So what are you waiting for? It was recently hailed as a top financial emerging market by Geneva-based Middle Eastern business, Pictet’s, and Luxembourg also enjoyed the accolade of coming 3rd in 2012 quality of life study carried out by ECA International. The study ranked cities around the world in terms of their quality of life for ex pats. The capital city of Luxembourg – Luxembourg – rose one place from 2011-2012, only falling behind joint 1st place-ranked Copenhagen and Berne.
The study was compiled using independent surveys and ratings submitted by ex pats in relation to European standards and adjustments, e.g. where can a European feel most at home? Ranking was decided based on scores from categories like social life, leisure, infrastructure, political tension, climate, healthcare services, accommodation, utilities, transport, location, personal safety and culture.
But how do you rank a city for it’s liveability in terms of foreigners residing there in a broader sense? For us, the proof is in the figures. Removals to Luxembourg are exceptionally popular in the current market, especially in terms of relocation for professional reasons. The ECA study also cited Luxembourg as a top business destination. It scored very high in terms of HR considerations like ex pat comfort, familiar resources and all-round ease settling into the new environment. It also took into account things like the origin of the ex pat and their ease settling into the candidate city. This information was then used to score cities on their overall appeal and quality of life.
Want a few more high ranking cities to add to the list? Removals to Germany and surrounding areas are pretty popular; the top ranking cities following Luxembourg are, in order, Stuttgart, Antwerp, Geneva, Brussels and Dusseldorf.
Something we see a lot in our removals packing services business is people taking a chance. It could be a move to Luxembourg for work, it could be a year studying in Florence or an early retirement on the Riviera. The bottom line is that the world is a large and splendid place. And with us behind you, you could see a little more of it with your own stuff comfortably around you.
And if you need a little push to head out to Luxembourg to enjoy it’s high ranking quality of life, here are a few facts we found to sugar coat the move!
^Several parts of the city of Luxembourg are labelled as UNSECO World Heritage Sites.
^Luxembourgish is the native language and not just a dialect of German.
^Luxembourg has been noted as one of the safest countries in the world on numerous occasions.
^Luxembourgers love to finish a meal with a very strong plum-based drink, eau-de-vie.
^Luxembourg Euros are amongst the rarest in circulation, so keep hold of any you come across and pass them on to a coin collector.
^Most Luxembourgers are fluent in French, German and English.
Moving to Germany – Beware of the Church Tax…
If you are moving to Germany, you will have already investigated every aspect of living and working there. Moving to Germany, or moving to Holland or any other country in the EU, is relatively straightforward once you have waded through all the paperwork! But there is one aspect which is often overlooked by those who are moving to Germany.
Once you have moved to the country, you’ll need to register with the local authorities, and one thing to beware of is declaring your religious faith. Have you heard of the Church Tax?
The German government still maintains a kind of tithe system called the Kirchensteuer, or Church Tax. It may sound odd that a modern society still uses a tithe system, which disappeared from Britain in the 18th century, but it is alive and well in Germany. It works like this. If you declare yourself a member of one of the recognised faiths, the German government will deduct between eight and nine per cent of your salary, which is then handed over to the churches. This means that the churches earn billions of Euros every year, thanks to the hard work of the German people, and anyone else who is moving to Germany. Now you know about this strange custom, anything else you have to deal with when moving to Germany will seem relatively easy and straightforward, and that includes the move itself. Make sure you use a reputable company like European Removal Experts who have years of experience in helping people who are relocating to Germany.
Things to Remember when Emigrating from the UK
At European Removal Experts we recognise that moving home and relocating overseas to countries such as France is one of the most stressful events in anybody’s life, and moving to a whole new country even more so. That is why we always endeavour to offer you removal service that is not only affordable, but which answers your specific requirements – ensuring that the excitement of moving overseas is left undisturbed. However, we are aware that as a removal company, beyond making the removals transition as simple as possible, there is much more to consider that often gets forgotten along the way.
Whether you’re moving to Belgium or moving to Holland, moving to another country is a massive logistical undertaking. Therefore the following advice will only cover the tip of the iceberg, but some important things to remember before hiring a removals company to Holland or Belgium include the following:
Remember, it doesn’t matter where your moving to when it comes to the necessary precautions. Whether you’re moving to Holland or moving to Belgium, each country will have their own way of doing things, which is why you should always ensure that you have a good awareness of your destination before embarking.
