Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht
Natural history museum in Maastricht's Jekerkwartier with Cretaceous mosasaur fossils and exhibitions on the nature of Limburg.
Om museet
The impetus came from the Natural History Society of Limburg (Natuurhistorisch Genootschap in Limburg), founded in Sittard in 1910, which quickly sought a museum of its own in Maastricht. In 1912 the collection moved into the former convent of the Grey Sisters in the Jekerkwartier, where the nuns had lived from 1673 to 1796. The core of the complex is a 17th-century house in the Mosan Renaissance style; the complex is now a national monument (rijksmonument).
The municipality of Maastricht took over the museum as early as 1917. Since 2006 it has been run as a municipal institution together with the Centre Céramique. The museum includes a garden on the Jeker designed in the late 1940s by the renowned landscape architect Mien Ruys.
The focus is on the geological history of South Limburg, especially the Maastrichtian, the geological age named after Maastricht at the end of the Cretaceous period, when a shallow, warm sea covered the region. Important finds of large marine reptiles come from the limestone quarries near Maastricht; the mosasaur "Bèr," a Prognathodon from the ENCI quarry, is the museum's flagship and was reconstructed together with Naturalis as an eleven-meter-long 3D skeleton. Other sections cover earlier geological eras as well as the animals and landscapes of present-day Limburg, including an insectarium.
In 2024, the city council approved a comprehensive renovation and renewal. According to the local press, the museum will close for this from January 1, 2027, for about a year and a half.
Højdepunkter
- Mosasaur "Bèr" (Prognathodon) from the ENCI quarry with an eleven-meter-long 3D skeleton
- Fossils from the Maastrichtian, the stage of the Cretaceous named after the city
- Section on the present-day nature of Limburg with an insectarium
- Museum garden on the Jeker designed by Mien Ruys
- Former convent of the Grey Sisters (17th century) as the museum building
Permanente udstillinger
- Ontmoet Bèr – Mosasaurus Experience – The world of Cretaceous marine reptiles centered on the 3D skeleton of the Maastricht mosasaur Bèr suspended from the ceiling, complemented by original fossils.
- Limburgse Natuur: Vroeger – A journey through time from tropical swamp forests 350 million years ago to the Cretaceous sea that covered South Limburg around 70 million years ago.
- Limburgse Natuur: Nu – Animals of present-day Limburg landscapes, an insectarium, and a section on the interplay of people, nature, and climate.
- Grundlagt
- 1912
- Ejer
- Gemeinde Maastricht (gemeinsam mit Centre Céramique)
- Ledelse
- Wim Hupperetz
Entrépriser & rabatter
| Voksne | 11,50 € |
|---|---|
| Nedsat pris | 10,50 €Students, CJP cardholders |
| Børn og unge | 7,50 €gratis til og med 4 år · Free up to and including age 4; ages 5–17 €7.50 |
| Pensionister | –No senior discount listed |
| Studerende og elever | 10,50 €Also for CJP cardholders |
| Grupper (fra 20 pers.) | 10,50 € pr. person20 people or more; young people ages 5–17 in groups €6.50 |
| Familier | –No family ticket listed |
| With GaiaZOO annual pass (adults) | 8,50 €Young people ages 5–17 €5.50 |
| Children's birthday party (group) | 55 €Flat rate per group including a gift, plus admission per participant |
Free with the Museumkaart (Museumkaart also available at the ticket desk). No reservation required, tickets at the ticket desk. Payment by cash or card.
Tilgængelighed
- Kørestolsvenlig
- Elevator
- Handicaptoilet
- Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
- Servicehunde tilladt
- Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
- Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
Easily accessible by wheelchair, rollator, and stroller; elevator to all floors, spacious accessible restroom, wide paths in the garden. One loaner wheelchair at the ticket desk.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
| Besøgets varighed | ca. 1,5 t. |
|---|---|
| Entré for børn | gratis til og med 4 år |
- Familieomvisninger & workshops
- Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
- Interaktive stationer
- Barnevognsvenlig
- Børnefødselsdage
Throughout the museum there are "treasure chests" in which children can explore fossils and finds, plus a scavenger hunt. During school holidays and on Wednesdays, hands-on activities for children ages about 4 to 12 (registration required). Birthday parties with a fossil workshop (90 min., max. 15 children).
Transport & parkering
I bil
Museet har ingen egen parkeringsplads.
No visitor parking; resident-only parking on the surrounding streets. The nearest parking lot is at the Stadspark (Prins Bisschopsingel, 6212 XN Maastricht), 5–10 minutes' walk away; also the Vrijthof and Onze Lieve Vrouweparking parking garages.
The museum is located in the historic city center (Jekerkwartier). The ENCI quarry on the Sint-Pietersberg is about a 25-minute walk away.
Planlæg ruteService & spisesteder
- Café: findes ikke
- Restaurant: findes ikke
- Museumsbutik
- Garderobe
- Opbevaringsskabe
No café; visitors may eat food they bring in the lounge ("Huiskamer"), which has coffee and snack vending machines. Museum shop with fossils, books, and gifts. Coat check with lockers (€2 coin).
Arrangementer & udlejning
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette – spørg venligst museet direkte.
Planlæg dit besøg
| Rundvisninger | ja |
|---|---|
| Tilbud til skoler | ja |
| Fotografering | Photos and videos for private use allowed; commercial shoots only with prior permission. |
| Godt at vide | On selected dates, free guided tours about the mosasaurs by a preparator (included in admission, max. 12 people, children ages 9 and up, meeting point at the ticket desk). Workshops only with registration by email. Educational programs for elementary and secondary schools. |
