Spring Events
The winter depressions get to an end, nature is waking from hibernation, days are getting longer and people feel like going outside again. During these fresh spring months, there is a lot to explore in Limburg!
- Amstel Gold race
- Pinkpop
- Limburgs Mooiste
- Maastrichts Mooiste
- Nacht van Gulpen
- TEFAF Maastricht
- Jazz Masters Maastricht
- Kennedy March
- Lentebeurs
- Film Festival Maastricht
Pinkpop | 30, 31 may, june first 2009
The Netherlands most famous open-air festival PINKPOP will take place for the 40th time at the beautiful festivalsite MEGALAND in the city of Landgraaf situated in the most South bound province of Limburg, 134 miles from Amsterdam.
In 39 years the festival has been sold out 19 times, with a capacity of 60.000 spectators. Since 1970 more than 1,5 million people visited the festival and more than 500 acts performed at the Pinkpop festival. See the History section (Dutch only) and the BAND ABC for more Pinkpop facts.
This year Pinkpop celebrates its 40th aniversary. The program will be just as sensational as previous years on Saturday May 30th, Sunday May 31rst and Monday June 1rst. The first acts have been announced to be Placebo, Depeche Mode and The Kooks.
June 13 2009 | Limburgs Mooiste
The cycling classic 'Limburgs Mooiste' is a beautiful but very difficult challenge for recreational cyclists. The various routes run from Landgraaf across low-traffic roads which appeal enormously to tourists in South Limburg and adjacent regions in Belgium and Germany. There are numerous well-known and less known climbs included in the course. In order to make the event accessible for each person, participants can choose one out of five distances. During the entire course, cyclists will be kept separated as far as posible from cars, honking horns and exhaust fumes. There are usually no more than one or two traffic lights along the entire route. The organisation of Limburgs Mooiste wants to compile a different tour every year and is therefore always searching for new roads and climbs. The cycling tour can be compared to the Amstel Gold Race in terms of intensity and character.
May 17, 23 - June 13-14 2009 | Maastrichts Mooiste
Maastrichts Mooiste is the largest running and walking event in Limburg. Maastricht, without a doubt the most exuberant town in the Netherlands, demonstrates exactly how much fun the event is in its anniversary year. Not only will there be a walk for people with physical disabilities, but also a general walk and running matches. The Waiter Race adds some humour to the event.
Each year, Maastrichts Mooiste donates a substantial part of the event's profits to good causes. Next year, just like last year, the donation will be given to the World Wildlife Fund. Many regional sports and other clubs also profit from the Maastrichts Mooiste event.
June 20, 21 2009 | Nacht van Gulpen
De Nacht van Gulpen is a nightly walk of 70 km through the hills of Southern Limburg. There are over 1000 participants every year. The event is characterized by a friendly and pleasant atmosphere. This not only goes for the participants, but also for the villages they pass through as well. Every year, the inhabitants organize various activities that give the atmosphere an impulse, and give the walkers some mental support. People who do not participate in the walk can also enjoy themselves at one of the many parties that take place inspired by the walking event.
13 - 22 March 2009 | TEFAF Maastricht
In the beginning of March every year, Maastricht is home to the world's leading arts and antiques fair The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF). For years, the fair has been high on the priority list of every international art dealer and art lover. This year the fair even exhibited top pieces by Van Gogh and Rembrandt.
The fair at congress centre MECC is a huge treasure-chamber, housing between 20,000 and 30,000 various art objects of superior quality. TEFAF is famous for its collection of Old Masters, but modern art is also well represented at TEFAF. There is plenty of furniture, prints, sculptures, manuscripts, textile, ceramics, glass, precious metals and jewels to behold at the fair. The 215 participants from fifteen countries save their best pieces especially for TEFAF Maastricht.
TEFAF is not limited to the MECC in Maastricht. You can experience arts and cultural events throughout the whole city. Local cultural centres and art institutions tailor their programmes especially to the fair and its audience. This year for example, shop window dummies in 15 shop windows were brought to life. Every day, passers-by were surprised by a French theatre group performing different scenes with these shop window dummies.
