Potential move to The Netherlands. Any help on locations?

[Progressive]

Hello Netherlands based PH'ers...

I may be potentially moving to The Netherlands for work. I am quite keen as I have enjoyed my time spent there previously. The opportunity is also a good career step for me.

I would be based near Boxtel, so figure commuting (by train) from 's-Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven, Tilburg and perhaps even Breda would be possible. I have never been to any of these places before so have no idea what they are like. Any help?

Aside from work I am into cycling, socialising, drinking beer, looking at architecture, taking walks etc. I am looking for somewhere pretty chilled and importantly, safe to be. Flexible on accomodation, area, town/village.

Any advice or guidance would be massively appreciated!

[troc]

Sorry, can't really help as I'm based in Delft - which wouldn't be practical.

Which is a shame as Delft is a great location

[Medic-one]

The South of Holland is the hill-iest part of the country, and very popular with cyclists, there's also a lot of little pubs/places/restaurants that do nice beer as you're close to the Belgian border.

I grew up about an hour south of Eindhoven (and moved to the UK 10 years ago) but reguarly go back.

All 4 places you mention are good town, i've been to all of them (have friends in Den Bosch and Eindhoven) they're all large enough to have everything you need/want closeby, but still maintaining a quiet live if you want to get away from it all. Also good transport links for all 4 of them.

Are you moving over from Australia (in your profile) or from the UK ?

[spikeyhead]

I spent 18 months living in Nijmegen, which isn't too far away. I don't think you need have any concerns about safety, didn't see any grief despite being out in the town center most weekends, unless you spend time in the green Irish bar and suffer the resident Scots.

[HiRez]

Best places in the south of NL are (IMHO): Den Bosch/'s Hertogenbosch , Breda and Vught close to Boxtel. All older cities with a true old city center/square with good places to eat, shop and entertain yourself. Tilburg and Eindhoven are bigger but from an atmosphere point of view a bit less in my opinion as they do not have a true city center. Eindhoven quite a high ratio of male students (a lot of technical studies -it's a bit nerdy) whereas the other cities are better balanced between technical and economical/other educations and thus have a better balance of male / female. Not to be judgemental on this (studied in Eindhoven myself ....) but it's worth keeping in the back of your mind.

Northern part of Limburg is nice as well but again smaller towns/cities but generally friendly atmosphere (Venray for example). Close to Germany and you do notice the influence. But if you want to Nurburgring a lot might worth considering that as well. Maastricht very nice but I wouldn't want to do the daily commute as the A2 is generally a parking lot instead of a highway (many people working in Eindhoven). Downside is that you are a bit further away from the center of NL and the large cities that are definitely worthwhile to visit. From Den Bosch / Breda you can quite quickly and easily get to Rotterdam/Amsterdam/Utrecht but also Antwerp, Bruges and Brussels in Belgium.

[HiRez]

Best places in the south of NL are (IMHO): Den Bosch/'s Hertogenbosch , Breda and Vught close to Boxtel. All older cities with a true old city center/square with good places to eat, shop and entertain yourself. Tilburg and Eindhoven are bigger but from an atmosphere point of view a bit less in my opinion as they do not have a true city center. Eindhoven quite a high ratio of male students (a lot of technical studies -it's a bit nerdy) whereas the other cities are better balanced between technical and economical/other educations and thus have a better balance of male / female. Not to be judgemental on this (studied in Eindhoven myself ....) but it's worth keeping in the back of your mind.

Northern part of Limburg is nice as well but again smaller towns/cities but generally friendly atmosphere (Venray for example). Close to Germany and you do notice the influence. But if you want to Nurburgring a lot might worth considering that as well. Maastricht very nice but I wouldn't want to do the daily commute as the A2 is generally a parking lot instead of a highway (many people working in Eindhoven). Downside is that you are a bit further away from the center of NL and the large cities that are definitely worthwhile to visit. From Den Bosch / Breda you can quite quickly and easily get to Rotterdam/Amsterdam/Utrecht but also Antwerp, Bruges and Brussels in Belgium.