Maastricht is located as far south as you can get in the Netherlands, on a narrow strip of land between Germany and Belgium.

The historic cities of Liege in Belgium and Aachen in Germany are close neighbours, as are Brussels, Dusseldorf and Cologne. Other nearby sites are Bruges and Ghent.

Maastricht has a population of about 122,000 and boasts a cosmopolitan character that sets it aside from other Dutch cities. Amid medieval alleyways and squares, the city has a lively café culture and many bars and restaurants, many of which are influenced by the cuisine of neighbouring Germany, Belgium and France. Maastricht also boasts a broad selection of museums, galleries and early churches.

For shoppers there is everything from fashion to fine pastries, cheeses and antiques. Fashion boutiques and department stores can be found between Vrijthof Square and the train station. Stokstraat is home to some of the top names in international fashion and a number of antique shops are located on and around St. Pieterstraat.

For culture seekers it is home to one of the most important art and antique fairs, TEFAF Maastricht (7-18 March 2008) is held every year in the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC). Around 75,000 people visit Maastricht over ten days to buy art and antiques from some of the world's top dealers. The Bonnefanten Museum, the Spanish Government Museum, Museum Cellar Derlon, Stedelijk Mode Museum, Historical Printing Museum and Castle Hoensbroek all worth a visit.

History

The Romans were quick to realise the strategic location of Maastricht and founded the city in the first century BC calling it Mosae Trajectum. In the fourth century AD it became a bishopric that was later transferred to nearby Liege. The city was jointly ruled by the Duke of Brabant and the Prince-Bishop of Liege-Maastricht until 1795.

Maastricht's textile industry prospered between the 13th and 15th centuries. As the city expanded, new walls were built to protect it from frequent attacks by the Austrians, Spanish and French. Louis XIV of France led the siege of Maastricht in 1673. After the city was taken by the French in 1794, it was made the capital of the United Kingdom of Belgium and the Netherlands. Following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Maastricht became a Dutch city when the kingdom split into two countries in 1839.

New Maastricht

't Bassin
The restoration and re-opening of the historical inland harbour of 't Bassin is a major development project in the city. The old quays are bordered by 24 semi-circular shipyard cellars that house shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Shopping

Fashion and jewellery
Maastricht's most famous shopping street, Stokstraat, was saved from reconstruction and modernization after World War II because the town lacked funds. As a result, high-end fashion designers inhabit buildings dating from the Middle Ages. A word of caution: most shops close at 6pm, and are shuttered from Saturday evening to Monday afternoon.

Local design diva Kiki Niesten (28-32 Stokstraat; 31-43/321-6432) keeps the women of Maastricht on the cutting edge with suede patchwork Marni coats and twill skirts by Marc Jacobs.

Christian Lagerwaard, who spent a season in Paris working for Emanuel Ungaro, designs luxuriously feminine ensembles. One can schedule a fitting at his atelier (64 Wilhelminasingel; 31-43/326-4440; open Saturdays; weekdays by appointment only). The silk suits and cashmere jackets in his new ready-to-wear collection, Future, are sold at Château Gronsveld (Gronsveld; 31-43/408-5504), five minutes outside of town.

Antiques
Au Béguinage, St Pieterstraat 20, Maastricht; 31 43 325 70 01
Anouk Miga, Bredestraat 24, Maastricht; 31 43 321 25 84
Galerie Myrèse, St Pieterstraat 21a, Maastricht; 31 43 325 38 01
Rob van Rijn, Bredestraat 4, Maastricht; 31 43 325 54 86
Maaslands Antiquarian - art and rare books, Stokstraat 20, Maastricht; 31 43 3250510

Markets
On Wednesday and Friday morning, a general market takes place on the Market Square around the City Hall. The fish market takes place on Fridays in the Boschstraat and on Thursdays there is a farmers market in the Stationsstraat. The flea market is on Saturdays in the Stationsstraat.

Top restaurants

Don't be fooled by the hip look of Restaurant Beluga (12 Centre Céramique, Plein 1992; 31-43/321-3364; dinner for two €134), located in the Céramique complex. Behind its glass-and-steel exterior, Beluga is resolutely old-fashioned. Only the men are offered menus listing prices, and dishes tend toward the lavish: sweetbreads covered in foie gras, for example. Two Michelin stars. www.rest-beluga.com

Toine Hermsen (2 St.Bernardusstraat; 31-43/325-8400 Main courses include a filet mignon in truffle sauce, served with warm spinach salad, or poached turbot with black salsify, Roseval potatoes, and champagne sauce. One Michelin star.

At Tout à Fait (16-18 St. Bernardusstraat; 31-43/350-0405 chef and owner Bart Ausems turns out inventive dishes such as tenderloin carpaccio with foie gras and red-onion marmalade. The wine list includes unusual wines-dry Australian whites and Cabernets from Chile.

Traditional delicacies
Limburgse Vlaai - a typical pie made all throughout the Netherlands now, but originates from Limburg.
Maastricht Beer (Wyckse Witte).
Mestreecher Steerkes - small chocolates, bitter-sweet tasting.
Els - traditional liquer of the area.
Rommedoe - Cheese.

Where to stay

Hotelier Camille Oostwegel bought the ruins of Château St. Gerlach (1 Joseph Corneli Allée, Valkenburg aan de Geul; 31-43/608-8888; www.chateauhotels.nl; doubles from €235) for one Dutchgulden and then spent €21 million making the 18th-century castle into the most luxurious hotel in the region. In addition to two excellent restaurants, the château has a spa: Kneipp Kuurcentrum Château St. Gerlach

Other hotels owned by Camille Oostwegel include Kasteel Erenstein in Kerkrade, WinselerHof in Landgraaf and Kruisherenhotel in Maastricht. Visit their website for more information: www.chateauhotels.nl

Getting there

Getting to Maastricht by train and plane is easy, and the convenient public transport system makes getting around simple once you’ve arrived.

Plane
KLM, British Airways and BMI fly to Maastricht from London, via Amsterdam

Train
Take the Eurostar from Waterloo to Brussels, where you can pick up the train to Maastricht.

VVV Maastricht
Maastricht's tourist information office is in the heart of town, located in the Dinghuis Building in Kleine Straat 1. 31-43/3252121 or www.vvvmaastricht.nl, for further information about the province of Limburg.

The article Maastricht offers the perfect weekend break originally appeared on 999 Today