Exam week is approaching — which means it’s time to stare at your laptop for eight hours straight, question all your life decisions, and probably consume more caffeine than is legally advisable. But don’t worry. If the thought of dragging yourself to the same library every day makes you want to drop out and become a goat farmer in the Alps, I’ve got you covered.

Let’s shake up your study routine with the ultimate guide to Maastricht’s best libraries and laptop-friendly cafés. These spots all have the ultimate trifecta: wifi, plugs, and an acceptable level of existential dread.

1. Centre Céramique

Centre Céramique is where productivity meets peaceful vibes. Nestled right by the park and the river, it’s the perfect place to romanticize your study session — take a break with a stroll outside and pretend you’re the main character in an indie film. Inside, it’s spacious, bright, and spread across multiple floors, so you’re almost guaranteed to find a good spot (with plugs, of course). Need a caffeine fix? There’s a CoffeeLovers inside, so you can fuel your study session without even stepping outside — unless it’s for that dramatic walk by the water.

2. UM Sports

Study… then sweat (and maybe cry a little)
Hear me out: study, break, gym, repeat. UM Sports has learning spaces upstairs, outside seating, and a cafeteria – perfect for when you “accidentally” end up snacking more than studying. Warning: it gets packed during exam season, so either go early or bring a yoga mat and fight for a seat peacefully.

3. Fixed Gear Coffee

Bike shop? Coffee place? Secret study temple?
Fixed Gear is spacious, filled with natural light, and most importantly: there are plugs galore. The vibe is so aesthetic it makes you want to color-code your notes. It’s not just a café – it’s a productivity lifestyle.

4. Avant-Garden

Fancy but student-approved… with limits
Yes, this is technically a restaurant, but before you get thrown out for opening your laptop next to someone eating avocado toast, know this: they have designated study tables for students. And good coffee. And free wifi. Just don’t get too comfortable or start plugging in a printer. They have boundaries.

5. Charlie’s Coffee

This place is laptop heaven. Friendly, cozy, and right by the train station if you’re the kind of person who dramatically boards a train right after exams. They have plugs, wifi, and don’t give you death stares for staying too long.

6. Espresso Quartier

This is where chill vibes come to live. The people are nice, the coffee is better than your sleep schedule, and the atmosphere screams “main character energy.” Plugs and wifi are available, so you can stay all day pretending you’re in a French movie about a struggling philosophy student.

7. KOFFIE

Good coffee, laptop-friendly, and plugs. What more do you want? Okay fine, a life without exams, but for now this is as good as it gets. It’s perfect for when you want to be productive but still feel like a semi-functioning human. I think it’s worth mentioning here that they only allow you to take your laptop out at the back!

8. Jan van Eyck

This one’s a bit rogue. Not a lot of plugs, but they’re chill about people just sitting with their laptops — even without ordering something (though please don’t be that person). Great if you’re desperate for a last-minute spot or just want to feel like a mysterious intellectual hiding from society.

Bonus Tips

• Always carry your charger. Even if your laptop battery says 80%, don’t trust it.

• Bring headphones — because cafés come with screaming babies and overly enthusiastic espresso machines.

• If you’re staying for more than 2 hours, buy at least a coffee. Or pretend to be in a coffee research study, but don’t quote me on that.

May your Wi-Fi be fast, your coffee strong, and your brain just functional enough to pass. You’ve got this. Probably.