Today, we visited the captivating city of Maastricht, Netherlands. What a pretty place to dock! And being singly docked meant both sides of our ship had some fantastic views.

Situated in the south, Maastricht is the oldest city in the Netherlands, founded by the Roman Empire. It is also known as the birthplace of the EURO. We really enjoyed exploring this vibrant, charming, picturesque city.

At first Maastricht seems like your typical European town, set alongside the river with its historical buildings, town centers, cafes, restaurants, and shops.

The cafes, sweet pastries, and freshly baked breads were delicious, as expected. And meandering through medieval towns via their cobblestoned streets never gets old.

But there were a few gems here we were not expecting. My favorite discovery was the Boekhandel Dominicanen, an ancient 13th century church converted to a bookstore (and also called the Dominican Bookstore).

While unassuming from the outside, it’s incredible, and one of the few times I regretted being on a river cruise instead of staying in town – as I could have spent several nights here. I’ll let the photos do the talking, though I don’t believe they captured the full experience.

Our initial tentative steps into the Boekhandel Dominicanen were remarkable. We were utterly impressed and somewhat transfixed by the grace, elegance, and beauty.

The bookstore is famous for its breathtaking architecture with gorgeous soaring ceilings, stunning Gothic arches, and awe-inspiring stained glass windows.

Rows upon rows of colorful books line the majestic walls all throughout the church. Bookshelves are stacked with an extensive selection of choices from every genre.

And the towering ceilings were further enhanced by a vibrant array of colors, adding to the allure.

The abundance of intricate and ornate details made it challenging to absorb everything at once.

I was so mesmerized, I believe I lost sight of Ryan for quite a while. When I eventually caught up to him, he was in a similar state!

There was also a sweet little cafe, where you can order drinks, breakfast and lunch, or a few treats, and relax while enjoying yourself with your newest literary discovery. We pulled ourselves away from the aisles of books and made our way over to the cafe to order coffee and hot chocolate. We then allowed ourselves some time to sit and immerse ourselves in this incredibly unique and special ambiance, creating an unforgettable memory that I have since reflected on many times!

This truly is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. That said, it does sadden me to think that once upon a time, this beautiful gift of architecture was used to worship a Holy God. The setting is so serene, so magnificent…I can only imagine how lovely it must have been to have the privilege of enjoying it in that way.

When visiting Maastricht, please make sure to put this on your list of must see places. Also, stay tuned for the next blog post, where we discovered yet another very unexpected gem! For more information on our itineraries, feel free to email us at dtgainor@gmail.com or visit Global Getaways to learn more about how who we are and how we work.