TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair)

Each March, over 250 leading art and antiques dealers from nearly 20 countries typically present their finest work, which covers about 7,000 years of art history. The fair takes place at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC), a nondescript space that is totally transformed by thousands of tulips, carnations and anemones, as well as huge branches of magnolia. The beauty of TEFAF is its refinement, including elegantly decorated rooms or stands (you simply can’t call them “booths”), an illustrated doorstop-size catalog, and an easy-to-negotiate layout divided into nine sections, ranging from Old Master to blue-chip Modern and Contemporary art and design. Close to 170 international experts vet every object on view for quality, authenticity and provenance. Coming to TEFAF is regularly likened to visiting a museum where almost everything is for sale. And unlike at other art fairs, here visitors are a lot more interested in the art than in the art of people watching.