On Henric van Veldekeplein, the red tower of St. John's Church rises above the square. The church is situated directly next to the impressive St. Servatius Church. During the thirteenth century, the canons of St. Servatius Church thought the ordinary believers should have a parish church so that they would be able to perform their services in St. Servatius Church in peace.

The Kruisherenklooster was one of 22 monasteries that were founded in Maastricht during the Middle Ages. Inside the walls, the character and style of the former monastery go together with the modernity of a luxury hotel. The building still shows the history of the monastery.

On the corner of Kleine Staat and Grote Staat the Dinghuis building is located. The building rises high above the surrounding buildings and dates from 1470, when it was given its current look, with its Gothic façade made of Namur stone and marl.

The side of the Dinghuis on Jodenstraat is a striking example of half-timbering, because it shows the building-up process. In this process, medieval half-timbered walls were replaced with stone walls and thatched roofs with slates or tiles. At the end of the seventeenth century, the half-timbering of the Dinghuis was replaced with brick.

Nearly all stone houses have roofs with a ridge that runs parallel to the street, just like half-timbered houses. Only during the seventeenth century, houses with gables were built; at first volute gables, later stepped gables.

Gate houses were manor houses, which had originally been built as a safe shelter during times of war. They were built in stone as early as the Middle Ages. Characteristic of these houses was of course the gate that closed off the courtyard, on which the house, the stables and the sheds bordered.

On the south side of the Vrijthof square the oldest secular building of Maastricht is located. It is at least seven centuries old and it is known by the name of Spaans Gouvernement (Spanish government). Nowadays, it houses a museum.

In the seventeenth century, the Maastricht City Hall was built on the Markt (market square). Its location, in the middle of the square, enclosed by the façades of the surrounding houses, symbolized the central position of the government authority.

If you enter the Maastricht City Hall via the steps, you find yourself in the big central hall, which is called 'het Plein' (the square). For ages, this has been the beating heart of the building: administrators and citizens meet here. Nowadays, symposia and other meetings are regularly held here.

The Markt (market square) is the beating heart of a city. In Maastricht, this is where, ever since the seventeenth century, an important part of common life has been taking place. On the square, a market is still held twice a week. Ever since the Middle Ages, markets have been providing economic activity.