Eiffel building

On the edge of the Sphinx Quarter, close to the Bassin, the Eiffel Building towers high above its surroundings. This striking building is a listed monument and serves as a reminder of the time when Koninklijke Sphinx was a major employer in Maastricht. Following a major restoration, the building was given a new purpose, bringing together its industrial past and modern city life.

From factory to monument
The Eiffel Building was constructed in the 1930s in three phases, expanding further and further north as work progressed. For many years, Sphinx produced sanitary ware here for both the domestic and international markets.

Thousands of Maastricht residents worked in the Sphinx factories producing pottery and sanitary ware. The factory workers were known in Maastricht as the ‘pottemennekes’, a nickname that still serves as a reminder of the city’s industrial past. The building remained in use as a production site for Koninklijke Sphinx until 2006.

There are various explanations for the origin of the name ‘Eiffel Building’. According to one well-known explanation, the name refers to the Eiffel Tower, due to the building’s height and striking steel structure.

A new chapter
Following the factory’s departure, the Eiffel Building was given a new purpose. Thanks to the restoration, its industrial character was preserved, whilst the building was converted to accommodate, amongst other things, a hotel, residential units, catering facilities and workspaces.

The Sphinxpassage, which runs alongside the building, is also part of the area’s regeneration. Together with the surrounding buildings, the Eiffel Building now forms an important part of the Sphinx Quarter.