De Vijf Koppen

Description

"De Vijf Koppen" is a late 15th to early 16th-century roundel in Maastricht's Jekerkwartier, part of the city's second fortification line. Initially nameless, it was later called "De Drie Duiven" ("The Three Doves") after a nearby inn. Following the failed 1638 Maastricht Conspiracy, the severed heads of five conspirators were displayed here, leading to its current name, "De Vijf Koppen" ("The Five Heads"). Over time, the roundel underwent various modifications, including the addition of casemates around 1550. In the 19th century, it became part of Maastricht's city park. In 2019, a section of the adjacent city wall collapsed, prompting ongoing restoration efforts. Today, De Vijf Koppen stands as a national monument and a prominent feature of the Stadspark Maastricht.