Luxembourg Ranks Third for Quality of Life
So what are you waiting for? It was recently hailed as a top financial emerging market by Geneva-based Middle Eastern business, Pictet’s, and Luxembourg also enjoyed the accolade of coming 3rd in 2012 quality of life study carried out by ECA International. The study ranked cities around the world in terms of their quality of life for ex pats. The capital city of Luxembourg – Luxembourg – rose one place from 2011-2012, only falling behind joint 1st place-ranked Copenhagen and Berne.
The study was compiled using independent surveys and ratings submitted by ex pats in relation to European standards and adjustments, e.g. where can a European feel most at home? Ranking was decided based on scores from categories like social life, leisure, infrastructure, political tension, climate, healthcare services, accommodation, utilities, transport, location, personal safety and culture.
But how do you rank a city for it’s liveability in terms of foreigners residing there in a broader sense? For us, the proof is in the figures. Removals to Luxembourg are exceptionally popular in the current market, especially in terms of relocation for professional reasons. The ECA study also cited Luxembourg as a top business destination. It scored very high in terms of HR considerations like ex pat comfort, familiar resources and all-round ease settling into the new environment. It also took into account things like the origin of the ex pat and their ease settling into the candidate city. This information was then used to score cities on their overall appeal and quality of life.
Want a few more high ranking cities to add to the list? Removals to Germany and surrounding areas are pretty popular; the top ranking cities following Luxembourg are, in order, Stuttgart, Antwerp, Geneva, Brussels and Dusseldorf.
Something we see a lot in our removals packing services business is people taking a chance. It could be a move to Luxembourg for work, it could be a year studying in Florence or an early retirement on the Riviera. The bottom line is that the world is a large and splendid place. And with us behind you, you could see a little more of it with your own stuff comfortably around you.
And if you need a little push to head out to Luxembourg to enjoy it’s high ranking quality of life, here are a few facts we found to sugar coat the move!
^Several parts of the city of Luxembourg are labelled as UNSECO World Heritage Sites.
^Luxembourgish is the native language and not just a dialect of German.
^Luxembourg has been noted as one of the safest countries in the world on numerous occasions.
^Luxembourgers love to finish a meal with a very strong plum-based drink, eau-de-vie.
^Luxembourg Euros are amongst the rarest in circulation, so keep hold of any you come across and pass them on to a coin collector.
^Most Luxembourgers are fluent in French, German and English.
Enjoy the Transition by Learning the Language
We live in an incredibly multi-national society, and as such the lines between different countries in the EU can often seem blurred. We’re all very accommodating of each other and relocation is on the rise, but while we may think that everyone else speaks our language it isn’t always the case. So, whether you’re moving to France, Germany or anywhere else, make sure that you learn the language.
Learning the language of the country you’re relocating to will give you numerous benefits. It will make the whole process of moving to France or elsewhere far simpler as you won’t have to worry about language barriers when trying to arrange important details, and as we all know, failure to understand each other can be incredibly frustrating.
Not only does it make the general necessities easier, but it also means that the locals will be more accommodating. Moving to France or anywhere else can be a big decision and you want to be able to adjust as quickly and as easily as possible, and learning the language will be one of the best ways to blend in.
This is even more important if you’re relocating to somewhere in the countryside, as although a lot of people will know English they’re often less likely to in areas with fewer citizens. This is often because they won’t have been in contact with so many tourists so have never needed to, and by learning the language they’ll be more likely to accept you as part of their culture.
So, to really enjoy moving to France, Switzerland or anywhere else on the continent, make sure to learn the language to make the transition as smooth and as stress-free as possible.
German Glory
If you have decided that you are moving to Germany, your best choice for a professional and swift removals service is European Removal Experts. Our company has years of experience in helping people to relocate all of their household contents and personal possessions to the continent. European Removal Experts are trustworthy, safe and secure, our drivers are highly trained and our vehicles are fully insured and primed and tuned for long distance travel, so moving to Germany will be a stress-free experience with our help and advice.
Whether you are moving to Berlin to immerse yourself in the rich and dynamic culture, or moving to Baden-Baden to work for Mercedes Benz, relocating to Germany is sure to be an interesting an rewarding decision. European Removal Experts is very proud that our staff are both professional and friendly, and we know that our customers appreciate their calm and efficient attitude. We are sensitive to our customers’ needs because the last thing they need when organising a major move is to be worried or concerned about the removals service which they have chosen.
When you meet our drivers, you will immediately feel assured and confident that all of your household contents will arrive intact at your new abode. Many customers have chosen European Removal Experts when relocating to Germany for exactly these reasons, so please ask our staff when you make your inquiry and we can provide testimonies and recommendations from previous clients.
Moving to Germany is guaranteed to be stress and trouble-free when you engage our services, so go for German Glory with European Removal Experts.
