Are you a Luxembourger or an immigrant?
Lux
How long have you been living in Luxembourg?
27
How would you describe life in Luxembourg?
Stable but boring
Has it been complicated to settle down, to find accommodation and a job?
Yes, no, no
Are you rich?
No
How is the cost of living?
Bearable, but hopeless
Is it easy to make friends in Luxembourg?
Not really
How safe is Luxembourg?
In relation to big cities, very. However it’s been getting worse in the last 5 years
Does Luxembourg have lots of nature?
Yes
Is English widely spoken?
In the city, yes
Do you like the weather?
It’s amenable
How is Luxembourgish cuisine?
Very limited and rather bland
What are your favorite Luxembourgish foods?
None
Does Luxembourg suffer any natural disasters? If Yes, how often?
Tornado, Storm, Floods. Rarely
How is tax in Luxembourg?
Less than neighboring countries but more than Switzerland, Bulgaria, Singapore and Japan
How is the transportation system?
In the city, very good. Outside, unsufficient
What do you think about the standard of education in Luxembourg?
Rather low with focus on languages instead of hard skills
What is the most popular sport in Luxembourg?
Football
How is the entertainment industry?
Emerging. Lux Film Fund has procured some movies with oscar and Cannes nominations.
Are there many people of color in Luxembourg?
Very international, but most people are white. Non-whites are mostly Capverdians, Syrians, Erithreans, Indians and other East Asian people.
How is racism?
Existent, but mostly hidden.
Is corruption an existing issue in Luxembourg?
Accumulation of offices is a thing here. Think: lawyer, city council, NGO, mayor, parliamentarian
But most agencies try to support the policy of the government in power so are not AS independent as they could be.
Is Luxembourg LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
What are the most popular slangs in Luxembourg, and their meanings?
I don’t use Lux slang
What advice would you give someone traveling to Luxembourg?
5 days are enough to see EVERYTHING (lakes, castles, terres rouges, capital)
Who is your favorite Luxembourgish celebrity?
Amdy Schleck
What is the most celebrated festival/holiday in Luxembourg?
National feierdaag, 23rd of June
What bothers you about Luxembourg?
People shortsightedly financialize their real estate a lot and don’t see the long term effects this might have on their offspring as inevitably they will lose out to players with deeper pockets.
What’s your thought on Luxembourg’s politics? Do you think they are doing well?
42% of the population is allowed to vote, the gov thus represents only 20% of the people living in Luxembourg. Most voters work for the gov (be it directly, or in education, or healthcare, or semi-public enterprises), so all policies stem from the interest to not stir their pot too much.
What would you recommend to people who would like to live in Luxembourg?
Get proficient with your hands, as services are very expensive (car repairs, electricity work, plumbing). Same can be said for cooking.
Get involved within your community.
Learn Lux if possible, if not then French.
Which city will you likely recommend to a foreigner to live? And why?
Luxembourg or the South
What are the biggest misconceptions about Luxembourg?
All per capita numbers are bloated due to half of the workforce consisting of border workers
Eg Lux GDP/cap is thus not $115k/capita but rather $88k
Plus the financialization of the economy brings lots of holding companies to Luxembourg who don’t contribute REAL economic value
What are cons of living in Luxembourg?
Shops close at 6, no corner shops so no life during the evening/nights
City caters to border workers who return home in the evening = city is dead
What are pros of living in Luxembourg?
Expensive living keeps out the bad elements of society (mostly), so safety is quite good.
What are interesting facts about Luxembourg?
The streets around Gare were used for stocking champagne in the cellars (cf street names)
Luxembourg was in a great spot to arbitrage customs between France and Germany as Lux was part of the German Zollunion.
On a scale of 1 to 10, rate Luxembourg
8.5