Utrecht, Leiden, or Maastricht?

Question

Please tell me a little about these cities. What there is to do? How costly it is to live there, accessibility to travel. Sights to see, etc. Thanks!

Answer 1

Cost of living will be about the same in all three.
All have a lively nightlife, good and also cheap places to eat out and lots of clubbing and so on.
They are about the same size, having the same kind of commercial structure and amenities.
All three have good rail connections.
Maastricht is close to the local airport of the south, but farthest away from Schiphol, the countries main airport. It will take about 2 hours by train or car from Schiphol, one change of trains at most. Utrecht is about halfway to Schiphol on the same line and Leiden is closest to the airport.

Your choice should be based on what you want to study, the availability of that subject and specialty at the university of the towns, the reputation of the universities in that subject and things like that, as there is not really much difference in living and cost.

Answer 2

All three of them are some of the older Dutch cities, with a medieval or 16/17th century city center.
Utrecht is the biggest and centrally located. Leiden is in the West and has the largest olf city center with an extreme amount of little restaurants and pubs and the most of the "student" way of life.
Maastricht is in the deep south and always felt like a city in another country, as the way of live here is somewhat different from the rest of Holland: not as hurried maybe, a little more like the French would live.
All three are great cities in summer, when all restaurants and pubs have seats outside. In all three there are many things going on: cultural events on almost every corner (in the city centers that is).
Your choice migh depend on the fact if you have your own transport (car) of will travel by local transport.
Maastricht is a 2.5 hr drive from Amsterdam, but close to Belgium and Germany. What is important to you?
I would chose Leiden: centrally located, a great old city center, many cheap eateries, great atmoshere, friendly still, the "easy going" version of Amsterdam, but not the big city feel like Utrecht has.
But hey: this is my opinion and I hope you will get more replies!