Debunking the Myth that Luxembourg is Boring

I have lost count of how many times people - locals and expats alike - have told me "Luxembourg is boring. There is nothing to do here".

Even Irish novelist and poet James Joyce, who visited Luxembourg with his wife in August 1934, seemed to (subtly) hint at this. In a letter to family members, he described the country as "a lovely quiet rose-growing part of dirty old Europe" - referencing Luxembourg's reputation at the time as the "Land of Roses". While the renowned rose industry has faded over time, the "quiet" label lingers - for better or worse.

But how fair is this reputation? I understand where it comes from. At first glance, this small country, nestled between bigger and often louder neighbours, might not scream excitement. This image is not helped by the fact that the capital city's population doubles on workdays before turning into an almost ghost town in the evenings as cross-border workers head home. Its nightlife cannot rival that of Paris, Berlin, London, Dublin or New York - even if Luxembourg's financial centre competes with them economically.

What Luxembourg lacks in terms of clubbing, however, it makes up for with quality of life (minus housing prices) - healthcare, education and a general sense of safety and security.

It is true that Luxembourg may appeal more to families or professionals than to younger adults or students. Different life stages come with different ideas of "fun", and that's fair. Personally, I would encourage local students to go abroad to broaden their horizons. I did the same, spending an Erasmus year in Madrid during my undergraduate studies before moving to Luxembourg for my master's degree.

When I arrived in Esch-Belval nine years ago, the district was just beginning to grow. There was not much going on unless you made your own fun - cinema trips, student parties, the occasional outing to Vianden Castle. Since then, the country as a whole has undergone significant cultural changes - and I can only imagine how much it has evolved since Joyce's visit!

Luxembourg may not always offer immediate excitement but it rewards curiosity and a little effort. You have to scratch beneath the surface.

Things to See & Do

So, what is there to do in Luxembourg? Plenty- from traditional and local events, such as Fuesent (carnival), Buergbrennen bonfires, village fairs and weekly markets to larger gatherings, including Luxembourg's National Day, the Schueberfouer, the Vianden Nut Market, the Contern Comics Festival and the ING Night Marathon - and several other events led by Luxembourg's international social and business communities. One highlight is the Bazar International (International Bazaar), where culture, charity and community come together ahead of Christmas.

There are countless clubs and organisations in which one can get involved - in the areas of sports, arts, business networks, book clubs - as well as classes in fitness, arts and crafts and languages, among others.

Luxembourg's cultural scene is particularly vibrant: castles hosting medieval festivals (Vianden, Koerich, Useldange); film and drama festivals (BIFFL, FEST, LuxFilmFest, CinEast, Monodrama); summer open-air concerts (with this small country often attracting big names) and cinema screenings. The cultural programme also features museum events (Nuit des Musées, Museum Days), comedy shows, dance and theatre - I saw my first opera and ballet here, and was surprised at how affordable these were. There are lots of free events too, many of which cater to families. Children are spoiled for choice: Escher Déierpark, Parc Merveilleux in Bettembourg, butterfly garden in Grevenmacher, Kass Haff educational farm, etc. Even pets have (some) options, for example the annual dog swim day in Beaufort.

When looking for things to see and do, be sure to widen your scope beyond Luxembourg City. Luxembourg is so much more than its capital - and sometimes there is just so much going on in Luxembourg City that it can be nice to escape the crowds. I took the opportunity to explore smaller local Christmas markets last year, for example in the Mullerthal and northern (Éislek) region (also great spots for hiking), and they did not disappoint! Thanks to free public transport, there is little excuse not to explore.

In my nine years here, I have had the privilege to attend countless events - for both work and leisure - and I am still discovering more. Just last year, I went to the Ettelbruck Agricultural Fair and the lesser-known "Fierkelsmaart" ("piglet market") in Rambrouch for the first time. Not everyone will love these events, but Luxembourg does its best to offer something for all tastes.

The Survey Says... Offer & Challenges

At first glance, international rankings seem to contradict my argument that Luxembourg is not boring - but surveys do not always tell the whole story.

In the 2024 InterNations "Best & Worst Cities for Expats" survey, Luxembourg City ranked 33rd out of 53 overall. The capital placed 14th for Quality of Life, including 3rd for Safety & Security, but 51st for Leisure Options.

