The most important art museum in the south of the Netherlands, housed in Aldo Rossi's Postmodern building on the east bank of the Meuse. The building — a wide, low structure topped by its distinctive zinc dome — is a Maastricht landmark in its own right, and the interior is well proportioned for looking at art: high ceilings, good natural light, and a logical layout.
The collection has two main strengths: early Flemish and Italian art from the 15th to 17th centuries (with excellent Limburgish medieval sculpture and fine examples of the early Netherlandish tradition), and contemporary art by mainly Dutch, Belgian, and other European artists. The combination is less incongruous than it sounds. The café on the ground floor is good; the terrace overlooking the Meuse is excellent on a clear day. On Avenue Céramique, a 15-minute walk from the Vrijthof via the Hoge Brug.