Maastricht - The culinary hub of the Netherlands

Maastricht is the number two cultural city of the Netherlands. It hosts numerous cultural events and is home to a wide range of cultural institutions. Many very popular and successful events are held here every year, such as the Dutch Dance Days, the TEFAF European art fair and the museum night.
Maastricht also has a fantastic range of museums and theatres. These include Bonnefanten, the striking museum where every conceivable form of art is exhibited or the Theater aan het Vrijthof, which shows both small and quite well-known performances.

Finally, Maastricht is a very internationally-oriented city. It is with good reason that the European Union was officially established here in 1991, which meant the start of the Euro currency and the European Parliament as a legislative power. The city therefore has a lot to offer to international students and expats. Maastricht University alone offers more than 20 international bachelor's degree programmes. This city along the river Maas is also home to many international companies and organisations, with the MECC as an indispensable location for conferences and congresses.

Maastricht may be a city of culture and historic architecture, but it’s also home to a one-of-a-kind green environment in and around the city. In the centre alone, you will find several parks where you can enjoy a lovely piece of nature. Some parks have been around for decades, others
have emerged in more recent years.

The hilly region feels quite different from the rest of the Netherlands and provides opportunities for plenty of outdoor activities, such as walking, cycling, e-biking, running or mountain biking.

Mount Saint Peter offers a beautiful stretch of nature, just outside the city centre. A hilly landscape with forests, impressive caves and the special ENCI quarry, this area is ideal for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. Extra tip: the Chalk Walk, where you can admire the typical limestone landscape of South Limburg.

The district exudes culture. It’s home to the Bassin Lumière Cinema, Bureau Europa and the Muziekgieterij. As a presentation and network institution, Bureau Europa organises exhibitions, lectures, projects and other activities in the fields of architecture, design and urbanism. Muziekgieterij is the place to go for music. It’s the perfect place to discover old and new music, and fans of indie, rock and pop music can visit Maastricht’s temple of pop day and night.