‘I’m delighted that we’ve taken this step’
Natalie Gilstrøm Lund is from Denmark, where she studied International Sales & Marketing. She always knew she wanted to live abroad, and that feeling only grew stronger when she met her Dutch partner in Barcelona. They eventually lived in Utrecht for four years, until they felt it was time for a change.
From Utrecht to Sittard
“When we started looking for a house, it immediately struck us that in Limburg you get much more space for a lower price. Combined with the quality of the properties and the peace and quiet, Sittard caught our interest. My sister-in-law had already moved here after completing her studies in Maastricht, and her positive experience inspired us. Six months later, we bought our own house, and not long after that, my parents-in-law followed suit. We now live here with our two children and our dog.”
The move wasn’t without its challenges. At first, I was still working in Utrecht, but when I eventually started looking for a job in Limburg, it proved more difficult than I’d thought. The companies that appealed to me were looking for people who spoke Dutch or German. I ended up at a marketing agency where English was the working language, but that wasn’t the right fit. After that, I worked as a (social media) manager at a local children’s café. It was chaotic, but brilliant for my language development."
‘Danish and Limburg cultures share a similar sense of tranquillity.’
A suitable job
"I currently work at Dyneema, an American company based at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, as a Sales & Marketing Co-ordinator. It’s an international environment where I can grow professionally. I’m very happy about that."
Limburg suits me. Danish and Limburg cultures share a similar sense of tranquillity, and after the hustle and bustle of Utrecht, the slower pace here feels like a breath of fresh air. What’s more, my little sister lives in Brussels, so I always have a family member nearby. I’m very grateful for that. I know that missing family is something many expats struggle with."
Continuous learning
"I’m still learning something new every day – about Dutch systems, children’s songs and cultural nuances. And yes, I’ll probably always feel a bit like an outsider. But I’ve realised that I don’t really mind that. It keeps life interesting."
The (online) community here has helped me enormously. I take part in local events, monthly get-togethers and Dutch language sessions. During my first dinner at a rooftop bar in Maastricht, I met people who are still my friends today. I often hear that people in their thirties find it difficult to make new friends. For me, this way of meeting people works because I’m not shy and I don’t find it daunting to walk into a place on my own. I’d recommend it to anyone."
My online diary
“Another thing that helped me feel at home was my Instagram account. That’s where I share my life in Limburg: @limburgdiary. After a while, something special happened. Both locals and internationals could relate to my posts, shared them, and suddenly I’d built up a small community. Now I even collaborate with brands and businesses in the region! I share everything I experience, with videos in English. Now that I’m back in full-time work, I might post a bit less, but exploring Limburg remains a hobby I really enjoy."
Family always comes first in our lives. We enjoy the region’s natural beauty together with our children. We cycle a lot, collect leaves and stones for craft projects and love going camping. When it rains, I have to come up with good reasons why we can’t cycle to school – that’s how much they enjoy it. They also enjoy swimming, ballet, football and piano lessons. They make me incredibly proud.
Our life isn’t perfect. Finding work, learning the language and getting to grips with a new system is challenging. But it’s absolutely worth it. Maastricht has gradually become our home, a place where our family life is thriving."