Maastricht Art & Icons Walk with TEFAF

In front of the entrance to the MECC are five bronze vertical elements by Piet Killaars (b 1988), reflecting his signature style of "figurative geometry" inspired by natural laws. Killaars, who initially made ceramics, developed his sculpture in the Netherlands and Belgium. His work is influenced by icons such as Giacometti and Lipchitz. He taught at the Maastricht Academy and received several awards, including the Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion. The bronze elements are a recognisable part of the city of Maastricht and the MECC.

The Maastricht Treaty (1992) laid the foundations for the creation of the European Union. Signed on 7 February 1992 at the Gouvernement on the Maas, the treaty was a milestone in European cooperation. The building houses a replica of the treaty, while the original is kept in Italy. This important historical document, together with the Treaties of Rome, forms the foundations of the EU as we know it today.

The 'Stars of Europe' artwork was installed in 2001 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty. It consists of 35 aluminium stars, of which 12 large ones refer to the founding members of the EU and 23 small ones to the later member states. The stars rotate with the wind, symbolising the flexible nature of the EU. The work was designed by Maura Biava and executed by Ruby van den Munckhof.

An architectural masterpiece by Aldo Rossi, the Bonnefantenmuseum offers a rich collection of ancient and modern art. One notable work is Richard Serra's sculpture "The Hours of the Day", which invites visitors to become aware of space and time. Besides art, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, making it a dynamic and inviting cultural space.

Centre Céramique, opened in 1999 and designed by Jo Coenen, is an important cultural venue in Maastricht. The building not only houses the city library, but also provides space for art and history. In 2021, it was renovated with a new box-in-box concept. Notable works include the Sphinx pottery collection and objects by artists such as Ine van Helfteren. The building is an iconic example of the combination of modern and historical elements.

The Helpoort, built in 1229, is the oldest city gate in the Netherlands and the only remaining part of the medieval city walls. It fulfilled various functions, such as powder magazine and residence, before being transformed into the Fortress Museum. Here, visitors can discover the history of the city and its defences. The museum is a fascinating look at Maastricht's past.

The striking 'crack in the wall' of the Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg was created during a renovation in 1994. Originally controversial, the crack is now an iconic part of the streetscape. The Latin saying "NON SUM QUALIS ERAM" raises questions: is it about the building, the archives or the viewer himself? The crack makes us aware of the changes in time and space.

The bronze statue of d'Artagnan, unveiled in 1977, commemorates the legendary captain of musketeers who fell in Maastricht on 25 June 1673. D'Artagnan was made famous by Alexandre Dumas' books about his adventures. The monument invites visitors to pause and enjoy the City Park, where the statue occupies an iconic place.

Bořek Šípek's artwork 'Passage to Wisdom', located near the Maastricht University Library, symbolises the openness of academia. It consists of a gateway made of glass and steel that reinforces the connection between the building and the city. The design is both practical and aesthetic, reflecting Šípek's unique, colourful style.

Located in the old Grauwzustersklooster, the Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht offers an impressive collection of fossils from the Cretaceous period, including Mosasaurs. The museum takes you on a journey through history, from the coal age to the present-day nature of Limburg. The "Dynamism" exhibition explores the interaction between humans and nature, and the insectarium offers a fascinating look at a hive.

The Jan van Eyck Academie is an international visual arts institute, housed in a monumental building designed by Frits Peutz. It provides space for artists, designers and writers to develop further. Around 40 artists work on various projects every year. The academy is named after the famous painter Jan van Eyck, who had great influence as court painter to the Duke of Burgundy.

Located in the historic Spanish Gouvernement, the Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof focuses on socially relevant photography. Exhibitions range from powerful documentaries such as 'Survivors' by Martin Schoeller to work by renowned photographer Guy van Grinsven. The museum offers a unique experience in atmospheric surroundings, with exhibitions that touch visitors time and again.

The Treasury of Saint Servatius houses the Emergency Chest, containing part of the bones of Saint Servatius, the first bishop of the Netherlands. The treasure is of exceptional Maasland precious metalwork. Besides the Emergency Chest, you will find the goblet and bust of Saint Servatius, the bishop's staff, the pectoral cross, and the pilgrim's staff, among others. The treasury contains a unique collection of reliquaries, silk fabrics, paintings and statues.

The Theater aan het Vrijthof has a rich history. Originally a palace, it later became a monastery and then a General House. Its conversion into a theatre began in 1989, under the direction of architect Arno Meijs. Developed for musical performances, the theatre was eventually given the name that also emphasises Maastricht's cultural role. The building is now a central venue for music and theatre in the city.

Marres is a contemporary art museum founded in 1998 in a historic Maastricht residence. The museum focuses on experience, focusing on the senses and the language of the body. Marres organises exhibitions, workshops and unique publications, and provides a platform for artists from various disciplines. The museum has a partnership with the gastronomic world and is also home to Marres Kitchen.

The Dominican Church has been home to the Dominican boekhandel Dominicanen since 2006, housed in a centuries-old cathedral. This church was once used for various functions, including a snake house and bicycle shed. The bookshop has a wide range of products and an atmospheric café area. It is the perfect place for a book, coffee or a cultural experience, with regular lectures, debates and musical performances.

The Sphinxpassage is a 120-metre-long covered tile passage between the Eiffel Building and Pathé. Almost 30,000 tiles bring to life the rich history of the Sphinx and the Maastricht ceramics industry, divided into 26 thematic chapters. Images of old factory buildings, tableware decorations and historical advertisements are complemented by Dutch- and English-language stories by historians Jac van den Boogaard and Paul Arnold.

The Sphinx Quarter is developing into a vibrant city district. The restoration of the Eiffel Building has been completed, and since 2017 it houses The Student Hotel. New functions such as living, working and retail followed in 2018. The Sphinxpassage is a lasting reminder of the city's industrial past.

