFE’..)

Now it’s time to see the places where you can enjoy the great food that the city offers.

• Sofa: French and Mediterranean cuisine.
• Piano B: typical Italian cuisine.
• Bokes: French, Belgian, Dutch, European cuisine.
• Indian House: Typical Indian cuisine.
• ‘t Pakhoes: French, Belgian, Dutch, European cuisine.
• Frituur – Restaurant Reitz
• Wen chow: Chinese and Asian cuisine.
• Livin’ Room: vegetarian and healthy cuisine.
• Tapas Restaurant Los Amigos: Mediterranean, Spanish cuisine.
• Pieke Potloed: Dutch, European cuisine.
• Cafe Zuid
• Grand Cafe Maastricht Soiron
• Cinema Café
• Blinibar: local where you can enjoy some good pancakes.
• Peter’s Irish Pub
• Minckelers: European cuisine. The local is situated in the city center.

 

With this we concluded our adventure in Maastricht, our first stop in the Netherlands. If you want, stay tuned to find out the next city of the Netherlands that  we will explore.

Let us know your opinions about this place. If you liked it or not, if you’ve been there or you’re going to go there? What  you liked the most or least? We’re curious to read your opinions.

A big kiss to everyone.

 

We will suggest below some hotels where to spend the night in serenity.

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?iata=MST&aid=960457  – hotel near airport
http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?city=-2149006&aid=960457 – hotel in the city
http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?district=1165&aid=960457 – hotel in the Maastricht neighborhood

Booking.com