Trust the Professionals to Make Moving to Belgium a Breeze
If you’re thinking of moving to Belgium, you’re probably also thinking about the logistics. For many people the thought of all the organization involved can put a serious strain on what should be an enjoyable experience, and that’s why you need to be prepared to trust the experts.
It’s essential that you’re in touch with professionals at every step of the way. You need to be able to consult reputable estate agents while you’re searching for your new home, and you’ll also need to make sure you’ve got great solicitors on both sides of the channel. The process of house buying and selling is going to be different in Belgium than in the UK, so it’s important that you’ve got people you can trust to put your interests first.
Then you’ll need to sort out the legality of moving abroad in the first place, and getting a visa is sure to be at the top of the agenda. Again, you’ll need expert advice on your side so you know exactly what you have to do and the deadlines that everything has to be done by, as you don’t want to be moving to Belgium without everything being sorted.
Moving to Belgium will of course mean that you need to get your possessions over there with you in good time. There’s no way you’ll be able to move everything on your own, particularly if you’ve got a whole house-load to move, so you’ll need to consult professional removals services as well.
So, you really do need to trust the professionals when moving to Belgium. Doing so will make the whole process far easier, so come to us at European Removal Experts and let us take one thing off your mind.
Moving to Champagne-Ardenne
Located in the northeast of the country is another one of the 27 regions of France named Champagne-Ardenne. The region has as a neighbour the border to Belgium and has four departments named Marne, Ardennes, Aube and Haute Marne. The regions has three rivers that flow west, the Marne, the Aisne and the Seine and one that flows north named Meuse. Champagne-Ardenne is well known for its sparkling white wine and its capital is Chalons–en–Champagne.
The Langres Plateau is situated south of the Champagne-Ardenne region and it reaches an elevation of more than 450 metres. This area is part of the department of Haute Marne and together with other limestone highlands is considered to be top ranked in regards to forested areas in France. In the west one can find the platform of Champagne-Ardenne which is transverse by the Seine and Aube river valleys. These valleys cut though the limestone hills called Cote de Bars Also, in the same region there is the Argonne Massif in the north which is drained by the river Aisne.
The Champagne-Ardenne region is not vastly populated unlike other areas mainly because many have emigrated to Lorraine and Paris back in 1901 and until 1946 due to employment search in the coal and steel industries. Until the end of the century the growing population flattened bellow a national average due to a new wave of migration.
In the Champagne-Ardenne region there are many farms as it is a rich and vast agricultural area. The farms are capital-intensive and the cultivation is made in a mechanized fashion on a wide scale. The region main crops that are cultivated are cereals, like barley and wheat, along others such as legumes, sugar beets, oleaginous plants and alfalfa. The Champagne-Ardenne is famous for its table wine and white sparkling wine of which large quantities are produced every year. The champagne industry is a major employer in the areas around Reims and Epernav and the white sparkling wine industry is rather famous as well as economically important. In the Epernav region, just east of it the famous Dom Pierre Perignon was born in 1638. He was born in Sainte-Menehould and was the one to invent the process of making champagne sparkle.
There are several traditional industries like the textiles around the Troyes and in the Meuse valley that have seen a steady decline. Also in the same category is metalworking which is centred in the Haute Marne and Ardennes departments and whose importance got lower over the years. Although some industries declined there are also new industries that started which in turn helped the economy of the Champagne-Ardenne region, such as food and beverage processing along with automobile components and plastics industries.
Nevertheless, because of the great amount of champagne production, several other industries flourished in the Champagne-Ardenne region, for example the packing, glass and chemical industries along with the printing industries. There are directly tied to the white sparkling wine production and it allowed the economy to stay strong despite the decline of the traditional industries.
In spite of the fact that the region is widely used for industry related tasks, there is still some pull for tourists, thanks to several beautiful and grand constructions. Some examples of famous locations where one could visit are the Reims Cathedral, the fortified city of Langres and the basilica of l’Epine. The Reims Cathedral was constructed in the 13th century using Gothic architecture and it is considered one of the most exquisite churches in France. The fortified city of Langres has been situated in the Champagne-Ardenne region from around the second century and it still stands proud as a monument to the history of the region.
Because of the high traffic of industry related items and the charm the region displays to the tourists and the locals, new motorways have been constructed that pass across the Champagne-Ardenne region which has in turn increased accessibility throughout the region.
During its long history the Champagne-Ardenne region was the central stage of multiple battles since the French Revolution and it was even the place where the Battle of the Bulge took place, which was the final action back in 1944 on the offensive side by the Germans. Other famous battles include the Battle of Ardennes in World War I along with those in the Franco-German War and in the campaign back in 1794.
