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Maastricht (Limburgish: Mestreech) is a city in the south of the Netherlands. It is the capital city of the province of Limburg. About 120,000 people live there. Maastricht has an airport and a university.
The first settlement in that region was founded in the Stone age about 25000 years ago, the first permanent settlement was founded by the Celts about 500 B.C. Maastricht got City Rights in 1204. Since 1815, after the Napoleonic Wars, Maastricht belongs to the Netherlands. The European Contract of 1992 was signed in Maastricht.
The first settlement was about 25000 years ago. Real permanent settlements (and not just hunter gatherers) were founded at least as early as 5000 B.C. 4000 years after that, the Celts built a settlement in Maastricht. They presumably worshipped a River God. A Roman city was built around 0 AD, making Maastricht the oldest city of the Netherlands (together with Nijmegen). In this time, Maastricht was called Trajectum ad Mosam. This means Road across the Maas. A Roman bridge in Maastricht connected the west with the east, making Maastricht a very strategic point. This bridge - located at Eksterstraat - collapsed in the 13th century, and was replaced by the famous St. Servaas bridge.
In the early middle-ages Maastricht was very important in the spreading of Christianity in the Netherlands. In the 4th century, the bishop St. Servaas was the first bishop in the Netherlands, and the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (which also is the oldest still standing building in the Netherlands) could be described as the root of Christianity in the Netherlands. Servaas' remains are still kept in Maastricht in a tomb.
Maastricht received its City Rights fairly early, in 1204. It was of strategic importance during the Eighty Years War and the Napoleonic Wars. Therefore, Maastricht has two forts; Fort St. Pieter and Fort St. Jan. Maastricht also had city walls. Remains of those walls can still be seen today (notably the Helpoort is one the few still standing City Ports).
In the beginning of the 20th century, Maastricht was an industrial city, with many factory's. Jan Pieter Minckeleers - a scientist from Maastricht - was the first to discover Coal Gas, making the first city lights available. In 1940, Maastricht was conquered by the German forces. However, many paintings were hidden in the caves at Sint Pietersberg - a steep hill in the south-west of Maastricht. Even De Nachtwacht was hidden there. Maastricht was liberated on 14 September 1944. In 1992 Maastricht was the host-city for the 1992 European Treaty, where the EU was officially formed and a decision was made about the Euro.
Maastricht is located on both sites of the river Maas in the south-east of The Netherlands and the south-west of the province of Limburg. Maastricht lies in a valley, the Maasvalley, so hills surround the city. On the south-west of the city, the famous St. Pietersberg is located. On the western edge of the city, there is no space between the city and the Belgian border. On the east, is the Savelsbos (a forest). Neighbouring municipality's are Eijsden and Visé (B) in the south, Lanaken (B) and Riemst (B) in the west, Meerssen and Valkenburg in the north, and Margraten in the east.
The city can easily be reached. There is a highway (A2; E25) running from the south to the north (within the Netherlands, this highway runs from Eijsden to Amsterdam). Another highway also begins in Maastricht, the A79 (going to the east). Maastricht has two train stations (Maastricht and Maastricht Randwyck). Trains are going to Amsterdam, Heerlen, Roermond, and Brussels (B). Plans are made to re-establish the old train route to Lanaken (B). If this connections is to be made again, Maastricht will be accessible from all directions by train.
A few kilometres north of Maastricht, is the Maastricht Aachen Airport. That's the second airport of The Netherlands.
Maastricht is divided into many areas. The areas Heer, Amby, St. Pieter, and Wolder used to be individual villages, but are now (for a few decades) part of Maastricht. According to the Dutch central bureaus of statistics (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek; CBS), Maastricht can be divided into seven larger districts. These are:
View of Maastricht from the church tower of Saint John's
Remains of Roman baths at Onze Lieve Vrouweplein
View of Maastricht, coloured engraving by Philippo Bellomonte, 1580/82
Maquette of Maastricht in 1750
Early industrial developments, 1865
German soldiers near a damaged bridge
Typical street in the Jekerkwartier, part of the ancient Maastricht city centre.
Dutch Topographic map of Maastricht, March 2014
ENCI quarry
Office park Randwyck-Noord
Provincial Government Buildings
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal (medieval city wall)
Vrijthof with Saint John's Church (left) and Saint Servatius Basilica
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Onze Lieve Vrouweplein
Markt and town hall
The landmark tower of the Bonnefanten Museum on the east bank of the Meuse river in Wyck-Céramique
View of Maastricht from the fortress on Mount Saint Peter
Jeker valley with vineyard
Museum aan het Vrijthof
Medieval chest of Saint Servatius in the Treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius
TEFAF, Maastricht's prestigious art fair
13th-century Dominican church converted into a bookstore in Maastricht
A small park near Faliezustersklooster
A pond in Stadspark, Maastricht's main park
Panoramic view from Mount Saint Peter
View of the Dousberg recreational area
A2 motorway in Maastricht
Maastricht main railway station
Maastricht Aachen Airport
Maastricht University, Campus Randwyck
Students at work at UM Law School
Hotel Management School at Bethlehem Castle
Jan Pieter Minckeleers
Henrietta d'Oultremont
Victor de Stuers
André Rieu
Willy Brokamp
Saint Servatius Bridge
Dinghuis
Townhall
Mosae Forum
Saint Servatius Basilica
Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein
Basilica of Our Lady
Lang Grachtje
Helpoort ("Hell's Gate")
Pater Vink Tower
Bastion Haet ende Nijt
Stadspark
Stadspark
Jeker river
Bassin harbour
Saint Lambert Church
Wyck, train station
Wyck, Stationsplein
Hoeg Brögk, Céramique
Charles Eyckpark
Public library
Siza's Tower
Fortress Sint Pieter
View from Slavante
Castle ruin Lichtenberg
Huis de Torentjes
ENCI quarry
Château Neercanne
View on Cannerberg
