Parking in Maastricht is a thorn in the side for many visitors to the city. Whether you're visiting this lovely city in your own car or hiring a car To drive to Maastricht, you'll need to park your car somewhere. The closer you get to the city centre, the higher the parking costs. However, parking is available both in the centre and outside the city centre. Where you park your car best depends, of course, primarily on where you need to be. If you don't mind cheap parking in Maastricht and then walking to the centre, you can park your car at a P+R (Park and Ride) or P+W (Park and Walk) site. In this article, we will look at all the places where you can park in Maastricht. Furthermore, we will also look at the options available for cheap or even free parking.
Where can you park in Maastricht?
There are plenty of parking options in Maastricht. You can park well in the city centre, but also on the outskirts of the centre. You'll find several above-ground car parks, as well as several underground car parks. Paid parking applies in Maastricht, especially near and in the centre, and the closer you are to the centre, the higher the parking costs. However, there are also several P+W sites in Maastricht. These Park and Walk sites are located approximately a ten-minute walk from the centre, and you can park here cheaply with a maximum daily rate of €12. Well-known P&W sites include: Frontenpark, Stadspark/Kennedybrug, or Bonnefanten. You can also leave your car here for an unlimited amount of time.
Expansion at Frontenpark
From 23 September 2023 to June 2024, major works were carried out on the Frontenpark. This car park has now been significantly expanded. This also made the underground car park P Sphinx possible. For the Frontenpark, this means no fewer than 600 extra parking spaces, bringing the total capacity of this car park to 1,300 vehicles.
The cost of paid parking in Maastricht
In short, parking in Maastricht city centre is far from free. What you pay depends on which car park or parking space you choose. The closer you park to the city centre, the higher the costs will be. Furthermore, parking on the street is often more expensive than parking in an underground car park. In the city centre, street parking prices in Maastricht are around €3.50 per hour. In Maastricht's car parks, the parking rate is between €1 and €3.50 per hour. This is more expensive than parking in Heerlen or an car park in Valkenburg.Het Vrijthof is the outright leader here with a parking fee of €5 per hour.
In some car parks, there is a daily rate of €35, while others have a daily rate of €16, such as Q-Park de Griend, Q-Park de Colonel and Q-Park Plein 1992. Furthermore, parking on the street is time-restricted. Depending on the location, you can only park for one to four hours. Please also note that not all car parks are open 24/7.
You can park for free in Maastricht in the following locations:* **Park & Ride (P+R) facilities on the outskirts of the city.** These are designated parking areas where you can leave your car and take public transport (usually a bus) into the city centre. The P+R facilities are typically free if you then use the bus service, which itself may have a small charge. Look for P+R Maastricht Noord. * **Some residential streets outside the immediate city centre.** While not guaranteed and often subject to time limits or permit requirements, you might find free parking on streets further away from the main attractions. Be sure to check any signage carefully for restrictions. * **Specific events or markets.** Occasionally, during certain festivals or market days, parking arrangements might be altered, and some areas might be made free for temporary periods.It's important to note that parking in the immediate city centre of Maastricht is generally **not free** and can be quite expensive. The most convenient and often cheapest way to park if you're visiting the centre is to use one of the city's car parks or the P+R facilities. Always check local signage for any parking restrictions or charges.
Free parking in the centre of Maastricht is not possible, but you can park for free at Maastricht Noord. There are also a number of other P+R sites in Maastricht, where you can park your car more cheaply. For example, consider P+R Maastricht Central Station, where you can park your car at Maastricht station for €2.60 per hour and €16 per day. If you continue your journey by public transport, you can even park here for €6 per day.
However, P+R Maastricht Noord is the best-known P+R in the city. Here you can park your car for free and then take a bus to the city centre. Bus line 3, 10 or 30 will take you to the heart of the city centre and back for just €2.40 per person. You can also opt for a group return ticket for three to five people for €5.95.
Free parking in Maastricht?
Maastricht boasts numerous car parks, including several Q Park garages. However, there are no free parking spaces in Maastricht. You can park affordably in Maastricht at the Heerderweg, Noorderbrug, and Brusselse Poort car parks. Here, you'll pay approximately €1 to €1.50 per hour.
