Art & Culture

Architecture

Old buildings are joined by renovated buildings, museums, bridges (old and surprisingly modern), an art university and districts where new, defiant architecture is combined with the old. The city treasures its past and new buildings are designed to fit into and respect the existing old architecture.

Events

There is a saying: in Maastricht, people are either partying or preparing a party. We do have a lot of business and leisure events every year, such as The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), Preuvenemint, Carnival, Magisch Maastricht and Bassinario, a festival in the inner harbour of Maastricht: Bassin.

TEFAF

TEFAF is the world's leading art and antiques fair, held every year in MECC Maastricht. No where else will you find such an elegantly displayed selection of genuine masterpieces from over 220 of the world’s most prestigious international dealers.

Art lovers from all over the world gather in Maastricht, some of them fly by private yet to Maastricht-Aachen Airport. The whole city of Maastricht breaths TEFAF during those weeks. Shop keepers make an "arty" shop-window, TEFAF flags are hanging in the streets, restaurants and bars have TEFAF meals, museums naturally adjust their progammes to this import art fair, etcetera. For more information: www.tefaf.com

Carnival

In The Netherlands, Carnival is celebrated only in the southern part of the country, every year, six weeks before Easter. In Maastricht, it is the biggest and most beautiful feast of the year, which lasts three days (from Sunday 12.11 hours until Tuesday 0.00 hours). Thousands of people are walking, dancing, singing, jumping and playing in the streets. There are brass bands, the so called "zate herremeniekes", surrounded by people celebrating.

Carnival is very hard to describe, you just have to experience carnival in Maastricht! And once you have celebrated, you will know: this can not be missed!

Please visit our Events page for an up-to-date overview of events in Maastricht & surrounding area.