Watch the video about living in Nijmegen.

How can we describe Nijmegen to people who have never been there? You will notice that citizens of Nijmegen are generally proud of their hometown. The best thing about Nijmegen is the feeling you get when you visit the city. The atmosphere is open and hospitable; visitors and newcomers usually feel very welcome. The town is sometimes called 'the most northern city of the south', because its Burgundian lifestyle is similar to life in Maastricht and other cities in the southern Dutch provinces or Antwerp in Belgium. The presence of 15,000 students gives the city a youthful and lively character.

Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, has always been internationally oriented, in fact since the Romans founded the city. Germany is only a few kilometres away, the university attracts many international students and thousands of expats work for international companies here. Tourists from countries in Europe and beyond visit the city, especially during the International Four Days Marches in July when over a million people come to take part in the marches or spend a week partying at the Four Days Marches Festival. And the special exhibitions at the Valkhof Museum also attract international culture lovers.

Besides this popular museum, there is a wide range of cultural possibilities, also for kids. Nine regional museums, historic locations and archaeological finds, art galleries, large outdoor pop concerts in summer, theatres, cultural events, workshops and courses (in music, art, dance, theatre, photography, etc.) at the Lindenberg, the state-of-the-art cinema and theatre LUX, dance club The Matrixx, 'pop music temple' Doornroosje and many hotels, restaurants, cinemas and bars ensure there's always something happening in Nijmegen!

Another important asset for Nijmegen is the varied countryside on the city's doorstep. Within walking distance of the city centre, there are polders with meandering dykes providing a typically Dutch landscape. The town is situated on a lateral moraine on the banks of the River Waal, which creates an imposing, non-Dutch type of skyline with varying heights. A few minutes away, on different sides of the city, you will find woodlands, moors and hills to enjoy. Mountain biking, cycling, running, walking, bird watching, swimming in little lakes, relaxing at the Sanadome spas, playing golf; Nijmegen's natural environment and the city's up-to-date sporting facilities offer ample opportunities for everyone in recreation, health and relaxation!

Housing in Nijmegen offers something for every situation and taste. The architecture in the city centre is a mix of old and modern following the bombing of the heart of Nijmegen in the Second World War and subsequent reconstruction. Just outside the centre, there are many neighbourhoods with popular lofts and houses built before the Second World War, like around 1900 and in the 1930s. Green and spacious suburbs are located on the borders of the city and to the north a completely new part of the city has risen in recent years, designed for modern and comfort living. Many villages surround the city in a rural setting.

More about leisure in Nijmegen...