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Would you ever consider moving to continental Europe? And if so where?

  • 04-03-2021 9:33pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭


    Usually when Irish people think about moving abroad, they immediately think of English speaking countries (USA, Canada, Australia, NZ even the UK) but I'm wondering if you would consider moving to continental Europe, and if so, where would you choose?

    I've always liked Scandinavia and definitely would be open to moving there (any of the countries), low crime, low unemployment, good wages, good education system, although taxes are through the roof. Germany likewise. Being fluent in German means gives you access to countries totaling 100 million people (Swiss German is quite different though). I've not been as keen on southern Europe largely because most of the countries seem to be forever dogged with high unemployment (France was close to 10% even before the pandemic), wages are a bit lower.

    I've put a poll up (multiple choice) and grouped them into regions since I can't obviously list every country.

    Which of the following European Countries would you move to? (multiple choice) 884 votes

    Scandinavia (Norway/Sweden/Denmark/Finland) + Iceland
    53% 474 votes
    German/Austria
    4% 43 votes
    Switzerland
    7% 62 votes
    Spain/Portugal
    2% 25 votes
    France
    11% 100 votes
    Italy/Greece
    7% 65 votes
    Holland/Belgium
    5% 49 votes
    Balkans
    5% 46 votes
    Czech Republic
    1% 10 votes
    Other Eastern Europe
    1% 10 votes


«13456720

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    I've always liked Scandinavia and definitely would be open to moving there (any of the countries), low crime, low employment, good wages, good education system, although taxes are through the roof.

    :pac:


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭SharpshooterTom


    Zebra3 wrote: »
    :pac:

    Haha typo. Now edited, thanks for spotting.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 44 Alaninwondeand


    If I was single id live in Lithuania.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,859 ✭✭✭Simi


    Iceland, the Nordic countries, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium would all appeal to me. Only problem is my complete inability to learn another language


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    Slovenia always appealed to me.

    Alpine living, high quality of life, lowish (for now) cost of living, Very nicely located in Europe bang in the middle of things and strong Austo-Hungarian Empire vibes. One of Europe's lesser spoken of gems.

    No idea what I'd do there as my current career is not one that will ever go fully remote and I'm not going to be learning Slovenian any time soon.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,587 ✭✭✭Feisar


    Not Belgium

    First they came for the socialists...



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭Jizique


    Simi wrote: »
    Iceland, the Nordic countries, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium would all appeal to me. Only problem is my complete inability to learn another language

    You only need English in all of them; local helps in some places, esp out in sticks, but not necessary


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭Day Lewin


    Italy.

    For the sunshine, the warm sea, the culture, and the food.

    Also, I speak Italian.

    Wish I was there this minute!


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,833 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    Not continental Europe, but if I was going to move anywhere, it would be Iceland


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    Jizique wrote: »
    You only need English in all of them; local helps in some places, esp out in sticks, but not necessary


    I wouldn't recommend settling in Germany for an extended period of time and embarking on a serious career there without learning German. You'll get by on the ausländer pass for a year or two, but you will be judged negatively beyond that. And honestly, who can blame them?


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  • Posts: 18,749 ✭✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Lived in the Balkans for 18 months, really enjoyed it, travelled a lot.
    Very cheap, hot summers and cold winters.
    I would live there again.

    Ex was Finnish so spent a lot of time in Finland, first visited when it wasn't quite thawed out and wasn't mad about the place, but it grew on me! Loved it, would actually really love to live there, but only for 5 months of the year, a visit during winter is enough. The weather didn't bother me it is just too dark all the time.

    Think I would like to live in Slovenia for a while.
    Maybe Georgia or the Ukraine

    Oh and fyi, Finland is not Scandinavian


  • Posts: 5,917 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Back to France, toying with the idea of retiring their.


  • Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭blueskys


    Portugal all day long..


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,379 ✭✭✭✭murpho999


    Jizique wrote: »
    You only need English in all of them; local helps in some places, esp out in sticks, but not necessary

    This is a really bad attitude.

    If you want to have a more pleasant experience and maybe make local friends then you should try to learn the language.

    It will enrich the stay, earn respect from people and if you manage it then it makes everything more enjoyable.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,683 ✭✭✭triggermortis


    Lived in Holland and worked in Belgium for a while - best time ever.
    Lived in Switzerland - good if you like rules.
    Don't speak any German, French, Flemish, Dutch. Didn't starve but didn't assimilate. Glad to be home!!


