La Bergère by Joanna Monkhouse

Maastricht is one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities – not in terms of population but of location. A drop at the bottom of the Netherlands, it is closer to Belgium and Germany in both architecture and attitude. An easy city to spend a couple of days exploring, it is a culinary hot-spot sporting no less than 4 Michelin-starred restaurants and a host of boutique shops.

La Bergere is conveniently located near the station on the northern side of the river. It’s 67 rooms have been decorated in a tongue-in-cheek minimalist style – blown up photographic prints dominating the walls behind the comfortable beds, a couple of shelves and hooks instead of cupboards, simple white-tiled bathrooms with Aveda products. A small dog replaces the ‘do not disturb’ sign. Some of the special suites have €18k beds, water beds or round beds. There is a rooftop gym and basement spa. The stylish library/lounge serves tapas in the afternoon, dj and drinks in the evening (also popular with locals) and an extensive buffet breakfast in the mornings and extra late at weekends, well suited to its hip, young clientele.

Like many hotels, La Bergere caters to business guests during the week, though rooms lack desks, and pleasure seekers at the weekend. Many are Dutch, as Maastricht is such a contrast to the rest of the country, it makes an ideal short break destination.