A defence is often concluded with a party for friends, family and colleagues. Although for the candidate it is by no means mandatory to give such a party, most candidates do.
Through hundreds of invitation cards printed by Datawyse over the years, here is a "Top 40" of most frequently mentioned restaurants, caterers and such. The list is not implied to be complete and only applies to Maastricht and surrounding area.

Party occasions

(Click on the name to visit the company website)

Tip

It has happened before that a candidate had to re-print all invitations because the reserved party location unilaterally canceled the agreement. You can imagine how much turmoil this can bring about, not to mention the extra cost! We advice you to always get a written confirmation.

Tip
No party, but what else?

Maybe the cost of a party don't fit within the budget, or you choose not to throw a party for other reasons. But what then? Some PhD students are very creative in finding alternatives. Some solutions to this that we encountered in recent years are:

• throw a more extensive reception than usual, e.g. a slightly longer and more decorated reception, with something more to eat than the usual peanuts, and framed with music.
• Make arrangements with a nearby pub, and go directly after the defense to this location. To ensure that you don't buy drinks for the entire pub, identify each guest with a sticker on his clothes. The bar staff can see at a glance whether or not the drink should be charged on your account. Another option is to provide each guest on arrival with some vouchers. An informal but very nice solution.