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 36,787 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    I could see myself relocating to the continent in a year or so when my contract here in the UK expires. Most jobs I see demand fluency in the local language so it probably won't happen. Think I'd enjoy the Netherlands, France, Germany or Sweden.

    We sat again for an hour and a half discussing maps and figures and always getting back to that most damnable creation of the perverted ingenuity of man - the County of Tyrone.

    H. H. Asquith



  • Registered Users Posts: 28,379 ✭✭✭✭murpho999


    If I didn't have to work then I'd try Spain or Italy . Think I'd prefer Italy.

    Lived in Netherlands for 7 years. Enjoyed it, Dutch are friendly but pretty dull, mostly entertaining each other in houses.

    My first Dutch birthday "party" was a big cultural shock.

    I wouldn't want to go back but can be a very different experience if you go there as ex pat and live that life.


  • Registered Users Posts: 894 ✭✭✭angel eyes 2012


    Portugal, for the sun and the health system.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,379 ✭✭✭✭murpho999


    I've always liked Scandinavia and definitely would be open to moving there (any of the countries), low crime, low unemployment, good wages, good education system, although taxes are through the roof. Germany likewise.

    .

    Same as Ireland.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    First choice for city life would either be London or Madrid. For everything else I’d have to pick Spain.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,363 ✭✭✭Hamachi


    Yurt! wrote: »
    I wouldn't recommend settling in Germany for an extended period of time and embarking on a serious career there without learning German. You'll get by on the ausländer pass for a year or two, but you will be judged negatively beyond that?

    Very true. Two years is really pushing the bounds of credibility. Work colleagues will expect you to be reasonably functional after a year.

    Can’t speak for other countries, but Germans are generally quite distant initially, but are really terrific friends when you pierce the outer shell. You’re never going to be accepted, unless you show commitment to the country by learning the language.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭completedit


    Hard without the language tbh. But I am looking for jobs at the moment in Central Europe(Czechia) and Brussels. Its tough though. Would consider the Balkans, I should have done a year down there when I was in my 20s and career didn't matter.

    Have already lived around Europe


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭completedit


    Hard without the language tbh. But I am looking for jobs at the moment in Central Europe(Czechia) and Brussels. Its tough though. Would consider the Balkans, I should have done a year down there when I was in my 20s and career didn't matter.

    Have already lived around Europe


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,178 ✭✭✭Fozzie Bear


    Day Lewin wrote: »
    Italy.

    For the sunshine, the warm sea, the culture, and the food.

    Also, I speak Italian.

    Wish I was there this minute!

    Ya Italy for me too. Got married in Italy, been there countless times on holidays.
    All of the above reasons and I have always found the Italian people to be very warm and welcoming. Absolutely love it there


  • Registered Users Posts: 33,721 ✭✭✭✭RobertKK


    The Romance language countries would be nice: Spain, Portugal, Italy, France or Romania.
    All have good summers, beaches, mountains, EU members and I have found people from these countries very friendly and welcoming.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭SharpshooterTom


    Interesting poll results so far, the Iberian peninsula the most popular.

    No love for Switzerland though?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Lived in Spain for a few years as an adult. Germany as a teenager.

    Will probably retire to Spain considering the missus is from there and would like to go back however I always fancied south africa or the caribbean myself


  • Registered Users Posts: 20 mrasgar


    Istanbul, Turkey could be a good option as well to live for a while.

    Turkish is easy to pick up, people are very friendly, cost of living really low. The downside is wages are low as well in most jobs, so not such a good place to make money but more for the quality of life.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,570 ✭✭✭✭Thelonious Monk


    mrasgar wrote: »
    Istanbul, Turkey could be a good option as well to live for a while.

    Turkish is easy to pick up, people are very friendly, cost of living really low. The downside is wages are low as well in most jobs, so not such a good place to make money but more for the quality of life.

    There are millions of cats everywhere too, that would be a big draw for me lol.
    There's a good film about the cats of Istanbul called Kedi, lovely film.

    Spain or Portugal for me, one day, I just love warm weather and sunshine so much.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭poisonated


    I would like to live in Paris for a year.


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