inhabitants

•    25 x 25 km: 600,000 inhabitants
•    30,000 students, 40% foreign
•    Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (50 km radius) 3.7 million inhabitants, three countries, three languages
•    Growth of human population -0.08% (2010), but positive growth in Maastricht and Heerlen
•    Increase in new settlers 0.16%; birth balance -0.23%
•    Percentage of elderly 65+ 19%, Dutch average 15,3%
 •   Percentage of 20-25 year olds above Dutch average  

Education

•    University high in (inter)national rankings 
•    High schools always in top rakings
•    United World College (unique in the NL): all-through international education from 2 to 22 year old
•    Brain gain at Maastricht University

Maastricht Region within Europe

•    By train: Brussels in 1,5h, Amsterdam in 2h, Paris and Frankfurt in 3h and London in 4h
•    8 airports within an hours travel
•    220 kilometers of border shared with foreign countries, only eight kilometers with the Netherlands

Economy

•    30,000 companies, 280,000 jobs
•   Region ranks in top-3 most innovative Dutch companies
•   Labour productivity per FTE > EUR 116,000 (Netherlands: EUR 82,000)
•   Three hospitals (research, care & cure)
•   6th place in top 40 best performing Dutch regions
•   Chemelot Campus (Material sciences) + Maastricht Health Campus are focus of Brainport South-East Netherlands
•    Brainport South-East Netherlands: 35% export, 45% R&D turnover & 55% patents
•    Brainport is one of three national growth areas
•    EUR 500 million investment in campus development (solar, chemicals/materials, health)
•    Decreasing unemployment rate: 8% (Dutch average 3%)
•    2,2 million jobs within an hours travel (Amsterdam 1,7 million)

Culture

•     Candidate for European Capital of Culture 2018
•     15 museums, 17 concert halls, 14 theaters, 3 art cinemas
•     Largest art and antiques fair in the world (TEFAF)

To live

•     Internationally celebrated vineyards
•     8 restaurants with Michelin stars
•     Number one Dutch holiday location
•     Average price of single-family homes, approx. 200k (Netherlands: 275k; Amsterdam: 450k)


Source: Etil, Kennis en Economisch onderzoek (Rabobank), CBS, Atlas voor Gemeenten, NICIS, Brainport2020