Maastricht - Town Walls

Farther east of Rijksarchief are some remains of the first circuit of town walls (1229) - the Helpoort (Hell Gate) at St Bernardusstraat 24, the oldest town gate in the Netherlands, which is now the home of a local artist, and the Jekertoren (tower) and Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal in the street of that name. From the top of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwewal there are fine views of the municipal park with its five old cannons, the Maas and the Wijk district. The principal remnant of the town's second circuit of walls (ca. 1350) is the Pater Vink Toren, named after Pater Vink, unjustly executed by the Spanish authorities in 1579. A little way south, between two 16th century bastions washed by the river Jeker, there is a picturesque view of the Helpoort, the town's principal churches and the municipal park.