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Maastricht Carnival, Netherlands

Los Reyes del Carnaval de Torres Vedras son figuras icónicas del carnaval
Torres Vedras Carnival, Portugal
Las personas asisten a los desfiles que se celebran en las calles de Venlo durante los carnavales
Venlo Carnival (Jocus Riék), Netherlands

 

What is the Maastricht Carnival?

Maastricht Carnival is a celebration that takes place every year in the university town of Maastricht in the Netherlands. During the Maastricht carnival festivities, the streets are covered with traditional flags. In addition, different events and activities completely fill the city in the company of participants who wear costumes, wigs, masks or carry the painted mask. During the weekend the stores close for the vacations, even the University of Maastricht gives its students the whole week off to celebrate the happiest vacation of the year.

The main celebration of the carnivals is the great procession which takes place on the first day. In this event you can see the colorful floats accompanied by the different participants who likewise dress up in funny or peculiar costumes. There is no particular theme, people simply dress or dress up in whatever they want, that is the spirit of the carnivals in this wonderful city.



Also, during carnivals there are small parades or family carnivals. These parades also feature carrozas and the bandas de música that set the mood for the entire event. Throughout the city and during all the parades there is live music, orchestras and bands that brighten up the celebrations. Carnival is full of extraordinary and colorful costumes. In addition, parties and orchestras can be found in every corner of the city of Maastricht.

 

The main parade takes place on the first day of the Maastricht carnival

The main parade takes place on the first day of the Maastricht carnival

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When is the Maastricht Carnival[/h2>?

Ethe carnival will take place on approximately February 14 and will culminate on February 16.

 

 

History of the Maastricht Carnivals

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Little is known about the Maastricht Carnival before 1800. Carnival Tuesday was traditionally celebrated by Catholics on the eve of Lent. Despite this, the authorities despised the excesses that took place during these celebrations.

After the assault on Mastrique, the festivities were banned year after year. However, the Martes de Carnaval never disappeared and was carried out almost secretly. Carnival celebrations were banned until the mid-1800s. In 1839 the male society called Momus was founded. This society gave the traditional carnival festival a more organized character by holding sessions and parades. The sessions were mainly intended for Momus members and other select people of the society and were held at Vrijthof. Momus experienced its glory years in the second half of the 19th century. During this period, the society organized not only the carnival, but also all kinds of activities for its members. This society also used to practice philanthropy during the celebrations.



In 1939 Momus came to an end, but his role was taken over by the Tempeleers. However, the carnival was banned during World War II. Also, the wearing of masks was banned until 1946. On November 16, 1945, the Tempeleers carnival association was founded to breathe new life into the Maastricht carnival. The name of the association was inspired by the Knights Templar, an order of medieval knights..

In the late 1990s, music bands were added, a new element in the Maastricht Carnival and within a few years the event became a major event, attracting tens of thousands of participants, especially young people from all over Limburg.

 

Where is the Maastricht Carnival

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The Maastricht Carnival, or Mastrique in English, is held in the city Maastricht, a province of Limburg within The Netherlands. The city of Maastricht is known for having 8 of the country’s leading universities, giving it the name University City.

The carnival tours different locations in the city, holding different activities and events at points such as the Maastricht Station Maastricht Station, the Maastricht Market, the town hall, among other locations.

 

Maastricht carnival parades and activities are full of music and shows

Maastricht carnival parades and activities are full of music and shows

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How is the Maastricht Carnival celebrated

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On the first day, theprince’s flag is hoisted at 12:11 pm, after which a cannon is fired 11 times. After the firing, the doll of the city called Mooswief is brought to the Vrijthof square. The procession takes place that day at 1:33 pm from Wyck to the city center.

On Monday, the processions of the families take place at 2:22 pm. This parade could be considered the children’s parade, since the main public are the different local children and the basic schools. In addition, costume competitions are held during this day.

In the Maastricht Market the King or Prince of Carnival is awarded the keys of the city, this ceremony requires invitation, since it is one of the most important and emblematic events of the season. Every carnival evening, exactly at 8:33pm the dances in the market take place.

 

Tips for going to the Maastricht Carnivals

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If you want to visit the Maastricht Carnivals, keep in mind that the city gets crowded. In addition, some streets and avenues are closed to make way for the parades. We recommend you avoid using the streets or public transportation that day.

Also, try to walk the streets of the city a few days in advance so you can locate key points of the city such as parking and transportation stops. As always, plan your trip ahead of time so that you can arrange the accommodations of your choice.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:

 

Events in Maastricht Carnival

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The carnival officially begins on Sunday at 12:11 pm at the Vrijthof. The Vrijthof cannon is fired 11 times to kick off the celebrations. At the same time, the ‘Mooswief’ is brought to the town square and thePrince of Carnival kicks off the festivities. On the same day the main parade takes place, from Wyck to the city center.

