Cycling Vacation in Maastricht

If most Americans know anything about Maastricht, it is probably because they are old enough to remember the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992, which created the modern European Union. However, within Europe the city of Maastricht enjoys a reputation as a quaint, mid-sized college town and as a treasure trove of medieval European architecture. From the point of view of a cyclist looking to enjoy a slice of Europe from the saddle of a bicycle, Maastricht's qualities make it an ideal base for anything from a weekend trip to a full vacation.

The Netherlands are a famously flat country, and the national geography combined with a high population density make cycling a popular way to both get around town and travel between towns. The Dutch enjoy one of the most extensive networks of bicycle routes in the world, making the bicycle an easily used vehicle for both exploring Maastricht and the surrounding countryside. Because of its location in the southernmost corner of the Netherlands, bicycle excursions from Maastricht can take on an international dimension and extend out into the neighboring countries of Belgium and Germany. Bike rentals in Maastricht are about 12 or 13 euros per day, depending on the type of bike rented.

The City
For exploring Maastricht, cycling fans can choose a self-guided or guided tour, and the city has plenty to see. The city's fortifications include medieval walls and a 13th Century gate, the oldest in the Netherlands. Old churches include the 11th Century Basilica of Our Lady and the Romanesque Saint Servatius Basilica, with its museum and collection of ancient religious artifacts. For more museums, cyclists might pedal out to the leafy green neighborhood of Jekerwartier, home to the Natural History Museum and many old houses along the tiny river Jeker. Downtown are the districts of Binnenstad with its Entre Deux, a completely renovated shopping center with a bookstore located in the bowels of a 13th Century Cathedral, and the 17th Century landmark town hall found in the city's market district. In between are the pleasant scenes of everyday life in a city that is more than a thousand years old, and because of the bike paths, pedaling across Maastricht involves none of the risky street travel that biking in other cities might involve.

The Countryside
Immediately around Maastricht are four major attractions. Six miles to the east is the Netherlands American Military Cemetery, the last resting place for more than 8,300 Americans who died fighting in the area during the Second World War. Another wartime point of interest are the Caves of St. Pietersberg, which are actually old mineshafts used by the Dutch to hide national treasures from the Nazis during the war, all located only a short ride from Maastricht's center. Just across the Belgian border is Fort Eben-Emael, which saw some of the first airborne action in history when German paratroopers seized it in the Second World War. Finally, there is Valkenburg Castle.

Cyclists in search of a more nature-oriented bike ride will also delight in the Maastricht area. The surrounding province is literally the only hilly part of the Netherlands. The bike routes running out of Maastricht and to the south climb and descend over wooded slopes, including the highest hill in the entire country (only 1,020 feet, but still tall by Low Countries standards). Furthermore, the southern end of the country touches on the northern fringe of famous Ardennes Forest.