City Park Maastricht, Maastricht

Stadspark Maastricht is a city park on the edge of the center of the Dutch city of Maastricht. The park consists of a series of sub-parks, which were created in the course of the 19th and 20th centuries and each has its own atmosphere. The park design is largely determined by the presence of the fortifications of Maastricht.

The park extends from the Graanmarkt in a southerly direction along the west bank of the Maas and east of the Onze Lieve Vrouwewal to the landing of the John F. Kennedy Bridge. The park extends further west along the Jeker and the southern city wall to Tongersestraat.

On the east side, the park is connected to Plein 1992 and Charles Eyck Park via the Hoge Brug (a pedestrian and cyclist bridge). On the west side, the busy Prins Bisschopsingel forms a barrier between the Stadspark on one side and the Waldeckpark, Jekerpark and Jekerdal on the other.

The current City Park consists of a number of sub-parks, all of which are different in atmosphere and function. The narrow strip between the Maas and the Maasboulevard is called D'n Ingelsen Hoof. The Stayokay hotel (formerly a youth hostel) is located here.

The part of the park between Maasboulevard and Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal is now called Kempland (after the Maastricht poet Pierre Kemp). This part has been constructed above an underground parking garage and for that reason has a simple layout with sunbathing areas. At the foot of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal there are five historic cannons.

At the Jekertoren, the first medieval city wall bends to the west, towards Helpoort. The picturesque Faliezusterspark is located here. Around the roundel Haet ende Nijt is the Monseigneur Nolenspark, a walking park with many old trees. The Henri Hermans Park is located further west, between the city wall and the Tapijn barracks and is a favorite with families with children due to the presence of a deer park and aviary. The animals are cared for by the Stichting Dierenpark, the successor of the association Stadsbeautification. Significant parts of Maastricht's second medieval city wall have been preserved in this part of the park, including the Nieuwenhofwal with various ramparts and the Nieuwenhofpoortje.

To the west of this is the water gate De Reek, where the river Jeker flows into the city, and the Jesuit Wall. In front of the rampart is the bronze statue of d'Artagnan, the French musketeer who was killed in action at the gates of Maastricht during the siege of 1673. The city park here is called Aldenhofpark. The old bear pit is also located here, which now houses Michel Huisman's work of art Semi-automatic Comforting Machine.

In the park there are about fifteen monumental trees, including a gingko, a giant sequoia, a tulip tree, two honey trees, two silver lime trees, a dead bone tree and a 39 m high plane tree.