Delano winter 2019

No. 63

E GUDDE RUTSCH!

28

Nice

WINTER 2019

RETRO(PER)SPECTIVES

Who’s been...

The good and bad of 2018 and what to expect in 2019

WINTER 2019

HOUSE PRICE BOOM An analysis of the residential real estate market across the grand duchy

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5 453000

CLASSICAL GAS Director Stephan Gehmacher on the international appeal of the Philharmonie and OPL

010015 63

€4

No. 63

Naughty

54

FINEST WINES &

SPIRITS

Uncovering the worlds finest wines & spirits selection !

www.weng ler .lu - ww w . w e n gl e rw i n e c l u b. l u - Ro spo rt

End of the year

A positive note?

E GUDDE RUTSCH!

28

Nice

WINTER 2019

Retro(per)spectives

Who’s been...

The good and bad of 2018 and what to expect in 2019

WINTER 2019

80 Classical gas Director Stephan Gehmacher on the international appeal of the Philharmonie and OPL

€4

No. 63

Naughty

54 House price boom An analysis of the residential real estate market across the grand duchy

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ILLUSTRATING DELANO The Winter 2019 edition cover illustration was created by Julie Wagener, an independent Luxembourg artist.

The cover shows the traditional figures of Kleeschen (Saint Nicolas) who brings Luxembourg children gifts on 6 December, if they have been “nice”. His counterpart, Housecker, is also pictured.

He punishes kids if they have been “naughty”.

Julie Wagener Illustration

Duncan Roberts Editor-in-chief

Letter from the editor

No. 63

As 2018 draws to a close, we have a new government of continuity in place in Luxembourg and, maybe, just maybe, a Brexit deal (this is being written 10 days before the British parliament vote). In what has been a rollercoaster 12 months, for a long time neither outcome seemed likely. Maybe 2018 will end on a positive note after all.

The new but familiar DP-LSAP-Déi Gréng coalition appears to be ambitious in its promises of good times for all. Free public transport, an increase in the minimum wage, more holiday days and free after-school care will certainly help those less well off in Luxembourg. And lower corporation tax and the higher thresholds for tax on profits should help SMEs, which are dear to the heart of the new government according to Corinne Cahen, and offset some of the problems caused by those sops given to employees.

The coalition agreement is packed with compromise and is careful not to step over many of the red lines drawn by the three parties during their election campaigns. With the LSAP in government, even if it was weakened at the elections, there was never any chance that salary indexation would be abolished, for example. Similarly, pension reform is off the table for now.

But the government might try to find an accord with the medical profession that will allow for some sort of change to the third-party payment system for visits to the doctor and hospital treatment.

The make-up of the government has also resulted from compromise.

The resurgent Greens gained a fourth seat at the cabinet table and seem to have retained and gained all the portfolios they wanted. It will be interesting to see what newcomer to the government Sam Tanson can do with the tricky housing ministry, as she tackles one of the hot potatoes of the current political climate in the grand duchy. And another newcomer Paulette Lenert--who, with Taina Bofferding, is promoted to the LSAP seats to fulfil its female quota--is also handed a challenge in the shape of health and social security.

Another question is how teachers, a powerful lobby, will react to their bête noir Claude Meisch continuing in the education ministry.

The bigger question, of course, is how the government will manage to finance all of its promises. Pierre Gramegna said before the election that state coffers were in a healthy state, but whether that can continue is a matter of speculation. And if the economy continues to grow, will the government afford and manage to put in place policies to handle the extra burden on infrastructure across the board? The next five years promise to be very interesting indeed.

