Over the river Maas. Maastricht, The Netherlands

Maastricht is located in the south of the Netherlands, close to Liege. It has a more southern, relaxed atmosphere than other parts of The Netherlands, and attracts many international tourists not only for its rich history (founded by the Romans) but also for its beauty. The city center is split in two by the river Maas, with the train station located in the smaller part of the center. The centre of the city is especially attractive, due to its wealth of historic buildings; some 1450 monuments are protected by law. Care is taken that both new and renovated buildings maintain the period atmosphere of their surroundings. Because of its heritage value, the whole of Maastricht city centre has been declared a 'protected area'. The history of Maastricht goes back to c. 50 B.C., when the Romans built a settlement by the main road, near a ford in the river. This makes Maastricht the oldest city of the Netherlands. The city's name is derived from the Latin 'Mosae Trajectum', the site where the river Maas could be crossed. This settlement grew to become a walled castellum, which was abandoned towards the end of the fourth century A.D. Maastricht had its first outer walls built in 1229. Before long the town was felt to be too cramped, and at the beginning of the 14th century construction work on a new series of walls was commenced. The city was important strategically, and had to withstand many attacks during its history. For the most of the Europeans, Maastricht means – Treaty of Maastricht – an important step in the construction of the modern Europe. I went there for work, but of course, I found a few minute to see the city and relax. There are many opportunities to just relax or to shop in one of many small streets with nice tourist shops and little pubs. No other Dutch city has so many bars per square kilometer!