Things to Do in Maastricht, Netherlands | What to See

Maastricht is an interesting city in the Netherlands, with a historic old town, riverside walks, medieval walls, striking churches and plenty of things to do.

My visit happened almost by chance while I was looking for a cheap, dog-friendly hotel in the Netherlands. That led us to Hotel Vue, just outside Maastricht, and gave me the chance to explore a city that had already been on my bucket list.

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The River Meuse/Maas runs through the city and is a prominent sight. The area outside of the city is the hilliest region of the country.

Where is Maastricht?

Maastricht is in the Limburg region in the south of the Netherlands, close to the borders with Belgium and Germany. Its location gives the city a different feel from many other Dutch destinations, with nearby countryside, hills and easy cross-border travel options.

Why Visit Maastricht?

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

Reason 1 was the connection to André Rieu, the greatest showman I have ever seen in classical music. 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 it looked like a great place.

Reason 2: the city’s political significance for the European Union, where the Maastricht Treaty was signed. This treaty was 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. The city has a few memorials significant to this.

Things to Do in Maastricht

There are various things to see in Maastricht, including some fascinating medieval fortifications, monuments and churches.

Vrijthof Square

Vrijthof Square in the city’s heart is a very pretty town square with a few of the city’s landmarks. It was quiet, but I have seen it full in all its glory, watching André Rieu concerts on YouTube. The Vrijthof Square has buildings around its edges, including restaurants and bars. The square contains a bandstand, some sculptures and trees. On the southern edge of the square is the Museum aan het Vrijthof, which has exhibits of Dutch art.

On the west side of the Vrijthof are the area’s more impressive buildings. This includes Hoofdwacht, the 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.

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 cloisters.

Saint Servatius died in 384 in Maastricht, and his remains are in a 6th-century crypt inside the Basilica. This tomb has been a place of pilgrimage for many centuries.

Saint Jan’s Church

The red-towered Saint Jan’s Church is an impressive Gothic Protestant church. 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 centuries and has since been restored. This tower is instantly recognisable by its 79-metre-tall, painted-red structure. More info…

Bookshop Dominicanen

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

Basilica of Our Lady

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

The Basilica of Our Lady, also known as the Church of Our Lady, is a pretty Romanesque church with two towers at the main entrance, or westwork side. More about the church’s history…

Side Streets Of The Old Town

The town centre has many narrow cobbled streets lined with shops, restaurants, and a few bars.

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

Walk Along The River Maas

The riverside footpath was scenic, with loads of bikes parked against the railings, as in most Dutch cities. The fog was clearing, and I started getting glimpses of the opposite bank. When the fog cleared, the waterfront was delightful for sitting, chilling, and soaking up the views across the river on both sides. There were boats moored up for cruises of the river and city canals.

Sint Servaasbrug: The Oldest Bridge in The Netherlands

Sint Servaasbrug is a 13th-century footbridge across the river. It is very photogenic, with lots of arches, and is built of stone. The bridge was named after Saint Servatius, the first bishop of Maastricht. Sint Servaasbrug is the oldest bridge in the Netherlands. Using the footpaths at the edges to avoid cyclists and have a good look at the river, I crossed the Sint-Servaasbrug.

Hoge Brug

Hoge Brug is a foot and cycle bridge across the river. This bridge is 261 metres long. It opened in 2003, so it’s quite a recent addition to the city. This looked great through the mist and made me wonder what gems I would get to explore on the other side.

Medieval City Walls

The medieval walls 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.

Originally built in 1275, the city walls are a fine example of medieval architecture, with towers and gates. The walls developed and grew as the city expanded.

Onze Lieve Vrouwewal

Onze Lieve Vrouwewal is part of the old city wall surrounding Maastricht’s old town, near the river. This section of the wall dates from the 12th century, and it is classified as a national monument.

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 Liège and date from 1818.

Helpoort: A 13th-century gate

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 to the eye, really got my imagination going, and transported me back to medieval times in my head (nope, I had smoked nothing).

Father Vinck Tower

Father Vinck Tower dates from the 14th century, and it was completed in 1380. It was restored during the early 20th century. The tower was named after a Franciscan priest who was executed here for betraying the city.

Recentoren: the Medieval Wyck city wall

On the riverside, I passed fortifications known as the Recentoren, a remnant of Wyck’s medieval city wall.

