Fort St. Pieter is a one-of-a-kind destination in Maastricht. The long, eerie tunnels of this centuries-old Dutch fortress are filled with secrets and stories.
Ever since it was commissioned in 1702 by the military commander Daniel Wolff Baron Dopff, Fort St. Pieter has been one of the most important fortresses in Maastricht. Visit this fort for a close-up experience of the defence of this great city, rendered all the more realistic since a restoration effort took place in 2007.
To explore the inside of the fort, you will need to take a guided tour. Tours in English are available every day, and they last a little over an hour. Head to the Maastricht visitor cenre to book your tour, which will elucidate much about Fort St. Pieter that isn’t obvious to the untrained eye.
Follow your guide through the fort, piecing together its history along the way. You should have a chance to find out about the secret tunnel network that links Fort St. Pieter to the caves at St. Pietersberg (Mount St. Peter), a set of mysterious caverns that were formed as more and more stone was extracted from the mountain, starting in Roman times.
Listen to the guide’s anecdotes about the wartime experiences of Fort St. Pieter. A number of battles have taken place at the fort, and you can see traces of these conflicts on the walls and the moat. Learn about the fort’s well and see its cannons, guns and mortar gallery for yourself.
Your guide will finally lead you up to the top of the fort, where you can look out over the walls and imagine yourself as a soldier defending Maastricht against invasion. From nearby St. Pietersberg, the French conqueror Louis XIV bombarded Fort St. Pieter with cannon balls in 1673. Regardless of whether or not you are interested in military history, you will still no doubt enjoy this spot for its splendid views of the city and beyond.
Fort St. Pieter is a short drive south from the Maastricht city centre. Tours cost a small fee, and the fort is not wheelchair-accessible.
