The charming city of Maastricht in Zuid-Limburg is renowned for its beauty and culture, and its love of music, art, and the written word. And it’s because of this that we find a number of independent groups in the area offering supportive outlets for creatives. One such group is the Maastricht Writers’ Workshop. 

Once Upon a Time
Established in 2022, the Maastricht Writers’ Workshop provides an important space for English-speaking writers in the Maastricht area to connect and collaborate, with the aim of helping improve one another’s work, provide a sounding board, and offer encouragement.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christine Karren, writer/blogger and (founding) member of the Maastricht Writers’ Workshop. “If you are comfortable writing in English and looking for a safe spot to share your work, then the Maastricht Writers’ Workshop is for you,” says Christine. “And we are always happy to welcome new members (over 18 years of age), who wish to join our group.”

With a mix of diverse backgrounds and nationalities (USA, Belgian, British, Canadian, Dutch), already on board, the Maastricht Writer’s Workshop is proving to be popular, whether one is an aspiring writer or experienced author.

Heavenly Vibes
The Maastricht Writers’ Workshop meet once a month to discuss works-in-progress and share ideas and advice. They also organise book readings, the most recent of which took place on 8 June at Boekhandel Dominicanen. Housed lovingly inside a former church, this bookshop not only offers the chance to casually browse shelves (they carry publications in many languages, including second-hand books) but to peruse their impressive music section or enjoy a beverage at Coffeelovers, situated on the former altar. What a spot for a book reading event!

Chapter & Verse
On 8 June, the audience was warmly welcomed to the book reading event by the Maastricht Writers’ Workshop and treated to various excerpts – read by the authors themselves* – from the publications: ‘Froggy Cat in Space’ by Lynne Jorritsma, ‘The Booking of Warnings’ by Kirsty Boar, ‘The Things We’ve Seen’ by Maggie Holman, ‘Return to Les Jonquières’ by Caroline Muntjewerf, and ‘The Deceit of Riches Trilogy’ by Val Karren.

With such a blend of genres and styles, the audience – young and old – was certainly inspired and entertained and even got to mingle with the writers after the event with the option to purchase a book and have it signed.

Be sure to keep a watch on the Maastricht Writers’ Workshop Facebook and Instagram channels for details of other upcoming events, and to learn more about how you can support local writers.

About the author
Tracey Taylor is an aspiring photographer, part-time writer, and former magazine editor. She loves animals, choir singing, and yoga. She is Irish and lives in Maastricht with Dave and their cat, Little Tubbs. @traceytaylor_nl

*Excerpt from The Book of Warnings by Kirsty Boar was read by Christine Karren