Trip to Maastricht: The 10 most beautiful sights

Maastricht, the capital of the Dutch region of Limburg, is located directly on the border with Belgium and just a few kilometers from Germany. Around 12,000 people live in the southernmost city in the Netherlands .

Maastricht entices with an exciting mix of attractions: Although the city is the oldest in the country, it has a youthful flair: there are many students, hip cafés and bars, and numerous cultural highlights. We'll tell you which attractions you absolutely shouldn't miss during your visit to Maastricht.

A great starting point for exploring Maastricht is the market square with the town hall, the Stadhuis. This free-standing building, entirely clad in stone, dates back to the 17th century and is considered an important example of Dutch classicism.

Interesting fact: The Treaty establishing the European Union was signed in the town hall on February 7, 1992. Maastricht's market takes place on the market square, and there are several restaurants and cafés.

Panorama of the historic market square with the town hall of Maastricht.

Source: IMAGO/Zoonar

Particularly beautiful is the town hall's bell tower, built in 1684 and featuring a carillon of 49 bells. Fun fact: There's an almost exact replica of the tower near Moscow at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. When Peter the Great of Russia once visited Maastricht, he was so impressed that he had a replica built in his homeland.

In the heart of Maastricht, Vrijthof Square is a popular meeting place. Its name comes from its origins as a Roman and early medieval cemetery. The vast square is surrounded by numerous cafés and the city's most beautiful houses. There are a total of 38 listed buildings on the Vrijthof.

The Vrijthof Square in Maastricht is surrounded by numerous listed buildings.

Source: IMAGO/Depositphotos

Highlights include the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Servatius (Sint-Servaasbasiliek), the Gothic Church of Saint John (Sint-Janskerk), the largely 16th-century Spanish Government House (Spaans Gouvernement), the 18th-century Military Guard House (Hoofdwacht), and the early 19th-century General's House (Generaalshuis).

Directly next to the Basilica of Saint Servatius stands the Sint Janskerk, which dates back to 1218. When the Church of Saint John—its German name—was renovated in 1984, the church's distinctive tower was given its red color.

View of the Basilica of Saint Servatius and the Church of Saint John with its distinctive red tower.

Source: imago images/Cavan Images

A top attraction in Maastricht is the view over Vrijthof Square with all its highlights. To enjoy the panorama, you can climb the tower of the Sint Janskerk (St. John's Church). The view from a height of 79 meters is absolutely breathtaking. Caution: The spiral staircase is narrow and steep. Small children or people with a fear of heights should therefore stay at the bottom.

A superlative in Maastricht leads over the water. The Saint Servatius Bridge or Servaas Bridge (also called "Aw Brögk" in Maastricht) is probably the oldest surviving bridge in the Netherlands. It was built in the 13th century when an old Roman bridge nearby became unusable.

Record: The Saint Servatius Bridge is probably the oldest preserved bridge in the Netherlands.

Source: imago images/Shotshop

Until 1930, the bridge, built by the Romans, was the only one connecting the banks of the Meuse. Today, the Saint Servatius Bridge is a landmark of the city and connects the Wyck district across the Meuse with the center of Maastricht.

On the edge of the old town near the banks of the Meuse River, the Basilica of Our Lady (or "Slevrouwe," as the people of Maastricht call it) rises into the sky. This stately building was built as early as the year 1000. A church stood on the site where the Basilica of Our Lady stands today as early as the 5th century. It is believed that it was built on the remains of a Roman temple. This makes the Basilica of Our Lady the oldest architectural monument in the city.

Today, the Basilica of Our Lady is a national monument and a popular landmark in Maastricht. The cloister and treasury provide fascinating insights into the church's history. Particularly worth seeing are the richly embroidered choir mantels and vestments, as well as the so-called "Levite's robe" of Saint Lambert, the penultimate bishop of Maastricht.

Another church holds a treasure for literature fans and bookworms. The Dominican Church, located between the Vrijthof and the Markt, houses arguably the most beautiful bookstore in the Netherlands—in the picturesque setting of the Gothic church with its high ceilings and several round arches.

A bookstore is hidden in the former Dominican church in Maastricht.

Source: imago images/epd

The Dominican Bookstore offers around 20,000 books from all genres, from fiction to children's books, art books, and specialist literature. The former priest's choir houses a café where literary events and concerts are regularly held.

In the heart of the city, Maastricht boasts a very special building: a historic watermill called the Bisschopsmolen. Powered by a large waterwheel, the mill dates back to the 11th century and is located in a small alley near the Jeker River, a tributary of the Meuse. Flour is still milled here today.

Since 2005, the building has housed the Bisschopsmolen bakery of the same name, famous for its organic products, sandwiches, and a typical Limburg specialty: the vlaai, a covered pie filled with fruit (plum, apricot, apple, or cherry).

A top attraction in Maastricht that attracts many art and culture fans is the Bonnefanten Museum. Its architecture alone is unique: Built between 1990 and 1995 on the banks of the Meuse River, the building is an absolute eye-catcher with its zinc-roofed dome and was designed by the Italian architect Aldo Rossi.

View of the impressive dome of the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht.

Source: imago images/Arcaid Images

The museum displays an extensive collection of ancient and contemporary art. The collection of ancient art includes medieval sculptures and Southern Netherlandish and Italian paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. The contemporary art collection is young and internationally oriented, with a focus on artists of Minimalism and Arte Povera.

Towering over Maastricht is the historic fortress of Fort Sint Pieter, built in the early 18th century to defend the city against attacks, as it had suffered several sieges and conquests over the centuries. Its location at the highest point in the city proved to be strategically valuable.

Top attraction in Maastricht: Fort Sint Pieter, built at the beginning of the 18th century.

Source: IMAGO/Pond5 Images

The fortress served as a military installation until 1867, after which it was converted into a national monument and tourist attraction. Today, you can stroll along the fortress walls and towers and learn more about Maastricht's history inside the fort.

The Sint Pietersberg attracts visitors not only with its fortress, but also with the secrets hidden within. Beneath the earth's surface lies an underground world. The mining of limestone sand over approximately 800 years has created numerous kilometers of tunnels beneath the mountain.

During the Nazi occupation, the tunnels served as a military hospital, a bunker, and a hiding place for art treasures such as Rembrandt's painting "The Nightgown." The underground labyrinth consists of two parts: the Noord Grotten and the Zonneberg Grotten, which is why different tours are offered.

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