City wall

The medieval city walls illustrate how Maastricht developed from a walled town into an important fortified city from the 13th century onwards. These centuries-old defences are still visible at various locations throughout the city. Together, the first and second city walls tell the story of a growing city that continued to expand.

Two city walls, one history
Construction of the first stone city wall began around 1229. The defensive wall, approximately 2.4 kilometres long, protected the medieval city on the left bank of the Meuse. As Maastricht continued to grow in the 14th century, a second city wall was built to enclose a larger area. The original wall remained part of the city’s defences and was maintained and reinforced for centuries to come.

The different construction phases are still visible in the stone used. The oldest parts are built from dark coal sandstone, whilst later extensions are lighter in colour.

Discover the city walls
Along the city walls, you’ll find various historic structures, each telling its own story. The Helpoort, the oldest city gate in the Netherlands, provided access to the city for centuries. The Jekertoren, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal and the Pater Vinck tower are also part of the medieval defence system that is still visible in the cityscape.

The various structures illustrate how Maastricht’s city defences developed over the centuries and continue to bring the city’s history to life.

From city walls to fortified town
From the 16th century onwards, Maastricht developed into an important fortified town. Bastions and fortifications sprang up around the medieval city walls, and later a network of underground Kazematten was also constructed. Together, they tell the story of Maastricht’s military history.