Maastricht is hosting the Heiligdomsvaart (Relics Pilgrimage), a major Christian festival in the Netherlands held every seven years, featuring over two hundred activities. The event, which dates back to the Middle Ages, commenced with processions on Thursday evening and will continue with highlights on the following Sundays.

The Heiligdomsvaart includes the carrying of revered relics through the city, most notably the Shrine of Need, a 12th-century chest containing the remains of Saint Servatius and other bishops. This shrine was historically paraded through Maastricht during times of crisis.

Mayor Wim Hillenaar anticipates approximately 150,000 attendees from the Euregion, rivaling numbers seen at André Rieu concerts. He emphasizes the event’s importance in showcasing Maastricht’s cultural identity, deeply rooted in Christian faith and the legacy of Saint Servatius, the city’s first preacher.

Although the festival attracts visitors, Hillenaar notes that boosting the local economy is not the primary goal. The focus is on highlighting Maastricht’s intangible heritage and religious significance.

The program includes religious ceremonies, cultural performances, and festive activities. Organizers have addressed concerns about maintaining the religious core of the event amidst its cultural expansion, emphasizing the importance of preserving its original spiritual essence.

In the opening processions, statues of Mary, the Black Christ of Wyck, and busts of Saint Lambertus and Saint Servatius were carried to the Sint-Servaas Basilica. The evening sun illuminated the bust of Saint Servatius on Vrijthof square as a choir sang, and the bishop of Roermond blessed the faithful with water from Saint Servatius’ spring.