Maastricht

After the tourists crush of Bruges and the office buildings of Brussels the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands felt refreshingly normal. In a way it reminded me of a European version of Seattle, complete with rain, and numerous coffee shops and bookstores. Of course being a European city, Maastrichts bookstores and coffee shops were tucked within medieval buildings next to expensive boutiques, and the rain didn't stop anyone from enjoying their coffee at one of the hundreds of sidewalk cafes.











I knew I was going to really like Maastricht when I saw that one of the highlights of the city is its new bookstore. Apparently named the most beautiful bookstore of the year by The Guardian (according to a brochure) Selexyz Dominicanen is definitely one of the most breathtaking bookstores that I have ever seen. The store is located inside an old Dominican church and is a interesting mix of the traditional old structure of the church and the interesting new trappings of the modern store. Somehow the different eras meld together well, and the result is a place so charming that I could have spent several days soaking up the atmosphere, and of course reading the books.





Another beautiful spot in the city is the church of Onze-lieve-Vrowenplein. The family and I discovered this place when we got caught in an sudden downpour, and stumbling upon the church we took happy refuge within. The entryway was extremely dark, but up ahead there was a blaze of light. We went farther in and found a huge, glittering depiction of the Virgin Mary lit by the light of hundreds of flickering candles. It was so beautiful to see all those candles shining in the dark of the church, and we all felt compelled to add light our own candle and add them to the glowing mass. I am not a religious person but it is hard not to feel reverent in a such a moving place.