On Monday the family parade, which is aimed at children, takes place, with a large number of activities and events. The different events throughout the city are held until late at night.

Mardi Gras is a quiet day. The celebrations that occur during this day are games and different presentations with shows and judges. At midnight the Mooswief is removed from the square, bringing the carnivals to a close. After this many people continue the celebrations until Thursday with somesecondary events.

 

The Mooswief is the representative figure of the carnivals, it is hung in the square and removed at the end of the Maastricht carnivals

The Mooswief is the representative figure of the carnivals, it is hung in the square and removed at the end of the Maastricht carnivals

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Maastricht Carnival Parades

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The main parade occurs on the first day, after theopening ceremony and placing the Mooswief on a pole in the city square. The route starts in Wyck and ends in the city center of Maastricht. During the celebrations different carriages, many of them make up the various carnival characteristics of mocking their politicians, celebrities and events in the world. People wear various costumes and paint their faces.

 

 

There is no defined theme; however, the purpose of the festivities is for people to participate by wearing a costume. The second parade is thechildren’s parade, in which they go around town with costumes, masks and music. This is a family parade and the activities revolve around thechildren of the community.

 

Parade route

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The Maastricht carnival parade is the most awaited one where all locals and visitors participate

The Maastricht carnival parade is the most awaited one where all locals and visitors participate

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The parade starts in Wyck, crosses the Sint Servaasbrug and arrives in the city center.

 

Rye bread with herring is commonly consumed during and after carnivals in Maastricht

Rye bread with herring is commonly consumed during and after carnivals in Maastricht

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What to eat at the Maastricht Carnival

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Typical dishes that can be seen during and after the carnival festivities are haring of roggebrood, a rye bread with sandwiches and onions. There is also rye bread with Hoofdkaas or head cheese, a type of sausage made from the different parts of the animal, pig or beef, inside the head of the same animal.

Some of the city’s dining options are Cafe Sjiek, Winerestaurant Mes Amis and Bistro Croquant, offering local, regional and European food.

 

During Maastricht carnivals it is common to consume rye bread with headcheese

During Maastricht carnivals it is common to consume rye bread with headcheese

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Maastricht Carnival

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Within the carnival you can des the different opening events, the firing of the cannon or when they bring and hang the Mooswief near the Maastricht Station. Some of these events are by invitation only. You can also be part of the main parade that takes place on opening day and the activities, dances and concerts live music that occur during the 3 days of celebration.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

Guided tours in Spanish around the world

 

What to see and do outside of the Maastricht Carnivals

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The city of Maastricht offers you different attractions that you can visit during the carnivals. Some of these are:

Fort Sint Pieter

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It is a fortress built in the early 18th century. Its initial purpose was for military purposes to defend against the French.

 

Onze Lieve Vrouw Sterre der Zee Basiliek

It is a church located in the center of the city. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. It was elevated to the rank of basilica in 1933.

 

Maastricht Market Square

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It is a square where you can find local and regional products. In the center of the square is the statue of the Eternal Burning Flame, commemorating physics professor Jan Pieter Minckelers.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

Book tickets in the city you are visiting

 

Safety at the Maastricht Carnival

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The city of Maastricht is a fairly safe city both day and night. If you come to spend the carnivals, be sure to bring or rent a bicycle, as these are the means of transport par excellence, take with you a lock to secure it.

Also, it never hurts to keep your personal belongings in a safe place to avoid theft or loss. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather at the Maastricht Carnival

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The weather during the carnival festivities is somewhat cold. The temperature ranges between 1 and 7 degrees Celsius. If you can, pack warm clothes for the festivities.

 

Participants of the Maastricht carnival parades dress up in the various colors and parade through the streets

Participants of the Maastricht carnival parades dress up in the various colors and parade through the streets

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How to get to the Maastricht Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to Maastricht is Eindhoven Airport. Dfrom there you can take the different means of transportation to reach the city. Maastricht has its own airport; however, only regional flights are operated.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From the airport take a bus line 401, 400 or 10 to Eindhoven station. From there you can reach Maastricht in about an hour.

The city has an international train station of Thalys or Eurostar from Brussels, Paris or London via Liège station.

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport take lines 401, 400 or 10 to Eindhoven station, from there transfer and head to Maastricht on lines 831 or 833. The journey takes one hour.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport use the A2 freeway to Maatricht. The drive is one hour.

 

Where to stay at the Maastricht Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Hotel Monastère Maastricht

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4-star hotel 350 meters from the center. Facilities feature restaurant, bar and free wifi. The hotel offers room service.

 

Hotel de la Bourse

2 star hotel 100 meters from the center. The hotel has a bar, restaurant and free internet. It also has parking and non-smoking areas.

 

Mabi Hotel Centrum

4-star hotel 200 meters from the center. Rooms have TV and modern private bathrooms. The hotel offers bar, cinema and free internet.

We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 


Booking.com

 

Thanks for reading

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