By Monika Sokol-Rudowska

One of the most typical features of contemporary life the world over is people’s movement in various forms, ranging from tourism and work trips to various types of migration. But what is migration in fact? It is a process that takes place as a result of a permanent or temporary change of domicile, which may be voluntary or forced. Migration may be divided according to different groups, such as refugees, migrant workers, and migrants moving for reasons of love, lifestyle or education, but also victims of trafficking.

Free movement is not only migration. It is also international tourism, which because of lower travel costs is no longer a luxury for many, but part of everyday life. In some cases, tourism and migration are closely linked. This mainly applies to lifestyle immigration, when former tourists decide to move to another country because of their holiday experiences in that country. Globalisation means that it is now easier to move from one country to another.

In Norway, we find representatives of all forms of migration. One particular group of migrants is the Dutch citizens who have settled in small towns or villages in the interior, far from big towns and cities. Their decision to migrate is directly linked to their preference for a defined lifestyle difficult to achieve in their country of origin. Dutch migrants in such areas as Gudbrandsdalen are generally from big cities. They had no desire to continue a fast-paced life of stress and work demands and wanted a better upbringing for their children in a peaceful area.

The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with 398 inhabitants per square kilometre, while Norway has fewer than 14 people per km2. Norway has free, unpopulated areas, rich and diverse natural surroundings and a slow pace of everyday life, all of which make a big impression on city dwellers. Moving to Norway can mean a complete lifestyle change and fulfilment of dreams. It will often involve some kind of business, such as running a cafe, shop, restaurant or guesthouse in the mountains, but also sometimes the purchase of a house or farm to keep animals, primarily horses.

Dutch people migrate on their own or through agents. One such company is Placement AS, which has Dutch owners. Placement AS cooperates with local authorities and regions in Scandinavia which are threatened by depopulation and recruits people who want to start their lives afresh in a new country. But they also help potential migrants to contact selected local authorities themselves, including Ringebu in Oppland and a number in Telemark. However, many immigrants assisted by Placement AS have expressed disappointment and accused the company of providing unreliable information about life in Norway. According to them, the company emphasised the positive aspects of living in Norway and concealed the negative ones.

In many cases, migrants who wanted to realise their dreams had no practical experience of running their own company. They often had a mental picture of idyllic country life, based on package holidays filled with experiences, or nostalgic ideas inspired by the media. People who only visited Norway in the summer were unprepared for the harsh Norwegian climate in areas such as Gudbrandsdalen. Because of the short summers and long winters, Dutch entrepreneurs should realise that e.g. campsites are empty most of the year, resulting in less income than expected.

Interaction with Norwegians can be a challenge for many Dutch people. Although the languages are related and the Dutch have no trouble learning Norwegian, it is difficult for them to form friendly relationships with Norwegians. They find that Norwegians are reserved and keep people at a distance, unlike the open and spontaneous Dutch people. As migrants, they lack the social life and culture of their homeland.

Economic hardship, unmet expectations of a new lifestyle, homesickness and feelings of social exclusion led in many cases to disappointment and a decision to return to the Netherlands.

But this only applies to one group of Dutch migrants. Another group of Dutch people, although they faced the same difficulties in starting a new life in a new country, settled down well in Norway and realised their dreams of freedom, independence, outdoor activities and their own house, which was too expensive in the Netherlands. They spent much time and effort to become part of the local community by working as specialists in their disciplines, running shops, pubs, guesthouses or microbreweries. Money was not their main reason for moving to Norway. The jobs they took and the businesses they established were not primarily for financial gain, but in order to realise their dreams. Money was a means but not an end. One reason for this may be that Dutch people like to set up their own business and to be independent without having a boss to tell them what to do. This gives them freedom, a sense of independence and reduces work-related stress.

The relatively well integrated group of immigrants also had to discover the reality behind their perceptions about life in Norway. The high cost of living and the need to ensure an acceptable living standard for oneself and one’s family meant that many immigrants spent much time and effort on their work and had less leisure and family time than they had envisaged. However, since agritourism and running a guesthouse are very popular among the Dutch, many could also live at their workplace and thus have much more time for their family. Their time could be spent on leisure activities such as hiking and riding instead of commuting.

An important argument for seeking inner peace was the Dutch value system that puts materialism and career first. In everyday life, they had felt great pressure to achieve success. But in the provincial Gudbrandsdalen, their value system could be reconsidered. The most important values were family time, and the freedom and peace that came from close contact with nature. For Dutch parents, it was also important to give their children the chance to grow up in the safety of the countryside and have a life without the pressure and stress common in Dutch schools. The difference between the Norwegian and Dutch work ethic is sometimes a problem for Dutch migrants who are entrepreneurs. Dutch people consider work to be a rather important part of their lives; they are more professional, responsible and service-minded than Norwegians working in similar companies. This is part of the heritage of their homeland and is a significant factor in their contribution to the community.

Common citizenship is not a reason for this group of migrants to seek contact with others. They say that they did not come to Norway to meet other Dutch people. In spite of this, most have friendly relationships with other Dutch migrants. The decisive factors, apart from their common language, are their similar cultural background and shared experiences of migration. It is much easier to communicate with people who have grown up in the same culture, speak the same language and are also newcomers to the country. To a certain extent, migrants have no choice but to make friends with other Dutch people or with migrants from other countries. The main reason is that when migrants settle in Norway, they seek contact with established social groups in the community. The members of these groups have strong local ties. Having a common language and fellow-feeling is the most important factor in achieving a close relationship with other people, regardless of their country of origin.

Living in areas such as Gudbrandsdalen does not only provide opportunities previously unattainable but also involves constraints. Dutchmen sometimes miss the social life and cultural activities of big towns and cities. They miss meeting their friends at a cafe, cinema, concert or pub. They long for the cultural experiences available in Lillehammer or Oslo. They have a similar problem with education - young Dutch people do not see their future in the countryside and move to big towns or cities for work or further education. They move in the opposite direction from their parents who escaped from cities to the countryside.

Dutch migrants who came to Norway as adults have no problem with their ethnic identity; they define themselves as Dutch. However, migrants who arrived in Norway as children have to make a choice. Some identify as Dutch and are still closely linked to their country of origin, while others call themselves Norwegian and think of Norway as their homeland.

Homesickness among migrants decreases over time. They keep in touch with their relatives in the Netherlands with their mobiles, free online audio and video calls or via other social media. They also visit the Netherlands on average once a year, and when they arrive, they meet everything they escaped from - stress, pressure, consumerism and crowds everywhere. This confirms their belief that they were right to choose silence and tranquillity in the Norwegian countryside. Most of them want to stay in Norway for good, but some are considering retiring to the Netherlands.

Dutch migrants are determined people who sacrificed lucrative jobs and comfort at home to realise a dream of life in freedom, peace and harmony with their values. They are often entrepreneurs and their businesses can have a positive impact on the local community. Dutch lifestyle immigration is a phenomenon that benefits both the Norwegians and Dutch.