The people of the Maastricht Region have the best of several worlds: the free and open nature of the Dutch with the joie de vivre of the French and Belgians and the quality of the Germans.

As a result the region differs from the rest of Holland ... newcomer David Wells-Greco sums it up well: the Maastricht Region “belies most Dutch stereotypes: modestly hilly (in Dutch terms),no windmills, no blankets of tulips and relatively few coffee shops. The bike cliché does exist as does the quota of blond, wonderfully tall and slender Dutch persons peddling with unquestionable ease along the beautiful cobbled streets characteristic of other Dutch cities.” (source: Crossroads)

Work-life balance

The Maastricht Region is praised for its Southern qualities: with plenty of authentic traditions and a history dating back to the Romans. The area is vibrant, ambitious and relaxed, with the lively city of Maastricht, the no-nonsense mentality of Heerlen and the workers ethics of Sittard/Geleen. These cities are surrounded by green hills and lie centrally amid its larger siblings with metropolitan allure like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne. As traffic jams are practically unheard of and both the cities and villages are safe and laid-back, professionals as well as families benefit from the attractive work-life balance. The amazing surroundings and the culturally-rich city-life assure a high quality of life for both nature lovers and city dwellers, as one executive put it: 'This is the first posting where we have been able to enjoy breakfast with the entire family.'