News in English - RTV Maastricht

News in English - RTV Maastricht News in English for not-yet-Dutch speakers in Maastricht since 2016.

With the tolling of Grameer (church bells), Maastricht commemorated Pope Francis at 9:00 PM on Monday evening, who passe...
22/04/2025

With the tolling of Grameer (church bells), Maastricht commemorated Pope Francis at 9:00 PM on Monday evening, who passed away on Easter Monday. Members of the klokkenluidersgilde (Bellringers Guild) Monulphus and Gondulphus came to the Sint Servaasbasiliek (Basilica of Saint Servatius) at the request of deken (Dean) John Dautzenberg. At nine o’clock, the sound of Grameer echoed over the city and surrounding countryside as a tribute.

At the entrance on Keizer Karelplein, a statue of Sint Servaas stands in the cloister. Prominently visible in his left hand is the key, which, according to the legend of Sint Servaas, was given to him by Saint Peter.

Even many non-Catholics know that Peter symbolizes the guardian of the gates of heaven. At the feet of Sint Servaas lies a photo of Pope Francis. As was said yesterday in the Vatican: he is on his way home. The key is within reach.

Deken Dautzenberg decided in the early evening not to delay a tribute to the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. “It was an emotional day. During the Mass in the Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek (Basilica of Our Lady), a young altar server whispered the sad news into my ear. It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that it really sank in—that Paus Franciscus (Pope Francis) had passed away.”

It was in the afternoon that the bellringers of Monulphus and Gondulphus were already alert for possible calls. The ringing of Grameer occurs during major annual church events in Maastricht; but also in times of disaster and mourning, it is an age-old tradition to let the sonorous tones of Grameer II be heard. Around 6:30 PM, John Dautzenberg no longer hesitated. “My heart said, we must pay our respects to Paus Franciscus (Pope Francis) this evening.” A phone call to the secretary of the bellringers was all it took to make it happen.

Text and photos: Laurens Bouvrie

As of this week, everyone can once again make use of the public water taps in Limburg. Waterleiding Maatschappij Limburg...
13/04/2025

As of this week, everyone can once again make use of the public water taps in Limburg. Waterleiding Maatschappij Limburg (WML) has reconnected all of them.

The water taps are available from spring through early autumn. “It’s a small effort, but an easy way to enjoy the outdoors while also contributing to a more sustainable world by choosing tap water as an eco-friendly thirst-quencher. Limburg’s water is always close by – a touch of hospitality that you can experience everywhere in Limburg,” says WML.

There are 140 public water taps throughout Limburg. Within the gemeente (municipality) Maastricht, there are 21.

The burger restaurant Burgerlijk, located on Platielstraat in Maastricht, has been ordered to close this week. In a prel...
12/04/2025

The burger restaurant Burgerlijk, located on Platielstraat in Maastricht, has been ordered to close this week. In a preliminary injunction, the court ruled in favor of verhuurder (landlord) Heineken, after the tenant failed to pay rent for six months.

The restaurant had already shut its doors prior to the court’s decision. A sign on the door now directs customers to the second Burgerlijk location on Rechtstraat, which operates under a different legal entity and will remain open.

Heineken sought the court’s approval for eviction after months of unpaid rent. At the time of the ruling, the outstanding amount had exceeded €43,000.

The gemeente (municipality) and local shop owners are taking the threat from Extinction Rebellion more seriously after a...
11/04/2025

The gemeente (municipality) and local shop owners are taking the threat from Extinction Rebellion more seriously after all. The environmental activists recently announced plans to demonstrate tomorrow, April 12, in 29 cities across the Netherlands against the fast fashion industry. The action was later suggested to be an April Fools’ joke.

Protesters reportedly planned to use butyric acid to reinforce their message. Despite the possibility that it’s a hoax, Maastricht remains on alert: the use of butyric acid has been explicitly banned by burgemeester (Mayor) Wim Hillenaar, and both police and the Public Prosecution Service are taking precautionary measures. Business owners have been asked to properly instruct their staff.

