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Maastricht

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The Netherlands Maastricht at dusk

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Overview

Lively and energetic, Maastricht has Roman history, a maze of tunnel-caves and historical buildings aplenty, plus a Burgundian sophistication to its dining, a bacchanalian delight to its drinking culture, and a student-friendly street-life out of all proportion to its size. The people are irreverent, shrugging off the shackles of Dutch restraint while speaking a dialect ('Mestreechs') that baffles Hollanders. No visit to the Netherlands is complete without a visit.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • St Servaasbasiliek

    St Servaasbasiliek

    Maastricht

    Built above and around the shrine of St Servaas (Servatius), the first bishop of Maastricht, the basilica presents an architectural pastiche whose…

  • Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek

    Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek

    Maastricht

    Dominating an intimate cafe-filled square, this millennium-old basilica-church is a fabulous example of Mosan architecture, made 'extra authentic' through…

  • Maastricht Underground

    Maastricht Underground

    Maastricht

    Maastricht Underground runs spooky, amusing and fascinating tours into sections of the vast tunnel network beneath St-Pietersberg massif. Departures run…

  • Fort St Pieter

    Fort St Pieter

    Maastricht

    Set within a deep-cut dry moat, this hefty five-sided brick fort once formed the city's southern defence and is linked to a network of underground tunnels…

  • Zonneberg Caves

    Zonneberg Caves

    Maastricht

    This gigantic network of quarry-tunnels date back centuries but are most intriguing for their occasional charcoal murals and the stories linked to their…

  • Helpoort

    Helpoort

    Maastricht

    This rough-cut-stone tower-gateway dating from 1229 dominates the most impressive of several fragmentary sections of medieval city wall. You can look…

  • Centre Ceramique

    Centre Ceramique

    Maastricht

    Primarily a state-of-the-art library, this modern airy cube also has changing exhibitions in the spacious foyer area.

  • St Janskerk

    St Janskerk

    Maastricht

    This attractive 17th-century Gothic church has a soaring if relatively unadorned interior and a 43m limestone tower whose deep red hue was originally…

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