7 Top Things to Do in Maastricht, the Netherlands
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A lovely stroll around a picturesque historic city is what Maastricht is all about. When you arrive, you cannot help but agree with what thousands of tourists have said before – Maastricht is one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands.
Set along both banks of the River Maas, Maastricht is the most important city in the southeastern area of the country, just 3 kilometers from the Belgian border.
Major art museums and well-preserved medieval churches are waiting to welcome you here. You will certainly not run out of amazing things to do in Maastricht.
Keep reading to learn more about the top things to do in Maastricht!
This post was written by Ask The Dutch Guy.
A World in Reach contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a commission at no cost to you! Read my full disclosure here.
About Maastricht
The Romans founded Maastricht in 50 BC. It was fortified in the 3rd century and again in the 14th century.
Maastricht also played an important role in modern history. It was here that the original 12 member states of the European Union met for the first time with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.
The city’s stunning landmarks include the St. Servatius Bridge built in 1280, the Dinghuis courthouse constructed in 1475, the St. Servatius Cathedral founded in the 6th century (the oldest church in the Netherlands), and several other churches and fine houses in regional Renaissance and French styles.
An interesting feature of the city is the more than 300 kilometers of man-made underground passages dug from Roman times to the 19th century. They are called the Caves of Maastricht. The passages were created to hide peasants and cattle during the wars with Spain and art treasures and refugees during World War II.
There are so many treasures and secrets waiting to be revealed. Here are just seven top things to do in Maastricht.
1. Explore Fort Sint Pieter and the Caves of Maastricht
Fort Sint Pieter is an ancient fort found on Mount Saint Peter, standing at the northernmost section of a large plateau stretching between Maastricht and Liège, Belgium. Mount Saint Peter is a nature reserve and recreational area.
Fort Sint Pieter was built in the 18th century to defend the city from the French. You should definitely visit this intriguing site. The fort is well-preserved, but what really makes it unique is the network of underground passages – the Caves of Maastricht or the St. Pietersberg Caves.
You can walk inside and explore these caves on a guided tour. It is a vast system of tunnels and passages formed over many centuries by the quarrying of local marlstone.
The caves are over 300 kilometers with around 20,000 passageways. Some of the tunnels were fortified and enlarged to serve as storerooms, a bakery, and even a chapel during World War II.
Here, important art treasures, including Rembrandt’s Night Watch, were kept safe during the war.
2. Discover the Treasures of Saint Servatius
The Treasures of St. Servatius is the fitting name of the rich Treasury of the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Servaaskerk (Saint Servatius Cathedral). The church treasury is now a museum where you can find priceless religious items.
Visit the museum to see several sacred artifacts, pictures, and statues. The most precious treasures here are the Late Romanesque casket of St. Servatius, the first Bishop of Maastricht who died in AD 384, the Noodkist (Distress Chest), which is a metalwork masterpiece that is carried around the town whenever calamity threatens, the tomb of Charles of Lorraine, a statue of Charlemagne, and the remains of a 12th-century altar.
The Basilica of St. Servaaskerk is the oldest church in the Netherlands. It was constructed in the 6th century atop the grave of St. Servatius. Inside this magnificent church, you will see the Imperial Hall, Imperial Gallery, and Bergportaal doorway with its Biblical statuary from the 13th century.
There are guided tours to help you around. You are welcome to attend mass. The Basilica also regularly holds free concerts.
3. Tour the Basilica of Our Lady
Another impressive cathedral to see in Maastricht is the Basilica of Our Lady (Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw).
The basilica was built around 1000 AD, the crypts and the transepts were added in 1150, and the east choir and gallery were built in the early 1200s.
Today, you will see only a portion of the original church that has survived through the years.
The choir area bears a Late Gothic design with a large crypt. The side chapel, on the other hand, contains the image of Our Lady Star of the Sea that dates back to the 15th century. Other must-see features inside the Basilica are the west crypt, church treasury, the beautiful 16th-century cloister, and the west tower.
If you’re lucky, you can catch public organ recitals during your visit.
4. Visit Bonnefanten Museum
Bonnefanten Museum is home to Maastricht’s most important art collections, including several paintings from the Dutch Masters and a number of Italian and modern works.