Although the announcement appears to be an April Fools’ prank, it remains unclear where—if anywhere—actual protests may take place. The local XR chapter in Maastricht denies any involvement or plans.

In Maastricht, a whole list of new construction projects could face significant delays due to two recent court rulings o...
07/04/2025

In Maastricht, a whole list of new construction projects could face significant delays due to two recent court rulings on nitrogen emissions by the Dutch Council of State and the District Court in The Hague.

As a result, the conditions for obtaining permits for projects that could negatively affect nature have become stricter. In addition, vulnerable types of nature must now be given priority for restoration. According to the stadsbestuur (city council), several projects in our city are affected by these rulings. These include the further development of Retail Park Belvedere, the construction of new educational and indoor sports facilities in Maastricht-East, the redevelopment of the Beyart, the Trega site, shopping center De Heeg, the new courthouse, and the development of the Landbouwbelang site.

In addition to these projects, in which the gemeente (municipality) plays a major role, thestadsbestuur (city council) states that there are another 55 permit applications that must seriously take into account potential delays and increased costs. According to the stadsbestuur (city council), it is still waiting for national policy aimed at reducing overall nitrogen emissions. The cabinet is expected to present its plans for this before the summer.

The wooden bridge in the stadspark (city park), which had already been closed off due to aging, will be replaced by a te...
06/04/2025

The wooden bridge in the stadspark (city park), which had already been closed off due to aging, will be replaced by a temporary bridge next week. The goal of having a new bridge in place before Koningsdag (King's Day), when large crowds are expected to visit the park, will not be met.

Technically, this would have been possible, but various procedures are causing delays. This is because many requirements must be met in the permit process, as the bridge is located in a designated heritage area.

Since several events are scheduled to take place in and around the stadspark (city park) in the coming months, the decision has been made to aim for September to replace the temporary bridge with the permanent one.

Higher education staff and students in Maastricht will go on strike on April 16, joining nationwide protests against pro...
05/04/2025

Higher education staff and students in Maastricht will go on strike on April 16, joining nationwide protests against proposed budget cuts. Similar demonstrations are being organized in several other cities.

The government plans to cut half a billion euros from the national higher education budget. Students and staff warn that such reductions will severely undermine the quality of education. There are also concerns about a significant increase in workload.

In Maastricht, the protest will take place on April 16 at the Vrijthof, organized by WOinActieUM and labor unions to voice opposition to the government’s plans.

Only 11.6 percent of international students who graduate in Maastricht remain in the city for at least five years, accor...
04/04/2025

Only 11.6 percent of international students who graduate in Maastricht remain in the city for at least five years, according to figures from the internationalization organization Nuffic. The national average is around thirty percent.

Researchers note a national upward trend in the number of international graduates who stay. They attribute this partly to the tight labor market, but also to improved tracking due to more consistent registration in the municipal population database.

Nationally, Eindhoven has the highest percentage of internationals staying for at least five years: 49 percent. Delft follows with 39 percent, then Utrecht (36.3 percent) and Amsterdam (33.6 percent).

A student’s country of origin appears to play a significant role. Many German students tend to return home. Of students from within Europe, 20 percent stay in the Netherlands for more than five years. Among non-European students, that number is twice as high. Surinamese (79 percent) and Iranian (71 percent) graduates, in particular, are relatively likely to remain.

According to the researchers, the difference between universities of applied sciences (hbo) and research universities (wo) is not decisive.

Agreements made by Maastricht University with the studentenverenigingen (student associations) Tragos and Circumflex, as...
04/04/2025

Agreements made by Maastricht University with the studentenverenigingen (student associations) Tragos and Circumflex, as laid out in the Code of Conduct, have not been upheld. As a result, UM is suspending its relationship with both associations.

