Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (2024)

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (1)

Want to visit a beautiful historic city brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm? Then Maastricht is the ideal place for you. A hidden gem set amongst rolling hills, the capital city of Limburg exudes a unique ambience.

Like a local

Discover Maastricht from the inside

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (2)

Maastricht has a rich history. It’s a city filled with historic monuments and beautiful architecture, such as the 13th-century St. Servatius Bridge and the Basilica of Our Lady, which is thought to be built on a site once occupied by a Roman temple.

Speaking of the Romans, the old city wall and the ancient Helpoort city gate also point to Maastricht’s history as a former Roman fortress. This capital of Limburg has a very classic appearance and exudes history. If the streets of Maastricht could talk, what a story they could tell.

Maastricht is the number two cultural city of the Netherlands. It hosts numerous cultural events and is home to a wide range of cultural institutions. Many very popular and successful events are held here every year, such as the Dutch Dance Days, the TEFAF European art fair and the museum night.
Maastricht also has a fantastic range of museums and theatres. These include Bonnefanten, the striking museum where every conceivable form of art is exhibited or the Theater aan het Vrijthof, which shows both small and quite well-known performances.

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (3)

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (4)

Fans of arthouse films will enjoy the surprising Bassin Lumière Cinema, where visitors can watch arthouse films, documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters. Music lovers won’t feel left out. De Muziekgieterij music venue is one of many places where both emerging talent and well-known names perform.

A creative city

Maastricht is bursting with creativity and craftsmanship. Craft production was important to the economy for centuries, but today this student city is home to a thriving creative manufacturing industry, with clothing and product designers, jewellery makers and dedicated artists. Maastricht is an inspiring place where creative minds come together. You’ll find artisan and handmade creations in many locations throughout the city.

Finally, Maastricht is a very internationally-oriented city. It is with good reason that the European Union was officially established here in 1991, which meant the start of the Euro currency and the European Parliament as a legislative power. The city therefore has a lot to offer to international students and expats. Maastricht University alone offers more than 20 international bachelor's degree programmes. This city along the river Maas is also home to many international companies and organisations, with the MECC as an indispensable location for conferences and congresses.

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (5)

Exuberant Maastricht

© Eighty8things
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Delicious dining
Maastricht is a city known for its good taste. Here are some of our suggestions for sampling the flavour of the city. You can taste a bit of everything.
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© Novo new dining
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NOVO New Dining
Located in the middle of the bustling Sphinxkwartier in a unique building where bricks were once made, the Novo New Dining restaurant is innovative in every way. Your senses will be stimulated as you enjoy the most amazing culinary moments.
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Lunch while shopping
Worked up an appetite after some serious shopping? Here’s a list of eateries that offer something a bit out of the ordinary. A uniquely delicious way to refuel before heading out to the shops again.
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BIKKE
Go all out Scandinavian style at BIKKE! Nordic cuisine comes to life at this special gastropub in Wyck. Located on one of the district’s most traditional corners, it offers a taste of Copenhagen in Maastricht. The casual relaxed ambience and the interior are an added bonus!
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A taste of Maastricht at home
Can’t wait to get a taste of the real Maastricht? With these delicious recipes from local chefs, you can create special culinary delights at home for your own slice of the good life.
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Sustainable

Relax in the rolling hills of Limburg

Maastricht may be a city of culture and historic architecture, but it’s also home to a one-of-a-kind green environment in and around the city. In the centre alone, you will find several parks where you can enjoy a lovely piece of nature. Some parks have been around for decades, others
have emerged in more recent years.

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (11)

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (12)

In addition, investments are being made to make residential areas greener. For example, the Groene Loper is a great project that focuses on green solutions for homes, passageways for cyclists and pedestrians, and biodiversity. It’s a truly great initiative. Nature plays a major role not only in Maastricht itself, but also in the surrounding area. The city is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, where people like to go to escape the daily hustle and bustle and unwind amongst the gorgeous scenery.

The hilly region feels quite different from the rest of the Netherlands and provides opportunities for plenty of outdoor activities, such as walking, cycling, e-biking, running or mountain biking.

