Heerlen, Netherlands

Capital City

With a population of just 86,936, Heerlen may seem like a sleepy Dutch town, but its history as a coal mining hub means the city has a persistent bureaucratic headache to contend with. The transition away from mining has left Heerlen struggling to reinvent itself, with the closure of tens of thousands of jobs in the 1960s and 70s still felt today. However, the city does boast some architectural gems, like the Glaspaleis, one of the Netherlands' most important 20th century buildings. For those seeking a low-key Dutch lifestyle with a dash of industrial history, Heerlen could be a good fit - but the road to recovery is still long.