Natalie from Germany moved to get closer to nature.

Natalie Hardelt and her partner have long been drawn to the Scandinavian lifestyle, and when the opportunity to move to Sweden arose, they took it! After a year in Lidköping, near the city’s green parks, they are now taking the next step—this summer, the couple will move into their new house.

Natalie is from Germany, where she lived near Cologne, a city with nearly a million residents. There, she worked as a business controller, and her husband worked as a technical sales representative for a specific type of grinding machine. Natalie explains that her husband has connections to both Sweden and Norway, which sparked their interest in the Scandinavian way of life. When a job opportunity that suited her partner came up in Lidköping, they became curious but wanted to visit the town first before considering a move.

"We went on vacation to Lidköping, and I can really recommend that to others who are thinking about moving. We stayed at the campsite here in Lidköping. Being on-site gave us a real feel for what it was like here. Above all, we thought it was absolutely beautiful!"

After their vacation in Lidköping, Natalie’s partner applied for the job—and got it. The moving truck headed for a two-room apartment in central Lidköping.

Found a job quickly

Natalie didn’t have to wait long to find a job either. As soon as it was clear that Lidköping would be their new home, she started applying. Today, she works as a financial controller at Eurofins in Lidköping.

"Since it’s an international group, a lot of things are the same in all countries. There are certain things that are specific to Sweden, but I’ve had time to learn what’s new. My experience is that my manager and colleagues are understanding about the things I need to learn, while also recognizing that I bring other skills to the table."

So, are there any major differences between working in Sweden and Germany? Yes, one important thing stands out: fika during work hours.

"For me, that’s the biggest difference! In Germany, breaks aren’t as common, but here, taking pauses during the workday feels so natural. I find that it makes everything calmer. Even when we have a lot to do, the fika breaks help everyone feel more relaxed at work."

"Close to what’s happening"

Natalie says that everyone they’ve met since moving to Sweden has been friendly and helpful, for example, when the couple was searching for an apartment. After finding their new home—a two-room apartment in central Lidköping—they’ve focused on settling into their new community.

"We wanted to both get involved in society and take the time to explore like tourists while we’re new here. Lidköping does a great job of marketing and sharing what you can do in the municipality. We received lots of nice brochures with tips on farm shops and other activities. Many people thought we’d find the range of activities very limited since we used to live near Cologne, but here, we’re so close to what’s happening. It’s a different kind of experience."

In addition to discovering everything the city has to offer, the couple has taken the opportunity to explore the surrounding area.

"The closeness to nature is wonderful!"

Moving into a house this summer

After a year in Lidköping, the couple is certain they want to stay in Skaraborg for a long time. This spring, they’ve been house hunting, and in early summer, they’ll move into a house in a smaller community in the neighboring municipality of Götene.

"We’re looking forward to having a garden where we can grow vegetables! We wanted to start with a smaller apartment in the city center, but the plan was always to buy a house after a while. The selection in the community we’re moving to isn’t huge, but it’s quick to get to bigger cities like Lidköping or Skövde! For us, having a proper garden and being close to nature is important."

And the fact that the house is a bit bigger than an apartment isn’t a bad thing either—this autumn, the family will grow with the arrival of a baby.

This text has been translated with the help of AI.