A wanderer accidentally finds herself in the middle of Carnival!
Maastricht, the Netherlands, is located in the very southeast of the country. In American parlance, the city is located on a panhandle. The region of Limburg contains panhandle part of the modern Netherlands and Belgium. Carnival is the biggest event of the year in this area, even in nearby Western Germany. Many businesses close. Streets are blocked off. I saw some of the remains in the mornings for a few days. Tiny liquor bottles everywhere. I didn’t even realize it was Carnival or it was a big deal in Limburg until I saw some people dressed up on a very crowded train going to Maastricht. It’s a big deal there.
Even though everything was closed on the Sunday I visited. I still was able to see much of what I was planning to. I even stayed for the parade for a bit and got some festival food.
Wandering Jana Fog rising off the River Meuse, which goes straight through the middle of the city.
Wandering Jana Quite a bit of the old city walls survive.
Wandering Jana A closer look at that left tower, Jekertoren, from later on in the day.
Wandering Jana 13th century De Helpoort, to the left of the Jekertoren.
Wandering Jana Back to the original route. First Carnival decorations.
Wandering Jana The town is cute but has been modernized quite a bit.
Wandering Jana A very tower like church, Basiliek van Onze Lieve Vrouwe (Basilica of Our Lady). I couldn’t get a picture of the front because they decided to stage the porta-potties in front of it.
Wandering Jana A chapel belonging to the church.
Wandering Jana Corner of a major pedestrian route. If you look closely on the bottom right, the windows are covered with painted plywood.
Wandering Jana The streets were mostly empty this early Sunday morning. Eventually more people will trickle in heading to work.
Wandering Jana Sint Servaasbrug. Still a bit foggy at the river.
Wandering Jana I’m glad I got up and going early that morning because this will be packed later on.
Wandering Jana This is where I passed this cool building in the morning. I got a better picture later in the day.
Wandering Jana The fog makes it a bit moody.
Wandering Jana Very moody.
Wandering Jana Sint-Janskerk while moody.
Wandering Jana Sint-Janskerk while not moody. It was actually sunny out in the first picture but you can’t tell with the thick fog.
Wandering Jana Basiliek van Sint Servaas, a giant Romanesque church. I would have liked to go in, but, oh well.
Wandering Jana Cappella Sancti Servatii, a chapel connected to the cloister of Sint Servaas.
Wandering Jana The 17th century Stadhuis.
Wandering Jana I have no idea why there are two heads of cauliflower hanging from that statue.
Wandering Jana Another super towery church, Sint-Matthiaskerk.
Wandering Jana Het Bassin, a enclosed harbor thing.
Wandering Jana Cool building being used as a school building.
Wandering Jana A very empty business area.
Wandering Jana The other end of that school building. I’m curious what this originally was.
Wandering Jana Found a canal! It’s actually a small branch of a small river, the Jeker.
Wandering Jana A small gate through the old city walls, by which, the other branch of the Leker runs past.
Wandering Jana Random pen of deer in the park that follows the walls.
Wandering Jana I ran into the spot where Carnival starts? There was a ceremony and they were there for awhile.
Wandering Jana The 17th century Fort Sint Pieter. It overlooks the city.
Wandering Jana It’s a good size.
Wandering Jana Now for a bit of Carnival. People gathered in one of the town squares and watched this get lowered. I still have no idea what was going on.
Wandering Jana Some people go all out on their costumes.
Wandering Jana Pulling in that Venetian Carnival look during the parade.
Wandering Jana Some are really a lot.
Wandering Jana Some were just funny.
I ended up not staying until the end of the parade. I saw it still going strong when I crossed a parallel bridge while going to the train station. Maastricht’s Carnival parade didn’t have many floats, just decorated carts people pulled. However, the excellent costumes made the parade. The city does actually have museums and churches to explore, just not during Carnival.
Check out my next update where I explore Charlamagne’s Aachen!
or
Start at the beginning of this European adventure!
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