Dear neighbours and interested parties,
Please find enclosed a special newsletter regarding the Maastricht Year 2026, covering the following topics:
1. From Bèr to Beppie: experience the Maastricht City Parade
2. Help build ‘De Groete Bouw’ on the Vrijthof
3. Sign up now for Neighbours’ Day 2026!
1. From Bèr to Beppie: experience Maastricht’s City Parade
On Sunday 13 September, the highlight of the Maastricht Year 2026 will take place: the grand City Parade. A festive day on which Maastricht’s history comes to life at various locations across the city.
From 2.00 pm, there will be performances and activities at 12 locations centred around special moments, people and events from Maastricht’s history. Expect dance, singing, acrobatics, historical figures and special acts, amongst other things.
At 5.00 pm, the participants will gather and, led by the skeleton of the mosasaur Bèr, set off in a grand procession towards the Markt.
There, from 19.30, the day will draw to a musical close with well-known Maastricht artists, including Beppie Kraft, who will perform Maastricht’s most beloved evergreens together.
Entry to all activities is free.
The City Parade is inspired by the historic procession organised by Fons Olterdissen in 1905 and, just as then, is all about bringing people together, collaboration and the rich history of our city.
View the full programme, locations and participants on the Maastricht City Council website.
The programme for Sunday 13 September of the 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶 𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗷𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! 🎉
🎉 2.00 pm: Festive start to the day at the station
📍 From 2.00 pm: 12 performances. Theatre, music, dance & more in the city centre
🦖 From 17:00: Bèr leads the grand parade from St Servaas Church
🎶 Around 19:00: all the stories come together on the Markt
💥 From 19:30: the grand finale, packed with Maastricht songs and performers on the Markt
Free & for everyone. Come and watch, join in and celebrate Maastricht! ❣️
2. Help build ‘De Groete Bouw’ on the Vrijthof
From Monday 7 to Friday 11 September 2026, you can take part in ‘De Groete Bouw’, a unique art project by the Bonnefanten Museum and the French artist Olivier Grossetête.
Together with other Maastricht residents, you’ll be building cardboard components at the Bonnefanten Museum for a life-size version of the former Cité Ouvrière, better known in Maastricht as the Groete Bouw. On Saturday 12 September, all the components will be assembled together to form an impressive monument on the Vrijthof.
The free workshops last approximately 3.5 hours and are open to anyone aged 15 and over. You can register individually, or as an association, foundation, school or group. A maximum of 35 participants can take part per session
Fancy taking part?
Register for one or more sessions via the Bonnefanten website:
On Saturday 12 September, the joint construction will take place on the Vrijthof. On Sunday 13 September, De Groete Bouw will form part of the Maastricht Year City Parade, and the structure will be dismantled together with the public. No registration is required for these two days.
3. Register now for Neighbours’ Day 2026!
On Saturday 26 September 2026, we’ll be celebrating Neighbours’ Day together at the Sterzaal, Bredestraat 19 in Maastricht. From 1.30 pm, you’re warmly welcome to join us for a cosy afternoon with your neighbours. The programme runs until around 5.00 pm.
For children, there’s a bouncy castle and a lovely surprise. For adults, there’ll be coffee and vlaai, filled rolls and drinks, amongst other things. There’ll also be board games, and William Bartels, known from Dansen in het Park, will provide a festive musical programme.
You can still register! Registration isn’t compulsory, but if you sign up in advance, you’ll receive two free drink vouchers on arrival.
You can register via the online form on the website, by email at info@buurtnetwerkbinnenstad.nl or by telephone on 06 – 113 572 00.
We hope to see you on Neighbours’ Day. Will you be joining us?
Kind regards,
The board of Buurtnetwerk Binnenstad Maastricht
On behalf of the board,
Marco Maessen