Theater aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht
Maastricht's city theatre on the Vrijthof: a 900-seat Papyruszaal and a 110-seat Bovenzaal, with a Q-Park garage at the square.
Photo credits
The symmetrical front of the Generaalshuis, home of Theater aan het Vrijthof, with a white flag above the entrance steps.: Theater aan het Vrijthof
Quick answers
- Capacity
- Papyruszaal 900 seats; Bovenzaal 110
- Address
- Vrijthof 476211 LE Maastricht
- From the station
- City bus towards the Markt, then 5 minutes on foot
- Closest parking
- Q-Park Vrijthof, Vrijthof 100, at the square
- Cloakroom
- Free and guarded, in the basement; no coats in the hall
- Typical times
- Evenings 20:00/19:30, ending around 22:00
- Tickets
- Book online; box office Mon-Fri 12:00-18:00
- Wheelchair access
- Four places at the back; ring loop in the hall
- Contact
- +31 43 350 55 55
Holidays at Theater aan het Vrijthof
Open on the holidays: these nights are in the agenda.
Theater aan het Vrijthof agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Maastricht.
Last night at Theater aan het Vrijthof: Rachmaninov, Chopin, Schubert and Skrjabin - Valentin Magyar (piano)
Plan your visit to Theater aan het Vrijthof
How many people fit in Theater aan het Vrijthof?
The main hall, the Papyruszaal, holds 900 people; the Bovenzaal holds 110.
Among theatres in the south of Limburg, the Papyruszaal sits between Maaspoort in Venlo (about 750 seats in its Hela zaal) and the Grote Zaal of Theater Heerlen (up to 1100 seats on the floor and two balconies). Room capacities are separate: never add them up as one building total.
| Room | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Papyruszaal, Theater aan het Vrijthof | 900 people |
| Bovenzaal (second floor) | 110 people |
| Ferdinand Duynstee Foyer (basement) | 350 people (events) |
| Theatercafé | 75 to 100 people (events) |
| Hela zaal, Maaspoort Venlo | About 750 seats |
| Grote Zaal, Theater Heerlen | Up to 1100 seats |
Seating in the Papyruszaal: Sterrang, Rang 1 and Rang 2
Most performances in the Papyruszaal sell three tiers: Sterrang, Rang 1 and Rang 2.
The Sterrang seats are on rows 4 and 12 of the hall and on rows 1 and 2 of the balcony. The Rang 2 seats are on row 12 of the balcony.
Philzuid also works with three tiers, but its division differs from the theatre's own. The theatre publishes no legroom or sightline guide for the Papyruszaal, so for a specific seat ask the box office by phone (+31 43 350 55 55).
How an evening at Theater aan het Vrijthof works
From your ticket to the interval drink.
- Book online, also on the evening itself: this avoids queues at the evening box office. E-tickets arrive by email straight after payment and are scanned from your phone at the entrance.
- Two days before the performance you receive a service email with the latest practical information and a link to your e-tickets.
- Hand in your coat at the free, guarded cloakroom in the basement: coats are not allowed in the hall for fire safety.
- Take your seat. Most evening performances start at 20:00 or 19:30 and run about two hours with one interval.
- Enjoy the interval: almost all performances include a drink (coffee, tea, beer, soft drink or wine). Your ticket says whether yours does.
Tickets, prices, cancelling and the waiting list
Book online; the box office handles questions Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 18:00.
Sterrang, Rang 1 and Rang 2 prices differ per performance; on the programme pages we read, the Sterrang cost between €38 and €60 and Rang 2 started at €28. E-tickets arrive by email; tickets by post cost €3.50 shipping. When you buy online or by phone within seven days of the performance you can collect the tickets at the box office, from 45 minutes before the start at the performance location.
Until 24 hours before the performance you can exchange tickets free of charge or turn their value into an online credit, which stays valid for 2 years. Returning tickets without exchanging costs €6 administration per ticket, with a maximum of €24 per transaction (€3 and €12 for subscribers). Sold-out performances have a waiting list: when tickets free up, people on the list get an email with a payment link, in order of sign-up, valid for 24 hours.
Online you can pay with iDEAL, Bancontact, credit card, Podium Cadeaukaart, the Nationale Kunst en Cultuur Cadeaukaart (NKCC), VVV Cadeaukaart and online credits; at the box office cash and card are accepted too.
Cloakroom, interval drink and booster seats
Coats go to the cloakroom, not into the hall.
For fire safety, coats are not allowed in the hall. The basement cloakroom is free and guarded, you use it at your own risk, and it is open until half an hour after the performance.
At almost all performances in Theater aan het Vrijthof a drink at the interval (coffee, tea, beer, soft drink or wine) is included in the ticket price; without an interval you get it afterwards. Booster seats for the Papyruszaal stand ready beside the hall entrances at family and youth performances; for other performances ask at the box office. The theatre prefers contactless payment, cash is still possible.
