De Nieuwe Ster (The New Star), by Peter Eberson June 24, 2026 © ARP 20 years of Rieu at Vrijthof; World stars and 1.5 million visitors André Rieu is pulling out all the stops at the Vrijthof this year. It is the 20th year that he is performing at the Vrijthof with his orchestra. In those years, more than 1.5 million visitors from all over the world came to Maastricht, and he managed to secure world stars such as Jermaine Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, and 'Knight Rider' David Hasselhoff. Rieu started his Vrijthof concerts 22 years ago. With the exception of two corona years, the now 76-year- old Rieu performs there every year in a sold-out open-air concert hall. Loss of revenue The first year started cautiously with only three concerts and a lot of hassle with the catering establishments on the square. At the time, hospitality entrepreneurs were not at all keen on Rieu's concerts and feared a loss of revenue. How different things are 22 years later. Now, the special dinner packages generate enormous revenue for many hospitality business owners. There is a good working relationship with Rieu, and everyone is reaping the benefits of André Rieu's success. Proud The construction of the stage began on Wednesday, and son Pierre Rieu took to social media to express his immense pride in his father and the orchestra. He called it incredible that over the past few years, approximately 1.5 million visitors from all over the world have traveled to Maastricht for his father's concerts. Pierre Rieu He also announced that the anniversary year will be celebrated on a grand scale. In the past, André Rieu consistently surprised audiences with performances by domestic and international artists. Rieu shared the stage with the world-famous Jermaine Jackson, and with pan flute player Gheorghe Zamfir. David Hasselhoff brought his car KITT onto the stage. The car was wildly popular in the TV series Knight Rider in the 1980s. A car you could talk to. It seemed like pure futuristic music back then; nowadays, every modern car talks to the driver about the weather, navigation routes, and the best restaurants in the area. Dutch artists such as Vader Abraham, Benny Neyman, and André van Duin were featured. And singer Emma Kok, born in Maastricht but living in Kerkrade, experienced a worldwide musical breakthrough after singing the song Voilà. The concerts at the Vrijthof begin on Thursday, July 2. The finale is on Sunday, July 19, and yes, that is also the final of the football World Cup. Curious to see if Rieu will cater to football fans this time.

Screenshots from Pierre’s Instagram video.

Chapeau Magazine June 25, 2026 André Rieu watching the Koninklijke Harmonie Sainte Cécile Eijsden perform marching during a film recording on June 25, 2026, as he prepares them for his Vrijthof concerts in July 2026 The Koninklijke Harmonie Sainte Cécile Eijsden will perform prior to the Vrijthof concerts during the first two weekends on July 2-5 and July 9-12, 2026, with festive marching music both on the Vrijthof square and along the terraces. Koninklijke Harmonie Sainte Cécile Eijsden, based in Eijsden (town), Netherlands, is a top-tier wind orchestra competing in the highest division of symphonic wind music.

Screenshot: Diana D. Le

June 26, 2026 Article from RTV Maastricht. © Laurens Bouvrie An empty Market and even André Rieu stage builders hold a long siesta on Friday afternoon If even André Rieu’s tough stagehands are taking a break from the heat on the Vrijthof this afternoon, then you can be sure that the heat and the sun over the square are truly extreme. It’s already clear this morning around 7:30 on the Market that June 26, 2026, is no run-of-the-mill Friday. Instead of market stalls, the Bananenboxer’s truck is parked in front of City Hall. Most market vendors have stayed home—a choice their customers have also made. It’s quite a strange sight. At the corner of Markt and Boschstraat, it’s already bustling early on a Friday morning, no matter the season. Most of the fishmongers have decided not to come to Maastricht. A more than logical decision. There’s also little activity at the market in front of City Hall. The square looks a bit like it did in the old days—back in the ’60s and ’70s—when you could still park all over the Markt. Hot The decision to stay home turns out to be a good one. Around 8:00, the weather is still fairly bearable. A few hours later, the temperature has already risen to 37 degrees Celsius. According to the KNMI, the peak—around or just over 40 degrees—will be reached between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Construction At first glance, the labor intensity involved in setting up the impressive stage for André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra seems no different from that of any other setup day. Tough guys, often with impressive physiques, do what they do best; with combined efforts, tight organization, and a work ethic that never fails to inspire, the Rieu stage is built. Cooling Down The heat on the square is already intense around noon. Steel pipes and plates are regularly cooled with water. The tanned bodies of the stage builders glisten in the blazing sun. The stagehands and site crew know what needs to be done. Rain or shine, the deadline is non-negotiable. The 2026 edition of Rieu’s hometown concert series kicks off on July 2. That means the dress rehearsal takes place the day before. The riggers—the specialists responsible for safely suspending the heavy structures, lighting, and sound equipment from the roof truss of the stage—must be able to do their work on time. Exceptional It is therefore highly exceptional that the stage crew will be taking a break this afternoon. That does not mean the workday is over. It is highly likely that work will resume this evening.