Bishops Mill (Bisschopsmolen) Waterwheel

Bisschopsmolen, aka Bishops Mill, is a historic building with an active water mill and a bakery. This is the oldest working water mill in the Netherlands, with a history dating back to the 7th century. Since then, its history includes being destroyed by the Spanish in 1577.

After that, the mill was rebuilt in 1609. Inside, you can see all the mechanics of the waterwheel in action while enjoying the aroma of fresh bread. Visitors can look around or purchase some delicious bread or flour milled here.

Bonnefanten Art Museum

The Bonnefanten is an art museum with a domed tower on the banks of the river. It is used for temporary art shows and has medieval or contemporary collections.

Plein 1992, a Memorial Square

I explored the train station side of the river to find the 1992 plaque at Plein 1992, a town square where the famous treaty is commemorated.

Stars of Europe Monument

The Stars of Europe are on a roundabout at the southern end of the city, a short walk through Charles Eyck Park. This was a very misty day, so I didn’t see the stars in all their glory, but I was satisfied with my need to see them.

Tourist Information Centre

The Maastricht tourist information centre is in the historic Dinghuis, a distinctive old building that dates back to around 1470. It is useful if you want maps, local tips, guided tours or souvenirs from the city. It is worth stopping by early in a visit, especially if you want help planning a walking route, booking a city tour or finding out more about the historic sights nearby.

Walking Tours For Tourists

A good option for sightseeing in the city is a walking tour. These are often a good option for those who prefer a guide. There are walking tour options, including free ones funded by tips. There are some topic-specific walking tours on the Viator website, including tours of the fortifications.

Sint Martinuskerk, a Neo-Gothic Church

Sint Martinuskerk was constructed in the Neo-Gothic style between 1857 and 1858. The church is Roman Catholic, one of 4 Catholic churches in the city centre. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages.

Monastery of Faliezusters

The Monastery of Faliezusters. This is near some of the key sites on the medieval city walls. The Monastery of Faliezusters is a national monument and a former monastery.

This small convent was founded in 1350 as the Monastery of St Catherine, but was soon renamed after the sisters’ monastic dress. The sisters wore a veil over their faces. After a fire, the monastery was rebuilt between 1647 and 1652 in the style of the Maasland Renaissance.

Augustijnenkerk

Augustijnenkerk was built in the 17th century as a monastery for the Augustinian order. It was closed towards the end of the 18th century and has since had many other uses, becoming a parish church and, more recently, a venue for cultural events.

Rommedoeke

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

Cabaret Douze Restaurant

Cabaret Douze Restaurant has a lovely outdoor seating area on a pretty street, ideal for enjoying the city’s vibe. I enjoyed a bottle of Belgian Blonde beer here. As it was early, many other visitors were enjoying a coffee.

Stadspark Maastricht

Stadspark was a scenic place for a walk near the old city walls and the river, with some cool fountains to see.

Coffeeshop, Missouri

I headed to my only job of the day, a “coffeeshop,” to relax for the evening. I spotted 2 coffee shops on Google Maps, so I picked the closest one, Coffeeshop Missouri. On entering, I reached the turnstiles. The owner explained some laws for the city of Maastricht. This, however, meant that only residents of the Netherlands could enter or make purchases.

Walking in Houthem Saint Gerlach

If you like the countryside, St Gerlach, just outside the city, is very rural and has some great places to walk. This includes 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 riverbank and onwards into the woods and hills.

The area by the river lent itself to some brilliant colours as the sun went down. St Gerlach train station was a fantastic spot for me to watch the sunrise while I waited for the train to Maastricht.

Other Things to See in Maastricht If You Have More Time

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see everything in Maastricht, and there are a few places I would add to my list for a return visit. Fort Sint Pieter and the underground caves look especially interesting. Market Square is another place I missed, home to City Hall and cafes. These would be high on my list for a longer stay or a second visit to the city.

Travel Guide

Travel To Maastricht in The Netherlands

I travelled into the city on a regional train from Saint-Gerlach, which was a quick journey to Maastricht Station. Lots of trains run via and to the main railway station, so it’s 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 because we wanted to visit Maastricht while keeping prices as low as possible and staying dog-friendly.

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

Is Maastricht Worth Visiting?

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