Things to Do in Maastricht A Beautiful City in The Netherlands

Maastricht is a stunning and interesting town with lots of options for things to do. The city of Maastricht is in the Limburg Region of The Netherlands. There are loads of things to see while visiting the area, including lots of historical tourist attractions.

Maastricht

Visiting Maastricht was just by random chance for me on this trip, despite being a city on my bucket list to visit. My visit resulted because of needing to stay at the cheapest dog-friendly hotel in The Netherlands. We chose the Hotel Vue just outside of the city.

Maastricht in The Netherlands

Maastricht is in the Limburg area of The Netherlands towards the south of the country. The River Meuse/Maas runs through the city and is a stunning sight. The area outside of the city is the hilliest region of the country.

Why Visit Maastricht?

Bisschopsmolen Christmas

The Limburg City had been on my radar for 2 reasons before researching what to see and do.

Reason 1 was the connection to Andre Rieu, the greatest showman I have ever seen in the classical music field. I have enjoyed working and relaxing while listening to his music for years. His videos of the city had caught my eye a few times and looked a great place.

Fountain Main Square in Maastricht

Reason 2, the city’s political significance for the European Union where the Maastricht Treaty was signed. This was a treaty signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Communities in the city. The purpose of the treaty was to further European integration. Possibly one of the many causes of Brexit from my listening. The city has a few memorials significant to this. I felt I had to see before the UK left the union later in the month.

Things to Do in Maastricht

Statue in Maastricht

I arrived at the central train station on a foggy morning to be greeted with some inviting streets. The streets were lined with unfamiliar shops, bikes, and a few statues on street corners.

Find Plein 1992, a Memorial Square

Plein 1992

I then explored this side of the river to find the 1992 plaque at Plein 1992. Plein 1992 is a town square where the treaty is commemorated.

Walk to find the Stars of Europe Monument

Stars of Europe monument on a foggy day in Maastricht

I then headed down the footpath on the east bank of the River Meus, heading towards the other EU monument in the city. The Stars of Europe are on a roundabout to the southern end of the city, a short walk through Charles Eyck Park. This was a very misty day so didn’t see the stars in all their glory, but I was satisfied my need to see them.

Next was a walk back into towards the central areas again. I walked, hoping the mist cleared so I could take in the sights and take a photograph or 2. The river Meuse looked very mysterious with visibility very limited. The first significant building I come across was the Bonnefanten museum, which was very photogenic against the mist.

Visit the Bonnefanten Art Museum

Bonnefanten Art Museum

The Bonnefanten is an art museum with a stunning domed tower. It’s a fascinating building to see on the banks of the river. They use it for temporary art shows and have medieval & contemporary collections on show.

Mooch around Recentoren the Medieval Wyck city wall

Recentoren photo

Further upstream I passed some riverside fortifications known as Recentoren, a remnant of the Medieval city wall of Wyck. This was an interesting medieval artefact that would, on a clear day, have a magnificent view across the river.

Walk across the river on the Hoge Brug

Hoge Brug

Further along, the river was Hoge Brug, a foot and cycle bridge across the river. This bridge is 261 metres long. It opened in 2003, so quite a recent addition to the city.

Hoge Brug

This looked great through the mist and made me wonder what gems I would get to explore on the other side.

Walk Along The River Maas

View Across The Maas River Photo

The footpath along the riverside was nice, with loads of bikes parked up against the railings like in most Dutch cities. The fog was clearing and started getting glimpses of the opposite bank.

When the fog cleared, the waterfront was delightful to sit and chill and soak up the views across the river on both sides. There were boats moored up for cruises of the river and city canals. I would like to try one of these in the future. I would also combine this with a visit to the caves at Sint Pietersberg.

Visit Sint Martinuskerk a Neo-Gothic Church

Sint Martinuskerk a tourist attraction in Maastricht

Sint Martinuskerk is a church is a pleasant building to see when sightseeing in Maastricht. They constructed Sint Martinuskerk in a neo-Gothic style and it’s quite pretty to look at; they built it in between 1857 and 1858. The church is of the Roman Catholic denomination, one of 4 catholic churches in the city centre. They dedicated the church to Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages.

