Meeting new people in Maastricht: where to start and what actually works

In short

Meeting new people in Maastricht works best when you start at places where you run into the same people often and without planning it: a student or study association, a sports club, a language cafe, volunteering or a recurring activity. Maastricht is a real student city, with around 22,000 students at Maastricht University and a large international share, so many people around you are new too and looking for the same thing. Research shows that friendship grows mostly from proximity and repeated contact, not from a first impression. So pick something that recurs weekly, lower the bar for meeting up, and meet people around a shared interest.

Why it can feel hard when you are new

Almost everyone who moves to Maastricht, whether for a degree, a job or a fresh start, runs into the same thing. You do not know the city yet, your calendar is empty at the wrong moments, and the people around you seem to already have their circle.

That feeling is not quite accurate. Ever since Festinger's classic 1950 study, social psychologists have pointed to the propinquity effect: the chance that a friendship forms is closely tied to how often you run into someone without planning it. School, studies and your first side job arrange that for you. After a move it disappears, and suddenly friendship feels like something you have to organize.

So the trick is not to try harder on a single evening, but to put yourself in places where you see the same faces again and again. And in a student city like Maastricht, those places are everywhere.

Where to meet new people in Maastricht

Place	For whom	Why it works
Student and study associations	Students	Regular activities with the same people, week after week
ESN Maastricht	International students	Organized outings where everyone is new too
Sports at UM SPORTS or a local club	Anyone	Repeated contact without needing to talk to belong
Language cafe or language exchange	Anyone learning Dutch or another language	A reason to say hello, and something in common right away
Volunteering, for example through Trajekt	Anyone	Working on something together bonds faster than small talk
Markets, terraces and neighbourhood activities	Anyone	Low pressure, nearby and often recurring

Want to practise a language and meet people at the same time? In Maastricht you can join the weekly language cafe at Centre Ceramique, the Language Cafe at Maastricht University, or browse the language and culture groups listed by the Expat Centre Maastricht Region.

The common thread: pick something that recurs. A one off event is fun, but a weekly training, class or volunteer shift does the real work, because you slowly get to know the same people.

What actually works (and what does not)

1. Pick something that recurs weekly. The repetition does the heavy lifting, not your charm on the first night.
2. Lower the bar for meeting up. You do not need a big plan. A coffee, a walk along the Maas or "want to come along" is enough.
3. Follow up with the almost friends. Most connections stall because nobody sends the second message. Be the one who does.
4. Meet people around a shared interest, not a photo. When you already have something in common, there is always something to talk about and the pressure drops.
5. Be the organizer. It feels like more work, but the person who says "I am going here on Saturday, come along" ends up at the center of every group.

Do not expect it to click right away. Research by Jeffrey Hall shows it takes around 50 hours together to move from acquaintance to casual friend, and more than 200 hours for a good friendship. The first months in a new city feel empty, and that is exactly what you should expect. It is not a sign that this will not work out.

How Mittir helps you in Maastricht

Mittir is built around exactly those things: seeing the same people more often and doing things together. You find people nearby who share your interests, you can find activities in Maastricht or start your own, and your photo stays hidden until you both want to reveal it. That way you get to know someone for who they are, not for how they look.

Mittir is not a dating app. It is a way to meet people and do things together. Read more about why Mittir exists, or download Mittir and see who is nearby.

Frequently asked questions

How do you quickly meet new people in Maastricht?

Start with an activity that recurs weekly, such as a sports club, association or language cafe. The repetition means you see the same people more often, and that is where friendship grows. Combine that with the app to find people nearby who share your interests.

Where do you meet other internationals in Maastricht?

ESN Maastricht organizes many activities for international students, and at UM SPORTS and language cafes you meet a mixed crowd. Many internationals are new just like you, so joining in is easier than you think.

I am introverted, how do I approach this?

Choose places where you do not have to talk to belong, like sports or volunteering. By seeing the same people more often, conversations happen naturally and at your own pace. An activity around a shared interest also takes the pressure off the conversation.

Is Mittir a dating app?

No. Mittir is made for meeting new people and friends and doing things together. Your photo stays hidden at first, so you get to know someone for who they are. Whether more comes of it is up to the two of you.

How long does it take to have friends somewhere?

Count on months, not weeks. Research shows it takes dozens of hours together before an acquaintance becomes a friend. In a new city the first months feel empty, and that is normal. Keep going and keep seeing the same people, that is half the work.

Sources

• Maastricht University (student numbers and international share)
• Festinger, L., Schachter, S., & Back, K., Social Pressures in Informal Groups (1950), the basis of the propinquity effect
• Hall, J.A., How many hours does it take to make a friend?, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (2019)
• WHO, Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death (2025)

Cover photo: Kleon3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.