Maassluis has a variety of sights and must-sees. Curious to find out our top-5 sights you simply cannot miss? Take a quick look below.
De Groote Kerk is the most renowned church in Maassluis and unique in the Netherlands. The church was built between 1629 and 1639 and is the only church in the Netherlands on a church island. It is also famous for its Garrels organ. The church has a long and rich history and is a beautiful site to visit. If you’re not afraid of heights, join an enthusiastic guide in climbing the church’s tower. You’ll have a truly magnificent view of Maassluis when you reach the top..
No visit to Maassluis is complete without having seen the harbour. Maassluis is famous for the many tugboats you’ll see here. There’s a reason why we’re called the tugboat harbour of the Netherlands. Maassluis’s best-known tugboat is the Furie, the last steam-driven seagoing tugboat in the Netherlands.
The many ships and historic tugboats filling Maassluis’ inner and outer harbour illustrate why Maassluis is called the tugboat harbour of the Netherlands. The inner harbour or harbour basin offers you a beautiful view of the Stadhuiskade, the Furie, the Hudson and the Groote Kerk. In addition, there are several smaller ships moored in the inner harbour. You can also reach the landing for passers-by via the inner harbour, where you can moor and spend the night.
The outer harbour is your first introduction to Maassluis. It’s where the ships and boats from enter the city from the Nieuwe Waterweg. The Elbe and the Rigel are just two of the ships you’ll see here. At the Customs House (het Douanehuisje), you’ll find the perfect spot to admire the many ships passing by on the Nieuwe Waterweg.
In the past, ships were ‘cleared in and out’ and the Nieuwe Waterweg was monitored from a very favourable position at breakwater. Ships transporting vegetables from Westland to England were inspected at this location. Customs had an excellent observation post: the Customs House. Not only do you have a magnificent view of the ships sailing along the Waterweg, but you can also visit a special exhibition, demonstration or other activity in the Customs House.
Maassluis is the smallest of the four cities on the waterway from Rotterdam to the sea. The smallest, but also the first and the last, depending on which side you start from. In any case, this water has given our city its name and fame, even when this waterway was still a river and simply called ‘Maas’, or ‘Het Scheur’ (The Rift) as an indication of the navigation channel near Maassluis.
It’s a busy shipping route for the port area of Rotterdam. There are no locks or bridges obstructing the connection between Rotterdam and the sea, with the exception of the Maeslant barrier, which can be closed under extreme weather conditions. A fine example of Dutch engineering.
Take a seat on one of the benches along the Waterweg and enjoy the bustling shipping traffic going past.
This was the area from where Maassluis would later emerge. It was often hit by floods in the 12th century, with everything that had been built up being swept away.
Around 1330, the Zuidvliet and the Noordvliet were constructed by the jurisdiction of Wateringen and Monster. A jurisdiction was a legal area around a village, where the craftsman was in charge of a variety of aspects such as legal rulings. Together, the jurisdictions of Naaldwijk, Voorburg and Maasland had the Boonervliet dug up around 1380. The first inhabitants to settle at the vents or locks were lock keepers and fishermen. A settlement formed itself near the Monstersche Sluis. Because the locks were located on the territory of the Maasland jurisdiction, the settlement was given the name Maaslandsluis (Maasland Lock). In 1614, Maassluis was given an independent name and a town was born.
The Monstersche Sluis (Monstersche Lock) plays an important role in the origins of Maassluis. The history of the Monstersche Sluis dates back all the way to 1343. There was a festive celebration when this National Monument was reopened on 1 September 2018, after a lengthy renovation. The lock is operational again and offers boats access to the harbour and the green hinterland of Maassluis.
The Gemeenlandshuis of Delfland is a monumental building dating from 1626 and is one of the oldest buildings in Maassluis’ city centre. The Hoogheemraadzaal is located in the building, a room used as a meeting room by the members of the Delfland Water Board. This room also previously served as a wedding location. The Gemeenlandshuis of Maassluis is open every third Sunday of the month from 12.00 to 16.00, but you’ll need a ticket to visit the Gemeenlandshuis. Click here to order a ticket.
