Comments on: Maastricht turns to Student Think Tank for advice http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/ A web magazine for expatriates in the Maastricht area Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:36:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: hania http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/#comment-37558 hania Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:08:03 +0000 http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/#comment-37558 All your remarks are unfortunately very true. From the perspective of a young person I definitely miss the cultural/night life. There are for example absolutely no concerts of artists who I would be dying to see perform. But without even a decent club an idea of such a concert is very far-fetched. The job market is also not very suited towards university graduates (and especially not to those who don't speak Dutch). I'm afraid that Maastricht has a long way to go in order to rebuild its position as a desirable place for young people to settle down in... All your remarks are unfortunately very true. From the perspective of a young person I definitely miss the cultural/night life. There are for example absolutely no concerts of artists who I would be dying to see perform. But without even a decent club an idea of such a concert is very far-fetched.

The job market is also not very suited towards university graduates (and especially not to those who don’t speak Dutch).

I’m afraid that Maastricht has a long way to go in order to rebuild its position as a desirable place for young people to settle down in…

]]> By: Sueli http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/#comment-36950 Sueli Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:53:58 +0000 http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/#comment-36950 Sharp observations, Al. They remind a little of something that someone said to me recently: "The problem in Maastricht is that there are too few males between the age of 25 and 40 around here, because there are not enough jobs. As a result many young women are leaving too." Also, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to live on a single salary. This means that we need even more jobs in the area. I greatly miss a city museum in Maastricht too, but I don't think that Maastricht is a boring city... I personally can hardly keep up with all the activities on offer. And then there is the whole region around Maastricht, which is so interesting too. Unfortunately much of the information is available in Dutch only. So I guess the first step for expats is to learn Dutch... I know however that that's easier said than done, because many expats say that it is hard to find good <strong>and</strong> affordable Dutch courses. What I like the most about living here is the European feel of the city, with so many restaurants or local products with French or German names. It's also great to be able to be in Germany, Flanders or Wallonia in less than an hour by car. But indeed, if you're dependent on public transportation to get to Aachen, Hasselt or Liege... well, don't forget to take a good book with you... Sharp observations, Al.

They remind a little of something that someone said to me recently: “The problem in Maastricht is that there are too few males between the age of 25 and 40 around here, because there are not enough jobs. As a result many young women are leaving too.”

Also, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to live on a single salary. This means that we need even more jobs in the area.

I greatly miss a city museum in Maastricht too, but I don’t think that Maastricht is a boring city… I personally can hardly keep up with all the activities on offer. And then there is the whole region around Maastricht, which is so interesting too. Unfortunately much of the information is available in Dutch only. So I guess the first step for expats is to learn Dutch… I know however that that’s easier said than done, because many expats say that it is hard to find good and affordable Dutch courses.

What I like the most about living here is the European feel of the city, with so many restaurants or local products with French or German names. It’s also great to be able to be in Germany, Flanders or Wallonia in less than an hour by car. But indeed, if you’re dependent on public transportation to get to Aachen, Hasselt or Liege… well, don’t forget to take a good book with you…

]]> By: Al http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/#comment-36845 Al Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:20:28 +0000 http://crossroads.journalismcentre.com/2008/maastricht-turns-to-student-think-tank-for-advice/#comment-36845 "I believe we did a great job (...) says Ingrid" LOL! How modest! It doesn't take a think-tank to realize that Maastricht is a boring city, gradually losing its potential. You just need to live there a couple of months. But it would be good to have solutions to change this. Forget about trying to mix locals with student. What do you expect? To see 18 years old girl dancing in the bars with 40 years old guys? Student life and Work life are inherently different (difference of money, difference of preoccupations, difference of free time, etc.) so that's not something you need to fix. But fixing the economy is what Maastricht needs. Remember Vodafone announcing a few months ago they're going back to Amsterdam? They came from Amsterdam years ago, they struggled in Maastricht, now they're going back. Just a second fact to know: Companies settle where it is easier to do business, which means: we need more companies in Maastricht. There's no magic. People live where there are jobs. The economy is really going too bad around here to keep the population. Another point is the Limburg culture/identity which makes this region of the Netherlands a bit apart. It's more difficult to attract people. Maybe some work should be done upon that. There's a lot of east-Belgian workers who would be happy to work in the region instead of going to the crowded places like Brussels and Antwerpen. They earn more here because of lower taxes. But there's nothing to help them on all the administrative stuffs. Business incubators / research and technology parks must be developed. The university and the government can put effort into that, and it would create companies, giving more dynamism to investment in the region. Don't forget the narco-tourists: Maastricht has the chance of being close to Germany, Belgium and France. The mayor should stop trying to get rid of the coffee-shops, and take the example of Amsterdam: Concentrating all the coffee-shops in one area of the city (the red light district) to prevent nuisances. Also some people from the council need to wake up. There's not much in Maastricht, but what's existing is under-exploited. What purpose has the Maastricht music hall if there's not much happening there? Why do everybody on earth know that you can do some indoor ski in Dubai, when the biggest indoor ski center is 15 minutes away from here? Why is the most important Art fair happening here every year and there is not a decent museum in this city? Answer those questions and maybe you'll start to get a few ideas to keep the people. “I believe we did a great job (…) says Ingrid”
LOL! How modest!
It doesn’t take a think-tank to realize that Maastricht is a boring city, gradually losing its potential. You just need to live there a couple of months.
But it would be good to have solutions to change this.
Forget about trying to mix locals with student. What do you expect? To see 18 years old girl dancing in the bars with 40 years old guys? Student life and Work life are inherently different (difference of money, difference of preoccupations, difference of free time, etc.) so that’s not something you need to fix.
But fixing the economy is what Maastricht needs. Remember Vodafone announcing a few months ago they’re going back to Amsterdam? They came from Amsterdam years ago, they struggled in Maastricht, now they’re going back. Just a second fact to know: Companies settle where it is easier to do business, which means: we need more companies in Maastricht.
There’s no magic. People live where there are jobs. The economy is really going too bad around here to keep the population.
Another point is the Limburg culture/identity which makes this region of the Netherlands a bit apart. It’s more difficult to attract people. Maybe some work should be done upon that.

There’s a lot of east-Belgian workers who would be happy to work in the region instead of going to the crowded places like Brussels and Antwerpen. They earn more here because of lower taxes. But there’s nothing to help them on all the administrative stuffs.

Business incubators / research and technology parks must be developed. The university and the government can put effort into that, and it would create companies, giving more dynamism to investment in the region.

Don’t forget the narco-tourists: Maastricht has the chance of being close to Germany, Belgium and France. The mayor should stop trying to get rid of the coffee-shops, and take the example of Amsterdam: Concentrating all the coffee-shops in one area of the city (the red light district) to prevent nuisances.

Also some people from the council need to wake up. There’s not much in Maastricht, but what’s existing is under-exploited. What purpose has the Maastricht music hall if there’s not much happening there? Why do everybody on earth know that you can do some indoor ski in Dubai, when the biggest indoor ski center is 15 minutes away from here? Why is the most important Art fair happening here every year and there is not a decent museum in this city?
Answer those questions and maybe you’ll start to get a few ideas to keep the people.

]]>