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corporate finance strategy & sustainability operations & performance entrepreneurial support economic modeling

business advisory arendt.com/advisory

EIG EW H N H C R EA

TO HTS

ACCOMPLISH THE UN

TH

IN

KA

BL E

Winter 2019 Reporting on the community

FEATURES

THE SOURCE

Analysis of business, the economy and politics

A guide to culture and lifestyle

8

80

Naughty

TEEN’S TV DÉBUT

9 THE CURATED BOOKSTORE

Nice

11 HOW TO KISS HELLO

14 “LIKED” BY EXPATS

16 Community spotlight

ARTISTIC INTEGRATION Danes Martin Elmquist and Stine Bülow are adding zest to life in Luxembourg

28 Cover story

WHO’S BEEN NAUGHTY AND WHO’S BEEN NICE? Retro(per)spectives on the good and bad in politics, business and culture from 2018, and a look ahead at what to expect in 2019

38

42 FIRST MILE SOLUTIONS

Think local

STRATEGIC PASSION How Canadian David John Pike balances accounting and opera

20 Snapshots

FESTIVITIES AND REMEMBRANCE Highlights from the Christmas market, ISL, Amcham, Alfi and more events

84 EDGY THEATRE

86

SPECIAL STIGMA Parents of children with learning disabilities are turning to private schools

18

CLASSICAL GAS Stephan Gehmacher on the international appeal of the Phil and OPL

On stage

12 TUTORING FOR ALL

Interview

46 Reportage

BITING CRIME On patrol with Luxembourg’s canine cops

52

54 HOUSING PRICES The most and least expensive areas to buy your own place

60 Get the picture

FOREST FIGURES

62 HR & recruitment

THE REALITIES OF PARENTAL LEAVE FOR MEN

64 ASK YOUR RECRUITER

66 THE HIRING BOTTLENECK

72 DEAD SEA IN JUNGLINSTER Why she opened a salt therapy centre

Personal finance

HOW TO CUT YOUR TAX BILL

NOURISHING THE QUEER DEBATE

76 In focus

TREE FOR LIFE

88 Special feature

WINTER GETAWAYS Top tips for cold-weather road trips & weekend escapes

92 In my suitcase

EUROPE, ASIA & BOTH US COASTS What Peter Platzer brought when he moved here

94 Kids page

VIETNAMESE CIRCUS

98 Auntie Eleanor

WHO’S ZOOMING WHO? Our advice columnist weighs in on e-scooters

Contents

THE JOURNAL

5

PUB VIDE xxxx.

PREVIEW ONLY philharmonie.lu

...and more

7

2019

Write to PO Box 728 L-2017 Luxembourg Offices 10 rue des Gaulois, Luxembourg-Bonnevoie ISSN 2220-5535 Web www.maisonmoderne.com Founder and chairman Mike Koedinger CEO Richard Karacian Administrative and financial director Etienne Velasti CONTENTS Phone (+352) 20 70 70-150 Fax (+352) 29 66 19 E-mail news@delano.lu Publisher Richard Karacian Editorial director Matthieu Croissandeau Editor-in-chief Duncan Roberts (duncan.roberts@maisonmoderne.com) Desk editor Aaron Grunwald (aaron.grunwald@maisonmoderne.com) Journalists Jess Bauldry (jessica.bauldry@maisonmoderne.com) Margaret Ferns (margaret.ferns@maisonmoderne.com) Contributors Natalie Bachiri, Esther Bechtold, Stephen Evans, Sarita Rao, Alix Rassel, Tonya Stoneman, Annick Weber Photography Nader Ghavami, Jan Hanrion, Lala La Photo, Patricia Pitsch, Mike Zenari, Matic Zorman Proofreading Pauline Berg, Lisa Cacciatore, Sarah Lambolez, Elena Sebastiani DESIGN Phone (+352) 20 70 70-200 Fax (+352) 27 62 12 62-84 E-mail studio@maisonmoderne.com Agency director Mathieu Mathelin Head of production Stéphanie Poras-Schwickerath Creative director Jeremy Leslie Head of art direction Vinzenz Hölzl Art director José Carsí Layout Tae Eun Kim (coordination), Julie Kotulski ADVERTISING Phone (+352) 20 70 70-300 Fax (+352) 26 29 66 20 E-mail regie@maisonmoderne.com Partner-director, advertising sales Francis Gasparotto (francis.gasparotto@maisonmoderne.com) Sales manager Luciana Restivo (luciana.restivo@maisonmoderne.com) SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscriptions, please visit www.delano.lu Luxembourg (shipping included) 1 year / 7 issues / 25 euros Europe (shipping included) 1 year / 7 issues / 31 euros Printed by Imprimerie Centrale Distribution by Valora Services Luxembourg

