) Archaeological excavations have shown that the area of the square was used as a burial site since the late Roman period. Several large cemeteries from the early Middle Ages were excavated in 1969–70, prior to the construction of an underground parking lot. The publication of the thousands of artifacts has only recently started. Further excavations on the north side of the square in 2003 revealed the remains of thirteen layers of the ancient Roman road, the so-called
Via Belgica, an important route between
Boulogne Sur Mer at the
English Channel and the city of
Cologne on the river
Rhine. The oldest written reference to the name Vrijthof dates from 1223, when
Emperor Frederik II transferred the area to the
chapter of Saint Servatius. After that, the square was walled, with iron entrance gates near the corners. During the two weeks of the
Maastricht Septennial Pilgrimage, the walls were removed due to the large crowds that gathered there. The pilgrims gathered around the
apse of Saint Servatius' where the relics of Saint Servatius and other saints were shown from the
dwarf gallery. In the center of the square was the Fountain of Saint Servatius, which was provided with water from the Source of Saint Servatius in the valley of the
Jeker, which was also popular with pilgrims. In the 15th century, a Gothic chapel was built as an extension of the northeast portal, the King's Chapel (Dutch:
Koningskapel). Near this chapel was the Cemetery of the Poor (Dutch:
Ellendigenkerkhof). In the 14th and 15th centuries, there were a number of famous inns in Vrijthof, mainly situated near the northeast corner. This is also where in 1292 the original
perron was erected, the symbol of the jurisdiction of the
prince-bishop of Liège. Maastricht however was a
condominium and had double jurisdiction. The symbol of the
duke of Brabant (a
scaffold!) stood near the northwest corner. At times, the square was used for public executions (before the new town hall was built at Markt). In 1408, after the suppression of a rebellion by prince-bishop
John of Bavaria, one of the rebellious mayors of Liège was beheaded in the square. In 1485,
William I de La Marck, known as the "Swine of the Ardennes", was executed in Vrijthof. In 1535, 15 heretics
Anabaptists were burnt at the stake. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the square was used as a parade ground for the garrison. At the end of the 17th century, the wall around Vrijthof was replaced by a fence. The Main Guard House was built in 1736. During the French Occupation (1794–1814), Vrijthof was renamed Place des Armes. Around the same time, the two
almshouses in the south-east corner of the square, the Hospitium of St. Servatius and that of St. Jacob were demolished, as well as the Saint Maternus Chapel and the King's Chapel, and the Convent of the
White Nuns. A large parking garage was constructed from 1969 to 1972. Due to construction errors, it had to be rebuilt in 2003. ==Sightseeing==