TEFAF Maastricht – The European Fine Art Fair
TEFAF Maastricht – The European Fine Art Fair
TEFAF Maastricht – The European Fine Art Fair
By Vivienne Chapleo & Jill Hoelting, photos courtesy of TEFAF
We would rather be mingling with art lovers at TEFAF Maastricht!
TEFAF Maastricht – The European Fine Art Fair – is the world’s leading arts and antiques fair. It is held annually in the Netherlands second-oldest city, Maastricht. Only the very finest art and antiques are offered for sale at the fair, which is housed at the MECC – Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre.
TEFAF Maastricht – The European Fine Art Fair
When WAVEJourney attended TEFAF Maastricht in 2008, we were amazed and in awe of the magnitude of the fair and number of antiques showcased. Somewhere between 15,000 and 35,000 objects were on display in an area spanning approximately 300,000 sq ft, and with a value of well over $1 billion.
Visiting TEFAF was alike to being in a massive museum where you could purchase any object that took your fancy (that is, if money were no object!).
TEFAF Maastricht – The European Fine Art Fair
We were not at TEFAF Maastricht on a buying trip, but to observe and explore. In doing so we witnessed a Frenchman purchasing a chair for approximately Euro 60,000. We overheard him state that he believed it would be a nice addition to his office in Paris. Well, of course it would be!
Tips for Attending TEFAF Maastricht:
Restaurants:
- Don’t worry about going hungry whilst shopping for that must-have piece of art to ship home, there are a variety of food and beverage vendors and a number of private-invite receptions for clients. Everything from coffee and pastries to champagne and oysters. Coffee bars are also located in the MECC building and offer the usual sandwiches, soups and bistro fare.
Accommodation:
- Make sure to book accommodations as far in advance as possible, or be prepared to stay in neighbouring communities. WJ only had time to spend one day at TEFAF, so opted to take a scenic 2.5 hour train ride from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Maastricht, near the border of Belgium – cost approximately Euro 25 roundtrip.
Transportation to MECC:
- Shuttles run on a regular basis from various hotels and the Maastricht train station to the fair. Otherwise it is about 2km from the main shopping area.
Admission to TEFAF 2013:
- Euro 55 for one ticket, including catalog (weighs about 5lbs), or Euro 90 for a double ticket and one catalog.
Cloakroom:
- Bags will not be permitted inside the fair, so check them and your coat at the cloakroom. There is a small fee for this service.
TEFAF 2013:
- This year’s dates are March 15 to 24.
- If you can’t make it to the fair in 2013, put the date on your calender for 2014 – it’s always held in March.
So, if you have a passion for art and antiques, attending TEFAF Maastricht must be on your bucket list. You won’t be disappointed!
If You Go:
– TEFAF
– Holland Tourism – Netherlands Board of Tourism
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