Maastricht

Maastricht or Maestricht, city in the south-eastern Netherlands, capital of Limburg Province, on the Maas River, near the border with Belgium. It is an industrial centre producing textiles, chemicals, ceramics, and glass. Many historical buildings are there, including the Cathedral of St Servatius, founded in the 6th century, the oldest church in the Netherlands. Maastricht is also an important cultural centre, with a conservatory of music, 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. This treaty, officially called the Treaty on European Union, became known as the Maastricht Treaty. Population 121,600 (2004 estimate).