Maastricht Travel Guide

St. John's Church rises on the Vrijthof and is famous for its striking bright-red tower—one of Maastricht's landmark sights. This Gothic church dates to the Middle Ages and contrasts charmingly with the neighboring St. Servatius Basilica, one red, one grey, especially eye-catching. The church's red tower is distinctive; climbing the several hundred steps to its top rewards you with views over the Vrijthof and the red-tiled roofs of Maastricht's old town, superb on clear days. The interior is solemn and antique, an important local place of worship. As the red landmark of the square, St. John's is elegant and conspicuous, and climbing for the view is a real pleasure. When visiting, please dress appropriately, keep quiet, and respect the solemnity of this sacred place.

The Vrijthof is Maastricht's largest and most important square, and the center of the city's life and festivities. On one side of the open square stand two magnificent old churches—St. Servatius Basilica and St. John's Church—the red tower and grey walls contrasting in solemn grandeur. Around the square are historic buildings, open-air cafés and restaurants where people sit and enjoy leisurely time. Throughout the year it hosts all kinds of events, from lively markets and carnivals to the famous open-air concerts, buzzing with joy. As the heart of Maastricht, the Vrijthof perfectly blends solemn history with vibrant everyday life—an ideal place to feel the unique charm of this southern old city, well worth a stop.

Selexyz Dominicanen (Paradise Bookstore) is one of Maastricht's most charming landmarks, hailed as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. It sits inside a 13th-century former Dominican Gothic church; the soaring vaults, stained glass and weathered murals remain, full of a sacred, tranquil atmosphere. The designer ingeniously built a black, multi-level steel bookcase in the center of the church, letting readers climb the stairs and wander among the books beneath a centuries-old dome—old and new blending harmoniously, full of character. The church's apse is now a café. Quietly browsing books in this space where the sacred meets knowledge is a unique and lovely Maastricht experience that lingers.