Refused Service at Coffeeshop, Missouri

Coffeeshop Missouri

When in Rome do as the Romans do, thus when in The Netherlands do as the Dutch do? I headed on my only job of the day to visit a “Coffeeshop” and get some relaxation for the evening. I spotted 2 coffee shops on Google Maps so picked the closest one which happened to Be Coffeeshop Missouri.

On entering, I reached the turnstiles. The owner explained some laws for the city of Maastricht. This, however meant, Netherlands only residents can enter or to make purchases.

Explore The Side Streets Of The Old Town

Cobbled Streets of Maastricht

The town centre has lots of narrow cobbled streets, lined with shops, restaurants, and a few bars. This was a nice place to be and browse around while it was quiet in Maastricht. The decor was great and the flags on the buildings caught my eye.

Christmas Decor Maastricht

In other parts of the city, the Christmas decorations still adorned the streets. As we visited in mid January, these were not lit up. Apparently Maastricht is lovely to visit in the festive season and has a wonderful Christmas market.

Visit the Basilica of Our Lady

Basilica of Our Lady Church

After wandering pretty aimlessly, soaking up the vibe, I found Basilica of Our Lady, well on the rear side first, which made for a wonderful photo.

Basilica of Our Lady

Basilica of Our Lady, also known as Church of Our Lady, is a pretty Romanesque church with an interesting design of 2 towers at the main entrance or westwork side. This was a building I had earmarked to see pre-visit. I was pretty impressed with what I found. More about the church’s history…

Watch the Bishops Mill (Bisschopsmolen) Waterwheel

Bisschopsmolen

The Bishops Mill is one of many fascinating things to see while sightseeing in Maastricht. Bisschopsmolen AKA Bishops Mill is a historic building with an active water mill and a bakery.

BISSCHOPSMOLEN

This is the oldest working water mill in the Netherlands, with a history dating back to the 7th century. Since then it has an interesting history, including being destroyed by the Spanish is 1577.

Bishops Mill

After that, they rebuilt the mill in 1609. This was fascinating to see all the mechanics of the waterwheel in action while enjoying the smell of fresh bread all around. Visitors can look around or purchase some delicious bread or flour that they mill here.

See the Medieval City Walls

Medieval City Walls of Maastricht

The medieval walls, which were of great interest for me to wander around. For good reasons, I am fascinated with fortress/city walls. These were best viewed from the city park, which runs alongside the river. The park has a lake/stream to wander along and take in the spectacular views.

City Walls Lake

They originally built the city walls in 1275 and are a fine example of medieval architecture with towers and gates. The walls developed and grew as the city expanded. The remains are a really great walk.

Onze Lieve Vrouwewal

Onze Lieve Vrouwewal is part of the old city wall that surrounds the old town of Maastricht that is near to the river. This section of the wall dates from the 12th century and they class it as a national monument.

Onze Lieve Vrouwewal Helpoort

If you follow the wall from the old bridge, it takes you to the impressive Helpoort. On the outside of the wall there are some cannons to see, which look great. These come from Liege and date from 1818. The park at the edge is pleasant and the views are beautiful, thus well worth a look.

Visit Helpoort, a 13th-century gate

Helpoort

One of the most prominent parts of the city walls is the Helpoort, a 13th-century gate that features a stately facade & 2 towers. This was fantastic on the eye and really got my imagination going and transcending back to medieval times in my head (Nope, I Had Smoked nothing).

The city walls led up to the university area of the city. I had nothing bookmarked for there, so head back into the city, via a pub for a Tongerlo, a strong Belgian beer.

See Father Vinck Tower

Father Vinck Tower

Another nice thing to see on the medieval city walls is the Father Vinck Tower. Father Vinck Tower dates from the 14th century and they completed it in 1380. They restored it during the early 20th century. They named the tower after a Franciscan priest that was executed here for betraying the city. Overall, Father Vinck Tower is a pleasant place to see when sightseeing in Maastricht.

