Discover Maastricht's Belgian past

Amai! Did you know that during a visit to Maastricht you will come across quite a few places that feel Belgian, where our special bond with Belgium has left its traces in the distant past and where Belgian delicacies decorate the menu? And who better to share these places with you than our own city guide, with Belgian roots, Viviane. Viviane works as a guide for Explore Maastricht. All right, will you walk with her for a bit?

  • Market Maastricht Friday market flower stall

Weekly markets

"I don't really know any better than that we used to cross the border to Maastricht for groceries. I was born in Riemst, just across the border from Maastricht, and spent my childhood in Tongeren. In particular, I have fond memories of visiting the Maastricht weekly markets together with my grandmother. Those weekly markets are still a favourite with many Belgians. The choice of so many different kinds of products combined with that fine Burgundian atmosphere, the terraces around the market; for Belgians it really feels like coming home.

Belgium as a known neighbour

This is not surprising either. After all, this part of the country would not have been far off if it had simply belonged to Belgium. Indeed, there was a time when it more or less was. For that bit of history, the Vrijthof is the place to be. Because religiously speaking, the connection between Belgium and Maastricht starts here, with the arrival of Saint Servatius from Tongeren, Maastricht's first bishop. Maastricht also clearly belonged to Burgundy and the Diocese of Liège back then, and not to the Netherlands. The statue of De Perroen on Vrijthof reminds us of that. That statue is found in all kinds of cities that belonged to the Principality of Liege, such as Verviers and Tongeren, and thus also in Maastricht.

At the time, everything pointed to Maastricht being much more south-facing than north-facing, i.e. the Netherlands. In 1830, the Belgians declared independence and when the border had to be determined in 1839, it was General Dibbets who, at the last minute, put a stop to Maastricht becoming part of Belgium. He made sure it became the Netherlands. This to the great displeasure of most Maastricht people who actually had nothing to do with Holland and felt much more connected to Belgium. And so, to this day, Belgium is still our best neighbour. And we perhaps understand each other just a little better.

Silly sweetness

Maastricht has perfectly preserved a number of Belgian customs and recipes. Many bakers therefore know exactly how to prepare their sweets in that deliciously refined way that they love in Belgium. At bakeries like Patisserie Royale in Wyck or Bakkerij Hermans just outside the city centre in Zakstraat, for example. Even the ordinary 'vlaaien' there are lighter in dough and more refined. The same goes for the chocolate, by the way. For here in Maastricht, we do not speak of chocolate or bonbons, but of 'friandises'. Walk into Chocolatier Friandises in Wyck and you'll see (and smell!) what I mean. Guests from the rest of the Netherlands really taste here in Maastricht that they are in the southernmost city of the Netherlands!

Maastricht Jeker Quarter woman eating flan

Belgium on your plate - and in your glass

By the way, you can also see that bit of Belgium on the menus and beer menus of (food) pubs in the city. There you will come across quite a few Belgian favourites. Beer pubs like De Gouverneur near the Markt, Café Falstaff on Sint-Amorsplein and De Poshoorn in Wyck to name but a few. There, you really don't know what to choose when you see the menu of special (and therefore Belgian) beers! Delicious in combination with dishes such as stew, for example, or the Belgian 'Koninginnehapje', a chicken pie, for lunch (the Maastricht people call it a 'Videeke', by the way). Shrimp croquettes, a good steak with bearnaise sauce, not forgetting a good portion of Belgian fries (yes, with that real sour mayonnaise). For that, you should go to Café Sjiek (with their sour meat speciality) or Pieke Potloed (for stew or Liege Balls). Or Restaurant Witloof, where the menu (in Flemish and Walloon) is full of Belgian delicacies (including, of course, chicory au gratin mè hesp & cheese) and also very good Belgian beers. You can really taste Belgian influences in lots of places here.

  • Gouverneur cafe Market Maastricht
  • Sour meat at Café Sjiek Maastricht
  • Special beer Maastricht
  • pieke potloed dish syrup pieke potloed

  • De Gouverneur

    De Gouverneur is a cosy restaurant where you can enjoy a wide selection of beers, combined with classic dishes with a modern twist in a warm, atmospheric setting. More info on De Gouverneur

    De Gouverneur De Gouverneur Maastricht interior

  • Café Falstaff

    Café Falstaff is located on the intimate St. Amorsplein in the heart of Maastricht. This cosy pub is known for its extensive beer menu, with no fewer than 70 special beers. More info on Café Falstaff

    Café Falstaff

  • Pieke Potloed

    In the attractive Sporenstraat, you will find Pieke Potloed, an authentic café, with a beautiful summer/winter terrace. An eatery, not a restaurant, with simplicity at its best. Enjoy, it is always a pleasure to come home to Pieke. More info on Pieke Potloed

    Pieke Potloed

  • Witloof

    At Restaurant Witloof in Maastricht, you can enjoy seasonal dishes, with a modern twist, in a warm and intimate setting. More info on Witloof

    Witloof Witloof interior

  • Stadsherberg de Poshoorn

    Stadsherberg de Poshoorn is located in the lively Wyck district, close to Maastricht train station. More info on Stadsherberg de Poshoorn

    Stadsherberg de Poshoorn

Jacket good, tie good

And if you haven't yet tasted it, you will see it in the fashion scene. It is all just a little different. Much more attuned to the south, to Belgian, French and Italian. Just stroll past the shop windows in the 'chic' Stokstraat district. There you will find shops of luxury Belgian fashion houses like Natan and Essentiel Antwerp. And not just in the shops, mind you, but also on the streets. Soign up before you go out, take good care of yourself, that's all in here: 'is my jacket right, is my tie right?'. Ready to stroll. Because you don't really do that anywhere in the Netherlands, but you do in Maastricht. People look at each other more here, notice each other. They probably don't say anything about it, but they see it. That bit of outside, that is also typically Belgian. And yes, so also Maastricht."

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