Meet Luxembourg: Lifestyle & Culture

In continuation of the Luxembourg article series, the second article will dive into Luxembourg’s lifestyle and culture.

Luxembourg is a multicultural country located in the center of Western Europe. Having a strong economy, the standard of living is high, and its citizens enjoy high social and economic security. The country is known for its picturesque landscapes, with forests, rolling hills, and various regions offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. For those interested in arts and culture, the country is home to several museums, galleries, and cultural events throughout the year. Luxembourgish lifestyle can be described as high quality of life, innovative, active yet relaxed simultaneously, and multicultural.

High Quality of life

Luxembourg’s quality of life can be defined by being ranked #1 in the 2021 Inter-Nations Expat Insider Survey for the economy and job security, 3rd most attractive city in the world on the 2021 Global 150 Cities Index, and ranking 15th out of 181 countries on the 2021 STC Safety Index; making it one of the safest countries to live in. Furthermore, it ranked 10th on the Global Social Mobility Index by the World Economic Forum in 2020. This index measures five key metrics, education, access to technology, healthcare, social protection, and employment opportunities.

Innovative

Luxembourg is the home to multiple headquarters of multinational companies and startups. The country places exceptional efforts on innovation and technological development. Some noteworthy events and projects are ICT Spring, Arch Summit, and its flagship acceleration program, Fit 4 Start.

Active Yet Relaxed Lifestyle

Despite its cultural value and the country’s focus on business innovation, growth, and ambitions, Luxembourg also has a relaxed atmosphere; it is a fabulous place to live. Its work culture generally comprises an eight-hour working day, five days a week. During the weekends and holidays, family recreational activities such as hiking, biking, and others are widely available through the incredible diversity of the country’s regions, villages, and cities.

Multiculturalism

Located between France, Belgium, and Germany, Luxembourg has a diverse population of about 645,000 people. Almost 47% of its population are foreign nationals, and the Grand Duchy welcomes nearly 210,000 cross-border workers from neighboring countries every day. This multiculturalism is displayed through its three official languages.

Multilingualism

Luxembourgish, French, and German are the three official languages of Luxembourg; this makes multilingualism omnipresent in everyday life. The choice of which language is used depends on the person and the context. The most commonly used languages at work are Luxembourgish, French, German, English, and Portuguese. French and English are the lingua franca, the adopted language when two parties’ native language is different and widely spoken as the business language. In recent years, within the financial, insurance, and research sectors, the usage of English has become more prevalent.

Cultural Etiquette: Greeting & Punctuality

When meeting a stranger, the greeting will always be done by their surname, preceded by Monsieur (Sir) or Madame (Madam), and accompanied by a brief handshake. For the Luxembourgers, the first name is only used when permitted to do so. The exchange of three kisses (contrasting from two of the French and none of the German) is reserved for close friends and family (between women or women and men).

Another highly valued cultural etiquette, especially in business settings, is punctuality. It’s appreciated to call ahead if you will be late.

Core Cultural Values

Similar to its multiculturalism, its cultural values can be seen as a combination of its neighbors. It also has similarities to Asian cultural values in the aspect that family is highly valued. Below are a few themes describing Luxembourgish cultural values.

• Respect for diversity: Given the nature of its geographical location. Luxembourg is a multicultural country with a strong emphasis on respect for diversity and acceptance of different cultures and beliefs.
• Family-oriented: Family is important in Luxembourgish culture, and it is common for families to spend a lot of time together and support each other.
• Respect for the environment: As one of their cultural values advocates for sustainability, their government and innovative ecosystem dedicate significant efforts and resources to protecting and preserving the environment.
• Community involvement: Its culture also emphasizes the importance of being active community members and participating in local organizations and activities. It is common to find cultural events and recreation throughout the year.
• Privacy: Similar to other European nations, private life is a highly respected element of Luxembourgish cultural values. Generally, Europeans place much more emphasis on privacy, which differs from the Asian context.

If you want to learn more about Luxembourg’s history and the evolution of its economy, read our previous article.

Writer: Sebastian Chen