André Rieu concerts at the Vrijthof
On 7-10, 14-17, 21-24 and 29-31 July 2022 the Vrijthof will once again be the scene of summer concerts by André Rieu and his Johan Strauss Orchestra. As in previous years, the entire square has been designated as an event area.
Traffic control around the Vrijthof
On concert days, traffic measures are taken around the Vrijthof Square to ensure that the traffic runs smoothly.
From 16.30h onwards, the Vrijthof Square is therefore closed to traffic until after midnight when the concert ends. The Q-park car park at the Vrijthof is accessible via Keizer Karelplein-Saint Servais Monastery.
Traffic restrictions
The Vrijthof area will be closed to other traffic (except pedestrians):
- Hondstraat at the corner Witmakerstraat/Cortenstraat;
- Bredestraat at the corner of Sint Jacobstraat;
- Keizer Karelplein on the corner Oude Tweebergenpoort- St. Servaasklooster (driving direction Vrijthof);
- Statenstraat on the corner of Grote Gracht;
- Helmstraat on the corner of Grote Gracht.
Traffic controllers will be present at these checkpoints. The route Witmakersstraat, Kapoenstraat, direction St.Jacobstraat, Papenstraat, Bouillonstraat or direction Lenculenstraat remains open for local traffic.
Travel and parking tips for your visit to the concert
Choose the bicycle
If you live within cycling distance, come by bike and get off in the city center. Park your bike in one of the free parking lots near the Market, Kesselskade near the station (first 24 hours free of charge) or Vrijthof.
The following applies on André Rieu concert days:
- The Kesselkade bicycle shed is open until 02.30 (the shed closes as soon as it is empty and may close earlier than 02.30).
- Regular opening hours apply to the Markt bicycle shed (Thursday until 22:00, Friday and Saturday until 21:30 and Sunday until 19:00)
- The mobile storage facility for bicycles and mopeds will be removed from Vrijthof on 28 June and moved to Keizer Karelplein. (Bicycles and mopeds that remain in the mobile bicycle parking facility will be transported to the bike depot on Gerardusweg.
In Maastricht, you can also easily get from a to b with the shared bicycles of Arriva or OV-fiets. You can then park at a distance or make the first part of your journey by public transport and continue by bike. Want to know where to find these bikes? Check out the map of Maastricht with all the locations and information about the rates.â
Let yourself be driven by public transport
Don't get behind the wheel yourself and opt for a driver. Maastricht is easily accessible by train and bus.
- From the north Amsterdam/Eindhoven/Roermond/Sittard-Geleen via NS or Arriva trains.
- From Heerlen/Valkenburg and Aachen by train from Arriva.
- From the south Eijsden/Visé/Liège by SNCB stopping train or TEC buses.
- By bus from Aachen and the route along the N278 with bus line 350.
- By the buses of De Lijn from Belgium to the station or at the Markt
With Arriva's Euregioticket you travel easily with one ticket by bus and train through the Maas-Rhine area for € 19 per day. There is a weekly or weekend ticket available from the bus driver, vending machines at stations or public transport service points and online.
Blockage notice for buses Vrijthof
From Wednesday 29 June 2022 to Sunday 10 July 2019, from Wednesday 13 July to Sunday 17 July 2022, from Thursday 21 July to Sunday 24 July 2022 and from Friday 29 July to Thursday 4 August 2022, lines 4 and 7 will run the alternative route via Statensingel. The stops at Markt, Vrijthof, Bouillonstraat, Tongersestraat, Calvariestraat, Kommel and Helmstraat are cancelled. Temporary stops (existing ) are the Boschstraat/ Markt, Boschstraat/ Maagdendries, Mosae Forum, Cannerplein and Emmaplein.
At P+R Maastricht Noord you can always park for free and take the bus to the city centre at reduced costs. A return ticket costs €2.25 per person or a group ticket for 3-5 people for €5.55. Because Rieu's concerts often last until 00.00 hours, Arriva puts extra shuttle buses in place to bring you back to P+R Maastricht Noord after the concert. These shuttle buses run every 10 minutes from 23.50 until 01.40 from the Boschstraat/Markt stop to P+R Maastricht Noord.