The heat on the square is already intense around noon. Steel pipes and plates are regularly cooled with water

Sharing a July 2, 2026 article from De Telegraaf, by Jordi Versteegden. Translated by Diana D. Le Emma Kok enchants Vrijthof with André Rieu, and her new flame is in the audience: "More in love than ever" After more than two years of touring all over the world, André Rieu (76) and Emma Kok (18) said goodbye to each other last year. But that point behind their musical collaboration will be a comma, now that the singer will accompany the violin virtuoso during Rieu's twentieth Vrijthof concerts. Kok about their special bond, her new boyfriend, and the loss of her late friend Jade. “The hardest part is yet to come.” “Nobody saw that coming,” Emma Kok chuckles when the singer is asked to share that she has been invited for the fourth time to perform at André Rieu’s Vrijthof Concerts. “We had our last performance together in December during his Christmas concerts in Maastricht, but André was already on the phone again in January,” Kok says. “I think he missed me a little.” This year, Rieu celebrates extra during the summer concert series, which puts Maastricht back on the map every year. Fans from more than a hundred countries travel to the Limburg capital to waltz, cry, and sing. 20th Edition “He thought that as a Maastricht citizen I should be at this special edition,” explains Kok. “This year I don’t have my own solo song and I’m only in line with the encores. But I don't care. Even if André asked me for the choir, I would still have done it. We are going to perform a number of Maastricht songs with several people." Just three years ago, the 18-year-old Kok experienced her unexpected, worldwide breakthrough on the famous Maastricht square. Under the guidance of André Rieu and his world-famous Strauss Orchestra, she sang the Eurovision song "Voilà" by the French singer Barbara Pravi. That emotional performance went viral, and is now ticking the staggering number of 114 million streams on YouTube. “Bizarre,” Kok smiles. “When I first looked back at the images myself, I only saw the emotions on the faces of some people. It’s great to see what this song does to people.” Thanks to Rieu, Kok (who suffers from a chronic stomach paralysis), has gotten to know herself better. “The tours with André and my own theatre tour have made me realize that I can handle much more than I ever thought.” “What started with three songs at the Vrijthof has now been extended to 2.5 hours solo on stage,” Kok continues proudly. “I work hard for that by, for example, standing in the gym a lot to build fitness.” Just two months ago, Kok lost her best friend Jade Kops, who died of cancer at the age of 19. But the singer says: “I haven’t had time to think about it yet. The real blow is yet to come, I think.” Just one day after Kops’s funeral, Kok was back on stage. “If I hadn’t done that, there would have been an uproar. Jade wanted me to keep going, so I did this for her, too.” World Tour Her theatre tour has left her wanting more. “It was so cool. All the creative ideas I had in my head have been fulfilled. That I have sustained these shows feels like a win. André also came to see; he loved it. I want one more time. Someday, I want to go on a world tour, but for that I still have some steps to take.” First, Kok is getting ready for twelve sold-out shows at the Vrijthof this month. Her new boyfriend will also be there to watch. Rumour has it that he is Stilanos Damkalis, the goalkeeper for second-division team Spakenburg. In Love “Yes, I’m more in love than ever,” confirms Kok, who shared the first photo with her new flame on social media this week. “My love life doesn’t have to be a secret, but it does have to be private. Am I a romantic? I think so. In any case, those butterflies definitely help me feel more comfortable on stage.” While Kok is thinking about a next step on the stage, the singer, who still lives with her parents in Limburg, also wants to change course in her private life. “I’m thinking about buying a place for myself somewhere in the middle of the country,” the vocalist said. “I’m tired of being in hotels so often. You don't go away for a night for your pleasure. So, it’s nice to have a house where I can go quickly after my shows.” Own Vrijthof show? Kok has enough dreams, but a solo show at the Vrijthof is not part of that. “That square is and remains of André. He makes people laugh, cry, and dance. Isn’t that the best thing there is?”

