If you want to be a good neighbour, then you need to follow the basic rules and regulations for residents. It’s understandable that frustrations rise when students aren’t following the rules that are designed to make the city a more pleasant place to live. In order to help everyone get on with each other, we lay out the basic regulations you need to follow.
Dispose of your garbage properly
We have a whole section on throwing your garbage away correctly, so please look! If it is thrown out too early, it can look very unsightly piled up on the pavement, as well as being rather smelly. If you have any questions, you can always look at the Milieu app, which has a calendar of when waste is collected and how to dispose of it.
Bike Safety
We have a whole section on bikes, so check it out! Bike safety comprises of two parts- cycling safely, and parking your bike in the right area. Road safety is really important in Maastricht, with its numerous pedestrian areas and bike lanes. If you want more information on how to be safe (and how to avoid fines!) look at our page on road safety.
Residents of Maastricht also ask that you do not pile bikes up against their houses or leave them on the pavement. This can be unsafe, and is unnecessary given how many proper bike parking places there are in the city. Always try to find somewhere unobtrusive to store you bike, and remember to lock it correctly.
House parties
House parties are a great part of your social life, but be sure to respect the local residents. Noise pollution is one of the major irritations voiced by locals. Often house parties are organised without informing neighbours. This inevitably leads to them calling the police to complain about loud music or people loitering in the streets. The police can fine you and are allowed to confiscate your equipment if the noise continues.
So if you decide to have a house party then please remember the idea of mutual respect. Tell your neighbours that you’re thinking of having a party and try to keep noise levels to a minimum (especially after midnight). Keep the party inside and keep doors and windows closed. Drink responsibly and keep a healthy distance from your neighbour’s property. Some landlords don’t tolerate house parties of any kind so check your contract if you don’t want to lose your deposit or be held responsible for damage to the house.
If you’re having problems, then you can always report them using the MijnGemeente App. This was created by the municipality to make it easier for you to report a problem.
