Whenever I travel, I am always looking for live music. When I was in Maastricht, way in the most southern tip of the Netherlands, I discovered Café Duke around the corner from my hotel.

The owner, Gabriel, was most gracious and generous with his knowledge of rock and blues music and turned me on to The Nighthawks.

There’s live jazz on Wednesdays and blues on Sundays. Except for the one day I was there. It was the day after the Dutch carnival.

“When I’m open for carnival, I have to take everything down off the walls, because otherwise everything gets stolen,” the owner told me “So I’m busy putting everything back up on the walls today.”

Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to come back.
Which I don’t mind at all!

If you’re visiting Maastricht or Valkenburg any time soon, pop into Café Duke.
Especially on a Wednesday or Sunday. Unless it’s the day after carnival, of course.