Discovering Maastricht with Rafael Willems
Authors: Eleni Charami, Kosmas Nomikos
We are two conservators from Athens, Greece, currently completing our bachelor’s degrees in Conservation of Works of Art at the University of West Attica. We have been exploring the possibility of building our professional future in the Netherlands. Alongside our interest in conservation and the opportunities the country has to offer we have started learning Dutch and getting familiar with the country’s culture.
Kosmas has been attending Dutch lessons with Rafael Willems, while Eleni is still in the early stages of learning the language. Although we are not in a state to write or speak fluently yet, we can understand conversations and overall enjoy learning the language and discovering more about the Dutch everyday life. Rafael has certainly contributed to our positive experience with the language, with his encouragement making us want to engage further. When we heard about the Maastricht tour organised by Restauratoren Nederland, it seemed like a great opportunity to practice Dutch in a friendly setting while exploring the city.
It was a perfect sunny afternoon, and we all gathered at the train station - or so we thought! Rafael had had a little accident and couldn’t join us in person, but surprisingly, that didn’t stop him from giving us a great experience. We explored Maastricht while listening to Rafael’s recorded voice on a phone, as he guided us through the city, explaining all the little details about each place we visited. His radio-presenter voice and personal jokes made it feel like a real podcast!
The tour began at Maastricht railway station and continued towards the historic Sint Servaasbrug, the city’s famous stone bridge. Along the way, we stopped by the Mestreechter Geis statue, a symbol of the city’s spirit, and explored the charming historic Stokstraat. We then walked along Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal, following the old city walls towards Helpoort, the oldest surviving city gate in the Netherlands. From there, we continued to De Vijf Koppen, an extension of the medieval fortress, where we stopped to admire the view before walking through the park and along the medieval city walls.
The group had varying levels of Dutch proficiency, but those who understood the language helped by translating into English for the others (mostly us two). Throughout the tour, many participants also shared fun little facts and stories, ranging from fraternity traditions and old local tales to spots where spiders could be found!
After exploring the city, we ended the tour with a drink together, enjoying some more conversation and each other’s company. Many thanks to Restauratoren Nederland and Rafael Williams for organising this lovely and memorable afternoon!