Experience the vibe of Vrijthof Square A Must See for Tourists

Vrijthof

I then arrived at Vrijthof Square in the city’s heart, a very nice town square. This is the venue and backdrop for Andre Rieu’s classical music concerts. Vrijthof Square was quite impressive. It was quiet at the time, but I have seen it full in all its glory watching concerts on YouTube.

Museum aan het Vrijthof

The Vrijthof Square has buildings on all edges, including restaurants and bars. The square contains a bandstand, some sculptures and trees, a nice place to be. On the southern edge of the square, is the Museum aan het Vrijthof. This is a historic building with rotating exhibits of Dutch art.

Hoofdwacht

On the west side of the Vrijthof, are the more impressive buildings in the area. This includes Hoofdwacht, Basilica of Saint Servatius and Saint Jan’s church. The Hoofdwacht is a former military building where the Soldiers’ Guard was located. The building is currently used to host exhibitions or weddings.

Visit The Basilica of Saint Servatius

Basilica of Saint Servatius

The Basilica of Saint Servatius is an impressive Romanesque church and pilgrimage site. It is the oldest active church in the Netherlands. The church houses an impressive treasury and some nice cloisters.

Basilica of Saint Servatius Maastricht

Supposedly Saint Servatius died in 384 in Maastricht. They class him as one of the “Ice Saints” and his feast day is on May 13th every year. They buried his remains in a crypt that dates back to the 6th century in The Basilica of Saint Servatius.

Saint Servatius Bust

This tomb has been a place for a Maastricht pilgrimage for many centuries. Many have visited it, some more famous than other. This includes Pope John Paul II and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

See Saint Jan’s church

Saint Jan`s church

The red towered Saint Jan’s church is an impressive gothic protestant church building. Sint-Janskerk was one of the first four parish churches of the city in the middle ages. It takes its name from John the Baptist. The church was originally built in the 14th and 15th century, and they have restored it since. This tower is instantly recognisable by the 79 metres tall painted red tower. More info…

Tourist Information Centre

Tourist Information Centre

I was aiming for the river next, but headed past the nice-looking building that is the Maastricht tourist information centre. In the visitor centre, you can get guides, book a tour or pick up some local souvenirs.

Have a mooch around Bookstore Dominicans

Dominican Book Shop in a church

While sightseeing I spotted a church, however it was in fact a bookshop, an interesting repurposing of this building. The bookshop has a nice cafe and loads of books in Dutch or English. Bookstore Dominicans is in the over 700-year-old medieval Dominican Church, which has a great atmosphere inside.

Sint Servaasbrug The Oldest Bridge in The Netherlands

Bridge Sint Servaasbrug in Maastricht

Sint Servaasbrug is a 13th-century footbridge across the river. It is very photogenic with lots of arches and built from stone.

Bridge Maastricht Skyline

They named the bridge after Saint Servatius, the first bishop of Maastricht. Sint Servaasbrug is the oldest bridge in the Netherlands.

Bridge crossing and Maastricht Skyline

Using the footpaths at the edges to avoid cyclists and have a good look at the river, I crossed the Sint Servaasbrug. Sint Servaasbrug is a 13th-century footbridge that is a popular spot for photographs.

See The Monastery of Faliezusters

Another nice place to see when visiting Maastricht is the Monastery of Faliezusters. This is near some of the key sites on the medieval city walls. Monastery of Faliezusters is a national monument and a former monastery.

Falie Sisters Monastery

This small convent was founded in 1350 as the Monastery of St. Catherine, but soon they name the monastery after the monastic dress of the sisters. The sisters wore a veil or falie over their faces. After a fire, they rebuilt the monastery between 1647 and 1652 in the style of the Maasland Renaissance. Overall, a pleasant building to see when sightseeing.

Rommedoeke

Speciality Cheese Netherlands

While sightseeing, I visited a lovely deli and cheese shop, Rommedoeke. What caught my eye was the local cheeses produced in this region of the Netherlands. Sadly, we had no fridge to store cheese, so I enjoyed a takeaway sandwich to eat by the river.

