🇳🇱 Maastricht, Netherlands – My Favorite City

On the last day of my Benelux trip, I arrived in Maastricht, a city in the southern Netherlands. Initially, I just planned to use "Maastricht" as a stopover on my drive back to Amsterdam ✈️, but this city turned out to have so many elements I love.🕌 As the oldest city in the Netherlands, it boasts a 6th-century church, a 13th-century city wall built to resist the Black Death, medieval cobblestone streets, and is also the birthplace of the EU—where the famous Treaty of Maastricht was signed.💕 A "mixed-blood" city, it has been occupied by France and Belgium and is close to Germany. Because of this mix, the overall aesthetic isn’t as polished as Amsterdam. Many shop staff speak French, and there are plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants and delicious desserts. The relaxed vibe along the Meuse River (Maas) is unbeatable. Strolling around the city center near Saint Servaas Bridge, sipping coffee ☕️ by the riverbank or in a church square, is pure bliss. The narrow streets in the old town are lined with charming little shops. At noon, riverside restaurants are packed with people basking in the sun while enjoying wine and lunch. By night, the city quiets down, and those same restaurants transform into bars where people continue drinking. Recommended Spots:😍 Basilica of Saint Servatius (Sint-Servaas Church) – €5 entry fee. Photos can’t capture the beauty of this Romanesque church. Selexyz Dominicanen (Heavenly Bookstore) – A bookstore housed in an 800-year-old Dominican church, named one of the world’s most beautiful bookshops by The Guardian. Bonnefanten Museum – A classic design by Aldo Rossi, though a bit far from the city center.👍 The only downside? Most hotels are old and run-down.🎶 #Netherlands #DutchCityWander #Maastricht