Eating and drinking around a performance
The theatre includes an interval drink; for dinner you go to a restaurant on the Vrijthof.
Theater aan het Vrijthof is a theatre, not a restaurant. It offers a dinner arrangement with a three-course dinner at one of its hospitality partners on the Vrijthof; see the programme's arrangements page for what is offered now.
Inside, the interval drink is usually included in your ticket (see the cloakroom section above).
Wheelchair places, hearing loop and audio description
Four wheelchair places at the back of the Papyruszaal; book through the box office.
In the Papyruszaal there is room for four wheelchairs to the left and right of row 20, which the theatre calls the last row in the hall, depending on the size of the chair. The Bovenzaal and AINSI theater also have places. Contact the box office to book them or to ask about the access of a performance location; they may ask for the size of your wheelchair.
A companion with an official OV-Begeleiderskaart can come along free of charge. At all performances in the Papyruszaal a ring loop is available: ask a staff member before the show. For some performances there is live audio description by headset together with Stichting Komt Het Zien!, bookable as the price type 'met blindentolk'.
Getting to Theater aan het Vrijthof from Maastricht station
By bus to the Markt and a short walk, or on foot in 15 to 20 minutes.
Theater aan het Vrijthof lies on the Vrijthof square in the city centre. On Thursday evening (koopavond), on Saturdays, on shopping Sundays and on public holidays it is very busy in and around Maastricht, so allow extra time. For the current traffic situation see maastrichtbereikbaar.nl. The theatre sends you to 9292.nl for current times, prices and routes, so plan the journey home before a late show. Q-Park Vrijthof is open day and night, and the underground bike parking stays open until 00:00 to 02:30 depending on the day.
Parking at Theater aan het Vrijthof: garages, rates and walking times
Q-Park Vrijthof is at the square; the further out, the cheaper.
The theatre no longer sells discounted exit tickets. You can reserve a discounted place online: Q-Park Vrijthof for 4 hours costs €21.00 when reserved, Q-Park SG Entre Deux €15.00 for the whole evening (16:00-00:00) and Q-Park Frontenpark €9.50 for 4 hours. Q-Park Vrijthof has 447 places and a maximum height of 2.00 m.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Regular rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q-Park Vrijthof | Vrijthof 100, 6211 LE | At the square | €1.50 per 16 min (max. €35 per day) |
| Q-Park Mosae Forum | Maasboulevard 40, 6211 JW | 7 min | €1.50 per 25 min (max. €28.50 per day) |
| Q-Park O. L. Vrouweparking | Maasboulevard 80, 6211 HS | 7 min | €1.50 per 25 min (max. €28.50 per day) |
| Bollenpark Garage Maestricht | Calvariestraat 22, 6211 NJ | 7 min | €10 for the evening (18:00-02:00), €20 for the day |
| Q-Park Frontenpark | Frontensingel, 6219 PE | 10 min | €1.50 per 32 min (max. €18 per day) |
Rooms and other stages of the theatre
Some of the programme plays outside the building at Vrijthof 47.
| Location | Address | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Papyruszaal and Bovenzaal | Vrijthof 47 | The theatre's own halls |
| Sint Janskerk | Henric van Veldekeplein | Church on the Vrijthof, opposite the theatre |
| De Bordenhal | Plein 1992-15 | Flat-floor hall with about 160 seats, home of Toneelgroep Maastricht |
| AINSI theater | Lage Kanaaldijk 112-113 | At the edge of Maastricht |
| Kumulus Theater | Herbenusstraat 89 | Suited to smaller performances |
Theater aan het Vrijthof address, phone and opening hours
Vrijthof 47, 6211 LE Maastricht.
- Box office (UITbalie)
- +31 43 350 55 55, Mon-Fri 12:00-18:00
- General
- +31 43 350 55 44
- Postal address
- Postbus 1992, 6201 BZ Maastricht
- Visiting address
- Vrijthof 47, 6211 LE Maastricht
About Theater aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht
Maastricht's city theatre, in the Generaalshuis on the Vrijthof square since 1992.
Theater aan het Vrijthof has been housed since 1992 in the former Generaalshuis on the Vrijthof, where theatre, dance, opera, cabaret, musicals, classical music, youth performances and concerts share two halls: the Papyruszaal and the Bovenzaal.
The programme also plays at other locations in the city, such as the Sint Janskerk opposite the theatre and the Bordenhal. This page is about the building at Vrijthof 47; the agenda above shows what is on right now.
The building and the planned new middle hall
A Generaalshuis from 1805 with a theatre hall behind it, and a new hall coming.