The Champagne-Ardenne region offers to show those who are interested a part of history with its impressive constructions but it doesn’t stop there. If you ever think of moving to the Champagne-Ardenne region you can be sure there will be opportunities for employment along with various possibilities for those who want to succeed in the industries that are blooming there. If after a day at work you like to enjoy yourself with what this region has to offer then it is recommended to move to Champagne-Ardenne. We can help you get over there fast and without much of a fuss.
We provide a cost effective and reliable service to you. Be it a small or a large number of boxes that needs moving, we can arrange collection of your belongings and relocation, as well as Storage, all only under the best conditions and with highly Qualified Professionals Removers.
You can even leave the Packing to us. We will make sure everything will be Packed Securely with only the best Packing Supplies available. If you’re not convinced just use our Free Quote service.
You can contact us for any questions you might have. +44 020 3150 2668
Everyone Should Live Abroad Once
We specialise in moving to Holland, Germany and a bunch of other culturally rich European countries. Here are our top five reasons every person should spend at least a little of their life living continental!
1. Culture is obviously the first thing that springs to mind. Think of the difference between Edinburgh and Devon, Liverpool and Oxford, Rowen (a tiny village in North Wales) and London! Experiencing different culture can open your eyes to the world in a unique way.
2. Expanding your career horizons. Experiencing different cultures isn’t just for students and the super-rich. With a little planning and dedication it’s possible for pretty much anyone to find a job abroad. It may even be a step down the career ladder, but in terms of adding interest to your CV, living abroad depicts a superb strength of character.
3. The thrill of the unknown. Call it “fear” if you like. The thrill/fear of relocating to Germany etc. is something that can be incredibly beneficial in life. Not everyone is OK with getting out of their comfort zone, but even something like a few months relocating to Belgium can have an astounding effect on confidence and mindset.
4. Culinary exploration. Maybe you’re already a well-fed food aficionado, but if you’re more the pie ‘n’ chips type, living another culinary lifestyle can be a wonderful adventure!
5. Appreciating home. Sure, it rains a lot in the UK and our sports teams are frequently embarrassed, but true appreciation for all things British is certainly a wonderful side to living abroad. You’ll be surprised what you miss most!
Doing Things the German Way!
There is a lot that the UK and Germany have in common. However, there are enough differences between the two great nations to make moving to Germany potentially one of the most exciting decisions that you’ll ever make, whether you’re moving for a short stay or looking to become a fully-fledged emigre.
First we’ll examine the similarities between Britain and Germany that will make moving to the country seem a little less daunting. For instance, just like the UK, Germany enjoys a great transport infrastructure (which undoubtedly benefits from a bit of German efficiency), this makes getting around the major cities like Berlin or Munich pretty easy.
Of course, you aren’t likely to be moving to Germany just for the transport, as Germany happens to have the largest economy in Europe; therefore you can expect all the little luxuries that you’ll find at home, plus plenty of job oppourtunities in the ‘manufacturing capital’ of Europe.
Germany isn’t all about hard work and efficiency; however, and despite having a reputation to the contrary, it is nowadays home to some truly world class cuisine, with cities such as Munich beginning to rival gastronomic capitals like London and Paris in terms of the quality of its food.
There is an old adage that you tease the one that you love, and it is a testament of our closeness with the culture and national behaviour that we are so apt at pointing out our differences. In reality, anyone relocating to Germany from the UK will be surprised at the wealth of cultural intrigue on offer, but also the likeness it bears to their homeland.
Dont Forget the Minor Details When Moving to Belgium
If you are relocating to Belgium you will have to carry out a number of formalities before you leave the UK. Some of these seem so obvious you may wonder why they are mentioned, but you would be surprised at how many people who are moving to Belgium or another country forget about the little details. It’s only when they arrive in the country they are moving to that they realise they have missed something out, so don’t fall into the trap of forgetting the seemingly obvious details!
The first, and perhaps most important thing to arrange, is to make sure that you have organised temporary accommodation and sufficient financial resources for the first month when moving to Belgium.
You should have a valid passport or identity card provided by your country of origin. If you don’t have these, your stay will be a lot shorter than you imagined.
You must obtain a European Health Insurance Card, this is another essential piece of ducumentation. You may be in the best of health at the moment, but who knows what the future holds?
If you are moving to Belgium to work, you will have to pay tax there, so make sure you register with the relevant authorities once you are settled in. Finally, remember to terminate your electricity, gas and telephone supply agreements and to arrange new agreements with Belgian suppliers before your arrival.
And don’t forget to transfer your bank accounts or financial instruments if necessary!