Beverwijk, Netherlands

With a population of just 41,863, Beverwijk is an industrial port town, not the cosmopolitan metropolis some expats dream of. The defensive line built here in 1800 hints at the town's tumultuous history - and the German raids of 1944 show that bureaucratic headaches and safety concerns persist. While wealthy merchants once built scenic estates in the surrounding dunes, today the town is best known for its "furniture boulevard" and annual judo tournament for the disabled. Beverwijk is a pragmatic choice, not a glamorous one, suitable only for those seeking an affordable, no-frills Dutch experience.