Bureau Europa is a platform for architecture and design, hosting exhibitions, lectures, workshops and city tours. It focuses on social issues and urban development within Europe and the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion.

The programming always explores new themes, such as speculations about the future or urban imagination. Artists, architects, designers and scientists bring their perspectives together in interactive exhibitions. Besides architecture and design, Bureau Europa offers space for local musical talent and alternative urban walks. It is a place for inspiration and discussion about our living environment and future.

The Muziekgieterij, founded in 2004, is one of the youngest pop venues in the Netherlands and now a leading music centre in Maastricht and the Euregion. In the former timber factory - once part of the Royal Sphinx - both emerging and well-known artists perform, from pop and rock to indie and urban.

After the closure of the factory, it was decided to transform the building into a cultural hotspot. Besides the Muziekgieterij, it also houses Lumière film house, making the location a lively cultural centre.

Lumière has been located in a national monumental power station dating from 1910 since 2016. The original industrial atmosphere has been preserved in the restaurant and café. Lumière has a long tradition in alternative cinema and began in 1976 as 'Stichting Filmhuis Maastricht'.

Over the years, Lumière grew from a small one-screen cinema to a six-screen cinema with over 100,000 visitors a year. The name refers to the Lumière brothers, founders of cinema. Its programming consists of quality films, arthouse cinema and film festivals.

Jan Pieter Minckelers (1748-1824) was a Maastricht physicist and pharmacist. During his research, he discovered light gas by heating coal in 1781. This gas later became the basis for street lighting. Minckelers first used it to light his auditorium, and in 1783 a balloon filled with light gas took off.

After returning to Maastricht, he taught physics and chemistry and was a councillor. He studied meteorology and geology and described the fossil mosasaur. In honour of his invention, a statue of Minckelers with an eternally burning gas flame stands on the Markt.

Maastricht City Hall was built between 1659 and 1664 to the design of Pieter Post. The tower, completed in 1684, contains a carillon with 49 bells. The interior is richly decorated with tapestries, ceiling paintings and stucco.

Underneath the town hall used to be the prisons, while the ground floor served as a weighing house. Public punishments and executions were carried out on the Market Square for centuries, the last in 1860. Today, the town hall is still the city's administrative centre.

The Dinghuis, built around 1470, takes its name from 'things' (justice). In the Middle Ages, it housed the courts of Brabant and Liège, as Maastricht fell under both rulers. In 1664, the courts moved to the Town Hall.

The striking building with its late Gothic façade made of Namur stone towers over the surrounding buildings. The arms of Brabant, Liège and Maastricht adorn the windows. The entrance on the first floor was originally reached by a staircase with bronze lions, lost in 1566. The current staircase was restored in 1912. Today, it houses the Maastricht Visitor Center.

A church stood on the site of the current basilica as early as the 5th century, possibly on top of a Roman temple. This makes the basilica one of the oldest Christian churches in the Netherlands. The building is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. The church houses extraordinary works of art, including St Lambert's "Levite's robe" and relics in beautiful holders. The treasury also contains choir caps, church silver and statues. It is a place where both religious and non-religious visitors often light a candle, which reflects brilliantly in the glass behind Mary.

Hotel Derlon is in a historic location: here you will find Maastricht's oldest Roman excavations. In the atmospheric museum cellar, you can see thick walls that were part of a castellum (Roman defence work) and a Roman sanctuary. You can also see remains of a gate, a column and a well, pointing to the site's role as a resting place along the ancient trade route, the Via Belgica. The oldest excavation is a pre-Roman (probably Celtic) road used more than 2,000 years ago.

Limburg artist Arthur Spronken (1930-2018) is considered the pioneer of Limburg sculpture. He made impressive sculptures of horses, focusing on the dynamics of the body. Spronken focused not on the realistic depiction of the horse, but on the energy and movement exuded by the animal, which is especially visible in his famous horse torsos. The horse became a recurring theme in his work from 1962 onwards.

This playful and charming sculpture, made by Mari Andriessen, symbolises the typical Maastricht spirit: nonchalant, burgundian and a little dashing. The sculpture was unveiled in 1962 and has since been moved several times. The Mestreechter Geis, inspired by the Commedia dell'arte, is a representation of the character of the Maastricht people. In the 1960s, the statue was temporarily removed after riots in the neighbourhood, but returned in 1967. The statue remains a symbol of the city of Maastricht.

The Sint-Servaas Bridge is the oldest bridge in the Netherlands and one of Maastricht's most iconic landmarks. The current bridge replaced a Roman bridge and has been destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries, especially during the World Wars. During World War II, the bridge was blown up several times, but the core has always been preserved. The steel section of the bridge can be raised to allow large ships to pass through, and the bridge keeper's house has been given an artistic interpretation. The bridge is not only a functional work of art, but also a historical monument.

The monumental Maastricht Station, designed by George van Heukelom, was opened in 1916 and has recently been restored. The station is a fine example of technological progress at the time, with its reinforced concrete platform roof. After the restoration, old elements such as a fountain, murals and authentic floor and wall tiles have been made visible again. In the station hall, you can scan QR codes to learn more about this special building and its history. The station is not only an important transport hub, but also an architectural gem.

The Zonneberg Caves, deep in the marl, house a unique museum. On a guided tour, you not only get a glimpse into the underground world, but also discover ancient works of art, such as a Mosasaurus carved in marl and a large Night Watch in charcoal. The route is illuminated by charcoal drawings that take you back to the first tours in the 20th century. The highlight is the old 'museum', where you come face to face with the impressive works that have been admired for more than a century. It is a unique experience that combines the history and art of the region.