Groningen, Netherlands

Capital City

With a population of 238,147, Groningen is the Netherlands' sixth largest city and a magnet for students, who make up a quarter of the local population. However, life in this northern outpost comes with some harsh realities - the chilly, wet climate and a bureaucratic headache from the city's complex history of mergers. While Groningen bills itself as the "Metropolis of the North", it's really a regional hub best suited for those who don't mind the damp and can navigate its maze of paperwork.