Maastricht is a city in the Netherlands, one of the two oldest cities in the country, along with Nijmegen. It is the administrative center of the province of Limburg. The city is located next to the river Maas. The population is 120,000 people.
Maastricht was founded in 50 BC. by the Romans, and therefore its name has Latin roots and means "a ford across the river Meuse". In 382, Bishop Servatius built his residence here and became the first bishop of the city.
Many historical cultural monuments have been preserved in today's Maastricht. The city court building was built in 1475 and has become a household name for the city. There are the famous "Gates of Hell" in the past, on the remains of which the building was built. Important sights are also the church "Sint Servaskerk", the church "Onze live Vrau" and many more ancient churches and monasteries.
In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty, known not only in the European Union, was signed here, which is essentially the official treaty for the EU, signed between the then 12 member states and regulating the formation of a political and economic union.