From Switzerland to Sweden: Our journey to a simpler life

Hi there! My name is Mimi, and along with my husband Derrick, we had been feeling the urge for a change. We were longing for a different life. Away from the big cities. We wanted to be closer to nature.

I am from the Netherlands and Derrick moved all the way from Texas, USA. For the past five years we lived in a town in Switzerland close to Basel . There we rented a small apartment, just like so many others . With the prices of housing so high where we lived, it was impossible for us to buy a house. The pay was good, but everything was expensive, and the long workweeks did not leave much time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

It was always our dream to buy our own house, with a garden, where we could do what we wanted and make it exactly how we wanted. A place to call ours. A place where life slows down, a simpler life.

Thinking it over, we got drawn to North Sweden. Its big forests, calm lakes and wild rivers sounded like what we needed. The endless midsummer days, where the sun never sets. And the winters where the land is covered in snow and where the northern lights dance in the sky lighting up the darkness. That sounded magical to us. Our hearts longed for a place like this.

So, with excitement in our hearts, Derrick and I made the big decision to move to the North of Sweden. I work as an x-ray nurse, so we had to live close to a hospital. This is how we found Kalix. The naturally scenic municipality where you can easily find many beautiful views to enjoy. Where the river meets the sea in the Bay of Bothnia.

To leave Switzerland behind and head for Sweden was a big step, one that wasn’t one to be taken lightly. We decided to book a trip and experience for ourselves what it would be like to live up there. And so, we did. In the winter of course because we had to experience what that was like as well.

During our visit we found a 100 year old house that needed to be completely renovated. We instantly knew, this was it! Without any hesitation we made an offer. And to our surprise, the offer was accepted that same evening. And that is how it started! Our new beginning.

We decided to record our journey of moving to Sweden and renovating our old house on our YouTube channel, named Project Sweden. Here anyone that is interested in our journey can follow our story.

I Bought An Abandoned House In North Sweden! I Ep. 1

More Tips from our Ambassadors!

Aliz sitter på en bänk i vit klänning med utsläppt vågigt hår. Till höger om henne står en grön väska med blommor.

Aliz's top 5 favorites about Kalix

Growing up in Kalix, I’ve played in snowdrifts, learned to ski, and made friends. Soon I’ll graduate, and in Kalix I have all the opportunities to continue studying, work, and combine it with a spare time that suits me. This is where I want to stay!

Bernadette Olderdissen i en grön vinterjacka med huvan uppdragen och ett soligt vinterlandskap i bakgrunden.

Bernadette's tips on what you should do as a new resident

Get used to experiencing five seasons, not four. The fifth season, “spring-winter,” is the locals’ favorite time of year. And according to the Sami calendar, there are even eight seasons.

Eddy Stam. A man standing outside, with snow and blue sky in the background and sunglasses on.

Why Eddy moved to Kalix

Eddy lived in Switzerland, but when it was time to retire, he chose between moving back to the Netherlands or to his daughters in Sweden – he chose Sweden and Kalix! “You can have a great life here!”. Listen to Eddy tell his story.