Mount Saint Peter offers a beautiful stretch of nature, just outside the city centre. A hilly landscape with forests, impressive caves and the special ENCI quarry, this area is ideal for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. Extra tip: the Chalk Walk, where you can admire the typical limestone landscape of South Limburg.

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (13)

Green tips in Maastricht

© Jonathan Vos via Maastricht Marketing
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City park
The Stadspark (City Park) is the perfect place to take a break from the daily grind and enjoy some peace and quiet right in the middle of the city. The park envelopes the historic city walls and is a great place to meet up with family and friends.
Read more onvisitmaastricht.com
© Maastricht Marketing
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Sustainable shopping in Maastricht
From dresses to furniture and from plants to regional products – there are sustainable options for just about everything in Maastricht.
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© Eighty8things
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The BIO market
The weekly organic market in the Wyck district is all about local and regional organic products. You’ll find delicious seasonal fruit and vegetables, beautiful flowers from local growers and tempting delicacies such as cheeses, honey, jams and other tasty treats.
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© Eighty8things
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Frontenpark
The Frontenpark is also known as the backyard of the Sphinxkwartier. It is an interesting and rugged piece of nature in the city. You will also find remnants of Maastricht's fortifications and industrial heritage in the park.
Read more onvisitmaastricht.com
© Eighty8things
Category:Visit website
Gedeelde Weelde
Gedeelde Weelde is an organic shop in the Sphinxkwartier that focuses on sustainability and fair trade. It offers a wide range of products and strives for a fair distribution of wealth and invests in local communities and sustainable production methods.
Read more ongoo.gl

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Another must-see in this district is the iconic Eiffel building, the former well-known Sphinx factory that’s now a vibrant national monument. It’s where you’ll find the Sphinxpassage, a 120-metre-long covered tiled passage, where almost 30,000 tiles map Maastricht's long history of ceramic production.

Enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner at the BOLD Rooftop bar on top of the Eiffel building, with a beautiful view over the city. Around the Eiffel building, the Sphinxkwartier is developing into a modern, bustling city district.

Maastricht: a Limburg gem brimming with culture, creativity and welcoming charm. (21)

Finally, there’s the street art. Art in public places, made with brushes, spray cans, stickers and markers – created by known and unknown artists who tell the story of the city through the years. The Maastricht Street Art route takes you to the cradle of street art in Maastricht.

Hidden gems

© Eighty8things
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Guided tour of the caves
Maastricht has a large network of underground corridors. Spectacular and special caves that are definitely worth a visit. Go on a guided underground journey of discovery and learn all about the past of these caves.
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© Hugo Thomassen
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Apostelhoeve vineyard
A vineyard in Maastricht? Yes, there are actually several! On the Louwberg, south of Maastricht, is one of the oldest and largest vineyards in the Netherlands, the Apostelhoeve. Take a tour, walk amongst the vines and hear all the ins and outs of wine growing, all the while taking in the beautiful view of Jekerdal. Afterwards you can enjoy a delicious wine tasting!
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© Jan Bijl Fotografie
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Book paradise: the Dominican church
Bookworms will be in their element at one of the most special bookshops in the world. This centuries-old Dominican church has been transformed into a book paradise. Lectures, debates and musical events are regularly organised here. You can also enjoy a delicious cup of coffee from Blanche Dael Coffeelovers, located in the former priest's choir.
Read more onvisitmaastricht.com
© Eighty8things
Category:Visit website
Marina 't Bassin
A glass of wine and a charcuterie platter along the water. This marina makes you feel as if you are on the Côte d'Azur. Close to the historic city centre, the former wharf cellars are now restaurants, shops and galleries. Culture lovers and foodies can indulge themselves surrounded by historic buildings.
Read more onvisitmaastricht.com
© Eighty8things
Category:Visit website
Blanche Dael coffee roaster
Blanche Dael has been a household name in Maastricht and the surrounding area since 1878. This delicious coffee is roasted at a unique location in the Sphinxkwartier. They also offer educational (and tasty) tours and training.
Read more ongoo.gl