Treasure hunt for religious art in Maastricht

In the Roman basement of the Hotel Derlon, we find archaeological remains of a temple and can speak of a real "religious treasure chamber". From the precious finds, it can be deduced that sacrifices were made to propitiate the god Jupiter. After Roman times, it was the Christian saints who were worshipped as gods. The faithful, who in earlier times often suffered from hunger, disease and or wars, hoped that thus 'the divine mediators' brought comfort.

The Netherlands' oldest church, the Basilica of Our Lady, dedicated to St Mary, is right on the square of the same name. The dark Romanesque church is a treasure house 'pur sang.' Just because of the ambulatory in the east side. The two-storey colonnade has a total of 30 capitals with mostly Biblical representations, considered masterpieces of Romanesque architecture. The OLV basilica, or Slevrouw as Maastricht people say, once had 33 altars of saints, a major source of income for the church and explanation for its countless church treasures.

Two late-Gothic statues of saints that are still part of the church treasures today and stand out for their exquisite quality are attributed to Jan van Steffenswert. These are 'St Anna ten Drie', a sculpture group with grandmother Anna, mother Mary and the baby Jesus on the east side of the church. The second masterpiece is at the entrance: a statue of Saint Christopher. He is the protector of travellers and therefore pilgrims who have visited the church for centuries.

Maastricht still has a large number of monasteries, but there were once 61! Now only three remain, functioning as Christian living communities. Many monastery buildings have been given new uses, including the Oude Minderbroederskerk church church in which the Historisch Centrum Limburg archives is located. The church, without a tower, is built in marl and is quite sober in style for a Gothic church. It suits the way the monks, Franciscans, once lived in the - now disappeared - buildings around the church. They gave away their possessions and lived in poverty. The church has housed a wealth of knowledge about Limburg's past since 1996.

The treasure house of Saint Servatius on Keizer Karelplein, is among Maastricht's main attractions. 'The art warehouse' is an inseparable part of the monumental basilica - very rich in art treasures - built around the funerary church over the centuries. Since the early Middle Ages, the church has been the ultimate destination for many pilgrims from all over Europe to seek the favour of Maastricht's first bishop. As early as the 15th century, a hundred thousand visitors came to the Heiligdomsvaarten, during which the relics of Saint Servatius were carried around. These processions were banned by the Dutch state for a long time from 1632 onwards. As a result, the church treasuries only became more important to Catholics. The basic collection of the treasury of Saint Servatius has always been expanded with devotionalia, liturgical objects and other special works of art. Top item is the reliquary of Servatius; an absolute highlight of Romanesque, Maasland noble art. The so-called 'Emergency Chest', is carried around the city in times of disaster. This circumambulation was also planned in corona time but could not take place then, due to measures. It was decided to display the Emergency Chest in the church. On this occasion too, the reliquary attracted a lot of visitors.