Maastricht Attractions

Maastricht is oa city in the Netherlands that has a great number of attractions to offer to visitors. You can find the city at the very southern edge of the province of Limburg.

The Maas-river (also known as the Meuse) that flows through the south of the Netherlands divides the city in two - and this explains the Latin name for Maastricht: "Mosa-crossing".

Many people say that it is located in "the middle of Europe", with Germany and Belgium only half an hour away by car. Additionally, the city is six hours away from Paris by car and just three hours by train.

Maastricht is a beautiful and very historic city that you can enjoy in all seasons; if you're interested in a visit, you can read more below about the most interesting attractions this city has to offer.

Maastricht's Sights

The "Old City", with the Helpoort and the city wall, consists of Maastricht's oldest areas. You can take a tour of this area; they're organized by the tourist office in the summer. In the off-season, you can get a map of the tour and walk it on your own.

You can also visit the 17th century wall fortifications called the Hoge Fronten, which were set up to protect the city walls. and the Kazematten, the tunnels beneath the Hoge Fronten.

The center of tourist (and local) activities, pubs, and coziness, are the Markt, the Vrijthof and the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Plein (OLV-square), where you can find many tourists and locals in the spring and summer; visit this area to relax in an outdoor café with a cold drink or join in one of the many activities organized there. On both the Vrijthof and the OLV-square, you can tour at least one classic church well worth visiting. The Markt is host to a large farmer's market every Friday and a smaller version on Wednesdays.

If you're looking for shopping opportunities, look for the Grote Staat, the Stokstraatkwartier and the new mall Entre Deux, Furthermore, there are a number of smaller, older alleys in the city center with very exclusive, very expensive shops with fashion and art objects.

Museums

Maastricht has two main museums worthy of your attention: the Bonnefanten Museum, and the Natural History Museum (Natuurhistorisch Museum).

The Bonnefanten Museum is an art museum, situated in a building designed by Aldo Rossi, located in Maastricht's "Ceramique" neighborhood. The museum is famous for its expositions as well as the design of the building itself. At the Bonnefanten Museum, you can view Flemish paintings, Italian and American art pieces, and visit an exposition of Aldo Rossi’s work.

At the Natuurhistorisch Museum, you can view collections that show and explain the geology, paleontology, and the flora and fauna of the Dutch province of Limburg.

Events and Festivals

Carnaval (Mardi Gras)

Carnaval is a festival that takes place every year in February or March, and is mainly celebrated in the southern parts of the Netherlands (in the provinces of Limburg and Brabant). You can compare the Carnaval celebration to Mardi Gras in the United States.

Historically, Carnaval was celebrated by Catholics, and is celebrated yearly exactly 40 days before Easter. In modern times, the religious meaning of Carnaval has mostlybeen lost; it's mainly considered a festival of partying, celebrating, and drinking.

For five days straight, you can dress up (for example, as a movie character, a Disney figure, or even Santa Claus) and drink as much as you can. If you are in Maastricht during Carnaval, it's definitely something you don’t want to miss.

KunstTour

The KunstTour is an yearly art-tour that also visits the city of Maastricht. On one particular weekend in the Spring, art galleries open their doors for you and workshops are free to everyone who's interested. During the KunstTour, you can take free busses from one art location to the next.

Preuvenemint

The Preuvenemint is a cultural Fall event (late August) at the Vrijthof: a large harvest festival. During the festival, you can taste food and drinks from all over this region in Holland.

During the Preuvenemint, dozens of restaurants, caterers and others offer you the possibility to try just about anything, from food to wine and beer, while you enjoy a play on the Vrijthof.

The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF)

The European Fine Art Fair, or TEFAF, is a well-known European art fair. Maastricht hosts TEFAF once a year for a week, during which the city is bustling with activity while well-known artists try to sell their best works.

If the weather is good, all public spaces in Maastricht are packed with people enjoying a good meal while enjoying both the weather and the art fair.

For updated information about TEFAF for this year, as well as opening times and admission fees check TEFAF's website.

Winterland

Winterland is held on the Vrijthof square in Maastricht every winter, from mid-December to early January. You can compare Winterland to the German "Christkindlmarkt", with lots of warm food and hot drinks, and enjoyable activities, including a ferris wheel and an ice skating rink.

Maastricht's Nightlife

If you'd like to go out and have fun at night, Maastricht has a lot to offer. The nightlife options discussed below are all in the city center (old town), a short and safe 15-minute walk away from the central train station.

The Platielstraat and Amorsplein contain many cozy local pubs, restaurants, and bars. This is the place where most students and locals hang out, both on weeknights and during the weekend. The Platielstraat connects to the Vrijthof, where you can find even more restaurants and pubs.

The Vrijthof is another large and open square in Maastricht. It features many place to dine and drink and is host to a variety of events throughout the year (mentioned earlier). A parking garage is located beneath the square.

De Markt is a large open square surrounded by many historic buildings. The building surrounding the square contain a variety of restaurants, pubs, and bars.

The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Square is considered the most cozy square by many Maastricht locals. You can find a large variety (and density) of bars and pubs here, and the historic surroundings make this a favorite hangout for many.

Suggestions For Dining

When you're looking for good food in Maastricht, make sure you take the following suggestions in consideration.