3 November 2022

Safe and free bicycle parking in the heart of Maastricht

You can do a lot of fun things with € 25,-: go out, buy something nice for yourself, treat your friends... What a shame if you would lose the money because of a wrongly parked bike! Fortunately, there is no need for a fine if you park your bike in the designated bicycle parking facility. Safe and free!

Visit to the bicycle depot

Did you know that the covered bicycle parking facilities in Maastricht are free to use by anyone for the first 24 hours? If not, you're not the only one. If you take a look at the municipal bicycle depot on the Gerardusweg, you will see how many incorrectly parked bicycles have been removed from the sidewalks in the city. Too bad, because if your bike ends up in the depot, not only will it cost you €25,- to get your bike back; if you're unfortunate enough to have your lock cut to remove your bike from the tree basket, you'll also have to replace your lock. Besides, you spend far more time visiting the bike depot than that small time investment to find a safe parking spot for your bike. As it turns out, many bike owners who come to pick up their bikes at the depot don't know that they can use the covered bicycle parking facilities on the edge of the Markt, under the Vrijthof, underground on the Kesselskade or underground in front of Central Station for the first 24 hours for free.

Enforcement in action

Having your improperly parked bike removed is obviously annoying to you, but it helps other users of the public space. By removing bicycles that have been parked against facades, trees and lampposts, the enforcers create space for all pedestrians. The stores and restaurants also remain accessible to everyone. This is helpful for people with reduced mobility and for passersby with strollers or with bulky luggage.

Our tips

Do you have plenty of time? Park your bike at the edge of the center. Free and supervised: Kesselskade - Markt - Station (first 24 hours gift). You can easily check in and out at the station’s bicycle parking facility area using your OV pass. Don't have one? Then the manager will give you a loaner pass (or day pass). Have you ever been to the bicycle parking facility under 't Vrijthof? This is an unsupervised covered parking area. In a hurry? Park your bike in a bike rack or bike compartment. You can find them in several places in town. Are all of the racks already taken? Follow the green bike signs for the next nearest spot.