Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

Maastricht

The city of Maastricht in southeastern Holland became well known in 1992 when the famous European treaty was signed here. It’s also the capital of Limbourg, and the oldest fortified city in the Netherlands. The old walls are still visible in the south of the city and bear witness to Maastricht’s rich history, where visitors can discover a great many museums, churches and historical buildings. The city’s most frequented museum is undoubtedly the Bonnefanten, on the banks of the Meuse, and whose architecture is the imaginative work of the Italian architect, Aldo Rossi. Located in a former industrial zone, the museum possesses an incredible collection of art from the 13^th to the 15^th century as well as contemporary masterpieces.

Maastricht is also known for its churches, and its Saint-Servatius basilica contains relics of the saint who is considered to have been the first bishop of the city. It is situated on the Vrijthof Square, a highly frequented quarter known for its numerous cafes and bars where one can discover local brands of beer and the famous “Limbourg tart”. Another important and unusual site is the underground cave area dug out between 1575 and 1825.

An old monastery

The celebrated Kruisherenhotel, located in the center of Maastricht, in the former Crutched Friars convent, is a magnificent combination of the charm of the past and modern contemporary design. Guests are received in the heart of the former convent and the adjacent Gothic church, both of which were entirely renovated and whose contemporary design is the work of the celebrated interior designer, Henk Vos. To give the hotel a unique style, he called upon the talents of some of the most well known contemporary artists like Philippe Starck and Ingo Maurer, who did a fantastic job of illuminating the different areas, to the delight of the guests. The tone is set as soon as one arrives with a futuristic tunnel that runs from the entrance to the reception area.

In the heart of the cloister, the porter’s house and the Casa Nova, a “tour de force” of modern architecture, 60 Deluxe or Prestige category rooms, and suites receive guests in a chic but simple atmosphere which gives off a sensation of total calm and serenity. The walls are white and contain stunning works of art. The furniture is design and the bathrooms very luxurious with large bathtubs, and showers with big showerheads. The suites are equipped with a Jacuzzi.

In the nave, we find the reception area, the conference rooms as well as the library and three different style salons which combine traditional architecture and design furniture. The interior courtyard is the ideal spot to enjoy the end of a sunny day over a cup of tea or a local beer. Meals are served in an exceptional setting, in the heart of an immense mezzanine situated in the former Gothic church, where guests can admire the wall paintings, the period ceilings and watch the sun’s rays filtering through the stained glass windows which add to the magnificence of the site. The hotel also has a wine bar with a selection that will delight even the most discerning lovers of vintage wines.

This superb hotel with its unique charm has welcomed guests of great renown including the former American Secretary of State Madeline Albright and the Formula One champion, Michael Schumacher.