Allgemein EN

Every time I'm in a city I don't yet know, I take the time to let myself float a little. Just wander around and look at every new corner to see where I'm most drawn to. I usually make the coolest discoveries this way and get to know the city and its flair in a whole new way. On my tour off the beaten track through Maastricht, for example, I came across the Wall, the graffitis and many different small churches, most of which have already been featured in other posts. I also noticed the incredible peace and quiet in Maastricht. And, to be honest, how small Maastricht is. At least the parts that are really worth seeing and beautiful. There's always a kind of "suburb" or something. For example, towards a certain rooftop viewpoint, Maastricht quickly becomes quite industrialised - and the viewpoint isn't particularly spectacular either. The part I particularly enjoyed on my walk was the path along the Maas. Really, really beautiful. But more on that in another post. 😊

Like almost all European cities, Maastricht also has a market. This one is open every Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. I only walked through it briefly myself, but from what I saw and noticed, there was a lot to discover. Clothes, CDs, records, something to eat, I think also household goods etc. Basically like a kind of weekly flea market. Except that you could also buy fish, vegetables and stuff like that. Very cool. Definitely something to do if you have a little extra time 😊

Something that I don't think many tourists know about Maastricht: there are underground tunnels in Maastricht. And by underground tunnels, I mean what it literally sounds like. Not fake canalization stuff or anything like that, no, a real tunnel system made of stone. It's really, really cool. As soon as my group had walked a few meters in, you saw nothing, NOTHING. Really nothing at all. You know that impenetrable blackness where everything is just black? That's what it's like in there. Really intense. I have no idea how anyone can find their way around. Accordingly, the pictures were all taken while a flashlight was being used to provide a little light somewhere. Because otherwise? Not a chance. Really not. Just pure blackness. The second thing that impressed me about this tour was that the pictures - the wall paintings - down there were really beautiful. Some of them were even real works of art. And our guide was also absolutely great and explained a lot. And so: this tour through the underground tunnels of Maastricht was one of my absolute highlights and a real insider tip, because you don't do something like this on a day trip. So do some research in advance to see if you have time for it and if it's still available, do it. I found it.... Fascinating, scary and really cool. Just the knowledge that if you get lost down there, you'll never get out again because you'll be completely lost and really won't be able to see anything at all. Really intense.

In every city you visit, you will sooner or later find secret spots while wandering around. At least that's what I call places that I stumble across by chance, but which completely inspire me. This graffiti spot in Maastricht is one of those places. Yes, it's certainly not the most beautiful graffiti on the planet, but it's no less fascinating or impressive. Sure, it's off the beaten track and not a particularly "clean or tidy" place in the classic sense, but I like it a bit more unconventional. Broadly trampled tourist paths are okay, but something like this is much more interesting. And for this reason: if you are interested in art or photography and are not afraid of a little walk.... Go! If you're only in Maastricht for a day trip, of course not. It's too far away for that. But otherwise, safe! :D

This place was actually one of the ones I was most looking forward to. Not only because I'm a bookworm, but also because I knew it was a bookshop IN a church and somehow I couldn't imagine what it would look like. Well, it became my legit absolute favourite place in all of Maastricht 😊 To be honest, from the outside it looks pretty unspectacular, like an ordinary church. This impression disappears completely as soon as you get inside. I can't even describe what it is, but the fact that the bookshop is in a church gives the whole thing such a special flair and touch that.... And the whole thing is also really well designed. So architecture wise they used the shape of the church that well that the church and the bookshop basically merge together. It's.... I think it's the place - no, I know - where I took the most pictures because I was afraid of not capturing what I was seeing, sensing and feeling. It was honestly my special moment in Maastricht. So for all you book fans and/or bookworms out there: I don't know if you understand Dutch, but you can also shop for English books - like me :D and for the rest: this thing is just mega cool! Really. If you don't go, you're missing out. It's just a really special and cool place and absolutely brilliant for photographers :D