20 - 22 March 2009 | Theater aan het Vrijthof
Through out time, the Jazz festival at 'Theater aan het Vrijthof' has become a real tradition. The musical event takes place every year in the second weekend of TEFAF. Every artist who performs on the main stage of Jazz Masters Maastricht is part of the elite in their own field. The artists that performed last year were among others Yellow Jackets, one of the best fusion bands, Toots Thielemans, a peerless solo performer on the harmonica, and the Rosenberg Family (the famous threesome together with the Gipsy Boys) who offer the best when it comes to gipsy jazz. More artists of world-wide fame could be seen, such as Diane Schuur, Enrico Rava, David Linx & Fay Claassen, and Bobby Stern. The festival also held some surprises, such as The Duet from Israel and Steven Delannoye from Belgium.
11 April 2009 | Kennedy March in Sittard
Since 1963 thousands of people have been walking 80 kilometres on Holy Saturday through the Middle Limburg countryside. This as a result of a comment by former president of the United States of America J. F. Kennedy, who predicted that wealthy people would no longer be able to walk 50 miles within 20 hours. The Kennedy March Sittard is divided into recreational classes and a match class.
The organizers of Kennedy March persue for the march to be accessible to everyone. Therefore, they introduced a new distance in the recreational class: the Swentibold March of 40 kilometres. This distance is specifically meant for those who think a distance of 80 kilometres just a bit too far and for ex participants of the Kennedy March, so that they can still actively enjoy the event. Also, there is the Mini March of approximately 10 kilometres which is mainly meant to attract primary school children. And as it turns out, disabled people consider this distance to be a sporty challenge as well.
3 - 10 May 2009 | Lentebeurs Maastricht
Just enjoy yourself for a minute, spoil yourself and shop 'till you drop. For more than 50 years now, the Lentebeurs has guaranteed a lovely day out. Keeping in mind the spring tickles we all know so well, the Lentebeurs pays attention to current themes and trends. The 2008 theme was "Wellness - Feel Alive and Kicking!" During the 2008 Lentebeurs, hair dressers, beauty specialists, consultants, gym employees and spirtual guides of the Wellness Square make the visitors feel alive and kicking again. (free) facials, body massages and permanent make-up treatments were offered at the special Wellness Square every day. Apart from the theme "Wellness - Feel Alive and Kicking!" other themes were used such as Holiday & Leisure, Food & Drinks, Nine Months & Children, Fashion & Trends and Home & Garden.
Film Festival Maastricht
Film Festival Maastricht is the biggest film event in the region of Limburg. It is a must for those who enjoy quality art films and it offers a wild mix of international productions, especially imported productions, short films and a special view on female film directors. In this second edition, Film Festival Maastricht has once again spread her wings over the Euregion with shows in CineKarree in Aachen and in De Velinx in Tongeren.
Traditionally, the Festival puts the spotlight on a film maker whose roots lie in Limburg. This year, that film maker was Marleen Gorris. The programme contained items such as ‘the female look’, ‘great masters’ and ‘our Europe’.
may 14, 15 | Maastricht: Lieu de Passages?
On Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May, Maastricht University, Hogeschool Zuyd and the Jan van Eyck Academy organize in cooperation with the Municipality of Maastricht a conference on ‘Maastricht – European Capital of Culture 2018’.
The aim of the two-day conference Lieu de Passages? is to critically investigate the conditions of possibility for Maastricht to become European Capital of Culture. By inviting a diverse and international group of researchers, policy makers, cultural workers, artists and entrepreneurs at this early stage, the conference wants to actively contribute to shaping the direction this process takes.
Amstel Gold Race
De Amstel Gold Race is the only cycling classic of the Netherlands. It has been part of the cycling season since 1966. The race has been part of the UCI Pro Tour since 2005. The Amstel Gold Race is a race of twists and turns, narrow roads and a large number of short, but steep climbs in South Limburg which sometimes need to be taken more than once. Some of the most important climbs include the Cauberg, Keutenberg and the Eyserbosweg.
The starting point for this race is at the Markt in Maastricht. The finishing line is drawn at the top of the Cauberg in Valkenburg. Despite the lack of long climbs or cobbled sections of road, it is still one of the toughest races of the Pro Tour.
The Amstel Gold Race is a popular event for amateur cyclists. They can challenge the hills of Limburg on Saturday. The starting permits for this tour are sold out in no time, year after year. If you would like to take part in the event, you'd better respond quickly!