This means they will no longer be eligible for so-called board grants or other subsidies, nor will they have access to other UM facilities. Additionally, they will not be allowed to participate as associations in the INKOM introduction week.

“We have concerns about the way gedragscodes (codes of conduct) are currently used, which mainly seems to amount to papering over the cracks,” states the announcement published today. “In the coming period, we will engage with our community to explore how we can continue to support studentenverenigingen (student associations) while also ensuring the social and physical safety of our students.”

UM has held several discussions with the associations, during which it became clear that incidents had occurred in recent months indicating violations of physical safety and personal integrity. These discussions followed signals of serious misconduct during the "A-time," the introductory period for student societies.

The university cited examples such as fainting during activities, exhaustion, and panic attacks. These incidents were either not reported at all or not reported in time to UM, which violates the agreements made in the Gedragscode (Code of Conduct).

The university is now questioning whether its policy on supporting student organizations should be revised. The Executive Board has tasked the Student Services Centre (SSC) with developing a response. The SSC will do this based on discussions with relevant parties, including the UM community, the student associations, and experts.

The Qeske workspace on the Francois de Veijestraat offers affordable space and mentorship for young entrepreneurs. This ...
24/03/2025

The Qeske workspace on the Francois de Veijestraat offers affordable space and mentorship for young entrepreneurs. This is where Sabina Schreurs and Klaartje van Prooijen established Two Girls One Studio. Sabina is specialised in body design and textiles.

After her graduation, Sabina started focusing on ceramics. Klaartje, on the other hand, started studying fashion elsewhere before studying art and design in Maastricht “I am right on the border of design and art, I like to combine them to see where the line is—if there even is a line. So I’ve used different meanings, techniques and materials throughout the years.” However, after their graduation they noticed the lack of studios and spaces for young creatives in Maastricht. They wanted to establish “a space with designers and makers that you can go to, to stay motivated to continue.

A lot of it is not just making art but it’s “how do you sell it?” and you have others that you can talk to about it” as Sabina mentions. Looking back at her studies, she says “We really missed the environment of the academy like collaboration and talking about ideas, and getting feedback”. Wanting to replicate that feeling, the Two Girls One Studio makerspace is intended for the community to inspire each other, co-create, inspire and connect. The studio is located within a larger hub of other studios within the building. The ethos of a creative community extends to the whole building as artists discuss projects and sometimes work on commissions together.

Although the studio is focused on textiles and ceramics primarily, the girls also incorporate modern technologies and techniques into their work such as 3D printing and AI image generation. The Avant-garde style of the two designers also applies to transferring techniques from one material to the next, combining ceramics and textile techniques in new ingenious ways. Sabina and Klaartje can teach you easy techniques to get started! To read the full article, head over to our website.
studio

Faction leader Jack van Gelooven of the political party SP stands up for the 'ordinary Maastricht resident' in letter to...
22/03/2025

Faction leader Jack van Gelooven of the political party SP stands up for the 'ordinary Maastricht resident' in letter to the gemeentebestuur (city council). Van Gelooven is advocating for “Jan met de Pet” — the ordinary Maastricht resident — in a letter to the gemeentebestuur, particularly regarding the Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus.

“Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?” Van Gelooven writes. “The Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus is a place where innovation and entrepreneurship come together, where the future is shaped with trendy terms like 'valorisation, incubator, narrative, business case, and MakerSpace'. But let’s be honest: for the average resident of Maastricht, this is mostly an expensive dream full of flashy project plans and abstract promises. And in the meantime, when you walk around there, what you mostly see is an unattractive parking lot full of cars with German license plates,” according to Van Gelooven.

Van Gelooven wants the gemeentebestuur (municipal government) to clearly explain in understandable language why the city invests millions in the Brightlands campus. Additionally, the SP party leader wants to know how these investments translate into employment, opportunities, and progress "for our own people." On the Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus website, Van Gelooven notes that only one concrete job vacancy is currently listed.