The old bishop's mill is a real artefact. In order to give it more than just the charm of an "antique flair", a café has been integrated here, where you can enjoy really delicious pastries. And I don't mean bread and rolls - as a German, my judgement would probably be a bit different then :D - but really good sweet pastries. Also and especially things that I legitimately have never eaten in my life, let alone heard of. And really! Delicious 😊 The old mill itself is really cute. There are two parts here. The one inside and the one outside. Unfortunately, the one outside was under reconstruction when I was there, so I didn't get to see much of it. But it's definitely worth it for the café. It's clearly a bit more expensive, but in my opinion it's perfectly reasonable for what you get. Therefore: treat yourself and go to the café with the mill as a little special topping when you are in Maastricht 😊

I don't know what I was expecting, but the market square in Maastricht is one of those places where you just take your photos and that's it. Not when there's a market, of course. Then everything is far too crowded. But otherwise it is. Don't get me wrong, the town hall is a beautiful building, but you can't do more than photograph it. It's possible that you can get in and it's nice inside, but I personally haven't seen or found any way to get in. Nevertheless, it is of course a beautiful building, no question. So this one is up to you 😊

Vrijthof, as the square is called, was actually the very first place I went to when I was in Maastricht. I usually go to the big main squares with the cathedral first, because from there the rest is usually quite close and to be honest they give a good feeling of how a city wants to present itself. The fact that the square looks a bit grey on the photo is because I was there in January. Apart from that, I thought the square and the cathedral were actually quite cool. Especially for a small town like Maastricht. There are loads of bars, restaurants and cafés around the square which are probably all completely overpriced - I didn't check though. Unfortunately, you can't get into the church. At least I couldn't find an entrance. But there is a tower tour. Yet I unfortunately wasn't there at the right time of day. Next time. About the photo: just imagine the whole thing with sunshine and a green tree. So don't be surprised if I say: go there. It's a cool place in the centre of Maastricht that you can't miss. Period :D

Den Wall von Maastricht habe ich eher zufälligerweise entdeckt. Ich wollte einfach ein bisschen spazieren gehen und die Straßen Maastrichts erkunden, die nicht direkt im Zentrum oder bei mir um die Ecke lagen. Und so bin ich auf diese wirklich schöne, friedliche und so harmonische Umgebung gestoßen, habe das Flüsschen, Enten und eine Brücke entdeckt und schließlich auch die Möglichkeit gefunden, den Wall zu „Erklimmen“. Wobei erklimmen das falsche Wort ist. Man kommt sehr einfach über Treppen hoch. Die Sicht oben ist wirklich…. Sie ist einfach echt schön. Es ist friedlich und ruhig und man kann sich ganz easy auf die Wall-Mauer setzen und einfach etwas entspannen und die Aussicht genießen. Es ist ein bisschen, als würde man hier das echte Maastricht spüren können. Und daher ganz definitiv: Du solltest echt hin. Es ist ein sehr entspannender und ruhiger Ort und… gleichzeitig ist man draußen, kriegt Bewegung und tatsächlich auch echt recht schöne Fotos :D

The morning I set off for St Peter's Fortress, I didn't really have a clue what to expect. Normally I always google the places I want to visit beforehand, but this time I hadn't managed to. I had even considered doing a tour because I thought "Who knows how big that fortress is...". So I set off and let myself be surprised. The fortress is on a hill that you have to climb, but it's not at all steep or anything. As I was there in January, the weather was of course grey and the landscape was somewhat uninviting except for the green of the lawn. Nevertheless, the place had that typical fortress atmosphere. I have no idea how to describe it. Not dark, but serious and with this atmosphere of history and lots of forgotten anecdotes between the walls. You can also look around a bit and get different perspectives of the fortress. Would I recommend going there? It's definitely not a must-go, but since it's on the way to my favourite view and biggest surprise in Maastricht, why not? Apart from that, it might fascinate the historians among you. And since the walk is completely free, Go for It!