Gateway of Holland

The golden age of Holland , in which the republic expanded its power, combined with the capture of Maastricht in 1632 by Frederick Henry caused the change in the position of the city of Maastricht.

The republic enters into the rights of the Duke of Brabant . A State garrison averaging 4000-5000 soldiers was established, commanded by a military governor, appointed by the States General from among the members of the high European nobility. Maastricht became the "Gate of Holland" in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The city now formed an isolated super fortress, which had to stop or halt attacks from the south of Spain and, after 1648, from France, before the enemy reached the border of the Republic.
Maastricht played , especially during the War of the Spanish Succession, (1701-1713) an important role as an arsenal, base of operations and liaison position of the allied armies.

Five times besieged

Five times the fortress was besieged after 1632. Three times it was taken by the French. In 1673 by Louis XIV, with astonishing speed and in 1748, by Marshal Maurice of Saxony after a lackluster defense. In 1794, Maastricht was taken by the French Republican Army, led by General Kléber.

The French interest in Maastricht left a unique monument in the form of a 39m2 model of city with its fortifications, which was made in the years 1748/1752 and is currently kept in the Musée des Plans/Relief (Lille- France).

A copy is now in the Bonnefanten Museum. Exceptionally, the circumambulations are also displayed. 

The Main Guard on the Vrijthof, where the colorful parades took place, some guardhouses in neo-classical style of the 18th century, the street names derived from the soldiers' "barracks" and the present Theater still recall the time when the garrison was based in Maastricht.