Explore Maastricht
Restaurants
Cafes
Bars
Museums
Attractions
Parks
Coworking
Neighborhoods
Day Trips
Healthcare
Schools
Shopping
Maastricht is the most un-Dutch city in the Netherlands. A Roman city on the Maas, bordered by Belgium and Germany, with a culture, cuisine and atmosphere that feels distinctly different from the north. The oldest city in the Netherlands and the birthplace of the euro.
Population
120,000
Expat residents
20,000+
1-bed rent (central)
900-1,400/mo
Train to Amsterdam
2.5 hours
Train to Brussels
1.5 hours
Train to Cologne
1.5 hours
The city
Why Maastricht
Maastricht has a warmth and character that is genuinely different from the northern Dutch cities. The Vrijthof square, the Sint Servaasbasiliek and the medieval fortifications give the city a historic depth that Amsterdam, for all its canal-house beauty, lacks. The food culture is more French and Belgian than Dutch – there are excellent restaurants, cheese shops and patisseries.
Maastricht University is a genuinely international institution – over 50% of students are international and almost all education is in English. The city has a well-developed expat infrastructure as a result. The Maastricht Art Fair and the European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) make it internationally significant in the art world.
Rents are the most affordable of any major Dutch city. For expats who do not need to be in the Randstad, Maastricht offers exceptional quality of life at a fraction of Amsterdam prices.
Practical info
Getting around and settling in
Getting around: Maastricht is compact and cyclable. Train to Brussels and Cologne in 1.5 hours. Amsterdam is 2.5 hours.
Language: English very widely spoken given the international university. Dutch and a local dialect (Mestreechs) are also spoken.
Cost of living: The most affordable major Dutch city. See our cost of living guide.
Healthcare: Dutch health insurance mandatory. Register with a GP on arrival. See our health insurance guide.
Just arrived
Your first two weeks in Maastricht
1
Register at the Maastricht gemeente and get your BSN
Essential first step. Gemeente guide and BSN guide.
2
Open a Dutch bank account
ABN AMRO, ING and bunq are the most expat-friendly. Full guide.
3
Arrange health insurance within four months
Mandatory and backdates to arrival. Full guide.
4
Set up your DigiD
Required for all Dutch government services. Full guide.
5
Walk the Vrijthof
The most beautiful square in the Netherlands and the heart of Maastricht life.