Derlon Cellar Museum, Maastricht

Tucked beneath the elegant Hotel Derlon in the heart of Maastricht, the Derlon Cellar Museum (Museumkelder Derlon) is an intimate archaeological treasure trove preserving remnants of the city’s Roman past. Unearthed during excavations in the 1980s, these findings-some dating as far back as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries-offer a fascinating glimpse into Maastricht’s role in the Roman Empire.

The site was first uncovered when the previous Hotel Mauel was demolished to make way for the current Hotel Derlon. During the 90-day excavation, archaeologist Titus Panhuysen and his team made extraordinary discoveries, including a pre-Roman road, the remains of a Roman asylum, and a marlstone well. These findings were meticulously restored over four years, and instead of building over them, the hotel chose to integrate them into a dedicated museum space, officially recognized as a National Monument in 2003.

At the Derlon Cellar Museum, visitors can explore a preserved Roman square, walls, a gate, and a road, all of which have been carefully maintained in an atmospheric underground crypt. One of the highlights is the shrine with a Roman column dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries, believed to have once stood along the historic Via Belgica. Also of note are fragments of the Jupiter Pillar, intricate pottery, glassware, metal artifacts, and a bronze sculpture of Venus’ head, reflecting the deep religious devotion of the time.

A particularly remarkable discovery was the remains of a Roman fort (castellum), built in 333 AD to fortify Maastricht in the empire’s later years. Using tree-ring analysis, archaeologists determined that the fort’s oak foundations were cut down in the spring of 333 and immediately put to use-offering a rare precise dating of Roman construction efforts.

The Derlon Cellar Museum is open to visitors on Sunday afternoons or by special arrangement with the hotel staff, making it an exclusive and immersive experience for history enthusiasts. Stepping into this subterranean museum is like traveling back nearly 2,000 years, offering a rare opportunity to witness Maastricht’s ancient past beneath the modern city streets.