You can also find rich collections of medieval art and wooden sculptures from the 13th to 16th centuries.
The museum used to be a convent home called Bonnefanten, which stands for “bons enfants” or “well-behaved children” in English. It is located on the banks of the River Maas. You can’t miss it. The museum building is an ultra-modern structure with a palatial edifice and a massive conical tower that looks like a rocket ship.
Before your visit, send an advance notice if you need the English language guided tour.
In addition to Bonnefanten, there are two smaller museums in town that are worth visiting. First, Maastricht’s Natural History Museum displays fossils and local rocks representing the geological development of the region. There is also a fascinating cabinet of curiosities here where you’ll find a rare example of a ‘rat king’, a group of rats joined together by their tails.
Another small museum is Museumkelder Derlon, located in the basement of the Derlon Hotel. Here you will see Roman ruins and artifacts dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries. You’ll also find an old Roman fort, a cobblestone road, the façade of a sanctuary entrance from around AD 150, and the base of a statue of Jupiter.
5. Relax in Valkenburg
Valkenburg is 13 kilometers east of Maastricht. Make a quick trip to see the only hilltop castle in the Netherlands. It is a very popular holiday resort for its amazing and restful spas.
One of the largest and most popular spa establishments in the country is Thermae 2000. Try its warm spring-fed baths and pools, healing mineral waters, and visit the botanical garden.
Stroll around Valkenburg’s old town to see several fun and historic attractions. Take a look at rows of old traditional houses, such as the 17th-century Huis Den Halder and 15th-century Huis Ost, the old town walls, remnants of the 14th-century fortifications, the old Grendelpoort and Berkelpoort town gates, and St. Nicolaaskerk, a Late Gothic church dating from the 14th century with a splendid triptych depicting scenes from the life of St. Remigius.
6. Walk along the Old Town Walls and Hell Gate
Maastricht’s Old Town is a highlight of any visit to the city.
Walk along the old town walls, which were constructed around 1229. Make sure to pass by and take pictures at the Jeker Tower and Hell Gate (Helpoort) on St. Bernardusstraat. This is the wall’s most impressive section and the oldest town gate in the entire country.
Take a look at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal also. It is a stretch of old wall offering fine views over the municipal park with its old cannons. The sight is simply magnificent.
7. Fall in love with Market Square
All roads in Maastricht lead to Market Square, where you’ll find the Dutch Baroque Stadhuis, Maastricht’s city hall.
The city hall was originally built as a Cloth Hall in the 1650s. It’s notable for its fine neoclassical façade with a charming doorway and an imposing double staircase. In the past, the two rulers of Maastricht, the Duke of Brabant and the Prince-Bishop of Liège, ascended the matching stairs to enter simultaneously.
Lose yourself in Market Square on Wednesday or Friday when the food market is open, and on Saturdays to catch the flea market.
Another popular area in the city for a lovely stroll is along Wilhelminabrug and St. Servaasbrug. The Wilhelminabrug is an old bridge over the River Maas offering views of Maastricht’s picturesque riverside districts. St. Servaasbrug, on the other hand, is a splendid seven-arched bridge that was built in the 13th century.
Not far is the historic Wyck District on the right bank of the Maas. Spend some time here to see remnants of the old town wall.
These are just seven of the top things to do in Maastricht. The city has several other historic and artistic treasures for you to discover.
Many of Maastricht’s old streets and riversides are immensely pedestrian-friendly, which means the best way to really appreciate Maastricht is to stroll along the many people-friendly streets and laneways.
If you’re limited on time, you can always visit Maastricht on a day trip from Amsterdam.
Maastricht becomes even more popular and magical during the Christmas Season. The Dutch people and travelers from all over Europe come here to experience the Maastricht Christmas Market, an annual event at Vrijthof Square. The place transforms into a spellbinding merry wonderland as the city goes into full Christmas mode. This is something you shouldn’t miss when visiting the Netherlands at this time of year.
Are you planning a visit to Maastricht? Let me know in the comments!
About the Author: Ask The Dutch Guy is your go-to guide when it comes to The Netherlands. The goal of Ask The Dutch Guy is to showcase the beauty of The Netherlands and to inspire others to explore the country. Read more about Ask The Dutch Guy. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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