Geraardsbergen, Belgium

At just over 33,400 residents, Geraardsbergen is a small Flemish city that offers little in the way of big-city amenities. The bureaucracy can be a persistent headache, with locals often complaining about slow government processes. Yet the city does have a storied history, dating back to its designation as one of the first communities in Western Europe to be granted city status in 1068. Every year, the city celebrates its past with the krakelingenworp carnival, where locals reenact a legend about throwing leftover food over the city walls during a siege. While the city may lack excitement, it could appeal to those seeking a quiet, provincial lifestyle in rural Belgium.