Onze Lieve Vrouweplein

The Onze Lieve Vrouweplein ("The Square of Our Dear Lady") is a square in the centre of Maastricht in The Netherlands.

Well-known for its many café terraces, the square was voted the most beautiful square in the Netherlands in 2002 by readers of "Kampioen" magazine, a publication of Dutch motorists' organisation ANWB.

The Onze Lieve Vrouweplein is named after a Romanesque church on the square, the Basiliek van Onze Lieve Vrouwe Tenhemelopneming (or Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek for short), which probably dates back to 1100. The square was originally the church's graveyard.

Archeological excavations have revealed that the church was built on or near the remains of a Roman temple. In 1986 remains of a 3rd-5th century Roman settlement were discovered in the basement of Hotel Dernon, a hotel on the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein.

The European Institute of Public Administration, an EU-affiliated independent institute carrying out training and research on public administration and European policies, is located on the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein.

ources

* [http://www.pharosreizen.nl/images/mail/pdfNL/maastricht.pdf Pharaos Reizen] (Dutch, PDF)
* [http://www.sterre-der-zee.nl/teksten/geschiedenis.html Sterre der Zee] (Dutch)