🇳🇱 Maastricht: Where EU History Meets Medieval Charm

Nestled along the Meuse River at the crossroads of Belgium 🇧🇪 and Germany 🇩🇪, Maastricht is: ✨ Netherlands' oldest city (with 1,000+ monuments) ✨ EU's birthplace (1992 Maastricht Treaty signed here) ✨ A cultural cocktail – less "Dutch" than mystically European ⛪ Must-See Landmarks 1️⃣ Basilica of Saint Servatius Oldest church in NL (6th century) Houses relics of St. Servatius, the city's first bishop 💶 €4.50 (Adults) | €3 (Students/Seniors) ⏰ Mon-Sat: 10AM-5PM | Sun: 12:30PM-5PM 2️⃣ St. John's Church Blood-red Gothic twin to St. Servatius Climb the tower for €2.50 (panoramic views!) ⏰ By appointment Mon-Sat 3️⃣ Selexyz Dominicanen (Heavenly Bookstore) 📚✨ A 13th-century church reborn as the world's most beautiful bookstore Coffee spot = former altar area ☕️ ⏰ Thu till 9PM (late-night book browsing!) 4️⃣ Hell Gate (Helpoort) NL's oldest surviving gate (1229) Once a plague-era "life/death boundary" 🌧️ Mood & Moments Arrived on a gray Monday, the chill amplifying the medieval melancholy. Yet, walking these cobbled streets felt like time travel—past 6th-century churches, pandemic scars, and the very birthplace of the Euro. 🐾 Quirky Note Dogs are everywhere here—on trains, in cafés, even at Mass. Europe’s pet love runs deep! 🐶❤️ #HiddenNetherlands #EUHistory #MedievalVibes #BookstoreHeaven #SlowTravel