🇳🇱 Maastricht: Europe's Hidden Medieval Gem ✨

🏰 Time Travel Through History As Netherlands' oldest city (founded by Romans in 50 BC!), Maastricht whispers tales of: Latin roots: "Mosae Trajectum" = "Crossing the Meuse River" Border magic: Nestled between Belgium 🇧🇪 & Germany 🇩🇪 ⛪ Sacred Splendors 1️⃣ Basilica of Our Lady (11th-12th century) Sunlight dancing through stained glass 🌈 Light a candle at the Black Madonna shrine 🕯️ 2️⃣ Hell Gate (Helpoort) NL's oldest surviving gate (1229) Dark past: Once quarantined Black Death victims 😷 3️⃣ St. Servaas Basilica Romanesque treasure trove ✝️ Houses 1st bishop’s relics (golden chests, chalices...) 4️⃣ St. John’s Church Blood-red tower (painted with ox blood?!) 🐂 Gothic drama since the 1300s 📚 Bookstore in a Church?! Selexyz Dominicanen (World's Top 10 Most Beautiful Bookstores - CNN) 1294 church turned literary heaven 📖 Survived Napoleon, fires, and... bike parking? 🌉 Iconic Bridges & Ruins St. Servaas Bridge: NL's oldest stone bridge Fragments of medieval walls: Hidden in plain sight Why Visit? ✅ Walkable history (Roman → Gothic → Modern) ✅ Less crowds, more authentic Dutch charm ✅ Foodie bonus: Try Limburgse vlaai (fruit pie) 🥧 #HiddenEurope #MedievalMagic #DutchHistory #BookstoreHeaven #TravelDeep