Maastricht.

Student life centres on the grand Vrijthof and Markt squares, ringed by cafes and terraces that fill from lunchtime, and the buzzing Jekerkwartier near the law faculty. The vibe is convivial and Burgundian rather than raucous, though carnival in late winter turns the whole city into a costumed party. INKOM introduction week and ESN Maastricht plug you straight into the international crowd.

• Terraces on the Vrijthof and around the Markt are the default meet-up spots.
• Do INKOM introduction week in August to land your friend group.
• Experience Vastelaovend (carnival) in Feb or March - the city goes all in; follow ESN Maastricht for events.

Maastricht sits mid-band for the Netherlands - budget roughly 950 to 1,350 euros a month. Rooms run 450 to 650 euros, cheaper than the Randstad, and the small size means you walk or cycle everywhere for next to nothing. The Wednesday and Friday markets on the Markt keep food cheap, and cross-border shopping trips to Belgium can be a bonus.

• Rooms typically 450 to 650 euros - better value than Amsterdam or Utrecht.
• The city is walkable, so transport costs are minimal beyond a cheap bike.
• Shop the Markt market (Wed and Fri) for produce and Limburgse vlaai.

Housing is competitive because the intake is so international, so start early. The university Guesthouse and its housing partners are the easiest first-year route; otherwise try Kamernet, HousingAnywhere and the Maastricht Housing platform. The Jekerkwartier and Wyck are central and desirable, Ceramique is modern. Never pay before viewing, and act quickly on any solid listing.

• Apply to the UM Guesthouse or via the Maastricht Housing platform as soon as you can.
• Use Kamernet and HousingAnywhere; never transfer a deposit before viewing.
• Jekerkwartier and Wyck for central life; ask the Studcasa Maastricht group about verified rooms.

Maastricht is small enough to walk across in 20 minutes, so most students simply walk or cycle. A cheap second-hand bike covers everything comfortably, and Arriva buses handle longer or rainy trips. The train station in Wyck links you north to the rest of the Netherlands and across the borders. There is no need for anything more elaborate.

• Walk or cycle - the compact centre makes a bike more than enough.
• Arriva buses fill the gaps; pay contactless with OVpay.
• The Wyck station runs direct trains to Liege and connections into Germany.

Maastricht University is known across Europe for Problem-Based Learning: small tutorial groups work through real-world cases instead of sitting in big lectures, so attendance, preparation and speaking up all count. Almost every programme is taught in English, and the student body is strikingly international. Zuyd University of Applied Sciences covers more vocational courses. Expect intensive, participatory terms with a heavy reading load.

• PBL means small groups and constant participation - do the pre-reading.
• The near-total English teaching makes UM one of Europe easiest exchanges linguistically.

As always, it depends on your nationality. EU/EEA/Swiss students need no visa and just register with the local municipality. Non-EU students usually need an entry visa (MVV) and/or a residence permit, but here's the good news: your Dutch host university almost always handles the application for you as the official sponsor, so follow their international office to the letter and start early.

After arrival you'll register at the gemeente (municipality) to get a BSN citizen number, which you need for a bank account and much else, and arrange health insurance. EU students use the EHIC; non-EU students need private cover, and working part-time can trigger a Dutch insurance requirement.

• EU/EEA/Swiss, no visa, register with the municipality
• Non-EU, MVV/residence permit, usually arranged by your university
• Register at the gemeente for a BSN number on arrival
• Sort health insurance: EHIC (EU) or private cover (non-EU)

This is the Netherlands Burgundian corner, and it eats well. Try zoervleis, the sweet-sour braised beef, and above all Limburgse vlaai, the region famous fruit flan sold everywhere. Cafe and terrace culture is central - long lunches on the Vrijthof are a way of life - and cross-border trips add Belgian beer and frites to the mix. The Wednesday and Friday markets are the everyday larder.

• Eat Limburgse vlaai (fruit flan) and try zoervleis, the local sour stew.
• Long terrace lunches on the Vrijthof are a genuine local ritual.
• Nip to Belgium for beer and frites - the border is 15 minutes away.

The Binnenstad holds the historic squares and shopping streets. Across the Maas, Wyck is trendy and handy for the station, while the Jekerkwartier - a tangle of old lanes by the law faculty - is the classic student quarter. Ceramique is modern and riverside, and the Sphinxkwartier is a regenerated creative district on the rise.

• Jekerkwartier for old-town student life near the law faculty.
• Wyck for trendy cafes and easy train access.
• Ceramique and Sphinxkwartier for modern, riverside living.

Few cities travel across borders as easily. German Aachen is 30 minutes by bus and Cologne 90; Belgian Liege is half an hour and Brussels 90 minutes. Closer to home, the hills and cave systems around Valkenburg are a short train ride, and the Ardennes are within reach for hiking. You can even stand in three countries at once at the Drielandenpunt.

• Aachen (30 min) and Liege (30 min) for easy cross-border day trips.
• Valkenburg nearby for hills, castle ruins and marl caves - a rarity in the flat Netherlands.
• Visit the Drielandenpunt, where the Dutch, Belgian and German borders meet.

Do the pre-reading for PBL from week one - the whole system falls apart if you coast, and your tutorial group will notice. Sort your BSN and bank account early, and get a bike even in this walkable city. Time a visit around carnival if your term allows: Vastelaovend is a huge, joyous local institution that outsiders rarely expect this far into the Netherlands.

• Keep on top of PBL pre-reading - participation is graded and constant.
• Register for your BSN early and grab a cheap bike for rainy or late nights.