The city of Maastrict, also a municipality, is situated in the southern part of the Limburg province in Netherlands. It is also the capital of the province and is strategically located on either sides of the River Meuse with its borders touching Germany and Belgium. Why the city is said to be disputed as concerns being the oldest, is a very interesting factor. The reason for this is that some believe that the city of Nijmegen is the oldest, as it received Roman city rights for being the first settlement in the Dutch country. However, it does not have any traces of settlements during the Middle Ages. Maastricht on the other hand, has been the longest and continuously inhabited cities in Netherlands and this is proved by the many excavations that have been found dating back to the Paleolithic age, but it was not given settlement rights by the Romans.
Today Maastricht is a popular tourist destination, as a city culturally rich in tradition and history. The city is well connected with neighboring regions that can be accessed by car, bus, train or even via the river port in Maastricht. It also has an airport, 10 km north of the city center, while the Dutch capital, Amsterdam lies two and a half kilometers from it. Maastricht has plenty of historical monuments, museums, parks and beautiful squares that one can explore at leisure. One of the oldest structures is the Helpoort or Hell’s Gate, a 13th Century city gate. Also there are remnants of the medieval first and second city walls and the 17th century fortifications, the Hoge Fronten and the 19th century Fort Willem. Under the fortifications are the Casemates, a network of underground tunnels running for several miles that had been constructed for storing cannons and guns.
The Markt or the Market Square consists of the 17th century Town Hall and the Mosae Forum, a modern shopping center that also houses a garage that exhibits the world’s biggest display of Citroën miniature cars. The Markt itself has received a complete makeover in the year 2006-2007. Other shopping squares include the Entre Duex with its 13th century Dominican Church, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Plein with its tiny cafés lining the streets and the 11th century Basilica Minor and the Derlon Museumkelder. The Inner City square also consists of a variety of restaurants, pubs and cafés, but the best of all squares is the Vrijthof comprising of the Theater aan het Vrijthof, the Saint Servatius Romanesque church and the Sint Janskerk, a Gothic church. The Bassin is an inner harbor lined with little cafés and restaurants. Also numerous interesting parks such as the Monsigneur Nolenspark can be visited.
Maastricht consists of several museums that include the Bonnefanten Museum, the Natuurhistorisch Museum and the Treasury Basilica Saint Servatius to name a few. Another great tourist attraction is Sint Pietersburg, a hillock to the south of the city. Here one can explore the 18th century Fort Sint Pieter, Ruine Lichtenburg, ruins of a medieval castle, D’n Observant, an artificial hilltop and the Grotten Sint Pietersburg, a sandstone quarry with a network of tunnels that can be explored. Maarstricht offers great panoramic views of the city from the Saint Servatius Bridge over the Meuse River while the city itself makes for a great holiday destination.
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