Cambridge Low Countries, Maastricht Weekend - 25/26 June 2011
The Society is pleased to announce a joint event in Maastricht for members of the Belgian, Netherlands and Luxembourg Oxford/Cambridge Societies.
On June 25/26th 2011, our colleagues from the Oxford and Cambridge Society of the Netherlands (www.oxbridge-nl.com) will organise, in cooperation with the local tourist office, a weekend visit to Maastricht - the city with "the most beautiful bookshop in the world".
The central activity will be a guided tour of the city on Saturday evening interspersed with three courses of a dinner in different restaurants, known as "hap en stap" or "snack and go". There are other (optional) activities before the dinner and also on Sunday. Please see details below.
This promises to be a very special event. If you are interested, please download the registration form:
http://www.oxbridge-nl.com/oxcam/documents/Maastricht%20Form.doc
fill it in electronically, and return it to the Netherlands secretary: secretary@oxbridge-nl.com (with camsoc.be@gmail.com in cc). The form contains further information about hotels, payments, options, and making definite bookings. Bear in mind that June is a very busy month for tourism in Maastricht, and it may no longer be easy to find hotels by then, so early booking for the visit is advisable. The maximum size of the group will need to be limited - first come first served.
I hope that many of you will take up this wonderful opportunity to meet and link with Oxbridge alumni from our neighbouring countries.
Oxford/Cambridge Societies – Weekend in Maastricht June 25/26th 2011
This information note is being distributed to participants in advance of the weekend. It is also on the website of the Oxford & Cambridge Society of the Netherlands. If there are any changes to the information, the participants will be informed by e-mail.
Anyone else, not yet a participant, who wishes to join the visit is invited to contact a committee member as soon as possible, as there are still a few free places.
Welcome to the first joint event for members and guests of the Oxford and Cambridge Societies of Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The planning of the event has been made by the Netherlands society in cooperation with the tourist office in Maastricht, to whom we express our thanks.
BEFORE THE VISIT
Please pay any outstanding balance by bank transfer to the Oxford & Cambridge Society (BIC = INGBNL2A, IBAN = NL20INGB0002225907). For most people the total cost is €77 per person – €52 deposit plus €25 balance. In case of queries about anything, contact any committee member by e-mail before the weekend.
ARRIVAL IN MAASTRICHT
If arriving by car, there is a Park & Ride by Maastricht station, maximum charge €11 per day. Other parking garages in Maastricht may be more expensive. The Eden Design Hotel has its own parking arrangement.
If travelling by train, all events are within easy walking distance of the station.
It is advisable to check into hotels in good time before the first activity (which is at 2:30 p.m. - see below). However, for the Eden Design Hotel the official check-in time is only from 3 p.m; for the Crowne Plaza it is from 2 p.m. Please ask your hotel whether an earlier check-in is possible or whether at least bags can be left there.
In case of any unexpected delay in your arrival, please let us know by calling or texting one of the following numbers: 0031 6 4519 0050 (Julian Sternberg) 0031 6 4134 5882 (Rosalind Atkins)
FIRST MEETING POINT (for Tour of St Servatius Basilica and Treasury)
Meeting point – if coming from the direction of Maastricht station, cross the Sint Servaasbrug and go to the Vrijthof square. The St Servatius Basilica is marked St S on the map below, on the Keizer Karelplein. Go into the basilica entrance until just before the booth for buying admission tickets. We meet there at 2:15 pm, the visit starts at 2:30 pm. Someone from the group will carry an identifying signboard showing the University crests, which may help the group to find each other. The society has paid for a group admission including a guide. Duration – about an hour. The treasury holds a large collection of relics, paintings, statues, silk fabrics etc. Highlights are the shrine of St. Servaas (12th Century), bust reliquary (1580), the pectoral cross, the key, the crosier and the pilgrim's staff.
The letter V marks the location of the Maastricht tourist office (VVV). COFFEE AND VLAAI
Meet again at 4 p.m. in the Diner & Lounge “Aux Pays Bas”, Vrijthof 7 (on the Eastern side of the square). The coffee/vlaai has been paid for by the society.
Afterwards, free time.
DINNER WITH TOUR (HAP STAP)
The tour and dinner are informal and last altogether from 7 p.m. until about 10:45 p.m., including the guided walking tour. Meet just before 7 p.m. at Eetcafé Minckelers BV, Markt 35, letter M on the map. Note: this is not the restaurant for the first course, it is the meeting point for the first part of the walking tour. The first course of the dinner is planned to be at about 7:30 p.m. in Grand Café d'n Ingel, Vrijthof 13. The second (main) course is expected to be at 8:45 p.m. in Grand Café de Perroen-Pallieter, Vrijthof 34. The dessert is planned for about 10:15 p.m. back in Eetcafé Minckelers.
The three-course menu follows below. Everyone can make an individual choice, which should be sent by e-mail in advance to secretary@oxbridge-nl.com.
Salad with Val Dieu Abdij cheese with a honey vinaigrette Fish soup Carpaccio from beef with truffel cream and Parmesan cheese
------------- Baked pangasiusfilet with a tomato-dill sauce
Quiche of spinach, artichokes and fresh goat’s cheese: served on pasta with a spicy tomato sauce (vegetarian).
Skewer of pork with a wild mushroom sauce -------------
French coffee, espresso with Grand Marnier and a Maastrichts chocolate
Tiramisu, home made Italian pie with mascarpone Vanilla ice-cream with a chocolate sauce and whipped cream
-------------
Drinks can be ordered on the evening, either individually or collectively, and paid for separately (they are not included in the cost for the dinner and tour).
PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY
If checking out of your hotel, please ask whether your bags can be left there and collected later, after the cruise.
For the cruise with visit to caves, meet at 11:45 at Rederij Stiphout, Maaspromenade 58. This is on the West bank of the river Maas between the Sint Servaasbrug and Wilhelminabrug. A more exact meeting point will be decided during the weekend itself. The boat departs at midday, and there will be a commentary on the way. Tickets for the group have already been paid for. The tourist office advises that the walk from the boat to the caves is “not suitable for people who are bad on their legs”, or at least “robust” footwear is advised, and also a sweater or jacket because the temperature inside the caves is a constant 10 degrees C.
The cruise returns at about 3 p.m. after which participants still have time to visit the Selexyz Dominicanen bookshop (if not already visited on Saturday). This bookshop + cultural podium is located in the 13th century Dominicanenkerk (church) near the Vrijthof. Browse the stacks of beautiful books and admire the frescoes and lovely interior architecture, and when you’re ready for a break, enjoy an authentic Italian cappuccino at Coffeelovers. The Guardian was right when it described Selexyz Dominicanen as the most beautiful bookshop in the world! Open until 5 p.m. on Sundays.
We hope you will have enjoyed this weekend gathering and that you will be keen to join a follow-up event next year in either Belgium or Luxembourg!
With thanks and best wishes, The committee of the Oxford & Cambridge Society of the Netherlands.
