In this guide
Maastricht at a Glance
Photo: Maastricht, the Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
- Population: 125,086 (municipality; CBS, end of August 2026)
- Location: the southernmost large city in the Netherlands, close to the Belgian and German borders
- Local charges for a tenant in 2026: about EUR 619 per year for a single person and EUR 823 for a couple or family (see below)
This page covers the costs that are specific to Maastricht, how to register and the first steps after arrival. Rents, neighbourhood prices, schools and travel times change quickly and differ per listing, so check current listings and the provider’s own website for those. If you plan to work across the Belgian or German border while living in Maastricht, get advice from a cross-border tax adviser before you commit, because the rules depend on your situation.
Cost of Living
Most costs do not depend on the city. The charge that does is the set of local taxes a tenant receives each year. This section shows those, plus the national health insurance figures.
Health insurance
The Rijksoverheid puts the average basic premium for 2026 at €157 per month. The mandatory deductible (eigen risico) is €385 per year. Take out Dutch health insurance as soon as you can, and no later than 4 months after arriving. Cover applies from the day you arrived (Government.nl). The statutory package is the same at every insurer, so you choose on price and service. Use the Health Insurance Wizard to compare options. If you work in Belgium or Germany while living here, check which country’s system applies to you before you buy a Dutch policy.
Local charges
| Charge 2026 | Single (1 person) | Couple (2 persons) | Family (4 persons) | Ordinance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afvalstoffenheffing (waste levy, flat per property) | €357.12 | €357.12 | €357.12 | Verordening reinigingsheffingen Maastricht 2026, tarieventabel 1.1.1 |
| Residual waste, pay-per-throw | €1.19 per 50-litre bag or “tik” / €0.69 per 25-litre bag | same | same | as above |
| Rioolheffing, user part (tenant) | €60.12 | €60.12 | €60.12 | Verordening rioolheffing Maastricht 2026 |
| Rioolheffing, owner part | €172.80 | €172.80 | €172.80 | as above |
| Watersysteemheffing ingezetenen (per home) | €99.55 | €99.55 | €99.55 | Waterschap Limburg |
| Zuiveringsheffing (€102.23 per pollution unit) | €102.23 (1 v.e.) | €306.69 (3 v.e.) | €306.69 (3 v.e.) | Waterschap Limburg |
Waste levy. The municipality charges €357.12 per property per year, whatever the household size. On top of the flat rate you pay for residual waste per throw: €1.19 for a 50-litre municipal bag or per deposit (a “tik”) in an underground container with access control, and €0.69 for a 25-litre bag. If household waste goes into a chute or container without access control, the flat rate is €436.80 instead.
Sewerage. The ordinance charges the user of a property €60.12 for the first unit of 250 m3 of water, or part of it. The owner pays a separate fixed part of €172.80 per property. The ordinance defines the user part by water use, so a normal household pays the €60.12.
Water board. Maastricht falls under Waterschap Limburg. The watersysteemheffing for residents is €99.55 per home (woonruimte). The zuiveringsheffing is charged per pollution unit (vervuilingseenheid, v.e.) at €102.23. A home used by one person counts as 1 v.e. and any other home as 3 v.e., so a second person at the address raises the charge from €102.23 to €306.69, and more people do not raise it further.
What a tenant receives in local charges in 2026, excluding pay-per-throw bags:
| Household | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Single | €619.02 | about €52 |
| Couple | €823.48 | about €69 |
| Family of four | €823.48 | about €69 |
Calculation: single 357.12 + 60.12 + 99.55 + 102.23 = 619.02; couple and family 357.12 + 60.12 + 99.55 + 306.69 = 823.48. Rates are the 2026 rates in the ordinances above (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl, checked 7 October 2026). Local rates are reset every year, so check your own assessment. If you may qualify for remission (kwijtschelding), ask the municipality.
To work out what rent and living costs you can afford, use the Housing Budget Checker, the Cost of Living Calculator, the Net Salary After Tax Calculator and the 30% Ruling Calculator. For the practical side of finding a property, see Moving to Maastricht: Full Guide 2026 and finding housing in the Netherlands. When you rent, a deposit of at most two months rent applies for contracts signed from 1 July 2023.