Parking in Maastricht with a tour bus
Do you drive a coach for a living and wonder where you can park your tour bus? Maastricht is well-equipped for coaches. At the Maasboulevard and Frontensingel, you'll find a convenient pick-up and drop-off location. You can stop here for half an hour to let your passengers on and off. You can also stop at normal bus stops, but you are not allowed to stand still for longer than five minutes. You can then park your tour bus at the De Geusselt stadium, home of Maastricht football club MVV. You can park your coach here for free in Maastricht.
Parking in Maastricht with a tour bus
Do you drive a coach for a living and wonder where you can park your tour bus? Maastricht is well-equipped for coaches. At the Maasboulevard and Frontensingel, you'll find a convenient pick-up and drop-off location. You can stop here for half an hour to let your passengers on and off. You can also stop at normal bus stops, but you are not allowed to stand still for longer than five minutes. You can then park your tour bus at the De Geusselt stadium, home of Maastricht football club MVV. You can park your coach here for free in Maastricht.
21 responses
Since I have free travel on public transport, I'll park at the station in Meerssen and take the train from there. Free of charge.
That's a good idea Heinz, thanks for the suggestion!
Dear Mr. Pieper,Is it also possible to park for free near the MECC? We were once close by a small shopping centre, and we could park there for free, but I can't remember if that was at the weekend or during the week. I can no longer find the name of that shopping centre or the street (square).
Dear Astrid, thank you for your reply!
There is a small shopping centre in Heugem, the Beente. You can park for free there. Furthermore, there are free parking spaces at the primary school OBS de Spiegel.
One last possibility we still know of is at the car park by Heuts – these stickers are for visitors of the car park.
Recently, I parked for free on Madoerastraat (near Fatimaplein). Yesterday, I had destinations further west and found parking meters at Hunnenweg and Prins Mauritslaan! However, I only discovered these on my return journey and still managed to get away without a parking fine.
Eastern targets were meant.
In the north, I was once in an industrial estate (Fort Willemweg).
The MECC also benefited from an industrial estate: Sint Gerardusweg and Heerderswarstraat.
Sunday 04/02/18, just popping to the market for a burger, parked for 15 minutes in Bosstraat = a fine. Apparently, it's paid parking even on a shopping Sunday, and EVERY Sunday is a shopping Sunday! How on earth am I supposed to know that?
This is Kafkaesque
A blue bar on the kerb indicates a parking zone with a maximum parking time of 2 hours. This is the case, for example, in Röntgenstraat and Elisabeth Gruyterstraat. Do you also have to pay for those 2 hours, or is it free?
Dear Mr Pieper,
I have a parking space to rent at the Groene Loper in Maastricht; it's a secured car park, and you can only enter and exit it with a key card.
Do you perhaps know how I can find potential buyers for that parking space?
Hello Walter, I am interested and can be reached at 0611210493
Is this parking space still available to rent?
The information is no longer up to date.
The shops are closed on Sundays now, so why pay to park around the centre?
That is a very good question. I would think that parking should be free now.
If I buy a parking day ticket tomorrow, January 6th, in the St. Pieter district and I need to be at Oranjeplein in the afternoon, can I use the same day ticket?
In the outer areas of Maastricht, you can park your car all day for €6.60. Is there also a map showing what those outer areas are?
We will be in Maastricht from the afternoon of 24th April until 5 pm on 27th April and have our bicycles with us. Frontenpark can only be reserved for 1 day, where else is there a possibility and safe for a maximum of €10 per day?
If you park in Maastricht at the signs for free parking, it's still about a good half-hour walk to the centre. There's often no other option, as parking in Maastricht is rather expensive. Especially now that the new Q-Parking is finished, where you can park on 3 or 4 levels, that has to be paid for. I always used to park my car there, but I'm completely fed up with that now. I'd rather walk for half an hour to the centre then...
Where can I park for free near the Vrijthof with my disabled badge?
Rates are out of date! See https://www.parkeren-maastricht.nl/ For the current rates.
Parking at the Vrijthof is frankly scandalous, okay, you are right in the city centre but if you have limited mobility, you don't really have many other options, I believe.