TEFAF Maastricht 2024 opens on 9th March, and for those who are making their travel plans, GCC encourages everyone who is able to take the #TraintoTEFAFMaastricht. 

The fair, which features over 260 dealers from around 20 countries, will take place at MECC Maastricht, where it has been welcoming visitors since 1988. Maastricht is a historical city lying close to the Belgian border, and is perfectly placed for visitors to arrive by rail.

So how can visitors travel climate consciously to Maastricht next month?

Climate Conscious Travel

At GCC we advocate for climate conscious travel. This means seriously considering the impact of our journeys, and, importantly, addressing the amount that we fly.

This is because stepping on a plane is the single most carbon-polluting action we can take as an individual in our everyday lives. The data we’ve collected through GCC’s carbon calculator shows that air travel is typically one of the biggest contributors to most galleries’ carbon footprints.

We acknowledge that the art sector is an international community built on connection, and it’s not always realistic for us to stop travelling entirely. But by taking advantage of the public transport connections that already exist, particularly within Europe, we can reduce or remove our reliance on flights, stay on track to meet 2030 emissions reductions targets, and continue to meet and connect with each other.

In other words, taking the train instead of flying is one major way that we can all reduce our impact, now.

Tips for travel to TEFAF Maastricht

TEFAF Maastricht, which is widely regarded as a leading fair for fine art, antiques, and design, will run from 9th-14th March. Alongside art works from over 260 dealers, visitors will be able to attend TEFAF Talks as well as the inaugural TEFAF Summit, which will focus on ‘Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in a Changing World’ and will be hosted in association with the Netherlands Commission for UNESCO.

There is plenty to see and do in Maastricht, making it an ideal city for a short break. Cultural sights include Bonnefanten, Marres House for Contemporary Culture, and Boekhandel Dominicanen, one of Europe’s most unique bookshops housed in a 13th century cathedral. The fair itself will be held in the MECC Maastricht, which is located just outside of the city centre.

For those visiting Maastricht from across Europe, reaching the fair by train is simple. Maastricht-Randwyck station, which is connected to an international rail network, is only 250 metres from MECC Maastricht. In addition, there are regular connections into Maastricht Central Station.

From within the Netherlands, there are direct rail connections to Maastricht from Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Utrecht. Trains from Rotterdam take as little as 2 ¼ hours with a change in Eindhoven.

Visitors travelling from Brussels can make the journey by intercity or regional trains in an average of 1 ¾ hours, often with just one change in Liège. A single ticket costs around €24. The journey time from Cologne is the same, and the price for a single ticket is only €20. Around 36 trains per day connect the two cities, giving travellers plenty of options.

For those travelling from further afield, Maastricht’s prime location makes even longer-distance journeys from around Europe relatively straightforward.

Visitors from Paris can make the journey in around 3 ¼ hours, often with just a single change in Aachen, and costing €49 for a single ticket. Those travelling from London can simply add a Eurostar connection and make the journey in around 4 ¼ hours, with a single ticket costing around €85.

The journey from Berlin, which is around 560km away, takes just over 6 hours and can cost as little as €39 one-way. Some journeys have only a single change in Amsterdam.

There are no direct flights to Maastricht-Aachen airport from Paris, London, or Berlin - flying requires a layover, or a direct flight to Eindhoven, Düsseldorf, Brussels, or Cologne followed by a transfer. This means that taking the train can often be faster, more affordable, and more accessible than taking a flight.

Even more importantly, travelling by train makes huge savings when it comes to carbon emissions. As an example, we’ve compared the emissions generated by a flight from London to Eindhoven followed by a taxi transfer to Maastricht, and the emissions generated by a rail journey.

Whether you’re travelling from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, or beyond, there are plenty of resources available to help you plan and book your journey.

Trips can be planned and booked in advance using websites like Rail Europe or Trainline. Meanwhile, The Man in Seat 61 has published a wealth of in-depth guides to train travel all over the world, including hundreds of routes within Europe. 

Changing the culture

The arts sector isn’t alone in needing to address its travel habits: many industries rely on frequent, high-impact international travel. But it’s time for all of us to consider how we can change long-held norms and create a new climate conscious culture, and taking the train and celebrating regional connections is one way you can play your part.

Sharing tips and ideas is another way to help everyone in the community make meaningful changes.

So, if you’re making plans to travel to TEFAF Maastricht by train, GCC encourages everyone who is able to take the #TrainToTEFAFMaastricht and share your travel plans. Tag us in your posts and stories, or reach out ahead of time to share your journey so that we can feature your trip as a member case study!

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