Maastunnel – First car tunnel in the Netherlands

Image by L.V.M. van Daalen

In 1937 they began to build the Maastunnel, which included the moving of the Norsk Sjomannskirke which is in the park nearby nowadays. The building continued during WWII.

There is a story that while they were officially opening the tunnel at one side, two schoolboys had entered the tunnel at the other side. I would have loved to see their faces, when they saw the two boys, before the cutting of the ribbon. This opening was in 1942, and back then it was the first car tunnel in the Netherlands.

Besides a car tunnel there is also a bike tunel and a pedestrian tunnel. You can go down the escalator with your bike or request the elevator. The tunnel for pedestrians is another stairway down, since you are not allowed to walk in the bike tunnel.

I have been biking here about once a day up and down for five years. When I lived on the south bank my work and my son’s school was on the north bank, we always took the Maastunnel on our way. Especially in the summertime you are met by a pleasant fresh air, since it is quit cool under sea level.

Going up the escalator with your bike takes some getting used to, but since my son has been doing it since he was five years, I suppose you can manage. As long as you take care to put your back wheel firmly on one stair, you can hold your bike with only the touch of a finger.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Maastunnel | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Maastunnel | West
24 hours daily