Editing Maastricht (section)

=== After World War II ===
[[File:Europese Raad in Maastricht, 27a Van Agt e.a. tijdens conferentie, 28a en 29a overzicht tijdens conferentie met links Thatcher, Bestanddeelnr 931-3910.jpg|thumb|Prime minister [[Dries van Agt]] presiding over the 1981 [[European Council]] in the town hall]]
During the latter half of the century, traditional industries (such as Maastricht's [[pottery|potteries]]) declined and the city's economy shifted to a [[service economy]]. [[Maastricht University]] was founded in 1976. Several European institutions found their base in Maastricht. In 1981 and 1991 [[European Council]]s were held in Maastricht, the latter one resulting a year later in the signing of the [[Maastricht Treaty]], leading to the creation of the [[European Union]] and the [[euro]].<ref>Gnesotto, N. (1992). European union after Minsk and Maastricht. ''International Affairs''. 68(2), 223–232.</ref> Since 1988, [[The European Fine Art Fair]], regarded as the world's leading art fair, annually draws in some of the wealthiest art collectors.

Since the 1990s, large parts of the city have been refurbished, including the areas around the main railway station and the Maasboulevard [[promenade]] along the Meuse, the Entre Deux and Mosae Forum shopping centres, as well as some of the main shopping streets. A prestigious quarter designed by international architects and including the new [[Bonnefanten Museum]], a public library, and a theatre was built on the grounds of the former Société Céramique factory near the town centre. Further large-scale projects, such as the redevelopment of the area around the [[A2 motorway (Netherlands)|A2 motorway]], the Sphinx Quarter and the Belvédère area are under construction.

In the early 2000s, Maastricht launched several campaigns against drug-dealing in an attempt to stop foreign buyers taking advantage of the liberal Dutch legislation and causing trouble in the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- Tekst: -->Maastricht Van onze verslaggever |url=http://www.limburger.nl/article/20080311/REGIONIEUWS06/803110348/1056 |title=Coffee Corner: Dagblad de Limburger |publisher=Limburger.nl |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-date=31 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831232055/http://www.limburger.nl/article/20080311/REGIONIEUWS06/803110348/1056 |url-status=dead }}</ref>