Emigration Stories
Real stories from Dutch people who made the move
Wouter (32)
Amsterdam → Stockholm
As a software engineer I dreamed of the Scandinavian tech scene. Stockholm gave me a better work-life balance and Spotify as a neighbor.
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Martijn & Fleur (38)
Rotterdam → Göteborg
With two small children we deliberately chose Sweden. Förskola, barnbidrag and 480 days of parental leave — it's a child-friendly paradise.
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Henk & Ingrid (46)
Utrecht → Småland
We traded the bustle of Utrecht for a stuga in Småland. Forests, lakes and silence — the life we always dreamed of.
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Lisa (28)
Den Haag → Malmö
Malmö is hip, affordable and fifteen minutes from Copenhagen. Perfect place for a young Dutch woman who wants to explore Scandinavia.
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Robert (43)
Eindhoven → Uppsala
Starting a tech company in Sweden? Surprisingly smooth. Uppsala offers a strong innovation climate, fair taxes and reliable government agencies.
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Anna (34)
Leiden → Lund
As a researcher I found in Lund a world-class university, excellent funding and an academic culture that values collaboration over competition.
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Kevin (29)
Breda → Kiruna
From Brabant to the Arctic Circle. In Kiruna I work at Europe's largest iron mine and experience the northern lights from my backyard.
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Marieke (26)
Groningen → Umeå
Umeå is the cultural capital of northern Sweden. As a design student I found world-renowned education, free tuition and a creative community here.
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Jan & Astrid (62)
Almere → Dalarna
After retirement we chose the red cottage in Dalarna. The Swedish countryside offers peace, space and an affordable life after years of saving.
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Daan (25)
Nijmegen → Stockholm
Stockholm is the gaming capital of Europe. At King I work on games played by millions, with Swedish employment conditions unmatched anywhere in the world.
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Sophie & Erik (35)
Haarlem → Göteborg
Erik is Swedish, I'm Dutch. After five years in Amsterdam we chose his hometown Gothenburg — closer to family and with room for our daughter.
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Priya (31)
Amsterdam → Linköping
At Saab in Linköping I work on the future of European defense. A surprisingly international city with a tight-knit expat community.
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Thomas (41)
Tilburg → Visby, Gotland
On the island of Gotland I found the peace to write. Visby is a medieval gem with fast internet and a growing community of digital nomads.
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Fatima (33)
Rotterdam → Malmö
As a nurse I found better working conditions in Malmö, less work pressure and a healthcare system that takes its staff seriously.
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Bas (37)
Zwolle → Sundsvall
In Sundsvall I work as a forester in endless Swedish forests. From office job in Zwolle to chainsaw and snowmobile — the best decision of my life.
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Miranda (44)
Den Bosch → Jönköping
As a single mother I found at IKEA in Jönköping not just a job, but an entire system that supports my family.
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Jeroen (48)
Leiden → Jokkmokk, Lapland
A sabbatical year in Lapland became a permanent life. As a nature photographer I found in Jokkmokk the ultimate backdrop and the peace I needed.
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Noor & Sven (39)
Utrecht → Kalmar
Sven is Swedish, I'm Dutch. Together we run a B&B in Kalmar — the sunniest city in Sweden with views of Öland.
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Els (52)
Maastricht → Skåne
In Skåne I found the space for my horse breeding that was unaffordable in the Netherlands. Twenty hectares of pasture for the price of a Maastricht city garden.
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Owen (27)
Den Haag → Stockholm
As an English teacher at an international school in Stockholm I earn more, work less and am respected as a professional.
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Rico & Marcus (36)
Amsterdam → Stockholm
As a gay couple we felt at home in Amsterdam, but Stockholm offers the same level of acceptance with a better quality of life.
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Wilma (58)
Apeldoorn → Karlstad
As a 58-year-old physiotherapist I found in Karlstad an employer who values my experience, a manageable pace and Värmland's nature at my doorstep.
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Eva (45)
Rotterdam → Västra Götaland
In Västra Götaland I started an organic vegetable farm on a Swedish farm. The KRAV label and local markets make sustainable farming viable here.
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Carmen (40)
Eindhoven → Malmö
In Malmö I started my sustainable fashion startup. The Swedish startup ecosystem, the Öresund region and the focus on sustainability make it the ideal place.
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Henk (75)
Den Haag → Stockholm
At seventy-three I moved to Stockholm to be close to my daughter and grandchildren. The Swedish care system makes it possible.
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