Maastricht, capital city of the province Limburg, has over 120,000 inhabitants and is a real tourist city. Yearly it attracts over 3 million tourists to the city. Explore the canals, walk through the inner city and eat one of Limburg’s famous pies. Or maybe have a look inside the Saint Peter’s Church or visit the limestone mines, Maastricht has a lot to offer.
The city is located in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is located on both sides of the Meuse River, and is one of the oldest cities in the region, and is rich in history and cultural importance.
Historical Significance
While many may not have heard of Maastricht, most have heard of the European Union. This union developed as the result of the Maastricht treaty which was signed in this city in 1992. From this treaty resulted three things:
- The Forming of the European Union
- A European Citizenship
- The European Currency, Call the Euro
What’s In a NameThe name of the city is actually derived from the Latin and essentially means “crossing at the Meuse” in reference to the bridge that was built by the Romans during the 1st century AD, during the reign of Claudius Caesar. Today a bridge still connects the two parts of the city on either side of the river.
There is some dispute as to whether it is indeed the oldest city in the Netherlands, but many ancient Roman maps clearly show that if not the oldest, it is certainly one of the most ancient.
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