Experience in Maastricht, Netherlands by Stephanie

What is it like to live in Maastricht? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The great thing about Maastricht is that it has the size and convenience of a larger city, but the ambiance of a small town. People are friendly, the gastronomy is great and the houses/apartments are generally well-maintained. It's one of the smaller capital cities in the Netherlands and because it is in the south, the public transport is slightly slower than in the north, since buses drive less often.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Maastricht?

Going for drinks is do-able, actually partying is terrible. Because it has this town-like ambiance, people only go out to bars and cafés, so there are no big clubs. The few small clubs in the city are tacky and crowded.

How much does it cost to live in Maastricht?

Rooms in shared apartments cost anywhere between 300-500 euros, but you could also get a decent studio or entire unfurnished flat for 600-800 euros per month. Groceries are always bought at the supermarket (hardly ever at fresh markets or stores) and cost about 100/150 euros per month. A dinner at an average restaurant costs between 15-25 euros per person. Public transport and parking fees are expensive, but the city is small enough to do most things by bike (and that's what most students do).

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Maastricht? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not difficult to find a decent place, but many housing agencies ask for a monetary fee in order to view the rooms on their websites. The best option is to look through Facebook groups and get in direct contact with the owners of the rooms.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Maastricht has a variety of different restaurants. Pizzerias, bistros, and Greek restaurants are very popular. Dutch dishes to try are pancakes, poffertjes (mini pancakes), een uitsmijter (egg on bread and cheese/ham), erwtensoep/snert (pea soup), and vlaai (a typical southern pie that comes in many variations).

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What places would you recommend visiting in Maastricht?

The Dominicanenkerk (a bookshop and little cafe inside an old church), het Vrijthof (the main square with bars and restaurants on one side and a few churches on the other side).

Is it good to eat out in Maastricht? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Donatello's: a nice, low expensive family restaurant with great food. A 3-course menu costs around 15 euros.

Kreta: a Greek restaurant with large portion sizes and low/medium prices.

Fresh: a popular student bistro that sells awesome cocktails, hamburgers, etc. Located near the law and economics faculty and the inner city library.

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Is the nightlife good in Maastricht? Where is good to go?

It's not good. Stay away from the Alla.

What advice would you give future students heading to Maastricht?

Maastricht feels like a mix between Prague and Milan. The education is great, better than anywhere else I've been. Housing options are very decent but a bit pricey if you don't look well enough. General gastronomy is great, but it focuses on the general public rather than students. There are lots of cafes that you can go to, but not so many clubs. People are very foreigner-friendly (everyone speaks English and/or German/French). The city has a good balance between modern, international students and locals.