Augustijnenkerk

Augustijnenkerk Maastricht

Another nice church to see while sightseeing in Maastricht is Augustijnenkerk. They built Augustijnenkerk in the 17th century as a monastery for the Augustinian order. It was closed towards the end of the 18th century and has had many other uses since then becoming a parish church, then more recently a place for cultural events.

Walking Tours For Tourists

Walking Tours Maastricht

A good option for sightseeing in Maastricht is to do a walking tour of the city. These tend to be a good options for those that prefer a guide. Personally, I prefer to do things at my pace and get lost in a city. There are options for walking tours, including free ones that are paid for by tips. There are some topic-specific walking tours on the Viator website, including tours of the fortifications.

Cabaret Douze Restaurant

Cabaret Douze Restaurant Maastricht

A nice thing to do in any city is to enjoy a drink or food at a place with good views. Cabaret Douze Restaurant has a lovely outside seating area on a pretty street, ideal for enjoying the vibe of the city. I enjoyed a bottle of Belgian Blonde beer here, which was nice. As it was early, many other visitors were enjoying a coffee. Overall, a good place for a drink in the morning.

Walking in Houthem Saint Gerlach

Countryside in Limburg

If you like countryside then a fun thing to do is to hike in the local countryside. St Gerlach, just outside Maastricht, is a very rural and had some great places to walk. This including some local caves, a small river and woodland. The village has some campsites, which I earmarked for a potential future European camping trip. There were many hiking trails along the river bank and onwards into the woods and hills.

Sint Gerlach Walk

The area was a great place for sunrise and sunset walks. The area by the river lent itself to some brilliant colours as the sun went down.

Houthem St Gerlach Train Station

St Gerlach train station was a fantastic spot for me to watch the sun come up while awaiting the train into Maastricht.

Travel To Maastricht in The Netherlands

I travelled into the city on a regional train from Saint Gerlach, which was a quick journey into Maastricht Station. Lots of trains run via and to Maastricht station, so I easy for people to arrive on an Interrail journey.

Where To Stay?

There are many options for places to stay in the city, including hotels and apartments. You can find these on Booking.com. We chose the Hotel Vue in St Gerlach by default as we wanted to visit Maastricht, but keep the prices as low as possible while being dog friendly.

Hotel Vue in Sint Gerlach

Hotel Vue fit the bill as it was cheap for a 2-night stay and was within easy reach by train to Maastricht. The hotel was pleasant and is in some lush countryside. Their hotel restaurant was great too, and we enjoyed some local specials.

Is Maastricht Worth Visiting?

Things to do in Maastricht

I really enjoyed my visit to Maastricht, especially finding its history and architecture fascinating. The dream return visit would be to attend an Andre Rieu concert at the Vrijthof, if not sold out. I would advise other tourists to arrange a tour at the tourist information centre if possible to get the best out of a stay in the city.

6 thoughts on “Things to Do in Maastricht A Beautiful City in The Netherlands”

  1. It does look a beautiful city, if not that traditional Dutch. It’s eerie in that misty light. The coffee shop policy is a little racist, no?

  2. Maastricht looks like a beautiful town, I really enjoyed all of your pictures and descriptions. I’ve been to quite a few places in the Netherlands, but have not made it here yet. I love the churches, medieval city walls and water wheel!

  3. What an interesting city and read the Maastricht blog turned out to be. You have some amazing photos in the fog/mist that really add to the posting. In fact, they are as interesting a the pics taken when the sun began to peer through. I also enjoy city/walls/fortresses and appreciate going back in time to when the signified the power of the city. THXS for posting

  4. I remember the treaty being signed, but I knew nothing about the city. Having read your post, I want to go. It looks beautiful. I love the misty photos, the cobbled streets, the architecture, the bookshop and the sound of that bakery. Definitely sounds like my kind of place. Shame you didn’t get that relaxing coffee though 😉

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *