We had travelled from London to Brussels and then onto Helmond. But this was the day that we would see the André Rieu concert in Maastricht. This was a trip organised by Newmarket Holidays.
Day 3: Sunday 13th July 25: Helmond, The Netherlands
After breakfast we went on a walk around Helmond to look for the Cube houses that we had seen as we had arrived the day before. This is the church that was just across from the hotel car Park, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk.
To walk to the Cube houses we turned down Steenwag and then again down Prins Hendriklaan, there they were, three Cube house clustered together,
We then carried on walking until we reached the elevated section of the road and we turned off by the church.
Day 3: Sunday 13th July 25: Maastricht, The Netherlands
Once on the coach we settled for the one hour plus journey, crossing canals and with flashes of street art under bridges.
And then we came into Maastricht.
The plan for the rest of the day was for us to have a wander around Maastricht, have lunch, go to the canal and catch the boat for our dinner cruise and then back to the Vrijthof Square for the concert.
Lunch in Vrijthof Square
We were curious about the layout of the square and we walked down to the stage area and there I paid a (quick) call to the photography museum. The area inside the square with the seats and the stage was separated by barriers from the restaurants.
We were lucky and found a table at the back of one of the restaurants, the Britanique.
The table next to us had a couple from the UK, also here with Newmarket for the concert. They were staying here in Maastricht and best of all they chose to have a delicious dessert which I had to have also!
The restaurant was also a hotel. The rooms probably had great views of the square but just going up one floor to the restroom meant navigating a steep narrow stairs. The restaurant was advertising that they still had tickets available for the evening performance. The barriers would be taken down and everyone in the restaurants would be able to hear and see the stage directly or via large screens.
After the leisurely delicious lunch we walked to the top of the square to try and see the layout of the concert.
The sand dog had now gained more puppies.
Through the streets we came to the to the River Meuse and sheltered under a tree from the afternoon sun.
Day 3: Sunday 13th July 25: Dinner cruise on the River Meuse
We choose to sit on the lower deck and avoid the stairs. The meal was served in the middle of the deck. I added a glass of local beer as the fizz we received wasn’t great.
We had a commentary from one of the Newmarket tour managers about what we were passing on the Meuse. As we went down the river to the Albert Locks we passed into Belgium!
There lots of boats and barges tied up on the approach to the locks. Then back in The Netherlands we passed a huge outcrop and next to it an abandoned factory complex. The owner’s house connected by a footbridge!
On top was restored “castle”.
The next attraction was André Rieu’s “home” in Maastricht next to the Sint-Pieter op de Berg church.
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