The area now known as The Netherlands was part of the Roman Empire. The Romans’ first major site of occupation within the Netherlands was at Traiectum ad Mosam (“the crossing of the Maas”) at what is now the historical center of the city of Maastricht.

Roman occupation was not without its struggles and bloodshed. However, under the banner of the Roman Empire, the Germanic tribes were united in shared identity and language, flavored with their local culture. This unification reflected a larger social community which would become the bedrock for the modern Dutch identity.

At the heart of the Via Belgica roadway, at the intersection of rivers and tribal settlements, it is not surprising that Traiectum ad Mosam as modern Maastricht would become the crossroads of Europe- with Belgium within its city environs, and France and Germany less than a half hour’s drive away. And true to its continental setting, Maastricht was the location of the creation of the European Union, uniting again many cultures under one banner.

Watch this introduction to Roman Maastricht (available with English subtitles):