![\"Buildings](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Buildings-along-the-river-692x1024.png\")
A vibrant university city, Maastricht is compact and easy to walk around. To the east of the river Maas is the railway station and the trendy Wyck area, where boutiques and bars vie for attention. Walking west, across the 13th-century Saint Servatius Bridge, is Binnenstad, which leads along winding cobbled streets to the city\u2019s two main squares.
The Vrijthof is the grandest, and the location of Saint Servatius Basilica and its dazzling Treasury filled with gold, silver, textiles and spooky relics. This expansive square, lined with cafes, also hosts local legend and star violinist, Andr\u00e9 Rieu\u2019s, annual outdoor concerts in July. Just a five-minute walk away is the more down-to-earth Markt Square, where bustling markets are held every Wednesday and Friday.<\/p>\n\n
![\"Saint](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Saint-Servatius-Basilica-1024x679.png\")
What to see<\/strong> Pottering around the city centre\u2019s cobbled streets is a pleasure in itself, and on route are several small art galleries. One of them is Marres, House for Contemporary Culture, on Capucijenstraat, situated in a 1680 merchant\u2019s house that once belonged to the Marres brewing family. Every two years, the gallery holds the Limburg Bi\u00ebnnale \u2013 an art show for amateurs and professionals \u2013 and has a series of temporary exhibitions in between. Whatever\u2019s on, running a hand along the original banisters of the old house and hearing the 17th-century oak floorboards creak underfoot is an experience not to be missed. You can muse on this in the Marres Kitchen, the gallery\u2019s popular cafe, which serves Middle Eastern dishes as well as strong Dutch coffee. marres.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n Another pretty spot is Galerie MOA on Grote Looiersstraat, in the Jekerkwartier neighbourhood, which is bounded by the small and snake-like river Jeker. Inside the 1804 palazzo-style house, the owner, Barend Fisser, shows his own sculptures alongside works by a small group of artists and photographers. While pottering around, it\u2019s fun to imagine living in this lovely old house with its courtyard, stables (Barend\u2019s sculpture studio) and original 19th-century \u2018ice glass\u2019 windows. galeriemoa.nl <\/a><\/p>\n\n The Sphinx Passage on Boschstraat commemorates more of the city\u2019s history in a 120-metre-long tile tableau that tells the long story of the Sphinx ceramic factory, located on this very spot between 1836 and 2006. The exhibition displays antique and vintage Sphinx tableware inside glass cases and, if you become a fan, there\u2019s a small selling fair called the Maastrichtse Keramiek & Glasverkoop every December, held at the former Sphinx showroom, now Bureau Europa, a platform for architecture and design. visitmaastricht.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n Where to shop<\/strong> For an antiques fix, head to House of Tudor on Bredestraat to find affordable Dutch, French, Belgian and English antiques and vintage pieces, including Sphinx ceramics such as teapots, coffee pots and plates. Also browse the small-scale furniture, Champagne coupes, cutlery, photo frames, vases and matryoshka dolls from Russia. Open Thursday to Saturday, from 11am. house-of-tudor.nl<\/a><\/p>\n\n If antiques are your passion, time your visit with TEFAF, held in March at the MECC expo centre (9th\u201314th March, 2024). This year, there will be 270 top European dealers in attendance, including around 60 from the UK, presenting art, artefacts and antiques representing 7,000 years of cultural history. Regarded as one of the best antiques fairs in the world, TEFAF is where curators and museum patrons come to augment national collections, joined by high-flying collectors and a smattering of royalty. Pockets are deep and prices begin at \u20ac1,000\u2013\u20ac2,000, going above \u20ac2m. <\/p>\n\n The show is unashamedly upmarket: festooned with flowers, it has a pop-up Michelin-starred restaurant and a Champagne bar, plus a daily programme of erudite talks to enjoy. The specially produced TEFAF city guide highlights events happening outside the fair, from classical concerts to shopping evenings. tefaf.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n Mooching around Boekhandel Dominicanen, an indie bookstore on Dominicanerkerkstraat, is a must for bookworms. The shop is housed inside an immense 13th-century Gothic church, decorated with medieval and Baroque frescoes. When you\u2019ve finished admiring these, explore the three-storey book display, which carries books in Dutch, French, English (on the balcony) and other languages. There\u2019s a great children\u2019s section, plus a rainbow of Leuchtturm notebooks, greetings cards and bookish knick-knacks on the ground floor. Oh, and a cafe, for contemplating the good life. libris.nl<\/a> <\/p>\n\n Where to stay<\/strong> A taxi-ride away is 17th-century Ch\u00e2teau Neercanne, which has a terrace overlooking the countryside and its own marl caves used for parties and storing wine. Neercanne offers a handful of upmarket suites and a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers a Menu Prestige tasting feast, comprising ingredients such as razor clam, turbot and partridge; book at the hotel\u2019s L\u2019Auberge for a more informal meal. www.oostwegelcollection.nl<\/a><\/p>\n\n A 20-minute drive away from the city centre is Ch\u00e2teau St Gerlach on the edge of the Ingendael nature reserve. This spacious, quiet hotel has a spa and large gardens to explore, plus bikes to borrow. oostwegelcollection.nl<\/a> More good menus (but not Michelin-starred) are to be found at Mes Amis Wijnrestaurant on Tongersestraat, which specialises in wines from the Limburg region paired with food. These wines are surprisingly good, and the owner has a shop next door where you can buy a bottle. mesamis.nl<\/a> A walled city on a beautiful river, with cobbled streets, stylish boutiques, grand squares and one of the world\u2019s top antiques fairs, Maastricht in the Netherlands is steeped in history and charm, discovers Caroline