Sharing a July 20, 2026 article from De Nieuwe Ster, by Peter Eberson July 20, 2026 Translated by Diana D. Le André Rieu: "It was an honor" He doesn't want to, but André Rieu deserves it. A large statue on the Vrijthof. 15,000,000 people have attended his concerts around the world over the years. On Sunday [July 19, 2026], he finished his annual concert series at the Vrijthof and there, he showed with his orchestra what a world star he is. The basis of the success of the Vrijthof concerts is not in Maastricht, but in Kerkrade. In July 2004, Rieu gave a one-time open-air concert at the stadium of Roda JC. With the emphasis on "one-time", because the then mayor of Maastricht, Gerd Leers, thought that Rieu should give an open-air concert in Maastricht. That was the case a year later. The Vrijthof series got off to a very cautious start in 2005 with three concerts. The rest is history. The Rieu family has borne—and continues to bear—all the risks associated with the concerts on its own. In 2005, the city of Maastricht was happy to have Rieu give a few concerts on the Vrijthof, but it was unwilling to provide a subsidy. The city did, however, purchase 200 tickets for the concerts to help Rieu get started. Big business We are now more than twenty years on. There is no longer a collapsed provincial town in the summer. Rieu is big business, which benefits the entire city. You have to see it to believe it. You have to be there to realize it. Do those people really come from South Korea, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Poland, Germany, Peru, Canada, and England to "our" Vrijthof to see Rieu play in his hometown. Yeah, it's true. Coaches The hospitality entrepreneurs at the Vrijthof benefit from the cooperation with Rieu when it comes to the terrace packages; on the days Rieu performs, hotels in the area—and even far beyond—are fully booked, with prices significantly higher than during the rest of the year. Dozens of coaches from home and abroad drop visitors at the Market within walking distance of the Vrijthof. The regular catering industry is extremely busy during the day thanks to the thousands of visitors to the Rieu concerts. Taxi companies do good business and students are assured of a side job in the summer at the Vrijthof. Rieu is the best global marketing campaign for the city, as it turned out in the past three weeks. And Rieu himself? When he is asked through son Pierre for a response about the past 12 concerts at the Vrijthof, he says: "Very simple: It was an honor!" Christmas concerts We don't have to think about the "what if" question yet. The question "what if Rieu no longer gives his concerts on the Vrijthof," is not relevant if it is up to Rieu himself. On Sunday evening, the always optimistic almost 77-year-old orchestra leader announced that he will continue for at least forty years. The dates for the next series are already fixed. From 1 to 18 July 2027 at the Vrijthof.

photos by Sally Hodges

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Frans Theunisz (80) at home

Sharing a July 20, 2026 article from L1 Nieuws Henk Hover © Jean-Piere Geusens Frans Theunisz (in uncomfortable shoes) took the stage 12 times with André Rieu Over the past few weeks, Frans Theunisz has taken the stage no fewer than twelve times at André Rieu’s Vrijthof Concerts. He performed alongside Dorona Alberti, John Tana, Phil Bee, and Emma Kok—affectionately dubbed “The Limburg All Stars” by André Rieu. Frans is still basking in the afterglow of this adventure. As is customary with Rieu, the guest artists also dress up for the concert series in Maastricht. “When I was asked to perform at the Vrijthof Concerts, I had to wear a tailcoat, complete with those pointy patent leather shoes. I’d never worn anything like that before. And those shoes were incredibly tight on my feet, but I was happy to put up with it.” Reactions As he scrolls through his phone, which is filled with reactions from fans, friends, and acquaintances, the now 80-year-old singer finds himself at a loss for words to describe this experience. “I had the privilege of sharing the stage with someone who brings joy to people all over the world with his music. I keep replaying the events of the past few weeks over and over in my head. It all comes flooding back.” Even though Frans Theunisz has performed on many stages, this one is one for the books. “I was there at five o’clock every day to experience it all. Eating with the whole crew at the theater, the performance, and then the fun after-party until 2 a.m.—I really wanted to be there for it all. I already miss all those wonderful colleagues I got to work with—not just the musicians, but also the technical crew behind the scenes.” Attention to Detail Frans praises Rieus musicality and attention to detail. “During the tenth of the twelve performances, I was just a beat too late with my entrance on the song ‘Sjogkel sjogkel.’” Frans mimics the conductor’s stern look at that moment with one eye half-closed. “After the concert, he came over to me and said, ‘You were a bit late again, weren’t you, young man?’ Not a single detail escapes him, but I’d gotten it right nine times before that.” An international career? When asked whether an international career lies ahead for Theunisz after these Vrijthof concerts, he answers in the negative. “I don’t expect André to take me along on his international tour now. When you consider the luminaries Rieu has already brought to the Vrijthof, I can only be very proud.” A Loving Singer Due to his concert tour, the Maastricht native has had to cancel a number of performances. In any case, the fame hasn’t gone to his head. He still wants to stay close to his fans. He concludes by saying, “I consider myself a loving singer. If you love people, people will love you back.”

