How to reach Sint Jan’s church
The APPEC Vacuum Tech Forum will be held in Maastricht/NL at the iconic Sint Jan's Church (Vrijthof 24), centrally located in the heart of the city on the Vrijthof square.
Traveling to Sint Jan's Church by car
The closest parking lot is Q-park Vrijthof, located below the church. Reserve your parking space via the Q-park reservation system. A day ticket is 35€. There are also numerous other parking facilities in and around the city center; generally (much) cheaper the farther outside of the center.
Traveling by public transport/walking to Sint Jan's Church
When staying in the city center, several bus lines can drop you off within a 10-minute walk of the venue with lines 15, 350, 4, 7 and 1 of provider Arriva stopping directly at Vrijthof square. You can easily plan your bus connection with www.9292.nl. Alternatively, when staying in the city center the Vrijthof square should be within reasonable walking distance for most hotel locations.
The ET-Pathfinder is located in the Maastricht University building on Duboisdomein 30. Bus lines 1, 5, 10, and 57 again from provider Arriva will take you to bus stop “Randwycksingel”, located around the corner of Duboisdomein 30, a 3 minute walk away. Though there is a parking lot, access is restricted, so we strongly advise you to make use of public transportation. You can also walk from Sint Jan's Church to ET-Pathfinder, which takes about 30 min.
How to reach Maastricht
The beautiful city of Maastricht is located in the southeastern Netherlands in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, which reaches into Belgium and Germany. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Limburg. Maastricht can be reached by Trains and Buses or by car.
Within the Netherlands
- Major providers are NS (long-distance trains) and Arriva (local trains and buses around Maastricht). You can use https://9292.nl to plan your journey across all providers.
- You can buy train tickets at ticket machines on the platforms, or before your journey in he NS online portal. Keep this ticket with you (either digitally or printed) until after the end of your journey! At some stations (e.g. Amsterdam, Eindhoven), you need it to exit through the turnstiles.
- On buses, you can purchase tickets from the driver. They will only accept debit/credit cards, no cash.
- Most convenient, however, is to use your debit/credit card to check in. Simply tap it against the card reader on the platform or in the bus to start your journey. If the station has turnstiles, hold the card onto the small window. Once you arrive at your destination, tap the card again (inside the bus, on the platform, or again at the turnstiles) to check out.
- Some non-Dutch cards refuse to work, but just give it a try!
- You can go here https://zelfregelen.ovpay.nl/reisoverzicht to create a printed statement of your travels.
- Caution: if you travel to Maastricht Randwyck via Maastricht Centraal, you will be changing train providers from NS to Arriva. In this case, you have to check out at an NS card reader and then immediately back in at an Arriva card reader. They are located right next to each other on the platforms.
International
- Train from an airport in Belgium; https://www.b-europe.com/EN or https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
- Train from an airport in Germany; https://int.bahn.de/en
- In case you need to travel across borders & train providers, a service such as https://www.thetrainline.com works well. For a small surcharge, they will provide you with all necessary tickets in one go.
- Long-distance busses; https://global.flixbus.com
Nearby Airports
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) - Amsterdam, Netherlands (Approximately 219km away)
Use the train to Utrecht Centraal and then switch to the train to Maastricht; travel time around 2:35h - Brussels Airport (BRU) - Brussels, Belgium (Approximately 102km away)
Take train to Brussels or Leuven/Louvain, then on to Liege Guillemins (futuristic train station featured e.g. in Guardians of the Galaxy), then to Maastricht; travel time around 2:15h
(note: RyanAir flies to Brussels Charleroi (CRL), which is less conveniently located) - Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) - Düsseldorf, Germany (Approximately 148km away) and Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Cologne, Germany (Approximately 109km away)
Local trains connect these airports via Cologne central station and Aachen; travel time around 2:30h - Eindhoven Airport (EIN) - Eindhoven, Netherlands (Approximately 86km away)
Use the direct bus 400 from airport to Eindhoven Centraal, then the train to Maastricht; travel time around 1:30h - Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) - Rotterdam, Netherlands (Approximately 212km away)
Take bus 33 to Rotterdam Centraal, then trains to either Utrecht or Eindhoven, where you can switch to the train to Maastricht. - Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) - Maastricht, Netherlands
This small airport has very few flights, but you can be lucky e.g. with RyanAir flights from Barcelona, Porto or Bari.
Sightseeing Tips
Explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Maastricht with these must-see attractions:
- Vrijthof Square & Onze Lieve Vrouwe Square: Experience the heart of Maastricht at the Vrijthof Square, home to impressive churches. Nearby, the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein offers charming cobblestone streets lined with cafes and shops, perfect for leisurely strolls or sitting on a terrace.
- Maastricht Underground: Dive below the surface of the city to discover an intricate network of caves and tunnels dating back centuries. Explore the fascinating underground passages on guided tours; reserve your tour.
- Maastricht Old Town: Stroll through the charming streets of the Old Town, lined with picturesque buildings, quaint shops and inviting cafes. Don't miss the iconic Helpoort, the oldest remaining city gate in the Netherlands.
- Dominican Bookstore: Step into this historic Bookstore, housed in a former 13th-century Dominican church. Browse the extensive collection of books while admiring the stunning architecture.
- Vlaai of the Bisschopsmolen: Treat yourself to a slice of authentic Limburgse vlaai (traditional cake) from Bisschopsmolen, a historic watermill-turned-bakery. Indulge in this local delicacy with a flaky crust and delicious fillings.
- Free Walking Tour Maastricht: looking to visit all the small intricacies and architectural details of the inner city? Book a free walking tour taking you to all of them, accompanied by background information and history by a guide.
With its mix of historical landmarks, cultural treasures and culinary delights, Maastricht promises an unforgettable sightseeing experience for every visitor.
