5x 'la belle vie' in Maastricht according to local Seth
Cosy terraces and restaurants with top chefs in the kitchen. Historic buildings and chic shopping streets. Maastricht rivals the average French city in Burgundy, history and culture. Who knows la belle vie in Maastricht better than local Seth Verhaegen, who you can also know as his alter ego John Tana. When not making French covers with his own Maastricht parody lyrics, he enjoys the good life in the Limburg capital. He takes us along his favourite spots.
Meet Seth
Seth was born and raised in Maastricht. 'My love for this city has always been there. I love Maastricht music and have always been quite chauvinistic. To me, Maastricht feels a bit like the France of the Netherlands. Burgundian, with the feeling of: it will be fine, just let it go.' In daily life, Seth works as John Tana, a Maastricht artist, 'I grew up with French music. My family lives in France, so I always had a link to that country.' In his spare time, he does as little as possible and really wants to relax. One place he does this is in his native Nazareth, where he still lives. 'Everyone knows each other here, people never look at each other funny and everyone keeps both feet on the ground.' One of his favourite places in Nazareth is the convenience store.
Stadspark (city park) - and the Helpoort gate
L'histoire de Maastricht Seth likes to experience while walking in the city park. 'Here you can see the beautiful old walls and the Helpoort, which make it clear that Maastricht really was a fortified city. The city's history really lies around it and not in the middle of the city centre.' As a child, Seth often came here. 'My primary school was in Wyck. After school, I used to walk through the park to my grandparents in the Blue Village neighbourhood. I have many fond memories of this place. In summer, I come for a nice walk or relax in the greenery.'
-
Helpoort gate
Helpoort gate
The only city gate still present in Maastricht and also the oldest city gate in the Netherlands. More info on Helpoort
Petit Café Moriaan
A terrace in a courtyard garden surrounded by old facades and lots of greenery. Typically French, typically Petit Café Moriaan. Seth likes to isolate himself from the city bustle here. Here, surrounded by greenery, it feels like I'm in France. Moriaan is a nice place for a drink, with a board and a bottle of rosé on the little square.' Maastricht's smallest eatery is located on one of Maastricht's most exclusive shopping streets, not inferior to those in the French allées.
-
Petit Café Moriaan
Petit Café Moriaan
Experience the charm of Maastricht at Petit Café De Moriaan, the city's smallest café. More info on Petit Café Moriaan
Le Fernand
At the café manger Le Fernand, Seth likes to order the scallops, just one of the French classics on the constantly changing menu. Seth discovered this restaurant when he worked around the corner, at de Kaasbar. 'It's just a lovely place with good food and good wines. There is fine background music playing and I especially enjoy coming there during the week. On weekends, the place is packed.' Not surprisingly, because Patron-Cuisinier Fernand Rosier fell in love with French cuisine in his youth and knows better than anyone how to bring a piece of France to Maastricht.
-
Le Fernand Café Manger
Le Fernand Café Manger
Enjoy a casual lunch, drinks or dinner in the atmosphere of the French bistro. More about Le Fernand Café Manger
De Kaasbar
For the tastiest fromage, you need to be at De Kaasbar in Maastricht. Seth worked at this first cheese bar in the Benelux for eight years. 'I first chose to do the dishes because I didn't dare to work in the service. Eventually I swapped washing up for working behind the bar. That's where I learned how to make contact with people and I do that a lot better now than I used to.' Seth still enjoys coming here. 'De Kaasbar is really Maastricht's living room, where everyone comes together. Everyone can be themselves, without any fancy stuff. If you act normal, you'll be crazy enough. That's why we often call it the clubhouse.'
-
De Kaasbar
De Kaasbar
The first cheese bar in the Benelux. Here you can enjoy many different cheeses with matching wines and special beers! More information about De Kaasbar
Treech '42
On the banks of the Meuse River is Watersports Club Treech '42. Seth likes to get on the boat there with friends. 'After some busy weekends, I love to relax on the boat with a glass of wine. Our whole group of friends then get on board, where we have a good time until late at night.' You can also see the boat regularly in John Tana's music videos. Don't have a boat of your own? You can also canoe and water-ski at Treech '42. Enjoy a snack and drink on the waterside terrace or play a game of petanque.
-
Treech '
Treech '42
Watersports club Treech '42 is located in the Sint Pieter district, Maastricht on the banks of the river Meuse. More information about Treech '
Local tip - by Seth
Nature reserve Mount Saint Peter is to Seth what the Jardin du Luxembourg is to Parisians. A nice place to spend hours outdoors. He strolls through the meadow there and likes to sit on the bench overlooking the whole of Maastricht. 'Especially in summer, I like to come here. Bring a notebook, listen to music and really just relax and unwind.' Also follow one of the marked walking routes through the area and learn more about this Maastricht nature at the Visitor Centre on Wheels.
-
Mount Saint Peter nature reserve
Mount Saint Peter nature reserve
Rest, relaxation and enjoying nature together can be experienced during a visit to this special place, a stone's throw from the city centre. More info on Nature reserve Mount Saint Peter (Natuurmonumenten)
