Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. As such it has over 1600 national heritage buildings, second only to the capital city Amsterdam. This means that the city has very much to offer when it comes to sights and culture. Being relatively far away from
City hall at the market
Situated at the market square of Maastricht you will find the stately city hall building. This beautiful construction is designed by the Dutch master Pieter Post and was completed in 1644. It served as the nerve center of law and the administration of Maastricht for many years. It is possible to visit and go inside for an exclusive look at the great hall. Just park your rental car in Maastricht and stroll towards the market, you can’t miss it.
Kruisheren monastery
Also in the Maastricht city center you will find the Kruisheren monastery. This is the former monastery of the Kruisheren, which roughly translates into cross lords. It is one of the few remaining gothic monasteries in the Netherlands and has a large archive which is in surprisingly good condition. This archive serves as an important source of the cities rich history. Since the monks left the monastery it has served different uses. Currently it is home to the Kruisherenhotel, where you can book a room and spend the night in this amazing building.
Bookstore Dominicanen
This is one of our favorite places in the entire city and one where really should let your car rental in Maastricht take you to. It is both a bookstore, an old church as well as a coffee bar which serves lunch to boot. The building is a 13th century gothic church with incredible paintings on the vaulted ceilings. If the place was entirely empty, there would’ve still been enough to see for hours. Add to that it is not empty, but filled with bookshelves as far as your eyes can see. No wonder British newspaper The Guardian named it the most beautiful bookstore in the world!
The Bisschopsmolen
This very instagrammable location is where you will find an old and restored water mill. It is used to make pastries and bread in the original way, which you can enjoy while attending a tour around the location. From farmer to miller and eventually baker, the old process results in some of the tastiest baked goods you have ever tasted! Besides the tours and the mouth watering bread and pies, you can also attend baking workshops and even stay overnight! Rising early with the bakers is allowed, but luckily not required.
Vrijthof
The Vrijthof is a charming square in the center of Maastricht. It often serves as the location for concerts by the world famous Dutch classical musician André Rieu and other such events. The square is surrounded by old buildings which remind you of an era gone by, when Maastricht was still the religious heart of the region and a military base as well. Hence there are two famous churches overlooking the square. You will find many cozy terraces situated here where you can sit down, order a drink and take in the atmosphere.
Sint Servaas basilica
The basilica of Saint Servaas was built above his tomb to honor him. As a catholic church it stands next to the protestant Sint-Janskerk in brotherly fashion, making these two churches unique ‘twins’. Historically there isn’t much information about Saint Servaas, but the legend goes that he was an Armenian bishop who moved his seat to Maastricht because of political unrest. There he became the first bishop of the Netherlands and also the first proclaimer of the faith in the country. Through the ages, many Europeans from Scandinavia to Hungary and from England to Portugal have made the pilgrimage to Saint Servaas’ basilica, which has continued up to this day. The basilica itself is actually the oldest church still in existence in the Netherlands and is as beautiful as it should be. For believers and lovers of history alike, this is a place worth visiting.
Sint-Janskerk
Originally built around 1200 in honor of John the Baptist. The Sint-Janskerk was meant to serve baptism and parish church so that the Sint Servaas church would be unburdened a little bit. Most notable about this church is the large, red tower which proudly stands in the skyline of Maastricht. You can climb up the first 43 meters of the tower to enjoy the spectacular view of the Vrijthof and the rest of the city. Even though the relation between the protestant Sint-Jan and the catholic Sint Servaas basilica is now very friendly, it hasn’t always been like that. During the 17th century for instance, the church council of the Sint-Jan complained about the way the Sint-Servaas would loudly ring their bells during sermons in the Sint-Jan, dubbing it the wolves’ dance.
Brewery Bosch
The oldest and still complete brewery of Maastricht. Beer was brewed here from 1758 up until 1970 and from that moment on, time stood still in this magical place. The brewery is massive and all of the machinery is still in the same place as it was when it was still up and running, making it a great museum. Here you can take a tour and finish up with a tasting of some specialty beers after it is finished. Yum!
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasilica
This roman church in the center of Maastricht is an immense structure. Especially its westside is very tall and imposing. The church is full of exquisite art and is also home to a treasure room filled with ecclesiastical treasures and artworks which you can visit during the guided tours. The custom is for both religious and non-religious visitors to light a candle at the altar where a beautiful statue of Maria stands. The light of the many small candle reflects in the glass behind it which protects the statue, creating a unique result.
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwen square
Upon visiting the basilica, passing by the adjacent and similarly named square is something you don’t want to skip. It’s quite small and has some very big trees. This combined with the Westside of the basilica towering above all other structers creates a very intimate and cozy atmosphere. A few decades ago this area was used as parking space, but today you will find perfect examples of the Maastricht hospitality, good food and tasty beverages at the nice terraces on the square.
Het Dinghuis
This is where you will find the Maastricht Visitor Center. The building has a long history and is named after one of its former uses. Dinghuis comes from the Dutch word ‘dingen’ which translates into jurisdiction. So you have probably already guessed, this is where the court of law of the city sat for a long time. Actually, it had two! Both that of the Dutch province Brabant as well as that of Liège. Quite something, isn’t it?
Naturehistorical Museum Maastricht
Travel through time, from the coal era to the chalk sea that used to cover a large part of Europe all the way up to the aquarium filled with fish that live in the local creeks and waters. This museum does exceptionally well in creating a dynamic and interactive environment to tell the stories of how nature and mankind have affected each other over the course of time.
Kazematten
Between 1575 and 1825 the inhabitants of Maastricht dug like moles to create a network of corridors and mine shafts on the Western side of the city. The entire underground system has a total distance in tunnels of over 14 kilometers long! They were used to defend the city. During a siege these tunnels made it possible to sneak up on the enemy from behind and gain the advantage. You can book your ticket for a tour through the tunnels for just a few euro’s and learn all about their history whilst carrying a lamp to light your way. Very fun!
Bombshelter museum
This is a permanent exposition in one of the Kazematten corridors. In the previous century, the Kazematten served as a bombshelter for the local population. First during the second World War, when the Germans bombed the area, and later during the Cold War as tensions between the US and the Soviet Union rose to a boiling point. After the Cold War the tunnels were decommissioned and have been used for historical purposes since. When you visit this museum you can immerse yourself in the feelings of those hiding from the raging war over 70 years ago, which is interesting to say the least.
Bonnefanten museum
Right by the river Maas sits the iconic Bonnefanten museum building which was designed by Aldo Rossi in 1995. The museum had been located in a former monastery prior to the construction of the its current home. That monastery was called ‘couvent des bons enfants’ by the population during the 18th century, which translates into monastery of the good children. This was because the nuns there raised the children so well. That name was dumbed down into the name Bonnefanten which became its generally used title and as such was given to the museum which came into the former monastery much later. The collections consist of both old and new pieces which form a very nice combination together.
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