If a whole apartment is not an option at first, you can look for a room or studio.
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Search rooms and studios on Kamernet →
Working in Maastricht
Use the Salary Checker to check whether your salary meets the highly skilled migrant threshold. The 30% Ruling Calculator shows what the 30% ruling could mean for your take-home pay. If you have a foreign degree, check recognition requirements with the Diploma Evaluator. See also Working in the Netherlands. If you arrive through Maastricht University, ask your department what arrival support it offers.
Getting Registered
You register with the Gemeente Maastricht. If you will stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register with the municipality within 5 days of arrival (Government.nl). Check the municipality’s website for how to make an appointment and which documents you need. You receive your BSN when you register (Government.nl).
Use the BSN Planner to prepare your documents. Not sure which visa you need? Use the Visa Checker. Planning your integration path? Use the Inburgering Route Planner.
Healthcare & Insurance
Dutch health insurance is mandatory. Take it out as soon as you can and no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrived (Government.nl). The average basic premium is €157 per month. Cross-border workers should get specific advice, because the rules depend on where you work and live. Use the Health Insurance Wizard to compare policies and the Insurance Comparison for international options.
Transport
For routes and travel times, use the NS journey planner and the planners of the local and regional operators. The OV-chipkaart guide for expats explains how public transport payment works.
Getting Started in Maastricht
Arrange payment details. A Dutch bank account is convenient for local payments, but a reachable SEPA account cannot simply be rejected because its IBAN is from another Member State. Wise gives verified customers EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address) rather than an NL IBAN. Open a Wise account → Use the Bank Account Comparison to find the right Dutch bank for your situation.
Get health insurance. The basic package is the same at every insurer, so compare premium, policy type and supplementary cover. Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →
Consider expat insurance. If you are still settling in or working remotely, SafetyWing provides global coverage from USD 62.72 per 4 weeks. Get SafetyWing coverage →
Plan your budget. Use the free cost of living calculator and housing budget checker to see what you can afford.
Settling In: The First Month
- Confirm housing with a lease that lets you register at the address.
- Register with the Gemeente Maastricht within 5 days of arrival if you stay longer than 4 months.
- Receive your BSN at registration.
- Open a bank account.
- Take out health insurance within 4 months of arrival. If you work across the border, confirm which country’s system applies first.
- Apply for DigiD once you have your BSN.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the waste tax in Maastricht in 2026?
EUR 357.12 per property per year, flat, whatever the household size (Verordening reinigingsheffingen Maastricht 2026, tarieventabel 1.1.1; lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl, CVDR748559). On top of that you pay per throw for residual waste, EUR 1.19 for a municipal 50-litre bag or per deposit ("tik") in an underground container with access control, and EUR 0.69 for a 25-litre bag. If household waste goes into a chute or container without access control, the flat rate is EUR 436.80.
Do Maastricht tenants pay the sewerage charge?
Yes, a user part. The Verordening rioolheffing Maastricht 2026 (CVDR748558) charges the user EUR 60.12 for the first 250 m3 of water or part thereof, which a normal household does not exceed. The owner pays a separate fixed part of EUR 172.80 per property.
What do local charges add up to for a tenant in Maastricht?
With the 2026 rates, EUR 619.02 a year for a single person and EUR 823.48 for a couple or a family, which is about EUR 52 and EUR 69 a month. That covers the waste levy, the sewerage user part, the watersysteemheffing and the zuiveringsheffing of Waterschap Limburg, and excludes the pay-per-throw bags.
Why do a couple and a family of four pay the same local charges in Maastricht?
The waste levy, the sewerage user part and the watersysteemheffing are fixed per property or per home. Only the zuiveringsheffing depends on the household. Waterschap Limburg counts a home used by one person as 1 pollution unit and any other home as 3, at EUR 102.23 per unit, so two people and four people both pay EUR 306.69.