Bialystok is the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the biggest city in northeast Poland. It has a population of almost three hundred thousand. The city is the regional centre of administration, science, business, and culture. Bialystok is also a student city. The region’s leading and best academy is the Medical University of Bialystok. There are almost 35 thousand active students in the Voivodeship capital. In 2016, the Eurobarometer of the European Commission recognised Bialystok as the best city to live in Poland. This is because the city has plenty of green areas and cycling routes and is famous for the local hospitality. Bialystok also offers numerous cultural attractions and ways to spend free time. It was also the birthplace of the creator of Esperanto Ludwik Zamenhof and of Albert Sabin, who developed the polio vaccine.