Maastricht Live Cam

It's easiest and nicest to walk: from the station you walk straight out through the Stationsstraat. Then you cross the old bridge called Servaasbrug. You walk on till you meet a T-crossing at the entrance of a department-store called Vroom & Dreesmann. Turn left. Straight on, you will cross the Onze Lieve Vrouwenplein (with the basilica of the same name). From here you may follow the signs for pedestrians. All togheter it takes about 15 minutes if your attention is not diverted by the many things of interest you will meet on your way!

Bikes for rent at the 'Stationsrijwielstalling' in the station-building - From central station: Take the Stationsstraat (opposite the Station entrance. Straight on, you will cross the Servaasbridge, after the bridge: turn left along with the river Maas). At the end: turn right. cross the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein, turn left (Witmakersstraat), straight on till you meet a T-crossing: turn left ('Achter de Molens'), after the road has turned left: turn right ('Grote Looiersstraat') at the end of this street you'll find the entrance of the hotel!

From Maastricht Central station bus services 3 and 9 stop at the Tongersestraat. Walk back and go right (at the wall-painting of Topor). At T-crossing second street right (Looiersgracht). At the end of this street at the right is the De Bosquetplein with the Natuurhistorisch Museum.

From Eindhoven / Heerlen (A2) or Liège (E25) - Near Maastricht follow the direction Tongeren (N20). You will cross the bridge over the river Maas (Kennedybrug, the most southern bridge). At the first lights after the bridge turn right. You will pass e deer-parc, here you may parc your car. Walk on and take the first street to the left (along the city-wall). At the end turn right, then turn left. This is the De Bosquetplein at the right, in the corner is the entrance of the Amrâth Hotel DuCasque.

From Vaals / Aachen (aix La Chapelle) - At Maastricht straight on: follow the direction Tongeren (N20). You will cross the bridge over the river Maas (Kennedybrug, the most southern bridge). At the first lights after the bridge turn right. You will pass e deer-parc, here you may parc your car. Walk on and take the first street to the left (along the city-wall). At the end turn right, then turn left. This is the De Bosquetplein at the right, in the corner is the entrance of the hote.

From direction Brussels / Tongeren - At Maastricht first follow direction Eindhoven. After the first roundabout you take the first road left (at the traffic-lights). You will pass e deer-parc, here you may parc your car. Walk on and take the first street to the left (along the city-wall). At the end turn right, then turn left. This is the De Bosquetplein at the right, in the corner is the entrance of the hotel.

From direction Hasselt - At Maastricht two roundabouts straight on, after the second emmediately left (Ruttensingel) at the end (traffic lights) left. Next roundabout tot the right (direction Eindhoven). Next traffic lights left. You will pass e deer-parc, here you may parc your car. Walk on and take the first street to the left (along the city-wall). At the end turn right, then turn left. This is the De Bosquetplein at the right, in the corner is the entrance of the hotel.

Near from the Natural History Museum of Maastricht

Maastricht is situated in the province of Limburg, which is the most southern part of the Netherlands. The museum ranks amongst the largest natural history museums in the country. It houses extensive collections in the field of geology, palaeontology and of flora and fauna of southern Limburg and contiguous areas. The origin of the present-day landscape is illustrated in the museum's modern, updated exhibitions. In 1991, the museum was awarded the annual 'Prins Bernhard Fonds Museum Jaarprijs'. This is the most prestigious Dutch museum award.

The Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht offers many possibilities for primary and secondary schools alike. A working week in southern Limburg should include a visit to the Natuurhistorisch Museum in Maastricht. Teachers of course may plan such a museum visit themselves, but the museum staff are pleased to make suggestions for rendering the museum visit as fruitful as possible. By mutual arrangement, a choice can be made from the following: personal introduction, multimedia-presentation, practical session, conducted tour, worksheets, a coffee/tea or soft drink break.

A brief introduction by one of the staff members raises the pupils' attention. In c. 15 minutes the museum is outlined, addressing questions such as 'what is a museum', 'what are fossils' and 'why was the discovery of the Mosasaurus in 1770 so important'. By mutual arrangement, also other themes can be discussed. The introductions are always interactive: questions and answers are an essential part of these introductions.

In wide-screen projection with surround-sound southern Limburg's history is shown. Under the title 'Graven naar het Verleden' (= Digging for the Past), changes during the past three hundred million years are summarised in 15 minutes. A good introduction to a museum visit with work sheets or to a practical session.

In the Netherlands only in southern Limburg does 'mergel' come to the surface. The 'mergel' practical session of the Natuurhistorisch at Maastricht offers a unique opportunity to find answers to the question of what mergel is and how it originated. In handling 'mergel' (pre-prepared by the museum), microscopes and under expert supervision, the pupils themselves look for answers. They are allowed to take the fossils found home!

Scattered across the southern Limburg countryside you will find entrances to caves. These are not really caves but gallery systems: they are man made. Underneath the Limburg hills lies a thick sequence of limestone called 'Mergel'. The 'mergel' rock was used to build houses, farms and castles. The entrances are found in particular in valley slopes, where the 'mergel' crops out. If you wish to take a look then follow us into the cave.

The Natural History Museum Maastricht houses and maintains an extensive library. In addition to a limited number of popular books and periodicals the library comprises a large number of scientific books and journals. Specialisations in the collections are reflected in specialisations in the library. Of exceptional importance are the subcollections of Willemse's grasshoppers and of Wasmann's ants and termites. Of note is also the collection of so-called 'Kruidboeken' ('herb-books') from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

A large portion of the collection of periodicals is maintained on an exchange basis with Natuurhistorisch Maandblad, which, on account of its English summaries is also widely consulted and sought after abroad. Of this 'house organ' an computerised index is available allowing you access on author's name or entries. Opening hours of the library are 2 to 5 pm, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. It is advisable to make an appointment.

The Natuurhistorisch Genootschap in Limburg (Natural History Society in Limburg) was founded November 27, 1910, on the initiative of Rector P. Jos Cremers. Its objective is to promote the pursuit of the biological and geological sciences and to contribute to the protection of nature and environment in the province of Limburg. Ever since its foundation, the Natuurhistorisch Genootschap has focused on studies of nature and nature conservancy in Limburg. It is thus the oldest nature conservancy organisation in the province of Limburg. The Genootschap is even amongst the oldest natural history societies in the Netherlands.

In 1912, the Natuurhistorisch Genootschap laid the foundation for the present Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht by bringing together a number of natural history collections in a single place. Later the museum was taken over by the Maastricht municipality. To this day, the museum forms an important meeting place for members of the Natuurhistorisch Genootschap where many of the activities of the Circles and Study Groups take place. The Genootschap nowadays belongs to the most active societies in field research in the Netherlands with more than 1,200 members. From the beginning, members have amassed many data on Limburg's nature. Not one of the other Dutch provinces is so well documented. These data are entered in a computerised database and in countless publications, especially in the Natuurhistorisch Maandblad.