At first sight Maastricht contains a harmonious use of color and materials that makes an important contribution to the popularity of Limburg's capital town with residents and visitors. Streets and squares are paved with beautiful natural stone, the rooftops are characterized by blue-grey slates or tiles and the fascias display a homogenous grey/white image, alternating with some more colorful accents.

This was not always so. Research shows that the town has undergone various color developments in the course of the years. Since 1980 a clear tendency to apply colors more powerfully and with more variation has been seen. In different materials and degrees of radiance, which constitute a threat to the characteristic image of the town.

The municipal authorities have had these developments researched and put into perspective in collaboration with the Sikkens Foundation among others. The conclusions of this research form part of the foundation for Maastricht municipality's present policy on architecture, monuments and the outer appearance of buildings. They have been worked into a number of directives against which all modernization or new construction plans and other intervention affecting the face of the town will be inspected. Attention to the town's color image is not limited to the historic town center; Maastricht's expansion areas also possess a special quality in color and material applications. Together with housing associations, investors and project developers, the municipality intends to retain this quality of the younger districts and remove any interference with the color palette.

(Source: "Maastricht in color")