He challenges the responsible wethouder (alderman) to describe the story of the campus to the ordinary Maastricht resident in no more than two pages. “I’m not expecting flashy phrases or vague promises, but rather a story that people from Maastricht can understand — and see themselves reflected in. Because investing millions of public money in the coming years without sufficient support and transparency is not how we want to conduct politics,” Van Gelooven concludes in his letter.

Jeweler Symbolic and Chase considers legal action against TEFAF after the 2022 art fair robbery. The company blames TEFA...
21/03/2025

Jeweler Symbolic and Chase considers legal action against TEFAF after the 2022 art fair robbery. The company blames TEFAF for inadequate security and is likely seeking compensation.

According to De Limburger, owner Martin Travis is still dealing with the consequences of the armed robbery on a daily basis. Jewelry with an estimated value of at least 35 million euros was stolen during the heist. In addition, Symbolic and Chase became entangled in a long-running dispute with Dutch customs.

Since the jewels were only temporarily in the Netherlands, no import duties or VAT initially had to be paid. However, the theft changed the situation: according to customs regulations, taxes must still be paid when goods go missing.

Because the jewels were removed from customs supervision, a payment of 1.1 million euros is now due. If Symbolic and Chase are forced to cover this cost, they will hold TEFAF liable.

There was further unrest yesterday, on the final day of the art fair. A protester was subdued after spraying the words 'Deze stad is uitverkocht' (this city is sold out) on a booth for the Landbouwbelang redevelopment project.

One last series photos of carnaval 2025 from yesterday by our photographer Laurens Bouvrie. Mark your calendar: Carnaval...
05/03/2025

One last series photos of carnaval 2025 from yesterday by our photographer Laurens Bouvrie. Mark your calendar: Carnaval 2026 will take place from February 15 to 17!
Alaaf! 🔴🟡🟢

City photographer Laurens Bouvrie is capturing carnaval for us in photos. Check out his best snapshots from the parade l...
04/03/2025

City photographer Laurens Bouvrie is capturing carnaval for us in photos. Check out his best snapshots from the parade last Sunday here.
Alaaf! 🔴🟡🟢

The gemeente (municipality) is making €50,000 available to improve the accessibility of public spaces. This decision fol...
01/03/2025

The gemeente (municipality) is making €50,000 available to improve the accessibility of public spaces. This decision follows questions raised by political parties CDA and GroenLinks. Discussions with these parties have made it clear that accessibility in the city requires more attention.

Public space includes all outdoor areas accessible to everyone, such as streets, sidewalks, squares, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops. It is managed by the municipality and open for public use. The allocated funds will come from the mobility budget.

On Monday, March 3, Tuesday, March 4, Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, the Belgian railway infrastructure mana...
28/02/2025

On Monday, March 3, Tuesday, March 4, Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, the Belgian railway infrastructure manager, Infrabel, will be carrying out evening maintenance work on the tracks in Belgium. As a result, some trains between Maastricht and Liège-Guillemins will not operate, and replacement buses will be provided. This may lead to longer travel times, and existing connections may not be possible.

On the evenings of Monday, March 3, Tuesday, March 4, Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, several train services between Maastricht and Liège-Guillemins will be canceled. This applies to journeys from 10:30 PM onwards. During these times, passengers can use NMBS replacement buses between Maastricht and Liège-Guillemins.

To use the replacement bus service, passengers must have a valid travel ticket, such as an OV-chipkaart. Travelers must check in at their departure station and check out at their destination station. Due to the bus layout, bicycles cannot be transported.

Passengers should expect longer travel times, and existing connections cannot be guaranteed. The schedule for the replacement bus service can be found on the Arriva website.

25/02/2025

The city of Maastricht has been drawn and painted many times and in various ways over the past centuries by both professional and amateur artists. Under the title 'Was getekend Maastricht', we are broadcasting a series of 15 episodes about these drawings and paintings. Each episode focuses on the life and work of a particular artist.

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