I spent less than £150 on a weekend in Maastricht, Netherlands – here's how I did it
The hotel After an hour and a half's flight (or less) from Stansted or Manchester to Eindhoven, a 60-minute train ride deposits you in this historic Netherlands city. Check in at Hotel Monastère (below), a boutique stay in a former 14th-century monastery. With original features such as marble fireplaces, ornamental ceilings and stained-glass windows, each of the 52 rooms is unique. Expect king-size beds, blackout curtains and gorgeously tiled bathrooms (from £85 per night; hotelmonasteremaastricht.com).
The square The most famous one in the city is Vrijthof (below). Every July, Dutch conductor (and Maastricht native) André Rieu pulls up with his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra for a series of open-air concerts – surrounding restaurants are booked out by diners soaking up the music and atmosphere (3-20 July 2025; andrerieu.com). During the last week of August, the square hosts the largest outdoor food festival in the Netherlands, known as the Preuvenemint (28-31 August 2025; preuvenemint.nl).
The restaurant Maastricht is an alfresco dining paradise – as you'll see from a waterfront table at seafood haven Les Trois Seaux (les3seaux.nl) in 't Bassin, the city's old harbour turned modern marina. At Brasserie Louis, on the historic Onze Lieve Vrouweplein square, tuck in to the veal croquettes (they're served on two slices of bread with mustard; £14, derlon.com/brasserie-louis). Or secure a spot on the riverside terrace at Cinq (below) for steak tartare, served with side salad and fries (£23, cinq.nl).
The wine Maastricht and its rolling hills have an impressive selection of wineries. The family-run Apostelhoeve is Limburg's oldest vineyard (also one of the Netherlands' largest), producing dry white and sparkling wines (tastings from £19pp; apostelhoeve.com). A little further down the valley, wine estate Hoeve Nekum (below) turns out a variety of whites, reds and rosés (tastings from £15pp; hoevenekum.nl). Or visit wine shop Thiessen for a tasting in its charming little vineyard in the heart of the city (from £32pp; thiessen.nl).
The bookshop Dating from the 13th century, the Dominican Church served as a place of worship for centuries until it was secularised after the French Revolution. The gothic building subsequently did time as an army warehouse, an exhibition hall and a bike shed until, in 2006, it was transformed into a bookshop. With its stained-glass windows, pointed arches and ribbed vaults, Boekhandel Dominicanen, as it is known today, is a must-visit, even for non-readers. Plus, it has a great café (boekhandeldominicanen.nl).
The snack It would be sacrilegious to leave Maastricht without indulging in a cup of coffee and a slice of local Limburgse vlaai (fruit-filled pie, below). The roastery Maison Blanche Dael has been a fixture since 1878 – you can't pass its premises at Wolfstraat 28 and not be drawn in by the aroma of freshly roasted beans (blanchedael.nl). Later, head to bakery De Bisschopsmolen, famed for its lattice-top pies. Try a slice filled with apple, plum, cherry or, my favourite, apricot (£3 a slice; bisschopsmolen.nl).
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