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Meals
Life in Maastricht and our province of Limburg is good: our native specialities are proof. Two dishes stand out: limburgse vlaai is a scrumptious pastry with a candy filling. There are many flavours, however one of the best is rijstevlaai, made with a wealthy rice-pudding centre. You received’t discover that wherever else within the Netherlands.
My favorite comes from Bakkerij Paulissen, however you should buy a slice along with your espresso in nearly any cafe in Maastricht. It’s finest to not depart it till the afternoon, although – they’re very fashionable. The opposite factor to attempt is zoervleis – bitter meat. It’s known as that as a result of the meat – at one time horse, however now beef – is marinaded in vinegar, however the sourness is offset by onions, fruit and candy Dutch gingerbread. Strive it at Café Sjiek – pronounced “stylish”, in a nod to our status for dressing up and dwelling the great life.
Inspiration
I like to stroll across the previous centre of the town. I nonetheless usually discover locations I’ve by no means explored, even after a few years of dwelling right here. In case you’re a e-book lover, go to the Dominicanen between the Vrijthof and Market Sq.. It’s a Thirteenth-century church transformed right into a bookshop and artwork area, and you’ll browse the cabinets whereas taking within the frescoes and structure.
Throughout the river within the newer a part of the town, near the place the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, is the Bonnefanten Museum. It has a mixture of conventional Dutch artwork and fashionable exhibitions, however it’s additionally value visiting only for the constructing. Its centrepiece is a rocket-shaped tower, which makes for a dramatic landmark. Whenever you’re inside, take a great search for (perhaps even lie on the ground, if it’s not too busy). The shapes and colors of the ceiling make it look as if it’s shifting.
Neighbourhood
The Wyck district, simply throughout the river from the centre, is the place the railway station is, and lots of people use it as a hall to get to the bridge into city. Nevertheless it’s really a very nice space. For years it was run-down, filled with empty and deserted buildings, however now it’s an up-and-coming neighbourhood, with unbiased retailers and a rising variety of good eating places and accommodations.
The De Ridder brewery has been there since 1857 however was shut down by Heineken in 2002. My colleagues and I began a microbrewery on the location in 2018. We’ve renamed it Stadsbrouwerij Maastricht, though the historic De Ridder signal nonetheless hangs on the constructing. We’re proper on the water on the east financial institution of the river, the place the night solar lasts longest.
Inexperienced area
Not like the remainder of the Netherlands, Limburg is hilly, and simply to the south of Maastricht is Sint Pietersberg Mount. It’s the place Maastrichters go for some contemporary air, or simply to stroll the canine. It’s slightly little bit of a climb, however it’s a comparatively quick stroll from city and price it for the views of the town, the river and countryside. The cave networks beneath the hill have been used to cover many issues, together with Rembrandt’s well-known Evening Watch and different artistic endeavors throughout the second world warfare. The hill was quarried for hundreds of years however is now a nature reserve, with a lake of clear blue water.
Nightlife
For the total Maastricht night expertise, a great place to begin is Koestraat. All of Maastricht comes right here for dinner. It’s a tiny avenue, full of eating places, and even narrower in heat climate when there are tables outdoors. The proprietor of the Kaasbar, at no 14, loves cheese, so he opened the place to share each his passions. It’s the place a whole lot of restaurant and bar workers get collectively after work. Later within the night, there’s a whole lot of motion round Platielstraat in locations like Café van Bommel. Round 2am every thing strikes to the Market Sq., the place some bars have permits till daybreak. Round Carnival time – sjoenkele– there’s reside music within the bars and it will get very crowded, everybody swaying in time to a waltz.
The place to remain
One of the best locations to remain are in Wyck – near the station however handy for the town centre. Lodge Beaumont (doubles from €125 room-only) is a family-run resort that has been going for greater than a century. Townhouse Maastricht (doubles from €120 B&B) is way more fashionable.
Tom de Lepper is founding father of the Stadsbrouwerij Maastricht
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