Vrijthof Concerts André Rieu 2026
Message from André Rieu Productions R. van Elssen to residents of the city centre
Dear city centre residents,
Once again this year, André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra will be giving a number of summer evening concerts on the Vrijthof.
We would like to inform you about this.
Information about the concerts
The concerts will take place on the following days on the Vrijthof:
- Thursday 2 July to Sunday 5 July 2026
- Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July 2026
- Thursday 16 July to Sunday 19 July 2026
During these concerts, the entire Vrijthof will be designated as an event site and television recordings will be made by André Rieu Productions.
Measures
This year, too, a number of measures will be put in place to ensure the concerts run smoothly and without disruption, and to minimise inconvenience to local residents. As a resident of the city centre, it is important for you to know what measures will be in place during these concerts.
In this newsletter, we would like to inform you about this.
Traffic closures
From the start of set-up until the end of dismantling, Vrijthof-Oost will be closed to motorised traffic. Scooters can take a detour via Vage Vuur and Sint Servaasklooster. Loading and unloading is permitted outside the Rieu concert times, within the designated loading and unloading period.
On concert days, the north-south axis of the Vrijthof, from Vrijthof 1 to Bredestraat, will first be closed to traffic (except pedestrians) at 16.30. Subsequently, the surrounding streets adjacent to the Vrijthof will be closed to all traffic (except pedestrians). The Vrijthof itself will be completely closed off from 5.00 pm to 2.00 am. Between 5.00 pm and 12.30 am, only people with a ticket (from 6.30 pm) or accreditation will be admitted to the square.
The road closures are in the following locations: see also the map below:
1. Hondstraat at the corner of Witmakersstraat and Cortenstraat;
2. Bredestraat at the corner of St. Jacobstraat;
3. Keizer Karelplein at the corner of Oude Tweebergenpoort and St. Servaasklooster (towards Vrijthof);
4. Statenstraat at the corner of Grote Gracht;
5. Helmstraat at the corner of Grote Gracht.
Traffic wardens will be stationed at these road closures. The route via Witmakersstraat, Kapoenstraat, towards St. Jacobstraat,
Papenstraat, Bouillonstraat or towards Lenculenstraat will remain open to local traffic.
Car parking.
1. The Vrijthofgarage will remain accessible without a pass during the concert days, but after 16:30 it will only
be accessible via Kommel, Oude Tweebergenpoort, St. Servaasklooster and Vagevuur. You can drive out in the
direction of Henri van Veldekeplein–Bouillonstraat.
2. If you have a private parking space within the traffic restriction zone, you can access your parking space with a
pass. You should have applied for this pass before 16 June.
3. People with a parking space on Kanunikkencour or Papenstraat/St. Jacobstraat can access it without
a pass via the route St. Pieterstraat, M. Heidenstraat, Witmakersstraat, Kapoenstraat,
Papenstraat.
4. People with a parking space on Hondstraat, Bredestraat, Minckelersstraat or Achter de Comedie
can access their garage with a pass via the traffic diversion on Hondstraat. To exit, drive
against the flow of traffic on Bredestraat–Hondstraat and follow the route via
Witmakersstraat.
5. The car parks on Grote Gracht and Capucijnenstraat are accessible during the concerts via
the route Boschstraat, Achter de Barakken, Bogaardenstraat, Uitbeldersstraat, Batterijstraat and
Grote Gracht. You do not need a transit permit for this. The usual route via the Kommel / Oude
Tweebergenpoort is not possible.
6. The car parks on Helmstraat and Statenstraat are accessible with a through-pass. The
recommended route is via Boschstraat, Achter de Barakken, Bogaardenstraat,
Uitbeldersstraat, Batterijstraat, Grote Gracht, Helmstraat and Statenstraat (against the direction of traffic).
Cycle parking
During the concert period, special measures will apply regarding cycle parking on and around the Vrijthof.
1. The cycle racks on the Vrijthof will be removed on Tuesday 23 June 2026.
2. Mopeds, bicycles and scooters still parked on the Vrijthof after this date, or on event days in Leliestraat, Sporenstraat, Vijfharingenstraat and on the corner of Sint Amorsplein and Heggenstraat, will be removed and taken to the Fietsdepot on Gerardusweg.
3. Visitors are advised to use the (additional) cycle parking facilities at Kesselkade, Markt, the Vrijthof, Mosae Forum, Keizer Karelplein and Pierre Kemppark.
4. The Vrijthof underground cycle park will be accessible until the square is closed off at around 4.30 pm and again from approximately 1.00 am.
5. Parked bicycles can be collected via Helmstraat until 8.45 pm, under the supervision of the André Rieu organisation.
6. Temporary parking facilities on Keizer Karelplein and in Pierre Kemppark will be removed on 20 July; please ensure that bicycles are collected in good time.
Up-to-date travel and parking information online
For up-to-date travel and parking information to, in and from Maastricht, please refer to the Live Map provided by Maastricht Bereikbaar via https://www.maastrichtbereikbaar.nl/kaart/plattegrond-maastricht. Here you will find information on, amongst other things, traffic levels, car park occupancy and the locations of cycle parking facilities. You can share this link with your fellow residents, customers and/or guests.
For full details regarding accessibility before, during and after the concerts, please refer to the (multilingual) Maastricht Bereikbaar website.
Taxis
The taxi rank for permit holders on the Vrijthof cannot be used when the Vrijthof is closed to traffic.
At such times, the taxi rank for permit holders is located on the Markt. After the concert, taxis (for permit holders) will only be permitted to access the theatre side of the Vrijthof at around
02.00.
Public transport
From Wednesday 24 June 2026 to Thursday 23 July 2026, lines 3, 4 and 7 will follow the alternative
route via the Statensingel. The stops at Markt, Vrijthof, Bouillonstraat, Tongersestraat, Calvariestraat, Kommel and
Helmstraat will be omitted. Temporary stops (existing ones) are Boschstraat/Markt, Boschstraat/Maagdendries,
Mosae Forum, Cannerplein and Emmaplein.
Streets designated as emergency routes
Calvariestraat, Kommel, Statenstraat, Helmstraat and Bredestraat will be kept clear between 17.00 and 02.00
as emergency routes for the emergency services and the police. Parked cars and other obstacles on the
carriageway will therefore be removed.
Set-up and dismantling
Set-up for the event will begin on Wednesday 24 June 2026. The removal of technical and other facilities is expected to take three days. The Vrijthof will be handed back on Thursday 23 July 2026.
Information
For further information, please visit the special Andre Rieu page at www.maastricht.nl. If you have any questions regarding the work being carried out by Andre Rieu Productions, please contact them by email at omwonenden-vrijthof@andrerieugroup.com or by telephone on +31611378201 (this number is available from 24 June to 23 July); for enquiries regarding the measures, please contact Maastricht City Council on 14043.
André Rieu Productions is endeavouring to minimise any inconvenience or disturbance to you during the concerts and hopes that, above all, you will be able to enjoy the concerts and the special atmosphere that will undoubtedly once again prevail around
the Vrijthof during these days.
On behalf of, R. van Elssen, André Rieu Productions B.V.
