"...[The Maastricht Treaty] was not the end of history. It was a first step towards a Europe of growth, of employment, a social Europe...."
-- Laurent Fabius====================================================================
(in the Netherlands) Touching Belgium on its west and just a few miles from Germany to the east, Maastricht is the capital of Holland’s southernmost region, Limburg. A city rich in history and culture, Maastricht has the second highest number of national heritage buildings in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam. The city boasts two great town squares: Vrijthof, with Sint-Servaas Church, Sint-Jan's Cathedral and Markt, home to the Town Hall and a fantastic vendor market. (The city’s Old Town fortifications, are another popular draw.) Mount Saint Peter is largely situated within the city's municipal borders. Adjacent to the border with Belgium, Maastricht is part of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, an international metropolis, which includes the nearby German and Belgian cities of Aachen, Liège, and Hasselt.
+ Developed from a Roman settlement, Trajectum ad Mosam (“Ford on the Meuse”), to a medieval river trade and religious center, in the 16th century Maastricht became a garrison town -- and in the 19th century an industrial center. Today, the city is a thriving cultural and regional hub. (It would later become the birthplace of the euro.) The city is visited by tourists for shopping and recreation, and has an international student population.) Maastricht houses several beautifully designed buildings, some of which are rare European churches. Aside from this, there is a much to do in the city -- including a visit to the treasures of Saint Servatius.
+ Attacked on the first day of the German invasion of the Low Countries in 1940, Maastricht was the first Dutch town to be liberated, in 1944. Following a 1991 meeting of the European Communities that was held in Maastricht, an accord, known as the Maastricht Treaty was signed, which called for the establishment of a European Union -- with common policies on economic foreign affairs, security, and immigration.
+ Attacked on the first day of the German invasion of the Low Countries in 1940, Maastricht was the first Dutch town to be liberated, in 1944. Following a 1991 meeting of the European Communities that was held in Maastricht, an accord (known as the Maastricht Treaty) was signed, calling for the establishment of a European Union, with common policies on economics, foreign affairs, security, and immigration. Maastricht’s landmarks now include the St. Servatius Bridge over the Meuse, the Dinghuis, or former courthouse, and the Town Hall. The cathedral, dedicated to St. Servatius, was founded by Bishop Monulphus in the 6th century; it is the oldest church in the Netherlands, although rebuilt and enlarged from the 11th to the 15th century. The Protestant Church of St. John originally served as its parish church. There are many other medieval churches, as well as fine houses in regional Renaissance and French styles.
No comments:
Post a Comment