The Best & Cheapest Places to live in the Netherlands

In our final list of the Top 25 Countries for Quality of Life the Netherlands, often referred to as 'Holland' came in 11th. That's of course according to International Living's 2010 Quality of Life Index.

The Cheapest Place to Live in Holland (the Netherlands)

First let's compare the Netherlands to some of it's European neighbours. March 2008 cost of living data shows Amsterdam as one of the more expensive cities to live in.

Finding a nice place to live is always difficult. Holland is no exception - getting the right accommodation can be hard, especially in large cities.

If you are planning to move to the Netherlands or are there already, and you need to find a place to live, Pararius is the perfect place to find a cheap place to live. The rental listings from Pararius include unfurnished properties, semi-furnished houses and apartments as well as fully-furnished residences.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a relatively mild climate for a place so far north, so even winter visits can be quite comfortable. Amsterdam's three quarters of a million inhabitants represent a staggering 177 different nationalities. Tolerant. Chill. Liberal. Amsterdam could be called all these things. The city has been known for its open-mindedness and flexibility since it was a haven for religious refugees in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Living in Amsterdam

Renting in Amsterdam is expensive, and it's best to get an agent to find something suitable for you. Generally, you can expect to pay a deposit of two months, the first two months up front, and agent's fees of usually one month's rent.Some examples of the

Cost of Living in Amsterdam

Beer (six pack) €3.59  Bread €1.20 Litre of Milk €0.65 Litre of Gas €1.49
Kilo of Potatoes €1.80  Kilo of Fresh fish €18

Other Cities in the Netherlands

Amsterdam is the largest city and most well known however there are numerous other cities in the Netherlands which are certainly worth a look. The next five largest cities are: Rotterdam, sGravenhage, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Tilburg.

If you're from the Netherlands why not leave a comment about what you think are th Cheapest and Best Places to Live in the Netherlands?

Best Places to Live in the World - #8 Belgium

Yesterday I talked about my home land, Canada the 9th Best Place to Live in the World as ranked on the International Living Quality of Life Index for 2010.

Today we move to Belgium as the 8th Best Place to Live in the World.

Brussels, Belgium is home to NATO and the European Union (the EU). It has been a merchant city since medival times and is made up of Flemish speaking people in Flanders and French speaking people in Wallonia. Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is probably the best known city.  The homes in Belgium are easily recognized for their gable roof tops.

With the EU and NATO headquartered here Brussels is quite the multi-cultural mecca with thousands of foreign workers. It's also know as the 'Greenest Capital' with beautiful parks full of flower gardens.

The huge expat population has created a diverse multi-cultural landscape robust with english movies, theatre and sports events. The public transportation system is excellent and a great way to get around to famous brew pubs as well as the numerous ethnic restaurants and eateries. London, Paris and Amsterdam are a short ride away on state of the art trains.

Once we try and answer that age old question, 'Where should I live?' we will drill down further into each country to examine the best places. Watch for our future discussion on the 'Top Places to Live in Belgium'.