Maastricht

Maastricht or Maestricht, city in the southeastern Netherlands, capital of Limburg Province, on the Maas River, near the border with Belgium. It is an industrial center in which textiles, chemicals, ceramics, and glass are produced. Many historic structures are here, including the Cathedral of Saint Servatius, founded in the 6th century, the oldest church in the Netherlands. Maastricht is also a noted cultural center with a music conservatory, symphony orchestra, and natural history museum. The city gained international prominence in December 1991 as the site of an historic summit meeting where leaders of the 12 European Community nations agreed on a treaty to speed their economic and political integration (see European Union). This treaty, officially called the Treaty on European Union, became known as the Maastricht Treaty. Population 121,600 (2004).