Background
Maastricht is the capital city of the province of Limburg and one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, dating back to 500 BC. Located alongside the Meuse River, the city is adjacent to the Hill Country region and the neighbouring country of Belgium, with the Belgian region of Flanders to the west and the Belgian Walloon region to the south. A total of approximately 119,000 people live and work in Maastricht.History
The history of Maastricht dates back to the Palaeolithic period of the Stone Age. Tools and artefacts have been discovered here dating back to settlements that existed here 250,000 years ago. The region was later settled by the Celts until the Romans conquered the area. The Roman settlement, called Mosa Trajectum, was not really a city but rather a large army base, a so-called ‘castra’.
The Romans built the first bridge over the Meuse, allowing them to cross the river regardless of the water level. This bridge remained in use for 1000 years, undergoing various renovations, until it collapsed in 1275 A.D. A new bridge was then built 200 metres further to the north, the present day Sint Servaas Bridge. After the departure of the Romans, the city has remained a major population centre until today.
In the 19th century, Maastricht developed into the first major industrial city in the Netherlands. The first major industrial activities in the country sprang up here, in particular the manufacturer of ceramic goods. After the establishment of what is now Maastricht University in the 1970s, the city increasingly profiled itself as a conference and service oriented centre, with tens of European institutes and institutions setting up a base here. In 1992, the city hosted a European summit, at which the then 12 member states of the European Community signed the famous Treaty of Maastricht, marking the start of the European Union and the euro.
Culture and places of interest
Much of the city's rich and varied history can still be admired today. The city has over 1500 listed monuments, including many historic monumental buildings and attractions such as the famous Vrijthof Square, with its Sint Servaas Basiliek (Basilica of St. Servatius) and St. Janskerk (Church of St. John), the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein Square with its Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basiliek (Basilica of Our Lady) and lovely café terraces, the beautiful Market Square, Sint Pietersberg hill, the centuries-old Bisschopsmolen (Bishop’s Mill) and the St. Lambertus Church, reminiscent of the Sacre Coeur in Paris.
The city also boasts a great many museums, including the Bonnefanten Museum with classical as well as modern art, the Museum on the Vrijthof, the Museum of Natural History and the Centre Céramique, where all kinds of ongoing and revolving exhibitions and presentations can be seen.
Events and going out
The city hosts a variety of well-known and recurring events, one of the most famous being the cycling race known as the Amstel Gold Race. In the month of December, Winter Wonderland transforms the historic city centre into a place of magic, including a beautiful skating rink on Vrijthof Square. The Preuvenemint culinary festival takes place in August, and the world-famous European Fine Arts Fair (TEFAF) is staged in March. The JekerJazz Maastricht festival also livens up the city and, last but certainly not least, the festival of Carnival is celebrated by young and old alike in Maastricht and throughout the province.
In short, Maastricht is simply one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in the world. A rich palette of culture, history, shopping opportunities and natural beauty ensures that visitors have a very enjoyable stay here. And things can only get better, as the city is also a candidate for being designated European Capital of Culture in 2018.
