Giant Parade

01 June 2024 - 02 June 2024
Giant Parade through Maastricht. People dressed in colorful robes march in the parade. In the background is the city giant Giganteus, wearing a blue robe and red hat, being pulled through the streets of Maastricht.

On June 1st and 2nd, 2024, the Gigantius Maastricht Giant Guild will organize the 11th edition of the international Giants Festival in the city center of Maastricht. This event involves around 3,000 participants and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city. Are you visiting Maastricht? Please take this into account and make use of our travel and parking tips.

Giant Parade

On June 1st, children will parade with their mini-giant through the city center of Maastricht starting at 2:00 PM.

On Sunday, June 2nd, the highlight of the Giants Festival 2024 takes place: the 11th international giant parade will move through the center of Maastricht from 2:00 PM onwards. Giant Gigantius has invited guests from both domestic and international origins for this occasion.

Route of the giant parade on Sunday, June 2nd

Road users should be aware that they will temporarily have no access during the passage of the giant parade.

  1. Boschstraat
  2. Markt
  3. Hoenderstraat
  4. Kleine Stokstraat
  5. Het Bat
  6. Stadspark
  7. De Boompjes
  8. Vijf Koppen
  9. Begijnenstraat
  10. Sint Pieterstraat
  11. Kleine Looiersstraat
  12. Achter de Molens
  13. Kapoenstraat
  14. Sint Jacobstraat
  15. Vrijthof (east)
  16. Helmstraat
  17. Grote Gracht
  18. Markt

To Maastricht

On Sunday, June 2nd, during the Giant Parade, the shops will be closed.

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 facilities near the Market, the train station (first 24 hours free of charge), Kesselskade or Vrijthof.
An additional temporary bicycle parking facility is located on the forecourt of the Mosae Forum.

In Maastricht you can also easily get from a to b with Arriva's shared bicycles or OV-fiets. You can then park at a distance or do the first part of your journey by public transport and continue by bike. Want to know where to find these bikes? See the map of Maastricht with all locations and information about the rates.

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 € 23.50 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.

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.

    • Park easily on the outskirts of the city at P+R Maastricht Noord. Parking is free, and you can continue your journey comfortably by bus lines 3, 10 or 30 to the city centre.
    • Prefer to park closer to the centre? Keep in mind that parking rates are higher. The further from the centre, the cheaper it gets. Within just a 10–15 minute walk, you can save up to €18 per hour – money you can better spend on a terrace, some shopping or a visit to a museum!
    • Tip: You can also park smart just outside Maastricht at P+R locations in Bunde, Meerssen or Eijsden. Parking there is free, and you can take the train directly to the city centre.
    • Want to be sure of a spot in the city? Book your parking space in advance via the Q-Park website for extra peace of mind. Booking earlier can also be cheaper.
    • Check the traffic situation before you travel. On our live map, you can see where it’s busy (orange) or where traffic is at a standstill (red).
    • Planning to visit on a busy day like a weekend or public holiday? Then we recommend arriving before 10:00 or after 15:00, when it’s usually quieter on the roads and in the city.
    • 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 €2.55 (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 €6.40. Up to two children between the ages of four and eleven can travel for free with a paying adult.
    • Paid parking on a Park & Walk (P+W) site on the edge of the city is more affordable. From there, it is about a 15-minute walk to the Vrijthof or the Market Square. If you are arriving from the north, follow the signs to P Bonnefanten. Parking at P Bonnefanten costs €14 per day at weekends and €21 per day on weekdays. During the weekends of Magisch Maastricht, if P Bonnefanten is full, you can also park at the Provincial Government building (Gouvernement) car park for the same daily rate of €14.
    • 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’.
    • Park for free at P+R Maastricht Noord. You can get to the city centre on bus number 10 for €2.55 (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 €6.40. 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.
    • Paid parking on a Park & Walk (P+W) site on the edge of the city is more affordable. From there, it is about a 15-minute walk to the Vrijthof or the Market Square. If you are arriving from the north, follow the signs to P Bonnefanten. Parking at P Bonnefanten costs €14 per day at weekends and €21 per day on weekdays. During the weekends of Magisch Maastricht, if P Bonnefanten is full, you can also park at the Provincial Government building (Gouvernement) car park for the same daily rate of €14.
    • 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 €2.55 (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 €6.40. 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.
    • Paid parking on a Park & Walk (P+W) site on the edge of the city is more affordable. From there, it is about a 15-minute walk to the Vrijthof or the Market Square. If you are arriving from the north, follow the signs to P Bonnefanten. Parking at P Bonnefanten costs €14 per day at weekends and €21 per day on weekdays. During the weekends of Magisch Maastricht, if P Bonnefanten is full, you can also park at the Provincial Government building (Gouvernement) car park for the same daily rate of €14.
    • 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 less at Stadspark or Frontenpark. At Stadspark you pay a flat day rate of €14; at Frontenpark the day rate is €18 with a ticket. Book in advance online via Q-Park and the day rate at Frontenpark starts from €12. This rate is dynamic and increases during periods of high demand, but never exceeds €17.50. From both car parks you can walk to the Vrijthof or the Markt in 15 minutes.
    • 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 €14 a day at the weekend and €21.00 a day on weekdays.
    • 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.
    • You can also park affordably at Fort Willem and Frontenpark. At Fort Willem the flat day rate is €8.30; at Frontenpark it is €18 with a ticket. Book in advance online via Q-Park and the day rate at Frontenpark starts from €12. This rate is dynamic and increases during periods of high demand, but never exceeds €17.50. From both car parks you can walk to the Vrijthof or the Markt in 15 minutes.
    • 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. 
  • Check the Smart Map for all parking locations in Maastricht city centre.
  • If you’re coming by motorcycle or are driving a long-distance coach, please check our website for parking information.
  • Important: Lock your car and take all valuable items with you. Do not just hide them out of sight. A few extra seconds of vigilance can prevent a lot of trouble.

Upcoming events and peak days

Mary Assumption
Peak days
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