If you're looking for arts and culture, the Maastricht Region is definitely the place to be – an area with a long and very rich cultural history.

So it should come as no surprise that the region houses a variety of historical museums and sites, ranging from artefacts from the Roman era in the Thermen Museum in Heerlen to the treasure chambers of Cathedral Saint Servatius in Maastricht, from the Museum of Natural History to the Museum at the Vrijthof Square (located in the former Spanish Government) Museum. Internationally oriented contemporary art work can be found at the striking Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, Museum Het Domein in Sittard and at Schunck Glaspaleis in Heerlen. A variety of galleries in the region adds to the diversity of artwork on display.

With Schunck Glaspaleis in Heerlen and Centre Céramique in Maastricht by way of example, public libraries in the Netherlands are often much more than just a place to borrow a book; they present frequently-changing exhibitions, often house various community oriented events and organisations (like a music school) and and have a coffee bar.

Theater, music and dance performances can be seen at the city's theaters or music halls. Often cities have a two movie-theaters one for mainstream movies and one for art-house movies. For an after dinner drink or late-night dancing, the region offers plenty of opportunities in the bars and café's that turn into dancings at night.

Within an hours drive the world opens up with plenty of possibilities for culture lovers in Eindhoven, Aachen, Liege, Hasselt, Genk.

Excerpts from vvvmaastricht.nl

Theatres

(in Dutch)

Theatres in Parkstad

• Parkstad Limburg Theaters

Theatres in Sittard-Geleen

• Het Laagland (youth theater)
• Theater Vistazo
• Stadsschouwburg Sittard-Geleen
• Pitboel Theater Sittard
• Theater Karroessel Geleen

Theatres in Maastricht

• Theater aan het Vrijthof
• Toneelgroep Maastricht
• Huis van Bourgondië
• Magisch Theatertje
• Pesthuyspodium

Cinemas

In the Maastricht Region the following cinemas are available (in Dutch):

• H5 Theaters
• Royal Theaters
• Filmhuis De Spiegel
• Foroxity Filmarena Geleen
• Filmhuis Het Domein
• Minerva Maastricht
• Lumière Cinema (in English)

Musea

• Bonnefanten
• NAIM/Bureau Europa
• Natuurhistorisch Musem Maastricht
• Thermen Museum (in Dutch)
• Schunk*
• Het Domein
• Land van Valkenburg (in Dutch)
• Continium (in Dutch/German)

Galleries

• B!S 71, Geleen
• Hotel Dis, Maastricht
• Galerie Huub Hannen, Maastricht
• Judy Straten, Horst
• New Untitled, Venlo
• Galerie Rob van Rijn, Maastricht
• Van Sint Fiet Galerie, Maastricht
• Galerie Stevens, Maastricht
• Galerie Wansink, Maastricht
• Galerie White Rouge,  Maastricht