Tranquility and the widespread nature in Sweden attracts many Dutch citizens. Photo: Maskot

Sweden is well known for being a country that is friendly and open when it comes to immigration. Historically, the country began to take in large numbers of immigrants in the mid-1900s, when Sweden found itself in need of labor to support the timber and steel industries.

Sweden has also served as a place of safety, offering asylum to thousands of refugees who have fled their homelands due to natural disasters or war. In 2005, over 65,000 people immigrated to Sweden.

While the country continues to serve as a safe haven for individuals escaping conflict or poverty, other reasons as to why people move to Sweden have surfaced in recent years. Many Dutch citizens, for example, are moving away from the stresses of city life to enjoy the widespread nature that Sweden has to offer.

Room to move around

Swedish communities in the regions of Värmland, Västmanland and Dalsland in central Sweden are becoming more and more attractive to Dutch immigrants. One example is Hällefors in Västmanland, which welcomed eight Dutch families (16 adults and 18 children) in 2005.


More space for thinking and living made Saskia van der Zanden move to Sweden. Photo: Anders Porter

Why Hällefors? Saskia van der Zanden, an artist and interior architect, who moved from The Netherlands in 2005, says: “Here, nature is bigger than the people. In Holland, the people are bigger than nature.” Amsterdam, with a population of almost 736,000, has 3,360 people per square kilometer. In Hällefors, where 7,600 people live, there are eight people per square kilometer.

Van der Zanden, who moved to Hällefors with her partner Alex and their toddler son, appreciates the ease of life in the forest town they now call home. “Life in general became much more affordable – it’s all much simpler than it is in Holland,” she says.

Rebuilding and resettling

In the past, many of the small towns in the area relied heavily on the timber and steel industries for employment. Due to the gradual downsizing and reorganization of mills and factories, many communities have undergone major depopulation. Many of the young people in the area are choosing to move to more populated areas to work or study and often do not return.


Aldona and Bram Janssen moved to Sweden and set up their own business. Photo: Anders Porter

Several communities in the region have chosen to deal with this outward flow of people by actively recruiting families and businesses from The Netherlands. Bram and Aldona Janssen relocated from The Netherlands to Hällefors with their three children after attending an information meeting aimed at Dutch citizens who were curious about moving to Sweden. Bram says: “It was great to be able to get the information we needed, when we needed it. After learning about starting a company in Sweden, I started working on my business plan.”

Getting down to business

A few years ago, Frank Poot and Magda van Almenkerk returned home to The Netherlands after a trip to Norway. Poot says: “It was just so crowded when we returned home. We knew at that very moment that we had to move.” A year and a half later, they moved with their two children, bringing along the family business, to Hällefors.

While Poot and the family are enjoying their transition to life in Sweden, he is not shy about pointing out differences between doing business in Sweden and in The Netherlands.

One thing that proved to be difficult at first was building up credit as a limited company. “Establishing an AB (limited company) in Sweden without a history of credit meant that we had to pay everything in advance and put deposits on goods and services,” Poot says. “Companies here don't seem to want to take some of the risks that are taken in Holland.”

At the same time, Poot has been very impressed with the meetings and conferences he has attended in Sweden. “The meetings are well-planned and choreographed. People stick to the times and know when to start and stop,” he says. “That is not always the case in Holland.”

New openings for entrepreneurs

The relaxed atmosphere in Grythyttan is not only good for the soul, but also for business. Photo: Anders Porter

Jaco and Corrie Neerings, who moved to the village of Grythyttan in Västmanland with their three children in August of 2005, have opened a gourmet chocolate and ice cream shop in the main square of the village. Jaco feels that the relaxed atmosphere is not only good for the soul, but also good for business. He says: “Being an entrepreneur is not so common around here. People are content with what they have professionally and don’t really strive for more. That’s good for us. There’s more room for exploration and expansion. The possibilities are everywhere.”

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Anders Porter is a freelance writer living in Grythyttan, Sweden. He runs a translating and copywriting firm and works as a personal English language coach.

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.

Classification: A162EN

© Photo 1: Maskot
© Photo 2–4: Anders Porter