3/29/24, 8:16 PM 3-minute Travel Guide: Maastricht, Netherlands - UCEAP Blog

TRAVEL LEARN LIVE 

3-MINUTE TRAVEL
GUIDE:
MAASTRICHT,
NETHERLANDS

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DON’T FORGET TO PACK Clothes that layer easily (weather can change drastically
throughout the day), waterproof coat/shoes, a belt (you may lose a few inches by
walking/biking/eating healthier food), a bag that fits budget airline dimensions for
weekend trips, favorite snacks from home, and skincare/makeup (there are fewer options
in the Netherlands). Most important, leave extra room in your bag to bring items home!

BEST LEFT AT HOME Athleisure clothes, too many pairs of shoes (takes up a lot of room),
heels/uncomfortable shoes.

WHERE TO LIVE The UM Guesthouse, which is specifically for exchange students at

Maastricht University. The rooms are spacious and a 10-minute bike ride from everything
in Maastricht. You will meet students from all over the world while living here!

BEST EATS NEAR CAMPUS Bread & More for the best ready-made sandwiches in the city
center,
Soup Bros for homemade soup made from organic, locally-grown ingredients,
With Love Burrito if you find yourself missing the Mexican food in California, and
Cafe Frape, which serves over 500 types of beer. Tell the staff what flavors you prefer, and
they will give you recommendations.
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FAVORITE NETHERLANDER ACTIVITY Picnics in the Stadspark when the weather is nice,
walking along the medieval city walls, shopping at the weekly farmers market, people-
watching at one of the many cafes in the city center, karaoke at Peter’s Irish Pub, not
doing any work after 5 PM.

WHERE TO STUDY So many places! Here are my favs: Alley Cat – a hybrid bike shop-study
cafe
Coffeelovers – a local cafe chain, has locations in university buildings and throughout the
city
Outside in the Stadspark (when the weather is nice)
The Inner City Library on the west side of the river, and the Randwyck Library on the east
side of the river
Boekhandel Dominicanen, a Gothic church that was repurposed to be a bookstore

MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH I can’t pick just one. Here are all the best foods to try:
Limburgse vlaai, which is traditional pie from the southern region of the Netherlands.
Stroopwafels, which is a cookie made of two flat wafers with caramel syrup in the middle.
My favorite way to eat them is to warm them over coffee or tea to melt the caramel.
Friets, which are thick-cut french fries dipped in mayonnaise.
The Dutch eat raw, pickled herring by dangling the fish head-first above their mouth (the
taste and texture is similar to tuna sashimi).
Belgian waffles from the nearby city of Liège, Belgium.

BEST PHOTO OP The Sint-Servaasbrug Bridge offers the best view of the Meuse River.

BIGGEST FAIL Bringing suitcases I couldn’t lift on my own! Using vacuum compression
bags saved volume, but they made my luggage overweight.

BUY THIS Home goods from Dille & Kamille, a Dutch brand that is zo gezellig (cozy)!
Buy your waterproof coat and boots in the Netherlands; they’re cheaper and better made
than you’ll find in California.

NOT THAT A bike! You can rent one on a monthly basis from Swapfiets instead. The rental
fee also includes maintenance costs.

MOST INTERESTING CLASS European Public Health! Our professor gave us the freedom
to explore topics we were interested in as a class. We compared the European and
American healthcare systems in our discussions, and we were encouraged to share our
opinions and personal experiences.

BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM The diverse international student population at Maastricht
University! In one of my discussion sections, every student was from a different country
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which created a unique group dynamic. Problem-Based Learning also helped me become
a more active learner and big-picture thinker.

FAVORITE UCEAP TRIP OR ACTIVITY Our day trip to Zaanse Schans, which is a traditional
village with little green houses, windmills, and sheep.

UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND TRIPS Malta! There is so much to do and so much history in

such a small country. The locals are kind, the weather is warm, and the pace of life is
relaxed. The local cuisine is influenced by nearby Sicily and North Africa. My favorite
dishes were Maltese rabbit and pastizzis, a flaky pastry filled with ricotta and peas.

BONUS PRO TIP Appreciate the daily routine abroad because when you return home,
you’ll find yourself missing life in Maastricht as much as the exciting weekend trips. When
it comes to problem-based learning, you get what out what you put in. In Dutch culture,
the opinions of each member of a group are considered valuable, so don’t hesitate to
share and even disagree (in a constructive way, of course). Locals in Maastricht use a
dialect called Limburgish, which sounds different than the standard Dutch you may have
learned or practiced before arriving. Finally, the Dutch are known to be direct – and this
includes professors, especially when giving feedback on assignments. Don’t take it too
personally; they’re trying to help you.

LINDSEY CAMPBELL
Study Abroad Program: Biological and Life Sciences,
Maastricht
Program Location: Maastricht, Netherlands
Other Countries Visited: Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta,
Portugal, and the United Kingdom
Home University: UC Santa Barbara
Major: Biological Sciences
Year: Senior (class of 2022)

After her summer program was canceled due to the COVID-19

pandemic in 2020, Lindsey applied to study abroad in fall 2021.
Soon after starting classes, she realized she preferred
Maastricht University’s problem-based learning methods. She
applied to extend her time abroad and finish her
undergraduate degree in the Netherlands. What started as six
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weeks abroad soon became an entire year! Lindsey took

advantage of three-day weekends and Maastricht’s central
location to travel to 11 European countries, but she has just as
many fond memories of her daily routine in Maastricht. A
favorite was experiencing Carnival, a holiday week where locals
celebrate with parades and homemade costumes. In the
summer of 2023, Lindsey will return to Maastricht as an intern
at the Center for European Studies and apply to dental school.

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