Parking tips and the shortest route to the parking locations
Coming by car? The parking garages in the city center often fill up quickly, especially on weekends. The tips below will help you save travel time looking for a parking space and therefore have more time in the city center. You can also choose to park nearby, but keep in mind that the parking location of your choice might be full and you will have to deal with long(er) queues and extra travel time.
Please note:
- From 16.30, the Vrijthof is closed for traffic. The Q-park car park at Vrijthof can only be reached via Keizer Karelplein-Sint Servaasklooster during the concert days. Traffic controllers will give instructions on site.
- Would you like to drop off a disabled person before parking? You can do so at the traffic control centre at Keizerkarelplein or at the museum at Vrijthof. The shortest route to the Vrijthof for wheelchair users is via Witmakerstraat, Kapoenstraat, St. Jacobstraat or via the St. Servaas Monastery.
Tip: Check the Smart Map for all parking locations in the city center of Maastricht.
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- From the A2 or A79: park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.25 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.55. Up to two children between the ages of four and eleven can travel for free with a paying adult.
- It’s cheaper to pay for parking on a P+W site on the outskirts of Maastricht – Vrijthof square or Markt square are just fifteen minutes’ walk away. If you’re coming from the north, park at P Bonnefanten. At the weekend, you can also park at the Gouvernement car park for €10 (all-day parking) if P Bonnefanten is full.
- Choose a parking location on your route: De Griend, P+R Station, De Colonel, Plein 1992.
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- Park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.25 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.55. Up to two children between the ages of four and eleven can travel for free with a paying adult.
Take the N2 tunnel northbound from Akersteenweg/John F. Kennedybrug and then take exit 1 Bunde onto Nieuwe Limmelderweg. - It’s cheaper to pay for parking on a P+W site on the outskirts of Maastricht – Vrijthof square or Markt square are just fifteen minutes’ walk away. If you’re coming from the north, park at P Bonnefanten. At the weekend, you can also park at the Gouvernement car park for €10 (all-day parking) if P Bonnefanten is full.
- Choose a parking location on your route: Plein 1992 or De Colonel.
- Park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.25 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.55. Up to two children between the ages of four and eleven can travel for free with a paying adult.
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- Follow the A2 tunnel to the north and park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.25 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.55. Up to two children between the ages of four and eleven can travel for free with a paying adult.
Take exit 1 Bunde northbound and turn left onto Nieuwe Limmelderweg. - It’s cheaper to pay for parking on a P+W site on the outskirts of Maastricht – Vrijthof square or Markt square are just fifteen minutes’ walk away. If you’re coming from the north, park at P Bonnefanten. At the weekend, you can also park at the Gouvernement car park for €10 (all-day parking) if P Bonnefanten is full.
- Choose a parking location on your route: Plein 1992 or De Colonel.
- Follow the A2 tunnel to the north and park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.25 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.55. Up to two children between the ages of four and eleven can travel for free with a paying adult.
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- It’s cheaper to park at P+W Stadspark or Frontenpark (fixed, all-day parking rate: €10) Vrijthof square or Markt square are just fifteen minutes’ walk away.
- Choose a parking location on your route: Onze Lieve Vrouwe, Mosae Forum, or Sphinx.
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- If you’re coming from Belgium, follow Brusselseweg in Smeermaas and enter Maastricht via Belvédèrelaan. You’ll get to Maastricht faster, and you won’t have to wait at the ramp meter on Bosscherweg. Take the same road on your way back – it’s just as quick.
- P+W Frontenpark offers low-cost parking (fixed, all-day parking rate: €10). Vrijthof square or Markt square are just fifteen minutes’ walk away.
- Choose a parking location on your route: Sphinx, Mosae Forum, or Onze Lieve Vrouwe.
Parking information for long distance buses or coaches
From 18:00, the Market is available for buses. Companies that bring people to the concert may drive onto the Markt and park the bus here until the end of the concert.
Cabs
The cab stand on the Vrijthof cannot be used when the Vrijthof is closed to traffic. The cab stand is located at the Market at that time. After the concert, around 02.00, cabs will only be allowed to enter the theater side of the Vrijthof.