Maastricht: a True Star Among Cities
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city guide : city 2 : culture 24 : shopping 48 : culinary & out on the town 60 : active in South Limburg 84 : practical information 95 2/3 : city Maastricht: a true star among cities Welcome to Maastricht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands – a city that has ripened well with age, like good wine, with complex and lively cultural overtones added over centuries by the Romans, germans and French. this rich cultural palette is the secret behind the city’s attractive- Welcome ness, drawing visitors to the historic city centre If you pass by the most famous and a wealth of museums and festivals – making square in Maastricht, you will each visit a fascinating new experience. undoubtedly notice the fantas- tic and colourful set of figures But Maastricht is also a vibrant makes Maastricht special – in representing the Carnival and contemporary city with a the heart of the South Limburg orchestra ‘Zaate Herremenie.’ rich landscape of upmarket as hill country and nestled in the The Carnival celebration, or well as funky boutiques and a Meuse River Valley. Is it any ‘Vastelaovend’ as it is called wide range of restaurants & wonder that Maastricht is such by the locals, lasts only three cafés serving everything from a great place for a day out, a days, but this trumpet player local dishes, hearty pub food, weekend getaway, or a longer welcomes visitors to the and great selections of beer holiday? Vrijthof all year round. to the very best haute cuisine. Maastricht: a true star And of course its location also among cities. : city / welcome : city / zicht op Maastricht 4/5 compact and pedestrianfriendly A true son discover The centre of Maastricht is compact and easy to explore on of Maastricht Maastricht on foot. Large areas are pedestrians- your mobile only and most sites are within The king of waltz music, Andre walking distance. The old Rieu, was born and raised in St. Servaas bridge links the old Maastricht. The world-famous Maastricht now has centre with the trendy Wyck violinist and conductor draws another mobile website: district, and from the adjacent sellout crowds with his Johan www.maastrichtmap.nl. Ceramique district you can Strauss Orchestra throughout You can explore the city cross back over the river Europe, America, Australia centre of Maastricht via this via the designer suspension and Japan. In spite of his extre- ‘Zicht op Maastricht’ website and the GPS receiver in bridge, the ‘Hoeg Brogk’, and mely busy schedule, Andre Rieu your smart phone. Historic infor- cut through the park back to remains loyal to the city of his Biography of a city mation is provided by “Zicht op the centre. With an amazing birth: each year, he gives a Maastricht”. VVV Maastricht variety of sights, sounds and number of outdoor summer Maastricht is taking an innovative approach to its history. in provides all the practical infor- flavours spread along a compact concerts on the Vrijthof. In a website chock-full of information and unique activities, the mation about the city such as network of attractive streets on July 2011, the Vrijthof square city’s present is constantly linked to its rich past. shopping, cafés & restaurants, both sides of the river, you’ll will once again form the decor and car parks. So if you're look- never feel lost but very much for a spectacular evening. Like people, a city too city and early industrial ing for a good restaurant or more at home. has biography: a cultural centre. These are the periods information about the Basilica biography, that is. Zicht op that have defined the historical of St. Servatius, just surf to 'Mestreechter geis' Maastricht is working on face of the city. Files, timelines maastrichtmap.nl on your The mentality of the city’s compiling this b i o g r a p h y . and interactive maps invite the mobile and discover Maastricht! residents is characterised by www.zichtopmaastricht.nl website’s visitors to discover charm, lightheartedness, the contains all of the elements that the city’s history in a variety ability to laugh at themselves make the city what it is today. of ways. when necessary, and what the The city’s stories are key to French call joie de vivre. This this: these stories are being is also what the artist, Mari supplied by cultural heritage Andriessen, had in mind institutions, academics and when he designed this bronze professional (and amateur) figure for the square by the historians, but mostly by natives Stokstraat. The jaunty statue of Maastricht themselves! of ‘Mestreechter Geis’ speaks The biography features four to the heart of most city “identities” which have all residents. Just ask one of the made their mark on the city: locals what they think of their Roman fortress, medieval 'Mestreechter Geis' and it will religious capital, fortified become obvious. : city / history 6/7 'Het dinghuis' The Dinghuis is at the corner of the streets Kleine Staat and Grote Staat. The word Staat used to mean “location 1204 1794 1991 of the municipal authority”. Maastricht is granted medieval Maastricht becomes part of the The cooperative platform The name Dinghuis comes city rights. During the Middle French Republic. The French established by the Dutch, from the verb dingen, which Ages, Maastricht comes under abolish the system of joint rule German and Belgian provinces means “to administer judge- the rule of the Duke of Brabant and give French citizenship to in 1976 acquires legal status as ment”. Until the year 1650, and the Prince Bishop of Liege all the residents. Meuse-Rhine Euregion. The this was where the court (joint rule). cooperation focuses primarily of Maastricht was located. 