Maastricht

Maastricht, the capital of the Dutch province of Limburg, is the Netherlands' most European city — sitting where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, it has absorbed French, German and Walloon influences to produce a culture and cuisine entirely distinct from the rest of the country. The city gave its name to the 1992 Maastricht Treaty that created the European Union in its current form. The Vrijthof, the city's grand central square flanked by two major churches (St. Servatius Basilica, the oldest in the Netherlands, and St. John's Church with its red tower), is one of the finest urban spaces in the Benelux — the Christmas skating rink and summer festivals make it a year-round destination. The underground passages and fortifications (the Caves of Maastricht and the Casemates) are remarkable — beneath the city lies a 45-kilometre network of sandstone tunnels containing wartime hiding places and the largest collection of medieval graffiti in Europe. Maastricht is the food capital of the Netherlands. The city's restaurants are exceptional, reflecting the French and Belgian influences — proper Burgundian cuisine, excellent wine culture and outstanding local products. The Markt square market on Fridays is excellent. The Bonnefanten Museum has a superb collection ranging from medieval art to contemporary works. Maastricht is a university city with a lively student bar scene. The surrounding South Limburg countryside — rolling hills, orchards, half-timbered farmhouses — is uniquely Dutch.