Beringen, Belgium

At just 46,065 residents, Beringen is a small city in Belgium's Limburg province. The legacy of its once-booming coal mining industry looms large, with slag heaps and abandoned factories pockmarking the landscape. While the city offers biking trails and cultural events, bureaucracy is a persistent headache - Beringen was once a principal city of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, and its administrative heritage can still be felt today. This industrial town is best suited for those drawn to its working-class roots and willing to navigate its lingering red tape.