Midweek discovery: five hidden gems in Maastricht
Maastricht, the city with countless historical, burgundian and atmospheric spots, attractions and sights to discover during your midweek break. From bustling Wyck to the internationally renowned Book Church, de Bisschopsmolen to the ENCI quarry and everything in between. We take you on the road this midweek and deliberately choose five lesser-known, undiscovered spots that are well worth a visit.
Bosch Brewery's rich history
You have to know where to find it, otherwise you would walk right past Bosch Brewery. And that is a shame: after all, on this part of Maastricht, between Wycker Grachtstraat and Rechtstraat, over two hundred years of brewing history has been perfectly preserved, as you can discover during a guided tour followed by a beer tasting. This tour starts in the imposing mouth house, where authentic tools are on display. The original brewing installation is also fully intact and offers more insight into the brewing process.
Very impressive is the former home of brewmaster Bosch: furnished to this day exactly as the last generation of the Bosch family left it in 2006 - if you visit the location, be sure to ask about the recently discovered marble murals! At the end of the tour, two beers according to original Bosch recipe, brewed in a sister brewery in Brabant, will be waiting for you.
Fun fact: Brouwerij Bosch is the only remaining brewery of the total 28 that the Limburg capital knew in the year 1900; it is also the only brewery in Belgium and the Netherlands that consists of both a malting plant, brewery and brewhouse.
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Bosch Brewery
Bosch Brewery
Visit this industrial national monument with a guided tour followed by a beer tasting. More info on Bosch Brewery
Restaurant Enigma
Following on from your visit to the brewery, slide into Restaurant Enigma on Sint Bernardusstraat. Since opening in 2024, this establishment has been a great success. Chef Lisa van Vulpen here employs a style of cooking that is as refreshing as it is surprising. Uncommon combinations of as many local products as possible, sublime preparations and powerful sauces. Everything is made in house and there is hardly any food waste, because they only work with a carte blanche menu and because the chefs throw away almost nothing: the pumpkin seeds in our starter, for instance, were made into a crunch. Apart from the surprising flavour combinations, Enigma distinguishes itself by offering an accompanying wine or beer menu.
"Innovative, surprising and refreshing - with beer "
Sustainable dreaming at Vaeshartelt
On the outskirts of Maastricht lies Vaeshartelt, an imposing estate dating back to the 17th century that has served as a hotel, restaurant and meeting venue since 1994. Here, historical elegance, modern elements and contemporary hospitality come together harmoniously. The hotel's first renovated room shows what is planned for 2025; a rather sombre black-and-white design has made room for a combination of warm colours, hip elements and distinct decoration on the walls.
The estate's beautiful gardens and green surroundings are ideal for a lovely autumn walk and relaxation. You will also find the estate's own vineyard and several vegetable and vegetable gardens as part of the hotel's sustainability initiative. Thus, even the breakfast buffet features mainly local and sustainable food. From farm-fresh eggs to artisan bread, sustainable cereals and local cheeses.
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Vaeshartelt country estate
Vaeshartelt country estate
Always wanted to sleep in a romantic castle? Dream away in one of the hotel rooms and be enchanted by the beauty of Buitenplaats Vaeshartelt. More about Buitenplaats Vaeshartelt
Maastricht Museum: ceramics as a common thread
On the first floor of Centre Céramique, the Maastricht Museum opened in summer 2023, a small-scale museum telling the history of the Limburg capital through artefacts that have long been hidden and forgotten. An approximately one-hour walk - with an audio tour available in Dutch, English and Maastricht dialect - takes you through Maastricht's timeline, from prehistory to Roman times, the Middle Ages, the industrial revolution to the signing of the Maastricht Treaty.
Here, for instance, you can see a model of what Maastricht must have looked like when it was a Roman settlement, various grave finds are on display and the history of Jan Pieter Minckelers (the inventor of the gaslight) and the Mestreechter Carnaval, among others, is further explained. Remarkable is the large amount of well-preserved ceramics that can be found in every part of the timeline. Here you are guaranteed to feast your eyes as you learn more about Maastricht's wonderful, rich history.
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Maastricht Museum
Maastricht Museum
Be surprised by Maastricht's past. More info on Maastricht Museum
Dining at Les Deux
Dine (or have lunch on Sunday) at Les Deux, on Hoogbrugstraat in Wyck, since autumn 2024. That is the cosy, homely restaurant of Davey Cruts and Laura Muijres, two great lovers of gastronomy. For more than six years, the couple worked to realise their big dream of opening a restaurant in their own city.
Since Les Deux opened, Davey and Laura have won many a gastronomic heart with a style of cooking that combines French finesse and local ingredients. The menu there is small but fine, with two to four choices per course. Here you taste, among other things, a freshly sweet crudo of scallop with smoked eel and herring roe and pithivier with slow-cooked oyster tartare, creamy onion sauce, pickled onion and longpepper jus (a kind of Beef Wellington). The fregola with stracciatella di Bufula, fried capers, artichoke base and truffle sauce, as well as the dessert with granache and marshmellow, make the heart beat faster.
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Les Deux
Les Deux
Les Deux stands for a balance between culinary experience and hospitality: delicious dining and fine service complement each other for a complete evening. Find out more about Les Deux