In 2023, Luxembourg as a country ranked 19th for "Best Place for Expats", scoring 1st for Safety & Security, 5th for Healthcare and 5th for Travel & Transit, but 51st for Leisure (no improvement in 2024). Still, perceptions are improving: in 2022, 42% of expats were dissatisfied with their social life; in 2023, this dropped to 27%.

Luxembourg also ranked 2nd for Working Abroad, with high marks for Salary & Job Security (1st) and Career Prospects (5th) - with a lower score for Work & Leisure (25th). Housing (52nd) pulled down the country's overall score in the Expat Essentials category. If these findings are to be trusted, Luxembourg is ideal for career-building and family life - but is perhaps seen as lacking in "fun".

Let's look at some of the challenges, with a focus on the cultural offer. According to a 2024 national survey, 82% of residents (aged 16+) agreed culture plays an important role in their lives. However, responses varied by region: 81% in Luxembourg City vs 60% in the north (my neck of the woods - which does actually have a good number of cultural centres, museums and castles). 74% rated their local cultural offer as attractive - again this was higher in the centre and lower in the north. The main problem is not necessarily a lack of events - but a lack of awareness. Respondents cited a lack of information as the main barrier to attending events. Other obstacles included a lack of interest, high costs and inconvenient hours. Social media, word of mouth and posters are how most people hear about events - but it seems that is not always enough.

Luxembourg (much like my home country) does feel quite old-school when it comes to "advertising" events. Anyone travelling beyond Luxembourg City - and paying attention - will likely spot handwritten or printed signs along country roads announcing upcoming flea markets and festivals. It is also quite common to receive flyers through one's postbox about local happenings.

While it seems there is more work to be done by journalists in spreading the word, many media outlets, community groups and social media pages are also trying to keep the public up to date on things to see and do. From personal experience, I can say countless hours are spent updating the Chronicle.lu Event Calendar, collating information from different sources, and contributing to publications such as the Community Directory (with information on life in Luxembourg, particularly focusing on the business and social communities). The information is out there, although it could perhaps be more accessible. There is also the broader question of whether people are too lazy to look for the information or if it is genuinely too difficult to find? I imagine the latter is true, particularly for newcomers navigating multiple languages.

This brings me to another point: one challenge is trying to communicate information about events in a country with so many spoken languages. This affects not just promotion but also event organisation. Organisers have to choose which language(s) to prioritise (based on the preferences of attendees but perhaps also speakers) for announcements and the event itself, and may be faced with the need to offer simultaneous translation - an option that requires resources not every organisation or venue has.

From the perspective of people looking for things to see and do, it can be frustrating to navigate a cultural offer that is sometimes advertised in "just" one or two languages - not necessarily the ones they speak. Newcomers, in particular, may find themselves overwhelmed or even excluded if they lack fluency in one or more of the official languages. Addressing these challenges will require more creative communication strategies, better language access and perhaps a cultural shift...

Luxembourg is Not Boring

Luxembourg's challenges are also its strengths. How could such a multicultural, multilingual and diverse place ever be boring?

Living and working here has allowed me to meet people from all over the world, attend fascinating events and access political figures, business leaders and institutions that would be unimaginable for many journalists elsewhere. Language can be a hurdle, but it also adds richness. Word of mouth matters. As does making an effort to learn the local languages and saying hello to your neighbours (perhaps at the "Nopeschfest" or "Neighbours Day") - they just might inform you of an event you may otherwise miss.

Luxembourg might not offer endless choice around every corner, but it rewards those who dare to scratch beneath its surface. When all else fails and you need some hustle and bustle, take a trip to a bigger place, before coming back to this calm and comfortable (but not boring) country.

And as August slows down (for the famous "Summer-Lach"), use this quieter period to rest, reflect, read (opinion pieces, for example...) and travel - before Luxembourg's social, business and cultural calendar explodes again in September.

One final thought: Complaining is natural - and in my case, often a sign that a place feels like home. When I grumble about the housing market or the gloomy weather, it is not because I am mentally packing my bags. It is because I care about Luxembourg and want to see it thrive.

I often see comments online telling foreigners: "If you don't like it here, go home". While I understand the frustration on both sides and agree that many of us (not just expats) at times forget how fortunate we are, the reality is more nuanced. Sometimes, criticism comes from a desire to build something better.

And yes, Luxembourg's cultural and leisure offer could still grow, but as it stands, this country is not boring. So let's keep complaining about the weather and housing prices - but not about the lack of things to do. Because if Luxembourg seems boring, maybe we are just not looking closely enough.