Things to Do in Maastricht

Go beneath the surface into a vast network of man-made caves. The North Caves, once used for shelter and storage, are filled with charcoal drawings, carvings, and stories from wartime. Guided tours bring this hidden world to life.

Set on a hill just outside the city centre, Fort St. Pieter offers great views and a glimpse into Maastricht’s military past. Built in the 18th century, the fort now hosts tours through its tunnels and towers, and looks out over the Meuse Valley.

Hidden beneath the St. Pietersberg hill lies a former NATO command bunker, once used as a top-secret communications hub during the Cold War. Today, it’s open to visitors on guided tours that reveal its thick blast doors, control rooms, and Cold War-era technology. You’ll hear stories of how this underground space was prepared to operate during a nuclear crisis. It’s a fascinating look at Maastricht’s role in recent history, and a rare chance to step into a Cold War time capsule.

The Maastricht Casemates are a network of underground passageways built in the 17th and 18th centuries as part of the city’s defences. Soldiers once used these dark, narrow tunnels to move unseen during sieges, set traps, and store weapons. Today, you can explore them on a guided tour and experience what it was like to wait in silence beneath the battlefield. The tour gives a vivid picture of how the city protected itself through centuries of conflict

Limburgse vlaai is a shallow fruit tart and the edible symbol of the southern Netherlands, and Bisschopsmolen in Maastricht is the place to try it. The bakery occupies a working watermill dating back to the 11th century, still grinding its own grain today. The most traditional filling is cherry or apricot – a vlaai here is the ideal way to finish a day exploring Maastricht.