Bussum, Netherlands

Capital City

Commuting to Amsterdam may be convenient, but the bureaucratic headaches of living in Bussum are no joke. This former municipality in the Gooi region had a population of just 33,595 as of 2019, packed into an area of 8.15 square kilometers. The town's fortunes changed with the arrival of a railway line in 1874, transforming Bussum into a satellite town of Amsterdam and Hilversum. However, the text notes that Bussum was "first mentioned in 1306" as a small hamlet, suggesting the bureaucracy has only grown over the centuries. For those seeking a quiet, well-connected lifestyle near the big city, Bussum may be worth considering, but the persistent administrative hurdles are a significant trade-off.