By Wensambulance Limburg. Make a wish. André Rieu Concert, Vrijthof Maastricht July 16, 2026, About Mrs. Jacomine Steendam – van Stratum. Wensambulance Limburg provides many people with a unique experience that can be requested by loved ones. My mother was offered a special evening at the André Rieu concert at the Vrijthof in Maastricht. This was requested by Lisette, who works at the Bosscherhof in Herkenbosch (nursing home). She felt this evening was fitting for our 107-year-old mother, who always enjoys beautiful music. The evening at the Vrijthof was a fantastic three-hour evening for her, moving along to the music. We, the support staff, her son, and daughter felt this evening was special, as we were able to experience this together with her one more time. We are very grateful to the volunteers of Wensambulance Limburg, Nel and Paul in particular, for this, and hope that the foundation can continue to fulfill other people's special wishes for many years to come. Kind regards, Franca Veraa-Steendam and Wim Steendam.

July 21, 2026, De Nieuwe Ster Text and photo: Marianne Lubrecht Thank you, Mr. Rieu. “It was the evening of my life” Wensambulance Limburg gives Mrs. Guldemond a wonderful evening. On Sunday evening, July 19, 2026, Mrs. Ria Guldemond-Diependaal from the North Limburg church village of Castenray and her two daughters were part of a global concert audience that had gathered at the Vrijthof to experience the final evening of the twentieth edition of the Maastricht Rieu concerts together. It was certainly emotional, but that is the case for almost every visitor to a greater or lesser extent. For Mrs. Guldemond, this was especially true because she, a severe lung patient, was picked up and dropped off by the Wensambulance Limburg Association. Wish Ride Daughters Jolanda Smedts and Jacqueline Hendrikx were made aware of the possibility of taking a wish ride by Annelie from Wensambulance Limburg. The choice immediately fell on attending an André Rieu concert, who makes a number of tickets available every year for the sick and their caregivers. Speechless I have been a fan of André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra from the very beginning, in the late eighties. Although I knew his music well from the radio and TV, I have never attended a concert,’ says Mrs. Rieu before the start of the concert. ‘And the fact that I can finally go there now, at a time in my life when everything has become more difficult, I have no words for that.’ Two of the three daughters who share the caregiving responsibilities for their mother were also able to focus entirely on being with her at the Vrijthof; the medical aspects of the care were in the hands of nurse Annelie, and the transport – a journey of over an hour each way – was taken care of by ‘a sweetheart of a driver’. Nothing but praise The day after the open-air concert, Mrs. Guldenmond finally finds the words that were missing earlier. She is full of praise. The atmosphere, the lighting, the beautiful dresses, the dancing couples, the confetti, and above all: André Rieu and his orchestra. ‘It is Rieu who has made a beautiful classical repertoire accessible, and that is an unprecedented gift,’ she believes. ‘The evening of my life’ ‘This wish ride has done our mother so much good,’ says Jolanda Smedts. ‘We have been receiving messages from our mother all day. That she was so well cared for by “her girls”, the driver and Annelie. That she had the evening of her life. That no one can take that away from her anymore. And the wonderful ride in the ambulance. An extra blanket, or something to drink, exactly on time…’ Would André Rieu know what it means to someone like me, Mrs. Guldenmond wondered last night. He is, of course, well aware of the connecting role of music, of the atmosphere during his concerts, but still… ‘Would he be thanked enough?’ Surely, was the collective answer. But after today’s blossoming of zest for life and vitality, it seems a good idea to express that gratitude once again: “A very big thank you, Mr. Rieu. It was the evening of my life.”

After 36 years, Marcel Falize bids farewell as a conductor of Marching Band “Edelweiss”. L1 news, July 19, 2026. Click on the picture to read the article.

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