Some hotels have their own kayaks including Lula’s and Cocomo but if you want to see the islands and surrounding reefs up-close in a boat, you can rent one at BiBi’s on the beach in Carenero. Ask any boat driver to take you there from Isla Colon. Kayak rentals are based on hourly rates. BiBi’s also rents Stand Up Paddle Boards and offers lessons hourly.

You would almost miss them. Almost. Because as soon as you pass the entryway to the St. Servaas Basilica, you’ll figure out that it’s worth walking on. You’ll see for yourself that Maastricht doesn’t end at the Vrijthof. Sometimes you just have to take those few extra steps. That’s when Maastricht will surprise you with just how surprising the city centre really is. The Vrijthof has a number of little streets leading into it from all directions. They include Brusselsestraat, Grote Gracht, and De Kommel. Unlike the more idyllic boulevards in most of the rest of the city, these streets evoke a feeling of the urban, the artistic, the unknown. Here, students and locals come and go: artists, designers, professionals. It’s an area that’s moving fast: new shops, start-ups, young businesses, surprising concepts. Yet at the same time, it’s bursting with historic buildings, and is still very much a place where locals want to live. In truth, you can’t really describe the streets around the Vrijthof in a few words. It’s where local, university, business, authentic, forward-looking, and surprising Maastricht all come together.

Located on the top of the hill known as Petrov, the free-standing Romanesque basilica was rebuilt as a Gothic cathedral in the 13th century and then converted to the Baroque style in the 18th century. The twin spires are depicted on the Czech 10Kč coin.

Kaleidoscope is a colorful art studio where children can playfully foster their creativity. Bows, cardboard, jazzy junk, puzzle making, and painting with melted crayons are just a few of the fun things to do. There are even independent art sessions available that are free on a first come first served basis.