Sint Servaasbrug (St. Servatius Bridge), Maastricht

St. Servatius Bridge crosses the Meuse River. This stone footbridge is named after Maastricht's first bishop, Saint Servatius. While the bridge was severely damaged and rebuilt during World War II, it is known as the oldest bridge in the Netherlands.

The Romans first built a wooden bridge around AD 50 and the Latin phrase for "crossing of the Meuse" became the name of the city. For many years the bridge provided the only crossing of the lower Meuse River.

Unfortunately, this bridge collapsed during a procession in 1275. The collapse killed 400 people. Today, a pillar marks the location of the old Roman bridge.

The current bridge was built between 1280 and 1298. It is located north of the original Roman bridge. The bridge was named in honor of Saint Servatius around this time.

In 1850, a channel was cut on the bridge's west side. The bridge was renovated in the 1930s. The arches were reconstructed in concrete and then covered by the original stones. Two arches on the eastern side were removed, and a vertical-lift bridge was added.

During World War II, German troops heavily damaged the bridge. As a result, St. Servatius Bridge was rebuilt in 1948. The east side of the bridge now features a steel drawbridge.