Wheater<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9871,"featured_media":31323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"","purple_seq_number":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"","purple_source_article":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"","purple_source_issue":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"","purple_external_id":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"","purple_issue_code":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"","purple_android_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"","purple_ios_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-03-04T12:22:41Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"9651f525-cd31-4b4e-8024-a55bfcd6ab6a","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-03-04T12:22:50Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AllH1Jc0xS06AJKVb_Narag","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas.png","author_info":{"display_name":"rachel.nott@ourmedia.co.uk","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/author\/rachel-nottourmedia-co-uk\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8","apple_news_title":"48 Hours in Maastricht"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas.png",1779,1180,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas-300x199.png",300,199,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas-768x509.png",768,509,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas-1024x679.png",800,530,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas-1536x1019.png",1536,1019,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/The-River-Maas.png",1779,1180,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"rachel.nott@ourmedia.co.uk","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/author\/rachel-nottourmedia-co-uk\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A walled city on a beautiful river, with cobbled streets, stylish boutiques, grand squares and one of the world\u2019s top antiques fairs, Maastricht in the Netherlands is steeped in history and charm, discovers Caroline Wheater","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31303"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9871"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31303"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31329,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31303\/revisions\/31329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
To get a handle on the city\u2019s cultural credentials, a trip to the riverside Bonnefanten art gallery on Avenue Ceramique, is essential, especially as it\u2019s housed in a glorious building designed in the 1990s by the Italian architect Aldo Rossi. He regarded it as a \u2018viewing factory\u2019, and the experience begins with the incredible treppenstra\u00dfe or monumental flight of stairs that rise up to the exhibition rooms.
The Bonnefanten \u2013 named after its former convent location \u2013 has a collection that spans medieval sculpture to Old Masters, Maastricht silver and modern art. Its focus is on the \u2018secret canon\u2019 \u2013 works by influential artists that are not always found in mainstream venues. Pieces by Grayson Perry grace the entrance \u2013 the epic Walthamstow Tapestry and his wooden ship, Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman. There\u2019s also a conservation studio open to the public. Half a day here would be well spent, with a cafe to refuel at and a stylish shop offering everything from quirky cards and art books to handmade pottery and jewellery. bonnefanten.nl<\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"Bonnefanten](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Bonnefanten-art-gallery-689x1024.png\")
![\"Galerie](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Galerie-MOA-1024x772.png\")
Maastricht\u2019s cobbled streets have all those characterful shops we expect in a cosy European city \u2013 boulangeries and chocolatiers, fashion boutiques and homeware stores \u2013 and the squares are lined with bars and cafes selling drinks and slices of vlaai (fruit and custard tarts) and poffertjes (pocket pancakes). <\/p>\n\n![\"TEFAF,](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/TEFAF-9-14th-March-2024-1024x693.png\")
![\"Bookstore](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Bookstore-Boekhandel-Dominicanen-1024x678.png\")
There are some lovely hotels in and around Maastricht, including those of the family-run Oostwegel Collection, whose focus is on historic properties. The most central of these is the 5-star Kruisherenhotel, a former 15th-century monastery and church, a few minutes\u2019 walk away from the Vrijthof main square. <\/p>\n\n![\"Ch\u00e2teau](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Chateau-Neercanne-1024x676.png\")
Small hotels abound in the centre of Maastricht, such as the 4-star Hotel Beaumont on Lage Barakken in Wyck, which offers excellent food at Harry\u2019s Brasserie and drinks at Founders Bar. beaumontmaastricht.com<\/a>
On Capucijnengang, in a backwater close to the Marres gallery, is Cousins Boutique Hotel. This hip spot has seven bedrooms, all with superking beds and bookable on a B&B basis. cousinsboutiquehotel.com<\/a>
And right on the Vrijthof itself, overlooking the Saint Servatius Basilica, is Maison Haas Hustinx, which offers a choice of rooms, suites and apartments, as well as the Sanctum Spa in the basement. haashustinx.nl<\/a>
Where to eat<\/strong>
Going out for good food is a Maastricht pastime, and the city is proud of its six Michelin-starred restaurants (there are 15 in Limburg as a whole, making it a gourmet hotspot). They all offer tasting menus alongside \u00e0 la carte choices, complemented by wine pairing menus. Au Coin des Bons Enfants on Ezelmarkt, for example, is a cosy, candlelit, linen tablecloths affair that serves succulent dishes such as lobster cooked in buttermilk, and beef tenderloin with pomme fondant. Factor in a whole evening here to savour the flavours. aucoin.nl <\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"Bars](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2024\/03\/Bars-and-restaurants-of-Maastricht-1024x682.png\")
Middle Eastern flavours are popular in Maastricht, and on Vrijthof you can visit Safar (at Maison Haas Hustinx hotel) for a mezze of fattoush salad, tomato on labneh, and cauliflower with tahini yoghurt, finished off with the best madeleines you\u2019re ever likely to taste. safarmaastricht.nl <\/a>
Find out more about the city of Maastricht at visitmaastricht.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"