Maastricht may be best known as the city where the treaty to create the Euro currency was signed in 1992 but there is also plenty for the visitor to see and do there. As one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands over the centuries it has been occupied by both the Romans and the Spanish - traces of both occupations still remain. Today it’s an important university city and the large student population adds to a lively and buzzing atmosphere. It’s also very close to both the Belgian and German borders so if you rent a car in Maastricht you’ll also be able to pop over to both these countries too.
Maastricht has 1677 national heritage sites; the only Dutch city with more than this is Amsterdam, meaning that almost anywhere you go you will find something of historical interest. These range from remnants of the 13th century city walls, to churches like the Basilica of St Servatius which houses some superb medieval sculptures. There are also two excellent museums to enjoy. The Bonnefanten Museum is easy to spot from its 28 metre-high tower, and has paintings and sculpture dating from the Middle Ages to the modern day. The Museum aan het Vrijthof opened in 2012 in a building dating back to the 16th century, and has a range of displays which trace the history of creativity in the city.
