Jekerkwartier in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Poort Waerachtig / “Waerachtig” Gate
— Rijksmonument —
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 26, 2023
1. Poort Waerachtig / “Waerachtig” Gate Marker
The Waerachtig Gate was built in 1887-1888, after the Villa Park development had been constructed on the south side of the city. To create a new connection with the city center, the Begijnenstraat was extended to the city wall, where a full-fledged city gate was erected at the insistence of Victor de Stuers. The design was by architect Pierre Cuypers. De Stuers thought that the new gate should also have the same appearance as the medieval city gates. On the field side of
this page online
Erected by maastricht: Visitor Center, Gemeente Maastricht, ANWB.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles.
Location. 50° 50.673′ N, 5° 41.662′ E. Marker has been damaged. Marker is in Maastricht, Limburg. It is in Jekerkwartier. Marker is on Sint Pieterskade, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Maastricht, Limburg 6211 KA, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Papiermolen ‘De Ancker’ / “The Anchor” Paper Mill (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Helpoort / Hell Gate (about 120 meters away); Jekertoren / Jeker Tower (about 120 meters away); Waterpoort Achter de Minderbroeders / “Behind the Franciscans” Water Gate (about 120 meters away); Stadsommuring, Poorten en Torens / City Walls, Gates and Towers I (about 120 meters away); Faliezustersklooster / Sisters of the Veil Convent (about 120 meters away); Non Sum Qualis Eram (about 180 meters away); Eerste Stadsommuring / First City Wall (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maastricht.
Also see . . . Poort Waerachtig (Wikipedia, in Dutch)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 26, 2023
2. Poort Waerachtig / “Waerachtig” Gate Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here just to the right of the archway.
Extract (in translation): The Poort Waerachtig is a 19th-century gate in the center of the Dutch city of Maastricht. The gate was built as a pseudo-city gate in part of the medieval city wall to create a connection between the Begijnenstraat and the Sint Pieterskade in the Jekerkwartier. The gate was originally called Begijnenpoort, but popularly it soon became Poort Waerachtig, later Waarachtig….(Submitted on November 23, 2023.)
The gate is therefore not an original city gate in the city walls, as is often wrongly assumed. The designer is probably the Maastricht historian Lord Victor de Stuers. The gate originally had battlements with embrasures, but these were installed upside down by the contractor: the embrasure above instead of below. The battlements were also not properly anchored, collapsed in February 1936, and were not rebuilt.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 26, 2023
3. Poort Waerachtig / “Waerachtig” Gate dedication verse by Victor de Stuers
In Dutch: In achttienhonderdachtentachtig
Is deze poort gebouwd Waerachtig.
Vreest God, eert den Koning, doet uw plicht
De Heer bescherme de stad Maastricht.
In English: In eighteen hundred and eighty-eight,
this gate was built, oddly.
Fear God, honor the King, do your duty
and Lord protect the city of Maastricht.
Is deze poort gebouwd Waerachtig.
Vreest God, eert den Koning, doet uw plicht
De Heer bescherme de stad Maastricht.
In English: In eighteen hundred and eighty-eight,
this gate was built, oddly.
Fear God, honor the King, do your duty
and Lord protect the city of Maastricht.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 23, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
