Celebrating Vastelaovend in Mestreech?
From February 18 to 21 2023, Maastricht will once again be red, yellow and green. We inform you how you can travel smart and economically to the city center during Carnival 2023.
When are the parades and activities?
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Auw Wieverbal on the Walramplein in Valkenburg on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
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Introduction of Prince Carnival in Maastricht on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1:11 p.m.
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Procession of the Heeg, the youth parade of Maastricht, on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2:11 p.m.
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Grand Carnival procession 'Boonte Störrem' in Maastricht on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1:33 p.m.
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On Monday, Feb. 20 at 2:11 p.m. the Groete Optoch in Hier (Heer), at 2:22 p.m. the Femilieoptoch of Maastricht and at 2:30 p.m. the Carnival Procession Wolder-Vroenhoven.
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For an overview of the start times of all parades in South Limburg, visit: optochtenkalender.nl/Nederland/limburg.html.
Store opening hours
Stores will be closed on Sunday, Feb. 19.
Please note! Many stores are also closed on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, check the website of the respective store to avoid being faced with a closed door.
Travel economically and safely with "the borrelbus" in and to Maastricht
Are you celebrating carnival in Maastricht? Then make use of Arriva's night bus from Saturday night, February 18, until Tuesday night, February 21. The buses will take you home between 0.35 and 3.35 from the Boschstraat/Maagdendries bus stop!
You have the option for a:
- Borrelbus ride ticket STAD this costs €5 per person. The borrelbuses line 151 to Malberg, line 152 Heer - de Heeg, 155 Daalhof Wolder, line 156 Amby and line 157 Bunde - Meerssen fall under the ride ticket STAD.
- Borrelbus-ticket STREEK this costs € 7,50 per person. Line 150 Gulpen, line 153 Eijsden - Gronsveld and line 154 Berg - Sibbe - Valkenburg can be used with the STREEK ticket.
- View the timetable and boarding and alighting points.
Tip: it is possible to buy a passe-partout for four days in advance sale. You then get one day free!
For the city bus a four-day pass costs €15 per person and for the regional bus €22.50. For more information about the borrelbus, ordering tickets and the complete timetable, visit the Arriva website.
Travel cheap and safe during Carnival
By bike
Get your carnival gear on your bike and you can quickly get to the different parades or move to different locations.
Be sure to park your bike properly so you don't cause any inconvenience or nuisance during the carnival parades.
Sunday through Tuesday, the indoor bike racks at the Markt, Vrijthof and Kesselskade are closed due to expected crowds on and around the terraces, making the bike racks not (well) accessible. Starting Wednesday, however, you can once again park your bike (with supervision) at these locations.
However, you can park your bike in one of the many roadside bike racks in Maastricht or in the supervised covered bike parking area at the Maastricht train station, and the scooter parking area will also remain open during Carnival days. Opening hours of the bike and scooter parking are fifteen minutes before the first and fifteen minutes after departure of the last train.
If you travel to Maastricht by car or public transport first, then perhaps the Arriva or OV share bikes are an option for getting around the city.
Let yourself be driven on public transport
Don't get behind the wheel yourself and opt for a driver. Maastricht is easily accessible by train and bus.
During carnival week, Arriva runs the vacation timetable with some changes specifically on carnival days. On Carnival Monday the buses run a Sunday service, and on Carnival Tuesday the buses run according to the Saturday service. So the rest of the week, Arriva runs vacation service.
Due to local carnival parades, Arriva buses are temporarily out of service. Before departure, consult Arriva's trip planner to check whether your bus will run the normal route or whether an alternative route and/or boarding point applies.
Coming by car
Are you coming to Maastricht by car during Carnival? Then make use of our parking tips:
- From P+R Maastricht Noord you travel smart and cheap to the center of Maastricht. You park for free and travel further to the center with bus line 10, 30 or 5. A day return costs €2.40 per person and a group ticket for 3-5 people costs €5.95.
- Parking garages in the center often fill up quickly, especially on weekends and on days with more visitors, such as during Carnival. The tips on our website will save you travel time looking for a parking location. No more waiting at full parking garages. It's nice, it gives you more time in the city.
- Keep in mind that paid parking also applies during Carnival in the center of Maastricht on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00. On shopping Sundays and holidays, it is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inclusive.
- In addition, make sure to lock your car properly and do not leave valuables in your car.
Bob, also with carnival
Carnival is a popular festival celebrated by many Limburgers. However, the use of alcohol can endanger road safety. Keep in mind that the police carry out extra alcohol checks in the period before and during Carnival. Make Bob-agreements together and stick to them, so that traffic safety is not endangered.
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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 €2.40 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. Bus line 3 runs via Nazareth, Groene Loper, city centre to Wolder. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.95. 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 €12 (all-day parking) if P Bonnefanten is full.
- Choose a parking location on your route: De Griend, P+R Station, De Colonel, Plein 1992. To access these parking locations, follow the parking routes ‘Wyck-Station’ and ‘Céramique-Wyck’.
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- Park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.40 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. Bus line 3 runs via Nazareth, Groene Loper, city centre to Wolder. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.95. 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 €12 (all-day parking) if P Bonnefanten is full.
- Choose a parking location on your route: Plein 1992 or De Colonel. To access these parking locations, follow the parking routes ‘Wyck-Station’ and ‘Céramique-Wyck’.
- Park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.40 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. Bus line 3 runs via Nazareth, Groene Loper, city centre to Wolder. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.95. 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 €2.40 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. Bus line 3 runs via Nazareth, Groene Loper, city centre to Wolder. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.95. 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 €12 (all-day parking) if P Bonnefanten is full.
- Choose a parking location on your route: Plein 1992 or De Colonel. To access these parking locations, follow the parking routes ‘Wyck-Station’ and ‘Céramique-Wyck’.
- 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 €2.40 (day return), or take bus number 30 to the main railway station/Wyck. Bus line 3 runs via Nazareth, Groene Loper, city centre to Wolder. A group ticket for groups of three to five people costs €5.95. 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: €12) 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.
- If these car parks are full, check out the car park at Bonnefanten – it costs €12 a day at the weekend and €27.50 a day on weekdays.
- If these car parks are full, check out the car park at Bonnefanten – it costs €12 a day at the weekend and €27.50 a day on weekdays.
Pay attention! There will be a limited number of parking spaces available at P Frontenpark from 25 September 2023 to June 2024: https://www.maastrichtbereikbaar.nl/en/frontenpark/
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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: €12). 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.
- You could also park on the outskirts at P+R Maastricht Noord, or park on the east side of Maastricht at P de Griend, P+R Station, Colonel, or Plein 1992.
Pay attention! There will be a limited number of parking spaces available at P Frontenpark from 25 September 2023 to June 2024: https://www.maastrichtbereikbaar.nl/en/frontenpark/
More information
Ask your question via our contact page. For questions about parking your car or storing your bicycle, please contact the Municipality of Maastricht by calling 043 - 350 4040.