The theatre is a partly listed national monument: the front building, the Generaalshuis, dates from 1805 and the theatre hall behind it from 1990-92. Maastricht's city theatre has been here since 1992.
A new middle hall with 270 seats is planned. The theatre expects to programme at other locations in the city in the 2027-2028 season; the Papyruszaal is planned to be closed between July 2027 and May 2028, while the Bovenzaal and the Generaalshuis stay open. The new hall is expected to be tested in April 2029. These are plans, so check the theatre's website.
Photos
Photo credits
The symmetrical front of the Generaalshuis, home of Theater aan het Vrijthof, with a white flag above the entrance steps.: Theater aan het Vrijthof
The foyer of Theater aan het Vrijthof with a black and white checkered floor, two chandeliers and visitors walking through.: Theater aan het Vrijthof
A bar room in the Generaalshuis part of Theater aan het Vrijthof, with a herringbone floor, a decorated ceiling and a bar counter.: Kleon3 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Frequently asked questions
How many seats does Theater aan het Vrijthof have?
The Papyruszaal, the main hall, holds 900 people according to the theatre; the Bovenzaal on the second floor holds 110. Other sites quote slightly different counts (855 and 915 for the Papyruszaal), so use 900 as the theatre's own figure.
What time do shows at Theater aan het Vrijthof start and end?
Most evening performances start at 20:00 or 19:30 and last about two hours with one interval, so they end around 22:00 to 22:10. Afternoon performances usually start at 14:00 or 14:30. Check the programme page of your performance for its exact times.
Where can I park near Theater aan het Vrijthof?
Q-Park Vrijthof (Vrijthof 100) is directly at the square and charges €1.50 per 16 minutes, with a daily maximum of €35. Cheaper options: Q-Park Mosae Forum and O. L. Vrouweparking (7 minutes on foot, daily maximum €28.50), Q-Park Frontenpark (10 minutes) and Bollenpark Garage Maestricht (7 minutes, €10 for the evening).
Is there a cloakroom?
Yes. The cloakroom is in the basement, it is free and guarded, and it stays open until half an hour after the performance. Coats are not allowed in the hall for fire safety reasons; you use the cloakroom at your own risk.
How do I get from Maastricht station to the theatre?
Almost all city buses from the station go towards the Markt, and from the Markt it is a 5-minute walk to the theatre. On foot, the route from the station is about 1.5 km and takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Is the theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes. In the Papyruszaal there is room for four wheelchairs on the left and right of row 20 (the theatre calls it the last row in the hall), depending on the size of the chair. The Bovenzaal also has places. Book these places through the box office (+31 43 350 55 55); they may ask for the size of your wheelchair.
Can I cancel or exchange my tickets?
Until 24 hours before the performance you can exchange tickets for another performance or turn them into an online credit, free of charge. Returning tickets for a refund costs €6 administration per ticket, with a maximum of €24 per transaction.
Is a drink included in the ticket?
For almost all performances in Theater aan het Vrijthof a drink at the interval (coffee, tea, beer, soft drink or wine) is included in the ticket price. Your ticket says whether yours includes one. Without an interval you get the drink afterwards.
When is the box office open?
The box office (UITbalie) is open Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 18:00. You can also phone +31 43 350 55 55. The theatre asks you to book online, also on the evening itself, to avoid queues at the evening box office.
Is Theater aan het Vrijthof closing for building work?
The Papyruszaal is planned to close between July 2027 and May 2028 while a new 270-seat middle hall is built; the theatre will programme at other locations in Maastricht in the 2027-2028 season. The Bovenzaal stays in use and the Generaalshuis stays accessible. Check the theatre's website for the current plans.
What do the Sterrang, Rang 1 and Rang 2 mean?
Most Papyruszaal performances sell three price tiers. The Sterrang seats are on rows 4 and 12 of the hall and rows 1 and 2 of the balcony; Rang 2 is on row 12 of the balcony.
Which seats should I pick in the Papyruszaal?
The theatre sells three tiers: Sterrang on rows 4 and 12 of the hall and rows 1 and 2 of the balcony, and Rang 2 on row 12 of the balcony; Rang 1 is the tier in between. It publishes no sightline or legroom guide, so if you need extra legroom or a clear view, phone the box office (+31 43 350 55 55) before you book.
Can I bring a child or use a booster seat?
Booster seats are available in the Papyruszaal: they stand ready beside the hall entrances at family and youth performances, and you can collect them at the box office for other performances. Family and youth performances also get a drink for the children at the interval or afterwards.
Sources: Theater aan het Vrijthof: Our story (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Rentals & events (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Ticket sales (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Service (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Accessibility (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Getting there (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Parking (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Locations (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: New hall (October 21, 2026) · Theater aan het Vrijthof: Contact (October 21, 2026)
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