Maastricht

Maastricht –Limburg (way south in  the Netherlands)

Our main aim in Maastricht was to see the Domenican church bookstore owned by the Selexyz company. It is an extremely cool retail space and we had seen it on the website Cool Hunter. Check it out for other great bookstores around the world. The bookstore has been cleverly designed within the old church and has modern 3 storey shelving in the centre but also huge ceilings and ornamental floors/walls etc. The space is abuzz with people and has become a photographer’s dream. Great place for a coffee as well.

Maastricht turned out to be a very atmospheric town, even in the bleak spring weather – rain, wind, rain, a bit of sun teaser, rain etc. The entire population was out shopping in the cosy pedestrian lanes and streets. The squares were busy and the food joints were rocking. We loaded up on goulash krokets and patats frites with mayonnaise – the ultimate wet weather satisfaction food.

Anika is now the owner of a new pair of black leather shin-high converse boots with pink wool interiors. Obviously a rush of shopping blood to the father’s head.

There was much to see around the town, including colourful guerrilla knitting on bike stands, silly shops selling dutch orange gear for the coming Queen’s Day celebrations, many fashion stores with unusual anglicised names (eg. Sissy Boy Homeland), outdoor and indoor cafes...