The unspoiled walkable city that’s one of the best places to live in Europe

Looking to leave the UK? A little-known city in the north of the Netherlands could be one of the best places to live as a British expat.

In the European Commission’s latest Report on Quality of Life in European Cities, Groningen was crowned as Europe’s third best place to live.

The Dutch city was also named one of Europe’s best places for immigrants, making it an attractive choice for expats.

The sixth largest city in the Netherlands, Groningen has a small-town feel with an attractive mix of modern and old architecture.

Groningen’s residents rated the city well in many key quality of life indicators. More than 90 percent of citizens felt Groningen was a good place for LGBTIQ people to live.

More than 85 percent of residents said they felt safe walking alone at night and the city has a relatively low crime rate.

Groningen’s compact size means that it’s easy to get around on foot and only 30 percent of residents said they used a car on a daily basis.

People also didn’t feel the need to use public transport and over 40 percent of people said they used a bike to get around.

The city’s residents were also really happy with the cultural activities in Groningen. Groninger Museum has diverse exhibitions spanning art and history packed within its colourful walls.

Delve into the Netherlands’ history of shipping at the Northern Nautical Museum or head into the countryside to see what life used to be like in the region at the open-air Het Hoogeland museum.

More than 90 percent of residents also felt satisfied with Groningen’s green spaces and it was once named the Netherlands’ greenest city.

Visit on a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday to enjoy the city’s fish market which sells vegetables as well as fish.

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