We finished up with Antwerp and began our journey to the town of Maastricht – a city on the southern tip of the Netherlands. Maastricht was developed from a Roman settlement with a medieval river trade and religious center. In the 16th century it became a garrison town and in the 19th century an early industrial center.
The place is distinguished by its medieval-era architecture and vibrant cultural scene. A major claim to fame resulted from site where the Maastricht Treaty which, was the originating document that has resulted in the European Union, was signed here. It is also considered to be the birthplace of the euro (currency). Maastricht has 1677 national heritage buildings, the second highest number in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam. The city is visited by tourists for shopping and recreation, and has a large international student population.
We started a walking tour just off the boat and past many of the historic points.
Certainly not as vibrant as Amsterdam or some larger cities in the Netherlands, it is never the less brimmed filled with nice shops, restaurants and things to see.
Nice shops and a small mill along the way.
Our late morning ‘treat’ was provide in a the Kruisherenhotel Maastricht a grand hotel which was developed using a former monastery and adjoining Gothic church. The setting was lovely and the central courtyard, where we had our ‘treat’ was beautifully decorated. After our treat of “Limburgse vlaai” we returned to the ship for the afternoon.
Dinner was off the ship in a Michelin-starred Château Neecanne a few minutes outside of the city center. The Château Neercanne has a panoramic view across the Jeker Valley and straddles two countries – Belgium and The Netherlands.
Renowned for its restaurant, it also houses a network of Marl Caves offering a unique venue for our evening’s meal.
The dinner was excellent.
After dinner, back to the boat and an evening of entertainment and good times.
Sounds like a lovely time! You are my heroes and are living the life I want!