Sittard, Netherlands

Capital City

With a population of just over 37,000, Sittard is a small Dutch city in the southernmost province of Limburg. While the historic city center is quaint, with numerous old churches and half-timbered houses, the post-war expansion has left much of the urban landscape uninspiring. The coal mining industry that once drove the local economy has long since collapsed, leaving behind large industrial zones and office parks. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city has changed hands between the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany over the centuries. Overall, Sittard offers little to entice the average expat - unless you're specifically seeking a quiet, provincial Dutch town with a sluggish pace of life.