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Maastricht is the Netherlands' southernmost city, with a charming, international character. Positioned at the crossroads of European cultures, languages and trade routes, Maastricht has a long and exciting history. It is the oldest city in the Netherlands, founded in 50BC. Romanesque churches and stately patrician houses are made for aimless strolling or cycling: the Stokstraat and Jeker districts are the most picturesque. The conference location is only at walking distance from the historical city centre.
The city's least expected claim to fame is that it saw the real-life D'Artagnan swash his last buckle. In 1673, aged 62, the fourth musketeer was killed while leading an attack on the city walls. Those fascinated by fortifications can trace the history of the city's defences, from the 13th-century Helpoort to the underground shelters used in the Second World War, on a fortification walk, brochure available at the tourist office of Maastricht (www.vvvmaastricht.nl).

A more modern addition to the city's skyline is the bulbous dome of the Bonnefanten Museum, at Avenue Céramique 250, (www.bonnefanten.nl) where the superb permanent collections span medieval sculpture, old masters - including works from Amsterdam's soon-to-be-refurbished Rijksmuseum - Arte Povera and 1970s minimalism.
The museum is housed in a building designed by the Italian architect Aldo Rossi. Together with the Cupola on the River Maas, it is one of Maastricht's most prominent landmarks.
Groups can tour the museum with a professional guide. The Bonnefanten Highlights Tour provides background facts on the building's architecture and interesting information about special artworks in the collection. Enthusiastic museum guides provide up-to-date information on exhibitions - an excellent way of making your visit to the Bonnefanten Museum complete.

Maastricht certainly lives up to its reputation of being an "arty" city. Not only because it has several academies of art and music, it also offers a variety of museums, galleries and other places of interest:

Museum Spanish Gouvernment
the museum contains period rooms with mainly 17th and 18th century furnishings, including furniture, silver, porcelain and pottery, glassware and paintings; www.museumspaansgouvernement.nl

Natural History Museum
among the museum's highlights are the remains of enormous Mosasauriers and Giant Turtles found in marlstone at the St Pietersberg caverns. Fossils of all shapes and sizes show how South Limburg has changed in the course of the last 300 million years.

Historical Printing Museum
The printing shop dates from about 1900 and is still in use, making this a living museum. Besides traditional skills, the artistic side is given ample attention. A number of display cases with various materials and equipment present an historical overview of the development of the art of printing. A number of old printing presses can be set into motion. www.drukmuseum.nl

"Rondje Maastricht"
is a walk through the old inner-city past a number of antique dealers and art galleries with an established reputation; www.antiquesmaastricht.nl

The city also has a great number of galleries where contemporary artists exhibit their work. And on the streets... there you will find a 'permanent exhibition' of statues by well known Dutch sculptors.

Information on the exhibitions and opening hours of the Gallaries you can find in the magazine "Uit in Maastricht", available at the tourist office of Maastricht.