Stage 44. Eijsden (NL) to Maastricht (NL)

Eijsden lies on the frontier with Belgium and on the banks of the river Meuse in the extreme southwest of the Dutch region Zuid-Limburg. It is suspected from some archaeological finds that Eijsden was inhabited during Roman times.

Maastricht is a city in the south of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Limburg and has 120.000 inhabitants and owes its name from the latin word: Mosa Trajectum, which means passage through the river Meuse.

Maastricht has been continuously inhabited for two thousand years. The city has a long and eventful history as witnessed by the numerous historic buildings and art treasures in churches and museums.
The city gained international fame through the Treaty of Maastricht (1992), which created the European Union in its current form and paved the way for the introduction of the euro as a European currency.

In the rest of the Netherlands the city is often seen as “foreign“, mainly because of its peripheral location near Belgium and Germany, but also because of the atypical landscape, the Maasland house construction, the deviant history, the complicated language situation, the dominance of Catholicism, the strong emphasis on community life (fanfares, carnival, processions) and the alleged Burgundian way of life.

Overview map:

Stats:

Start:	Eijsden (NL)
Coordinates (DD):	50.776289 / 5.699626
End:	Maastricht (NL)
Coordinates (DD):	50.847628 / 5.692811
Distance:	23,9 kilometers
Uphill:	370 meters
Downhill:	360 meters
Path, dirt road, gravel, nature trail:	79%
Asphalt, road:	21%
More additional info like GPX track:	Go to Komoot* page here… (external)
Print:	Go for download here… (pdf)

• *Komoot is a navigation and route-planning app that enables you to create and follow routes that are based on walking/riding type and ability. Be aware you have to sign up for free to have access to the app.

See and share with QR code

You will see stage 44. when you scan the QR code (Komoot).

Highlights:

The statue “Sterre der Zee” is located in the Chapel of Merode of the Basilica of Our Lady in the center of Maastricht. It stands on an altar surrounded by flowers and candles “Sterre der Zee” is the popular name of a 15th-century old statue of Mary in Maastricht. There is a glass wall between the Merode chapel and the porch of the church, read more…

In front is a bench on which people can kneel or sit down to pray. In front of the bank are several offering tables with candle holders, where visitors can place a burning candle for a fee.
On both sides of the glass wall the prayer to the “Sterre der Zee” can be read in Dutch, English and German (previously also in French).

Every day, about a thousand Maria-worshippers, people in need and tourists visit the chapel of the “Sterre der Zee” lighting a candle at the “Sterre der Zee”.

Specific local info: