Maastricht is a university city on the southern tip of Netherlands and is distinguished by its medieval-era architecture. It lies on the banks of the River Maas which bisects the city into the old and the new town. It is also famous for being the birthplace of European Union and it was here that the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992. With its vibrant cultural scene and charming boutiques its cobbled old town is a traveler’s delight. And therefore we were excited to be heading there to enjoy 2 days in Maastricht.
How to reach Maastricht
The Netherlands is a small and compact country and all cities are quite close to each other. The easiest way to go around is by using the extensive network of railways. And almost every city can be reached by train and the best part is that it would take you just about two hours or so to reach from one corner to the other. We for example had taken a train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. And then after two days there we were back to Rotterdam Central station for our train to Maastricht.
Then after a 20 minutes stop at Eindhoven we were on a connecting train on our way to Maastricht.
While you can buy tickets at every station for your journey the best option is to plan in advance and buy beforehand. We always do that because that not only saves us time by not having to stand in a queue or buy the tickets from a vending machine, it also saves us money. Download the NS App and once your tour plan is finalized buy your tickets even before you reach Netherlands. And with every ticket you can save € 1. Isn’t that great? Well it certainly is if you are going to travel quite a bit.
We are in Maastricht
Maastricht Wyck
The train station is located in the Wyck neighborhood which is the new town and a bridge over River Maas or Meuse connects this part of the city to the old town. Scattered all around are several eateries, boutiques and trendy specialty shops selling vintage pearls, garments and artisan products. You would also find quite a few good hotels near the station if you prefer to stay here. Check them out on Travelwisesr Holidays and book the one that suits your budget.
Maastricht Bus Station
The Maastricht bus station is just outside the train station and irrespective of where you are going to stay you can get a bus to you accommodation. Be it towards old town which is the heart of the city where you’ll find many hotels as well. Or be it the countryside if you decide to put up there in a hotel amidst the green or a homestay.
For a change we preferred the countryside instead of a hotel this time. And while going through Airbnb we found this lovely place with a great host in Sarah. We were soon on our Bus 6 heading to Amby neighborhood around four kms away.
Amby the beautiful countryside
Amby a former village is now a nice and peaceful neighborhood inhabited by the educated and well to do Dutch families. Our homestay was around ten kms from the station and we just loved the journey till there.
Our bus stop was Peutgensweg and it took us around twenty minutes to reach there. And our home for the next two days was just a two minutes walk away. The breath of fresh air, the green and the peace had already stolen our hearts even before we reached our accommodation at Schovenlaan 98, Amby. Sarah was there to welcome us with a smile.
Sarah’s home & our homestay
Exploring the neighborhood
And now experience it LIVE
Our morning walk the next day
Best things to do in Maastricht
1. Head to Centrum & Market Square
Market Square Landmarks
2. Shop at the Brocante Market
Also known as the Flea Market it is a great place to shop for textiles, winter clothes, artefacts, household goods, decorative items, glassware, toys and some great antique stuff as well. We were lucky as our trip was during the weekend as this market operates only on Saturdays. Have a look at what’s on offer.
3. Take a short walk to Vrijthof Square
4. Vrijthof Square
This historic and romantic square is Maastricht’s largest square. Around this square are numerous historical buildings from the time when Maastricht was a religious and a military fortress. The square developed from ancient Roman and Frankish cemetery. In the 19th century it became the town’s main square.
It is surrounded by heritage buildings, a theatre, museums and a number of hotels for those who prefer to stay in the city center. It is also here that the semi-private space of Collegiate Church of Saint Servatius is located.
St. John’s Church
The St-Janskerk or St. John’s Church is a Gothic Church and located next to the Roman Catholic Basilica of Saint Servatius.
Basilica of Saint Servatius
The Basilica of Saint Servatius is a Roman Catholic Church located next to Gothic Church of Saint John. Between 1866 and 1900 the church underwent major restorations during which damages done earlier in the century was reversed and restored. Also the area around has been beautified.
5. Settle down for your lunch
While we are in India we hardly eat any junk food. But when we travel to Europe for almost two weeks every year or during our other trips abroad we make it up for all that we miss throughout the year. McDonald’s and Burger King have been one of our favorites. But during this trip to Netherlands we decided to give it a skip. Instead we preferred authentic Dutch food in all the cities we traveled to. In Maastricht we had lunch one day in a fine dining restaurant in Vrijthof Square and the other day from a cart in Market Square.
Vrijthof Square Lunch Options
And umpteen options in Market Square
6. Dominicanen Bookshop Church
It’s a Church with a difference. It’s now a bookstore inside this 700 year old church. That’s because Netherlands has seen an gradual decline in religion followers and increasing trend of atheists over the years. But it is a must visit for book lovers with an impressive collections of books in Dutch & English and for architecture enthusiasts. Come have a look.
7. Cross the Sint Servaas Bridge
Sint Servaasbrug is an arched stone pedestrian and cyclist bridge across the River Maas to cross over to Wynk side of town. It is named after Saint Servatius the first Bishop of Maastricht. And it’s a great spot for some breathtaking views of the river and listen to some music as well.
8. Buy Maastricht Souvenirs
9. Enjoy the Maas Riverfront
10. Go for a River Cruise
A River Cruise is the perfect way to experience Maastricht. You have various options that you can choose from. A 50 minute boat tour on the Maas along the old center of the city and its surroundings towards the Belgian border, combine this tour with a visit to Marl Caves with the duration being 3 hours or a full day tour from Maastricht to Liege.
We had booked the 3 hour cruise including the cave visit in advance. However due to an accident on the river that day the tour was cancelled and we missed all the fun. There are breakfast, lunch, dinner cruises as well and many special occasions cruises from time to time. You can check them all out and book in advance on Stiphout.
11. Experience the charm of Bisschopsmolen
In Maastricht you will find this oldest bakery Bisschopsmolen which uses spelt flour to manufacture its baked products. This is a type of wheat which is considered more digestible and nutritious compared to common wheat. Their mill has been grinding the grain which is baked into delicious bread, pastries and sandwiches in the adjacent bakery.
We ordered two of their sandwiches which were just yummy followed by a nice and hot tea for both of us. Do not miss visiting this place when you are there. You can find them at Stenenbrug 3, 6211 HP Maastricht.
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