Recent from talks
Vrijthof
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Vrijthof
Vrijthof is a large urban square in the centre of Maastricht, Netherlands. The square developed from an ancient Roman and Frankish cemetery into a semi-private space that belonged to the Collegiate Church of Saint Servatius. In the 19th century, it became the town's main square. It is surrounded by important heritage buildings, museums, a theatre, and a range of hotels, restaurants, and bars. The square is regularly used for public events.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the area of the square was used as a burial site since the late Roman period. Several large cemeteries from the early Middle Ages were excavated in 1969–70, prior to the construction of an underground parking lot. The publication of the thousands of artifacts has only recently[when?] started. Further excavations on the north side of the square in 2003 revealed the remains of thirteen layers of the ancient Roman road, the so-called Via Belgica, an important route between Boulogne Sur Mer at the English Channel and the city of Cologne on the river Rhine.
The oldest written reference to the name Vrijthof dates from 1223, when Emperor Frederik II transferred the area to the chapter of Saint Servatius. After that, the square was walled, with iron entrance gates near the corners. During the two weeks of the Maastricht Septennial Pilgrimage, the walls were removed due to the large crowds that gathered there. The pilgrims gathered around the apse of Saint Servatius' where the relics of Saint Servatius and other saints were shown from the dwarf gallery. In the center of the square was the Fountain of Saint Servatius, which was provided with water from the Source of Saint Servatius in the valley of the Jeker, which was also popular with pilgrims. In the 15th century, a Gothic chapel was built as an extension of the northeast portal, the King's Chapel (Dutch: Koningskapel). Near this chapel was the Cemetery of the Poor (Dutch: Ellendigenkerkhof).
In the 14th and 15th centuries, there were a number of famous inns in Vrijthof, mainly situated near the northeast corner. This is also where in 1292 the original perron was erected, the symbol of the jurisdiction of the prince-bishop of Liège. Maastricht however was a condominium and had double jurisdiction. The symbol of the duke of Brabant (a scaffold!) stood near the northwest corner. At times, the square was used for public executions (before the new town hall was built at Markt). In 1408, after the suppression of a rebellion by prince-bishop John of Bavaria, one of the rebellious mayors of Liège was beheaded in the square. In 1485, William I de La Marck, known as the "Swine of the Ardennes", was executed in Vrijthof. In 1535, 15 heretics Anabaptists were burnt at the stake.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the square was used as a parade ground for the garrison. At the end of the 17th century, the wall around Vrijthof was replaced by a fence. The Main Guard House was built in 1736. During the French Occupation (1794–1814), Vrijthof was renamed Place des Armes. Around the same time, the two almshouses in the south-east corner of the square, the Hospitium of St. Servatius and that of St. Jacob were demolished, as well as the Saint Maternus Chapel and the King's Chapel, and the Convent of the White Nuns.
A large parking garage was constructed from 1969 to 1972. Due to construction errors, it had to be rebuilt in 2003.
There are 38 listed buildings (rijksmonumenten) in Vrijthof, including the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Servatius (Dutch: Sint-Servaasbasiliek), the Gothic Church of Saint John (Sint-Janskerk), the largely 16th-century 'House of the Spanish Government' (Spaans Gouvernement), the 18th-century Military Guard House (Hoofdwacht) and the early 19th-century 'General's House' (Generaalshuis). Many houses date from the 18th or 19th century. Some of the larger houses in the square formerly belonged to canons of St Servatius. The modern bandstand dates from around 1970.
The Treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius is housed in an 11th-century chapel that overlooks Vrijthof Square. The Museum of Religious Art can only be accessed from the church's main entrance at Keizer Karelplein.
Hub AI
Vrijthof AI simulator
(@Vrijthof_simulator)
Vrijthof
Vrijthof is a large urban square in the centre of Maastricht, Netherlands. The square developed from an ancient Roman and Frankish cemetery into a semi-private space that belonged to the Collegiate Church of Saint Servatius. In the 19th century, it became the town's main square. It is surrounded by important heritage buildings, museums, a theatre, and a range of hotels, restaurants, and bars. The square is regularly used for public events.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the area of the square was used as a burial site since the late Roman period. Several large cemeteries from the early Middle Ages were excavated in 1969–70, prior to the construction of an underground parking lot. The publication of the thousands of artifacts has only recently[when?] started. Further excavations on the north side of the square in 2003 revealed the remains of thirteen layers of the ancient Roman road, the so-called Via Belgica, an important route between Boulogne Sur Mer at the English Channel and the city of Cologne on the river Rhine.
The oldest written reference to the name Vrijthof dates from 1223, when Emperor Frederik II transferred the area to the chapter of Saint Servatius. After that, the square was walled, with iron entrance gates near the corners. During the two weeks of the Maastricht Septennial Pilgrimage, the walls were removed due to the large crowds that gathered there. The pilgrims gathered around the apse of Saint Servatius' where the relics of Saint Servatius and other saints were shown from the dwarf gallery. In the center of the square was the Fountain of Saint Servatius, which was provided with water from the Source of Saint Servatius in the valley of the Jeker, which was also popular with pilgrims. In the 15th century, a Gothic chapel was built as an extension of the northeast portal, the King's Chapel (Dutch: Koningskapel). Near this chapel was the Cemetery of the Poor (Dutch: Ellendigenkerkhof).
In the 14th and 15th centuries, there were a number of famous inns in Vrijthof, mainly situated near the northeast corner. This is also where in 1292 the original perron was erected, the symbol of the jurisdiction of the prince-bishop of Liège. Maastricht however was a condominium and had double jurisdiction. The symbol of the duke of Brabant (a scaffold!) stood near the northwest corner. At times, the square was used for public executions (before the new town hall was built at Markt). In 1408, after the suppression of a rebellion by prince-bishop John of Bavaria, one of the rebellious mayors of Liège was beheaded in the square. In 1485, William I de La Marck, known as the "Swine of the Ardennes", was executed in Vrijthof. In 1535, 15 heretics Anabaptists were burnt at the stake.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the square was used as a parade ground for the garrison. At the end of the 17th century, the wall around Vrijthof was replaced by a fence. The Main Guard House was built in 1736. During the French Occupation (1794–1814), Vrijthof was renamed Place des Armes. Around the same time, the two almshouses in the south-east corner of the square, the Hospitium of St. Servatius and that of St. Jacob were demolished, as well as the Saint Maternus Chapel and the King's Chapel, and the Convent of the White Nuns.
A large parking garage was constructed from 1969 to 1972. Due to construction errors, it had to be rebuilt in 2003.
There are 38 listed buildings (rijksmonumenten) in Vrijthof, including the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Servatius (Dutch: Sint-Servaasbasiliek), the Gothic Church of Saint John (Sint-Janskerk), the largely 16th-century 'House of the Spanish Government' (Spaans Gouvernement), the 18th-century Military Guard House (Hoofdwacht) and the early 19th-century 'General's House' (Generaalshuis). Many houses date from the 18th or 19th century. Some of the larger houses in the square formerly belonged to canons of St Servatius. The modern bandstand dates from around 1970.
The Treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius is housed in an 11th-century chapel that overlooks Vrijthof Square. The Museum of Religious Art can only be accessed from the church's main entrance at Keizer Karelplein.
Recent media