Kazemats tour in Bastion Holstein
Around the year 1250, gunpowder was (re)invented in Europe. By the mid-14th century, it was already known that gunpowder could be used to seriously weaken or blow up city walls by digging mine galleries (casemates) and placing large charges of gunpowder under them. Around 1500, increasing experience with the use of gunpowder led to the introduction of firearms into the siege of cities.
Wet and dry canals
The simplest defense was to flood the areas in front of the walls. In western Maastricht, however, the terrain was too high for the use of water as a means of defense and they had to resort to a system of dry moats.
High Fronts
This we call the "High Fronts", consisting of bastions, lunettes and "dry" moats. To prevent the digging of approach mines (casemates), by the enemy, this system was provided with mine galleries with the purpose of detecting enemy approach mines, the so-called listening tunnels.
Line of Dumoulin
Around the year 1775, the last expansion of the high front took place. About 1/3 of the high front, called Dumoulin's Line, is currently intact.
Defense system
This tour, is led by experienced guides. After a brief introduction, you will be shown around both above ground and underground in the casemates. In the above-ground high front and get an impression how such a defense system looks like after about 250 years unchanged. In the underground part we will take you to the mine galleries, listening tunnels, communication domes and caponnieres (spaces from which the dry moats were held under fire) etc. in their relation to the above-ground defenses.
Useful information
Duration
approximately 1.5 hours (90 min).
Cost
€ 9.50 p.p., youth up to 12 years € 6.00 p.p.. Reservations can be made up to four days before the desired date/time. A tour requires at least six people to participate. For fewer participants, a flat rate of € 55 is charged.
Customization is also possible
The day, time and duration of the guided tour are up to you: between 90 and 180 minutes, in which you can choose to visit Fort Waldeck, Fort Willem or Fort Sint Pieter. Requests should be made at least one week in advance. At least six people should participate in a tour. For fewer participants, a flat rate of six times the participant fee will be charged.
For participants who want to go in-depth on fortification construction and the history of the casemates, there is the so-called long casemate tour (duration: three hours).
Custom rates apply for groups of fifteen or more.
Starting and ending point
Bastion Holstein, accessible via Cabergerweg 10, 6217 SC Maastricht (gate near BabyDump's storefront).
Note
The underground mining galleries have a constant temperature of about 13 degrees all year round. In summer, please wear appropriate clothing. Given the slopes/stairs to be taken in the terrain, it is desirable that our guests have reasonable mobility.
Practical information
Parking
Q-park Mosae Forum
Public transportation
Bus lines 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 (Frontensingel stop)
Requesting a tour
Please fill out our request form to book your tour.
This is not a final reservation yet, but a request that we will be happy to help you with.
You will receive a confirmation email from us with all the details.