1814 on traditional universities, These days, the monument Fortified city Maastricht again comes under universities of applied sciences houses the VVV Maastricht 1579 Dutch rule. General Dibbets and the business community. (Maastricht Tourist Board). The Spanish army led by succeeds in keeping Maastricht Alexander Farnese, the Duke of in Dutch hands during the 1992 Parma, conquers Maastricht. Belgian revolt of 1830. Representatives of 12 European Historic Maastricht countries sign the Treaty of 1632 early industrial city Maastricht leading to the Not only does Maastricht compete with Nijmegen for the Stadhouder Frederik Hendrik 1830 introduction of the euro. honorary title of “oldest dutch city”, Maastricht is also the makes Maastricht part of With the purchase of the first second monumental city in the Netherlands. the city is a the 'Republiek der Verenigde steam engine, Petrus Regout – a 2018 living and breathing outdoor museum, and the streets are Nederlanden' (Republic of the glass and pottery manufacturer Together with partner cities full of reminders that the city once served as a Roman post, United Netherlands), consisting in Maastricht - starts the pro- and regions, Maastricht has a city of pilgrimage, a medieval fortified city, and one of of the Seven Provinces. cess whereby the Netherlands now been confirmed as a the first centres of the dutch industrial revolution. develops into the industrialised candidate for the European 1673 nation it is today. Capital of Culture in 2018. Roman era Religious centre The French Sun King, Louis XIV, Around the beginning of the 380 captures Maastricht. During the 1976 Common Era, the Romans drove Bishop St. Servatius moves the attack on the city walls, the famous The State University of Limburg the Celts out of Maastricht and bishop’s see from Tongeren to musketeer d’Artagnan is killed. is established in Maastricht with build a bridge over the Meuse Maastricht. In the Middle Ages, the goal of breathing new life (‘Maas’ in Dutch) River. The name his grave draws large numbers 1678 into the economy of Limburg Maastricht comes from the Latin of pilgrims. Maastricht returns to Dutch after the closure of the mines. term Mosae Trajectum, which rule. The region referred to as In 1996, its name was changed means ‘crossing-place on the Staats-Limburg becomes part to “Universiteit Maastricht” Meuse.’ of the Generality Lands. (Maastricht University). : city / districts 8/9 Vrijthof poor and now the most exclu- céramique Belvédère One of the best-known squares in sive shopping street in town. The new Ceramique district, The historic inner harbour - the Netherlands, made famous by known for its quality-of-life ’t Bassin - is located here with its events such as the Preuvenemint Jekerkwartier architecture, lies south of Wyck. renovated warehouses and vaul- (culinary extravaganza) and the A lively part of town surrounded It owes its name to the Societe ted basements housing various Andre Rieu openair concert. Sit by the municipal park and the Ceramique, an industrial cera- shops and restaurants. Over the down at one of the many pave- old city walls and containing mics facility that once domina- coming years, the rest of this ment cafes, relax and enjoy the much of the university, this dis- ted the area. Since 1995, a new area in the Northwest of view of the St. Servaas Basiliek trict is characterised by the Jeker and varied urban landscape has Maastricht will be transformed (Basilica of St. Servatius) and the stream that winds its way, above been created here of offi ce and into a global village with a bit monumental St. Janskerk as well as below ground, throu- apartment buildings designed of Manhattan, a touch of Milan, (Church of St. John), or let your gh the neighbourhood. The by internationally renowned a dash of the Latin Quarter, a eye wander over to the ‘Zaate ambience is welcoming and tra- architects, the most striking of breath of Hyde Park, a taste of Herremenie’, a fantastically ditional with a focus on the crea- which are the Bonnefanten Hollywood Boulevard and an colourful group of figures created tive arts, as it is a popular meeting Museum and the Centre enormous English landscape by the local artists Han van place for artists and students Ceramique.