Top 5 Things To Do In Maastricht In The Summer

Andre Rieu is a composer from Maastricht, and he returns to his hometown every summer to give "summer evening concerts." The concerts run on weekends for about three weeks, and they take up the entirety of the Vrijthof Square in the center of the city! The city revolves around Andre Rieu when he's back at home, and it's a really wonderful experience to see someone so famous as connected to his hometown as he is. His concerts are wildly extra and very entertaining. As an American, it was fun to see the older Dutch population of Maastricht coming out in waves to see the composer -- and staying out until 1 or 2 am!

Maastricht Underground's website states that it is "the collective name for all the activities offered at Fort St. Pieter, the North Caves, the Zonneberg Caves and the Casemates." Explore the 300 year old Fort Saint Pieter and then make your way into the Zonneberg limestone caves, where residents once planned to live if WW2 came too close to the city. The cave system stretches throughout the city and into Belgium, and includes man-made charcoal drawings that were once used to draw tourists after the war. If you can't get enough of cave tours, wander around the North Caves, which were once 18th century shelters AND a storage facility for Dutch art. After your exploring, make sure to stop at one of the lovely restaurants nearby for good food and Dutch hospitality.

Maastricht is split in half by the river Maas, and offers a variety of boat tours to and from Maastricht. The most popular trips include...

* Boat Trip from Maastricht to Liege : Take a day trip to Belgium and enjoy lunch on the way! Reservations are required.

* Tour on the Maas : Looking for a quick trip? Take a one hour boat tour of Maastricht and learn about the city's history and major sightseeing spots along the banks.

* The Four Locks Voyage : Similar to the Liege day trip, make your way to Belgium by passing through four major locks along the way. Experience what river travel is like while enjoying the "diversified upland scenery around Maastricht." Reservations are required.

* The Pancake Cruise : Enjoy a Dutch pancake brunch on a boat! From April to December, the Pancake Cruise runs every other Sunday. Experience Maastricht with a Pancake Buffet! Reservations are required.

Located in the Ceramique district of Maastricht, the Bonnefanten Museum is a beautiful art museum with rotating collections. Housing everything from ancient art to modern pieces, the museum is a diverse collection of beautiful exhibitions. Children 0-18 get in free, and entrance is only €6,25 with a student ID. Pro tip: go on a weekday afternoon when no one is there! Experiencing the art in silence is truly surreal -- I would definitely recommend it. It was one of the best experiences of my time in Maastricht!

My advice? The best way to truly experience a city is to just walk around! Purposely get lost! Put aside some time to wander around and experience the city from another point of view. Get away from the tourist spots -- see what life is like for residents of Maastricht! Find the little tiny stores on small side streets; buy gelato and stroopwafels from the lesser-known shops. Talk to residents! Ask them about their city and what they love about it. Ask for recommendations, and then follow them! Forget the map and truly experience the culture of Maastricht. I wandered by myself one afternoon and got so terribly lost that I started to stress out, but then I realized how amazing my surroundings were. Take a step back and just enjoy the city; be thankful for your experience and make the most of it!