I was initially lured into Blanche Dael, the oldest coffee grinder in Maastricht, by the teapots and old-timey coffee roaster in the windows. The main room offered a typically overwhelming selection of teas, accoutrements and packaged sweets, but the back room beheld a treat: a Clover. I’ve seen a few Clovers in New York. These…
Tops of colorful St. Janskerk and St. Servaaskerk from Vrijthof Square.
This 13th century church has served as a Carnival hall, a bicycle shed, an exhibition space and, since 2006, a Selexyz bookshop (this chain is noted for stocking English-language titles). As you browse the three levels of books, don’t forget to admire the frescoes and the Gothic windows. If you need a break, have a…
This Roman Catholic church was built around 1000 A.D. It is believed that a Roman temple once stood on this site. The present structure is mostly Romanesque and blocks of stone from the city’s ancient Roman walls were used during construction. After Maastricht became incorporated into the First French Republic in 1794, the church was…
People of all ages turn out in costume. Some groups bring their own drink carts.
This Carnival season, we headed to Maastricht, a small city in the Netherlands that hosts the biggest Dutch Carnival. Although the party does not officially begin until Sunday, brass bands and costumed revelers are out in full force by Friday. Carnival officially begins at 12:11 pm on Carnival Sunday. The kick-off takes place in Vrijthof…