With origins lost in the mist of times, this important Dutch city has preserved its medieval architecture although it has been ravaged by war through the centuries and enjoys today a vibrant and cosmopolitan scene. From the Roman times to the Treaty of Maastricht and the foundation of the European Union, there is much to get to know here: the City Hall of Maastricht, built in 28 years in the 17th century to serve the two rulers of the period or the statue of Hendrik van Veldeke in the square in front of St. Servaas Church. Van Veldeke was the first writer to have ever written in the Dutch language. He wrote a work called “The Legend of St. Servatius” in the 12th century and was honoured in the square. Get to know “Hell’s Gate”, or Helpoort, the oldest gate of Maastricht and the Netherlands, and the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk), one of the most important and oldest catholic buildings in town, dated as far as as the year 1000 AD. We will show you also a small but famous curiosity, Pieke out de Stokstraot, also known as the Boy and his Dog statue, a fictional character from a novel by the local author Bèr Hollewijn. Follow your guide to get a feel of what makes this city one of the quintessential European cities that have shaped the present and future of the continent as a Union.