After a most delightful noon at the Philips Stadion with the legends of PSV (goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen lifting the European Cup (now Champions League) in 1988 and also Romário), it’s time to visit Eindhoven and see what the city has to offer.
The imposing Augustijnenkerk.
Sint-Katharinakerk dominates the Eindhoven central landscape.
Eindhoven city centre. The government are obviously football fans too.
Some more pics of Eindhoven. It’s a modern city – quite unlike the other typical Dutch cities with waterways and canals dotting the built-up areas. Strangely, I felt that the city lacked a soul, save for the PSV stadium.
From here onwards, I have a dilemma. It was already almost 3pm and I have enough time to go to one more location. Since I could realistically go a bit further south, I decided to visit Maastricht.
On the way, we passed by the small city of Sittard.
I don’t know if this is Offermans Joosten Stadion stadium (home of Fortuna Sittard) since I snapped a pic of it on the train and have no time to take well-positioned shots for comparison. I’m aware that their old home, de Baandert is no longer in use.
Maastricht is very far south, close to the border with Germany and Belgium.
From the railway station, you’d need to walk rather far to access the ancient city. Keep walking along the Stationstraat and you’d end up at the Roman bridge.
It’s quite a distance, though, so be prepared to spend some time.
This is the old part of Maastricht.
Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw (Basilica of Our Lady).
Lots of old buildings..
Scenic views along the River Maas. This place is a definite contrast with Eindhoven. If possible, I’d surely visit this city again – just to explore the historical aspect of it.
For now – it was an exhausting first full day in the Netherlands. The next day would be equally tiring, but would be a sweet experience. I think you could almost smell the syrup…
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