Bloasmuziek op ene Sondagmorge

This week, Amsterdam was in the news for a rather peculiar reason: a museum was opened on the scheduled date and also the budget had been respected. This makes the Hermitage Amsterdam a rare exception to the rule that big projects in Amsterdam generally take twice or three times more time to finish as originally planned and also the costs are way higher.

A building site of the Noord-Zuidlijn, one of Amsterdam's doomed projects,
unconfortably close to the house of the members of the Baskadiyarlar-team

At this moment, two famous museums, have been closed for over 5 or 8 years, one tends to forget. It's a familiar sight to see small groups of Japanese stumbling around the rubble near the Stedelijk Museum, not knowing it's closed for repairs since, yes, since when? The Rijks museum was built in the 1880's in about 5 years. It was closed in 2003 for reconstruction, which would last also 5 years. But delays keep piling up on one another and it's now scheduled to re-open in 2013. But there's hardly anybody who still believes that this will actually happen. Amsterdam is getting more messy everyday, it's a wonder people still come to visit what is rapidly becoming a dirty, arrogant, incompetent money pit.

That is why this week we escaped the noise and the filth of the capital to the southernmost city of Holland, Maastricht. Much smaller than Amsterdam, the capital of the province of Limburg has a lot to offer to the visitor and inhabitants. We'd like to show and discuss a couple of them.

A striking feature of Maastricht is its extensive collection of sculpture in its parks and streets. There's clearly a passion for that kind of art. We'd like to dedicate some space to one of them: the statue of d'Artagnan, one of the famous Three Musketeers. During the Franco-Dutch War he commanded the siege of Maastricht and was shot through the throat while storming a gate in 1673.

The statue of d'Artagnan, close to fortifications of the city of Maastricht, made by the same artist who gave the world Rembrands Nightwatch in 3D

It's kind of grand of a city to honour a slain enemy with a huge statue, you've got to give them that. One of Maastrichts most famous sons is the violonist Andre Rieu. One wonders how big his statue will be when he eventually gets one. Most probably it will be as big as the ones erected for Stalin and Lenin when they were still hot during the heydays of the USSR.

Maastricht can be leisurely seen in about a day or two. It's got lots of nice streets and alleys, parks, watermills, churches and chapels. It's history dates back to prehistoric times. It's been inhabited ever since the Kelts. The name is derived from the latin Mosa Traiectum, which means a shallow place in the river Meuse. Monuments from practically all ages are present or still to be seen in one of it's museums.

'Lang grachtje', a cosy little street next to remnants of the 13th century city wall

The province of Limburg is home to many dialects. Some are quite unintelligible to people from out of the province. Some towns have dialects that are not even understood by inhabitants of the next town. The dialect of Maastrict is said to be influenced by french.

An alley reminiscent to the south of France

Visitors stand in awe when confronted with the mystic beauty inside St. Mary, Star of the Seas, one of the oldest churches in Maastricht

Members of various religious orders are still a common sight in this traditionally catholic city

The people of Maastricht are a closely knit community. Many of them are members of parochian or neighbourhood fanfares, bands and choirs that perform during festivals like the famous Carnival, or, Vastelaovond.

Mayor Gerd Leers announcing a performance at the town most principal square, het Vrijthof

Members of the all-male Beeker Liedertafel choir singing

They may look like undertakers, but they're quite a cheerful lot!

On sunday mornings one can hear churchbells ringing everywhere, meaning masses are about to start or just ending. After religious duties, many Mestreechtenaoren put on their uniform and pursue another passion: brassmusic on sunday mornings

Two hangers on of the fanfare st.Servatius on their way to meeting with the other members

Two more flock to the meeting point

Is there anything nicer than the sound of rolling drums of a marching band nearing, the noise getting louder as the distance decreases? The members of the Baskadiyarlar team sometimes can't help getting goose pimples just hearing those drums and we get really happy when we can see the band, marching in neat files, brass shining in the light of the sun.

And on they march, st. Servatius guarding everyone congregating is his name

Sunday mornings in Limburg are not complete without the sweet sounds of a marching band

Should you want to see more pictures of the fanfare, click here.