We mean this in the best sense when we say that Maastricht feels a bit like a foreign country to us. The hilly landscape you don’t see anywhere else in the Netherlands, the dialect that is barely understandable to outsiders, it all feels un-Dutch. And not surprisingly, that’s something we at Working Remotely love. So when we were invited by Visit Maastricht to explore the city as a digital nomad, we naturally said a resounding yes!
Remote working tips Maastricht
Maastricht is popular. And popularity brings crowds. Busier restaurants, queues at outings and fuller hotels. That’s exactly why we thought it was a top idea to go during the week! It brings so many advantages:
- Lower prices for hotel stays.
- Fewer tourists.
- And, if, like us, you also work there part-time, fewer days off that you have to surrender.
(Go directly to all of our tips on workplaces, getaways and restaurants by scrolling to the FAQ at the bottom of this blog).
Workation day 1: travel and discovery
Let’s start at the beginning. We descended south on Sunday afternoon with our blue-and-yellow friends from NS. On the train, I got some work done. We unpacked our things at leisure upon arrival and did a first reconnaissance walk through the center of Maastricht, ending at a delicious Italian restaurant on the Vrijthof: Il Bacaro! They have the Italian version of tapas here, namely cicchetti, and it’s just as tasty as it sounds! With our bellies full, we walked back to our hotel: the Townhouse Hotel, a perfect base from which you can walk to downtown in 10 minutes.
Workation day 2: Mondays can be this wonderful
On Monday, after a delicious hotel breakfast, we started the working day in the hotel lobby. And the first advantage of visiting Maastricht during the week immediately became clear: it is quiet in terms of guests and thus ideal to work! We made our hours after which we left for lunch at Coffeelovers Square 1992. Half of the café is laptop friendly, the other half is for enjoying your coffee and lunch offline.
After this it was time for a typical Maastricht activity: visiting the Caves North! A misleading name, as it is actually a mine where farmers began mining limestone blocks centuries ago. The miles of underground passages were later the scene of several wars AND the Night Watch was temporarily stored there to protect it. Highly recommended to book a tour here.
All that walking (and biking uphill) makes you hungry and we ate this evening at Gastrobar Dock Five. “May the chef surprise you with different dishes?”, the hostess asked us. You don’t have to tell these two foodies that twice! Divided over several courses we got a selection of dishes, vegetarian, fish and meat. In one word: top! We regretted that we could not linger long after dinner but there was a good reason: the cinema was on the program. And wow, what a picture Lumière Cinema. The entrance and cafe are a sight in themselves. Wonderful to sink down here and end the day while enjoying a movie.
Workation day 3: work and enjoyment
We also started Tuesday in the hotel lobby after a breakfast plate full of croissants and fresh fruit. We worked at our leisure until noon, after which we decided to settle down for lunch at Coffee at Joost and Maartje’s place. This place also has a laptop-free and a laptop-friendly section: when we came here, both sections were quite crowded. For those who are fine working with noise in the background, this is a great place to unfold your laptop. If you like quiet while working, just settle down here for a delicious lunch or a pie.
Late in the afternoon, we visited the Bonnefanten museum. This museum has ever-changing collections and exhibitions, alternating modern art with classical art. We ended this visit with a highlight of our city trip, namely: vlaoj (or vlaai). What can we say, Limburgers make this like the best, you just have to eat this when you are in Maastricht! To burn some more calories and to see the city at our leisure, we grabbed our bikes and explored the city a bit more. Along the water of the Meuse and across the Vrijthof: the city is perfect for exploring by bike.
In the evening, we ate at a restaurant located a few minutes from our hotel, viz. ‘t Wycker Cabinet. Expect a classic menu here with rich, burgundian dishes that can be accompanied by real Maastricht wine. We tasted it and honestly, we’re fans!
Workation day 4: remote and reload in Maastricht
Today I started the working day in the lobby and Alieke stayed in the hotel room to do an online meeting in peace. Ideal that we have a nice table and good wifi there too! After that we wanted to work somewhere else for a while and opted for Fixed Gear Coffee and that was a very good choice! The workstations are placed at the window, where you have a view of the city while working. While we were there it was nice and quiet: everyone works in silence or at a low volume behind their own laptop. We like! In between you enjoy good coffee and a delicious veggie lunch.
Early in the evening the time had come: our time in Maastricht is over. We thoroughly enjoyed everything this beautiful city has to offer: the burgundian atmosphere, the hospitality, the various activities, the flan! And best of all? We could continue to do our work as usual. Ideal because we are entrepreneurs, but how nice is it when you are employed and your trip doesn’t cost you any days off. Just saying.
It’s also ultimate proof that working remotely or living as a digital nomad doesn’t always have to be so great. Yes, Bali for 6 months is nice but how nice is it to stay closer to home and therefore be able to get away more often? Our little country is so incredibly beautiful and Maastricht is a perfect example of this. For anyone still in doubt, we say: do it! Plan your city trip during the week, be smart and enjoy it while working remotely. Or as Maastricht itself says: remote and reload in Maastricht.
#samenwerking
More inspiration for workations at home
