Inside TEFAF Maastricht with Architectural Digest

The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) is widely regarded as the world’s preeminent organization for fine art, antiques, and design. Each March, the leading art and antiques dealers from nearly 20 countries present their finest work, which covers about 7,000 years of art history. The flagship fair takes place in Maastricht, in the Netherlands, in a space that is totally transformed by thousands of tulips, carnations, anemones, and huge branches of magnolia. This season only, you’ll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes of TEFAF Maastricht, with a preview invitation to the fair—before it opens to the public—and a special-access itinerary expertly curated by Architectural Digest Contributing Editor Mitchell Owens and Indagare Founder Melissa Biggs Bradley. In the words of Mitchell Owens: “I’ve attended art and antiques shows for decades, yet none has affected me—creatively, intellectually, culturally—like TEFAF Maastricht. It is the most important fair of its kind in the world, a paradise of rare and wondrous treasures, from ancient to contemporary, where museum curators and top-flight collectors seek out the best of the best in every possible category.” Quite simply, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip for connoisseurs and collectors.

This trip is currently sold out, but email insiderjourneys@indagare.com to join the waitlist.
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What to Expect

For this special journey, we are thrilled to partner with Architectural Digest  and TEFAF to give you unmatched access to TEFAF Maastricht. Highlights of this itinerary include the opportunity to:

  • Get first access to TEFAF Maastricht—the most significant and exclusive art, design and antiques fair in the world—with expertly-curated visits on the two preview, invitation-only days of the fair (on March 9 and 10—before the fair opens to the public on March 11). You’ll meet the best of the best of the design world, from preeminent collectors and curators to artists and architects, with the chance to witness (and browse*) singular pieces across mediums and time periods, before they are swept off into the world’s finest private collections, galleries and museums. This experience is exclusively available for our travelers, for this season only, thanks to Architectural Digest and Indagare’s connections and our collaboration with TEFAF.
  • Enjoy private invitations to receptions at galleries and other TEFAF exclusive venues, in the company of your hosts, AD Contributing Editor Mitchell Owens and Indagare Founder Melissa Biggs Bradley—as well as local friends, artists and members of the TEFAF team.
  • Have a special visit of Axel Vervoordt’s Kanaal, a mini “city” for design located within a complex of beautifully restored 15th- and 16th-century houses, containing galleries and exhibition spaces, Axel’s own antiques collection, an organic market and much more.
  • Experience a charming, classical tour of Flanders’ fine art and architecture, and cultural history, with daily touring in Maastricht, the Netherlands and day trips to Antwerp and Genk, Belgium and Aachen, Germany.
  • Stay at the beautiful La Butte aux Bois, which is a convenient 20 minutes from TEFAF, with daily breakfast included. Due to the heightened draw of the fair, it is often impossible to secure hotel rooms this close to the fair, without a connection.
  • Indagare’s expert team can arrange tailor-made trip extensions, with the purchase of membership. Some of our favorite suggestions for this trip are Antwerp, Amsterdam, Paris, London or Milan. Email us to learn more.

*For those who are interested in buying, the vetting process is one of the main pillars of TEFAF Maastricht’s fame. The TEFAF vetting committee is devoted to creating an atmosphere in which buyers can buy works of art with confidence.

Please note that elements of the itinerary may change.

The health and safety of our travelers is our No. 1 priority. We are committed to upholding the highest safety standards, while providing world-class hospitality and a seamless travel experience. For any questions, please reach out to our team at insiderjourneys@indagare.com.

Past
  • When
    March 8 - 12, 2023
  • Length
    5 days / 4 nights
  • Type of Traveler
    Art Lovers , Style Mavens , Intellectuals

This Journey's Host

MITCHELL OWENS, AMERICAN EDITOR OF THE WORLD OF INTERIORS & CONTRIBUTING EDITOR OF AD

Owens has held editorial positions at leading newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, and has written about interior decoration, architecture, art and landscape design for publications ranging from The World of Interiors to Out, of which he was a founding editor. Long fascinated by Islamic architecture and design, Mitch and his family spent the early 2000s living in Marrakech, and today they are based in New York. Photo by Gabrielle Langdon.

MELISSA BIGGS BRADLEY, INDAGARE FOUNDER & CEO 

After a successful career as an editor at Town & Country, Melissa founded Indagare in 2007 because she believed that creating a platform for exchange between passionate travelers would allow for more transformative journeys and meaningful global connections. Since then, she has been recognized as a pioneering entrepreneur in the luxury travel space, as well as one of the foremost experts on travel to Africa. She has visited more than 100 countries over the course of her travels and has scouted in Flanders and western Europe many times. Melissa’s first book, Safari Style: Exceptional African Camps and Lodges, was released in the fall of 2021.

Curious to receive the full itinerary and join the trip? Contact us and find out more.

Trip Details

In preparation for the journey, members will also receive a comprehensive departure package that includes an itinerary, packing list, accommodations overview and other important information.

  • When
    March 8 - 12, 2023
  • Length
    5 days / 4 nights
  • Group Size
    Up to 24 travelers
  • Host
    AD's Mitchell Owens and Indagare's Melissa Biggs Bradley

Includes

  • Four nights’ accommodation at La Butte aux Bois in Lanaken, Belgium. Indagare can arrange upgrades, subject to availability
  • All meals and beverages, as detailed in the itinerary
  • All guided touring, admission fees and activities, as detailed in the itinerary
  • Expert guides, as indicated in the itinerary, including your Indagare and AD hosts and the 24/7 support of Indagare’s partners on the ground
  • The services of Indagare’s expert travel team to plan all Journey details, international flights and trip extensions for those who want to arrive early or stay later in the arrival or departure cities (costs not included). We recommend flying through Brussels International Airport in Belgium.
  • 24/7 access to Global Rescue emergency medical, security and evacuation services for the duration of the trip

Excludes

  • Air transportation to and from the Netherlands/Belgium and airport transfers
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary and alcoholic beverages other than those included in the meals
  • Optional activities and personal items and expenses
  • All gratuities
  • Trip insurance (highly recommended— please let us know if you would like to see quotes)
  • Custom trip planning for add-on travel to destinations not included in the Journey is available; please inquire
  • Liability for change in itinerary due to reasons beyond our control (change in flights, cancellations, political disturbances, natural phenomena)
Curious to receive the full itinerary and join the trip? Contact us and find out more.

What To Read

Indagare has selected articles from our website and magazine to prepare you for your journey. Peruse inspiring slideshows, insider tips, reading lists and more.

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