Sharing a July 2, 2026 article from De Limburger, by Ivar Hoekstra, translated by Diana D. Le © Annemiek Mommers André Rieu's Vrijthof Concerts Kick Off; This Year's Edition Has a Distinct Maastricht Touch With the Entry of the Gladiators, André Rieu kicked off the twentieth edition of his famous Vrijthof concerts on Thursday evening. A pleasant 21 degrees (~70°F) on a full square ensured a perfect start to this anniversary edition. An edition with a striking Maastricht touch because John Tana, Frans Theunisz, Dorona Alberti and Emma Kok were born in the city and listen to the concert series as guest artists. Pierre Rieu saw with his own eyes that the Limburg music culture is currently hot, the success of the music festival Hoogmis van het Zuiden (High Mass of the South) was huge and impressed him. “What passed by Limburg music in that hour made me proud, proud to be a Limburger.” That pride in Limburg is therefore emphatically highlighted in the Vrijthof concerts. Where Emma Kok is also a well-known phenomenon among the many foreign visitors, John Tana and Frans Theunisz will probably mainly bring the Maastricht residents in a festive mood. Although the infectiousness of the carnival hit "Sjeng aon de geng" is so great that the Rieu fans from the rest of the country also join in the carnivalesque mood. After the general rehearsal Wednesday evening (July 1, 2026), Theunisz already announced that he felt very honored. “I’m so proud to experience this,” he wrote on Facebook. Rieu and his orchestra play until July 19 at the Vrijthof.

Wat is Loos Media © Wat is Loos Media The Vrijthof Concerts promise to have a strong Limburg focus this year. In addition to Frans Theunisz, Dorona Alberti, Phil Bee, and Emma Kok, John Tana was also spotted on stage during the dress rehearsal. Frans Theunisz speaks of a dream on Facebook, accompanied by a video of the dress rehearsal. "How proud I am to be able to experience this," he writes. With performances by Theunisz, John Tana, and Dorona Alberti, André Rieu's Vrijthof Concerts seem to be returning to their roots. After all, Benny Neyman took the stage during the first edition. Three years ago, the return of such a moment was still considered impossible by Pierre Rieu. "Back then that was still possible, a Maastricht artist. Now 80 percent of the visitors wouldn't understand him anymore. Take John Tana. A great artist. Great fun for the people on the terraces, but as a special guest on the square, no one would understand him," he said about it at the time. Nevertheless, John Tana will be on the Maastricht stage starting Thursday to sing his song *Daan Kom Iech Mer Aon*. “Special, very special,” he said about it himself after the rehearsal at *Wat is Loos in Mestreech*. He continued: “I’ve wanted this for so long; I used to watch the DVDs all the time, and I was taken along by my grandparents. To be standing here myself now, that is a dream.” The singer was also confronted there with an earlier statement: namely, that he would quit if he ever stood on stage with André Rieu. It undoubtedly won't come to that, although Tana left that open: “Who knows.” It doesn't stop with the two Maastricht natives, however. During the rehearsals, Emma Kok (who has a small guest role according to son Pierre Rieu), Phil Bee, and Dorona Alberti were also seen on stage with André Rieu and his orchestra.

Frans Theunisz, John Tana and Phil Bee.