“A simpler but richer life” – voices from Emigration Expo

“It’s mostly about quality of life and nature,” said Arnoud when he and Marieke spent a long time at the Arctic Sweden booth at the Emigration Expo in Utrecht, the Netherlands. They were crowded with hundreds of other visitors who shared the same longing: more peace, more space and a daily life where work-life balance is actually achievable. Maybe they’ll find it in Norrbotten?

When the Emigration Expo fair opened, the Arctic Sweden delegation was ready to meet thousands of people who dream of a life in northern Sweden. The stand gathered representatives from ten municipalities, Region Norrbotten's HR department, Luleå University of Technology and EURES Sweden Arbetsförmedlingen. The aim is for more people to discover the possibility of building a life in Norrbotten.

“Swedish fika” and coloring pages for children welcomed the fair visitors. But what really makes the difference are the interpersonal meetings. The commitment and presence in each individual meeting is the recipe for success that means that more and more Dutch people, but also Germans, Belgians and French people, find a home in Norrbotten.

Arctic Sweden is participating in the fair for the fourth year in a row and many in the delegation are becoming experienced. The good hospitality, pride in one's own place and knowledge of what a determined emigrant needs to take the step - these are the keys to results.

Trade fair visitors Marieke and Arnoud have long been curious about northern Sweden. The price level, the opportunity to live in a smaller town and a calmer pace attract them.

“It's very beautiful. The seasons and the tranquility mean a lot,” said Arnoud.
“In Sweden, it's normal to have a one-hour lunch break and two coffee breaks. We only have 30 minutes in the whole day,” said Marieke.

Electrical engineer Arnoud and optician Marieke have previously considered Västerbotten, but are now open to the possibilities in Norrbotten as well. Photo: Sara Stylbäck Vesa.

At the Luleå University of Technology table, the pace was high. Several visitors could already speak good Swedish and some had even bought houses.

“There have been people queuing all day, both those who wanted to work and those who wanted to study,” said Sofi Waltare from the university's HR department.

The Norrbotten Region HR team had a long list of people who wanted to work in Swedish healthcare.
“We have met with both doctors and nurses,” said HR partner Edit Nilson.

The language is a crucial key – good knowledge is required to obtain Swedish identification.
“You have to know what you want and then invest hard in the language,” said her colleague Maria Wallander.

Överkalix's future manager Jessica Wennberg met many people who were looking for security, nature and reasonable housing prices. The questions were about service, costs and practical steps before moving. She was accompanied by the municipality's relocation pilot, school principal and Dutch Marcella de Geus, a resident of Överkalix.

– It has gone really well, beyond expectations. It has been a really fun day with fun meetings, said Jessica.

Jessica Wennberg, future manager in Överkalix, was on site to recruit new residents. Photo: Nino Pels.

Kirsi Paloniemi Lundqvist from EURES Sweden Employment Service met many people who had questions about the labor market, job opportunities and the EU's Targeted Mobility Scheme support program.

– The feeling is the same this year – many are curious and some have already decided to move, she said.

Many of the visitors to the fair from previous years have already made the step north. Some of them were now part of Arctic Sweden and were able to share their experiences.

Janneke de Haan, a resident of Arjeplog municipality, described how she and her husband had traveled in northern Sweden for many years and felt increasingly that life there suited them better.

– We had a very good life in the Netherlands, but we wanted something more – a simpler but richer life that we felt northern Sweden could give us, she said.

The decision came suddenly, but the feeling had been growing for a long time.

“I just said, ‘Maybe we should call the broker?’ And that’s when we knew we were ready to do it for real,” she said.

Four months later they were in two cars heading towards Lapland – with ten boxes and two cats.

Janneke describes nature as both a source of joy and everyday challenges. Winter driving in the dark and snow is not always romantic.

– But the beauty is there every day. Just stepping outside the door and facing the silence makes me happy, she said.

Since her visit to last year's fair, Marcella de Geus has settled in the village of Gyljen in Överkalix. Now she was there to talk about her family's journey to a new life. Photo: Nino Pels.

Marcella de Geus bought a house and moved in with her family last fall, after visiting last year's fair. She described how the children initially had difficulty finding their way around the language and context, but things turned around faster than they thought.

“Children are flexible. After six months they started to understand and use more Swedish and now they are finding friends and their place in everyday life,” she said.

Stephan Vermeul, who has lived in Norrbotten for over ten years, is a nurse at Gällivare Hospital.

“We packed everything up in six weeks and moved. It was intense, but it was the right thing to do,” he said.

He learned the language quickly – with three months of intensive training. What mattered most was the effect on his family.

– In the Netherlands, people ran all the time. Here we found peace. The children learned Swedish in six months and we immediately felt that life became easier, he said.

Louise Landström Persdotter, Gällivare, and the Dutchman Stephan Vermeul, Region Norrbotten, were both able to talk about their lives in the municipality. Photo: Nino Pels

In the crowd after the seminar we found Mariska and Jan with their children Abel and Josefiene. They dream of a new life, mainly for the sake of their children. The stories from the Dutch who have already moved are inspiring, but they have also traveled and experienced northern Sweden. They are now planning to sell their company and move to Norrbotten.

“We want to give the children a better opportunity to develop,” said Mariska.
– We like the surroundings, the nice homes, and the children really enjoy it there.

Arctic Sweden leaves Utrecht with many new contacts who could become future Norrbotten residents. Now comes the work of helping them take the big step – towards a new life in Norrbotten.

Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa