"Maastricht ,an undutch city." Maastricht by tompt

Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. And altough that is not the main reason to like it so much we tought we should put the history of Maastricht in a short version here.

The bridge over the Maas at Maastricht was important in Roman times, because it linked Gaul to Germany. It was built under Emperor Augustus (27 B.C. -14 A.D.). A small trading settlement grew up around the bridge. In the third century Germanic tribes attacked as the Roman Empire weakened. The bridge at Maastricht was protected by a wall with round towers and a dry moat. The Christian bishop, St. Servaas, seeked refuge in Maastricht and established a Christian community. The Onze Lieve Vrouwe church grew up from this foundation. Around the year 384, Servaas died and was buried beside the Roman road. On this site some 150 years later a chapel was build which was to grow into the church of St. Servaas, the city's second great church. In 722 the Bishop's see moved to Liège.
Maastricht was ruled by many different rules amonhgst them the germans, the austrians, the french and the spanish it would take too long to discribe it all here. But the bottomline is that the city always stayed an important crossroad along the river Maas. And today it is still an important Catholic stronghold in our country.

The expanded version of this short history can be found at the website of the municipality of Maastricht: http://www.maastricht.nl/

Maybe it is because of all those different rulers, maybe it is because large of the netherlands are not catholic anymore, but Maastricht is certainly different from other dutch cities.

It is a city to relax in, forget your troubles and enjoy life in the capital of Limburg.

The Euro was born here (Maastricht treaty 1992)

Maastricht was always connected to nearby european cities like Aachen (Germany) and Liége (Belgium). The cities in this region work together economicaly. The airport near to Maastricht is an example it is called Maastricht - Aachen airport.

Maastricht is also the birthplace of the Euro. Here, during a european top meeting in 1991, the decision was made to establish a new monatary unit for most of europe. Not every country went along but since 2002 you can pay with the new coin in 12 countries.
In Maastricht there is a square called square 1992 to remember this important treaty, known as the Maastricht treaty.

Bordermarker between Netherlands and Belgium

What to do around Maastricht when you are tired of the busy city (can't imagine, but ......)
Maastricht is situated in the very south of our country, the only part with mountains. That is what we call them, but none of these hills reach over 322 meter. But in this hilly landscape you can walk or ride your bicycle through green forests and along green acres.
See the wine area just south of the city, or visit a castle.
And when you are tired of our country there are other possibilities too. Maastricht is situated close to the border of our country. Belgium and also Germany are just minutes away......

More info:
- http://www.vvvmaastricht.nl/, website of the Maastricht Tourist Info.
- http://www.maastricht.nl/, the website of the municipality.
- http://www.maastrichtnet.nl/, only in dutch, a cultural and entertainment calender.