Surroundings Maastricht

Maastricht is known for its picturesque squares, romantic streets, and historical buildings. The tourist information office (VVV) is located in the Dinghuis, a 15th-century former courthouse on the corner of Grote Staat and Kleine Staat. The main sights include:

Inner city:

  • Inner city shopping district, including Grote Staat and Kleine Staat, and high-end shopping street Stokstraat. Maastricht is also well known for its cafés, pubs and restaurants.
  • Dinghuis: a medieval courthouse with an early Renaissance facade.
  • Entre Deux: a recently rebuilt shopping centre which has won several international awards.
  • Dominican church: a bookstore located in a former 13th-century Dominican church. In 2008¸ the British newspaper The Guardian named it the world¹s most beautiful bookstore..
  • Sint Servaasbrug: the eldest bridge in the Netherlands.

Vrijthof:

  • This famous square is considered by many to be the beating heart of the old city. It features the massive Saint Servatius Basilica and Saint John‘s Church and hosts a range of large festivals throughout the year. The carnival before Lent is a wonderful event, where (it looks like) the whole city dresses up in costumes and celebrates until the early hours. You have to see it to believe it.
  • Saint Servatius Basilica: the Romanesque church of Saint Servatius. The tomb of Saint Servatius in the crypt is a popular place of pilgrimage: Pope John Paul II visited here in 1985.
  • Saint John‘s Church: a sandstone Gothic church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist with a distinctive red tower. It is the city’s main Protestant church.
  • Theater at the Vrijthof: the main city theatre, with a neoclassical facade.

Onze lieve Vrouweplein:

  • A picturesque treelined square with an abundance of pavement cafés.
  • Basilica of Onze Lieve Vrouwe: an 11th century church, commonly known as the Star of the Sea, after an old title for the Virgin Mary.
  • Derlon Museum cellar: a small museum in the basement of Hotel Derlon with Roman remains.

Markt:

  • The fairly large market square has been the stage for markets for centuries,and still houses goods markets on Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s a lively square, surrounded by cafés, shops and eateries.
  • The Town Hall: built in the 17th century by Pieter Post.
  • Mosae Forum: a new shopping center and municipal building.

Bassin:

  • A restored early 19th century inner harbor with restaurants and cafés.

Jekerkwartier:

  • A picturesque neighborhood with the small river Jeker popping up between old houses and remnants of city walls.

Wyck:

  • The old quarter on the right bank of the river Maas.
  • Rechtstraat: the main shopping street in Wyck with a mix of specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Céramique:

  • A modern district on the former site of the former Céramique pottery factory. Now a showcase of architectural highlights and musea such as the Bonnefantenmuseum, which is one of the most important museums of old masters and contemporary art in the province of Limburg.

City Fortification:

  • Helpoort: a 13th-century town gate, the eldest in the Netherlands.
  • Fragments of the first and second medieval city walls.
  • Hoge Fronten (or Linie van Du Moulin): remnants of 17th- and 18th-century fortifications with a number of well-preserved bastions and an early 19th-century fortress, Fort Willem.
  • Kazematten: an underground network of tunnels, built as sheltered emplacements for guns and cannons. These tunnels run for several miles underneath the city’s fortifications. Guided tours are available.

Parks:

  • Stadspark: the main public park on the west bank of the river.
  • Monseigneur Nolenspark: an extension of the Stadspark with remnants of the medieval city walls.
  • Aldenhofpark: another extension of the Stadspark, with a statue of d’Artagnan.
  • Charles Eyckpark: a modern park between the public library and Bonnefantenmuseum on the east bank of the river Maas.
  • Griendpark: a modern park on the east bank of the river with an inline-skating and skateboarding course.

Sint-Pietersberg:

  • Fort Sint Pieter: an 18th-century fortress fully restored in 2008.
  • Grotten Sint-Pietersberg (caves): a sandstone (marl) quarry with a network of man-made tunnels.
  • Hoeve Lichtenberg: a farmstead containing a ruined medieval castle keep.
  • D’n Observant: an artificial hill on the Sint-Pietersberg.