Emigrating to Sweden: The Experiences of Eric and Monique

“In Sweden, I really have the time to think things over”

In March 2020, Eric Huitker and Monique Brevet took the step to emigrate to Sweden. In the six months they have now lived in the land of many lakes, they have not regretted their move for a single moment.

Certainly not an impulsive decision

In early 2014, Eric and Monique went on a multi-day hiking trip in Sweden. During that time, the two of them fell in love with the Scandinavian country. After spending several vacations there, they decided in 2017 to take the first concrete step toward permanent emigration.

Eric: “In 2017, we bought this house with the idea of eventually living here. A year earlier, we had already decided together to move to Sweden. We looked at each other on the couch, weighed the pros and cons, and then decided to take the step. It was certainly not impulsive.”

Making the choice

Next came the formal decisions:

Where in Sweden would we live?
What are the costs?
Is it financially feasible?
Can we find work?
What kind of work?
What are the financial implications for our pensions?

“All questions we needed to figure out first.”

Monique: “Our vacations in Sweden were never disappointing. Once we decided to take the step, we had a ten-year plan in mind. It ended up going much faster, haha. The vacations had already given us an idea of the area we wanted to live in. The Netherlands had to be reachable within a day, but not too far south, because it would resemble Denmark too much in our eyes. We searched for houses in that area, visited them, spoke with realtors, and discussed our wishes together.”

Buying a house in Sweden

Eric: “For the house we now live in, our initial offer was immediately outbid. Then after our highest offer, it was outbid again. A month later, we saw the house was still for sale. The seller wanted a slightly higher price. We decided to offer the seller’s asking price, and our new offer was eventually accepted.”

Monique: “We knew clearly what we wanted in a house. Even if a house meets your requirements on paper, it might not feel right in reality. The house we now live in didn’t meet all our criteria, but it felt right.”

Corona and emigrating

Every vacation after that was used as a “work holiday” to turn the house into a beautiful home. After three years of renovations, they decided to emigrate permanently in April 2020. However, the coronavirus changed these plans.

Monique: “Because of COVID-19, our move started in March. Mid-March, Denmark closed its borders and press conferences began. It became clear that we couldn’t follow our original plan, and the question was whether it would even work if we waited until April. We decided to leave as soon as possible and quickly revised our plans. Many arrangements still needed to be made, and we ended up leaving somewhat hastily. Most of our belongings were left in a storage unit, and we took only the essentials. The house was already fully furnished, so we could move in right away.”

Eric: “That was our luck. We knew what steps were still needed, but the house was already ready. A clear plan had been made in advance, which was comforting. To register as residents in Sweden, you need a work contract. We didn’t have one, but we had a nice savings pot. That’s one way to make it work. That’s why we deliberately chose to move when we had saved enough.”

In love with the nature, mentality, and climate

Their love for Sweden had started years ago. But what exactly do Eric and Monique find so beautiful about the Scandinavian country?

Eric: “In the Netherlands, we first lived in Rotterdam and later in Soesterberg. Rotterdam was clearly not our preference, so we looked for a quieter place. That suited us very well for ten years. Now we still live near forests, but it’s much calmer. Sweden is much less densely populated than the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, it feels crowded. We love nature, and there’s a lot of it here. We live in the countryside, which is pleasant.”

Monique: “The climate also played a role, as we are not sun worshippers who can lie on the beach all day. Also, the mentality of the people matters. In the Netherlands, you’re quickly judged if you make a mistake. The default is suspicion. Here, it’s trust. You notice it in small things, like borrowing a hammer from a rental company. We didn’t have to leave anything behind—no deposit, no proof, nothing. It worked on trust.”

“Even the sounds are different than in the Netherlands”

Eric: “That took some getting used to. It’s a big difference from what we were used to in the Netherlands. Especially in the countryside, you are more dependent on each other. It makes sense to help each other if needed. It could be something simple, like borrowing something, or even a tree that needs cutting. Then someone almost naturally helps.”

Monique: “Even the sounds are different. When you return to the Netherlands, you notice the absence of noise in Sweden. In the Netherlands, there’s constant sound—highways, neighbors, airplanes. I really enjoy the silence here.”

Eric: “Another important difference is that, because it’s less densely populated, people literally and figuratively give each other more space. People naturally maintain distance in traffic. Everyone is patient. If someone drives 90 where the limit is 100, they calmly stay behind.”

Moving to Sweden

Eric and Monique made the move to Sweden with only the essentials, leaving the rest in storage to be shipped later.

Eric: “Our plan was initially to move everything ourselves. We had sorted through our belongings and planned to drive with two cars and a rented van. Due to COVID-19, everything changed. We packed the essentials and the cats in the car and drove together. We still intended to pick up the rest after the pandemic, but that took longer than expected. We then considered how best to get our belongings to Sweden.”

Monique: “When we decided to use a moving company, we searched for a suitable one. Through a Swedish Facebook forum, we found De Jong Verhuizingen. It was often mentioned for good prices and positive reviews. After requesting a quote online, Peter de Jong called us the same evening to discuss our move. He created a personalized quote, and we knew what kind of company we were dealing with.”

Eric: “The quote was perfect for us, which relieved a lot of stress. Peter’s phone call also built trust. With the personal contact, we felt confident. We then went to the Netherlands on August 13 to collect everything from the storage unit with the De Jong Verhuizingen team and transport it to Sweden. A little over a week later, it was already at our home.”

Monique: “The contact was pleasant, and thanks to good arrangements, the move went smoothly. The packing of our belongings was done carefully.”

No regrets and a sense of freedom!

By November 2020, Eric and Monique had lived in Sweden for over six months, with no regrets.

Eric: “It was an excellent decision. For me, it’s mainly a relief to spend so much time outdoors. I’ve always worked indoors. Since we don’t have as much work at the moment, we can be outside a lot, which is very pleasant.”

Monique: “I also have much more time to think. What gives me energy? What makes me happy? What is important to Eric? What is important to me? In the Netherlands, the workweek was 36–40 hours, and the weekends were just standard routines. In Sweden, we don’t have that. It gives me a wonderful sense of freedom!”