Maastricht has over 2,000 years of history. From a Roman settlement to a medieval fortified town, from a wartime refuge to today’s vibrant cultural city. That history isn’t always visible, but it is certainly there. Hidden beneath your feet, tucked away in cellars, concealed within fortifications and preserved in buildings that most people pass by every day without knowing what lies within.
Each UNSEEN exhibition is small in scale but significant in impact. They tell stories of the eras that have shaped Maastricht: from Roman times and the Middle Ages to the Second World War and the Cold War. Sometimes poignant, sometimes surprising, but always worth discovering.
Caponnière at Fort Sint Pieter
The caponier (fortification) at Fort Sint Pieter is just such a place: strategic, imposing and quiet. And virtually unknown.
An exhibition has been set up here that brings to life the untold stories of the caves and the Fort of St Peter. It tells of the people who lived there, the extensive network of underground passages, and the role the fort once played in the city’s defence. Stories told through words and images, along with a small collection of fossils, can be discovered right here on site.
Luikerweg 80, Maastricht
Open daily
Free admission during the fort’s opening hours
Derlon Museum Cellar
Maastricht’s Roman past is barely visible in the city. It lies beneath the surface, quite literally. The Derlon Museum Cellar is the exception: the only place in Maastricht where you can see the Roman past with your own eyes.
During excavations in 1983, a pre-Roman road, the remains of a Roman sanctuary and parts of a late Roman castellum were unearthed five to six metres below the current street level. This discovery was so remarkable that Hotel Derlon, the local council and the then Maastricht Tourist Office decided to preserve the site in situ and make it accessible to the public. The Roman remains now have the status of a national monument.
Entrance on Plankstraat, Maastricht
Every Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm, a guide is on hand to tell you more about Roman Maastricht.
(except on Christmas Day and Carnival Sunday)
Air-raid shelter museum
Beneath Minister Goeman Borgesius Park lies an underground museum. It is easy to miss the entrance. During the Second World War and the Cold War, the air-raid shelters here served as a refuge for the people of Maastricht. They have been preserved and converted into a museum. They now tell the story of fear, preparedness and daily life during the most tense decades of the twentieth century.
Minister Goeman Borgesiusplantsoen 30, Maastricht
March to November, every third Sunday of the month, 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Dates 2026: 15 March · 19 April · 17 May · 21 June · 19 July · 16 August · 20 September · 18 October · 15 November
Dinghuis: changing exhibitions
The Dinghuis (1470) is one of Maastricht’s oldest buildings and has served many different purposes over the centuries. The Beletage, the floor that is normally closed to the public, will provide the setting for a series of special exhibitions in 2026.
Pieke Dassen (5–27 September 2026)
An exhibition on the life and work of the much-loved Maastricht artist Pieke Dassen.
The Cold War(10–25 October 2026)
During the autumn half-term holidays, the Dinghuis will be telling the story of the Cold War through a variety of themes, for young and old alike.
Kleine Staat 1, Maastricht
Opening hours depend on the current exhibition.
Follow us on social media for up-to-date information on our changing exhibitions.
Would you like to explore more of Maastricht?
In addition to these free exhibitions, Explore Maastricht offers guided tours and unique experiences exploring the city’s rich history, both above and below ground. From the caves beneath St Pietersberg to the casemates and Fort St Peter itself.