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DELANO LIVE Each edition of Delano Live features live onstage interviews with people and on topics covered by Delano magazine, but with a fresh perspective. That’s followed by an open-bar and a bit of networking.

5 February, 18:30 Knokke Out, Rives de Clausen ↳ club.paperjam.lu

→

GET BRIEFED Delano publishes two newsletters weekdays: the “Breakfast briefing”, which features world and local headlines to start the day informed; and the “Noon briefing”, covering the latest Luxembourg news and events. Sign up on our homepage: ↳ www.delano.lu

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DIGITAL HIGHLIGHT In accordance with article 66 of the law of 08.06.2004 on the freedom of expression in the media: the company that publishes Delano is indirectly held, by a stake exceeding 25%, by Mike Koedinger, an independent editor registered in Luxembourg.

Richard Karacian is chartered with daily management.

Delano™ and Maison Moderne™ are trademarks used under licence by MM Publishing and Media S.A. © MM Publishing and Media S.A. (Luxembourg) NOTE TO OUR READERS Delano’s next print edition comes out 6 February 2019.

For daily news updates, commentary and our weekly what’s on guide, visit www.delano.lu.

Looking to diversify your agenda?

Each Tuesday, Delano suggests “Ten things to do this week”.

Check our website or sign up for the “Noon briefing” newsletter. ↳ www.delano.lu

More Delano

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PUBLISHER

8

The Journal Reporting on the community

WINTER 2019

Alexander Ernoult wants to pursue a career in music

Teen’s TV début Since September, 16-year-old Luxembourg resident Alexander Ernoult has been getting a lot of attention in his school. It’s understand-

able--it’s not every day that a classmate performs on French TV. The Swedish-French national was invited to compete in a series of pre-selection stages for “The Voice Kids” in early 2017. He wowed the jury to reach the nerve-wracking blind audition where he sang a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and was chosen by two artists.

“The first was Jenifer, she turned after the second verse, and then Patrick Fiori

pressed the button after the second chorus,” Ernoult told Delano. “It’s not like when you see it on TV. When you’re playing, you don’t hear anything. You just see the light going on and the seat start turning. I was like ‘whoah!’ I had been waiting for hours in a big room and was really stressed.

Then the pressure was lifted.”

Ernoult traces his passion for music back to his father who, when he was a child in Sweden, played him songs

by French artists like Jacques Brel and Serge Gainsbourg to help him learn

the language. He was inspired to learn guitar when, at the tender age of 4, he saw the movie “Cars”, and heard Sheryl Crow’s ‘Real Gone’. “My parents looked all over for a teacher, but no one wanted to take me, they thought I would drop it after a few months,” he says.

Ernoult finally began lessons at the age of 6 and a few months later performed his first ever concert.

His father also began learning guitar and the two progressed over time. → “At the beginning, he was better than

9

Education

↑ Samia Hedeili The co-founder of Dyspraxie.lu was speaking with Delano about the use of tablets in the classroom by pupils with “dys” disorders, such as dyspraxia, dyslexia and dysorthographia.

me, but now, I’ve overtaken him,” Ernoult laughs. He went on to study jazz guitar at the Conservatoire and pick up other instruments: bass, drums, keyboard and trumpet.

And, along with his father, younger brother and sister, he has played concerts in local venues including Bosso, Scott's Pub and Rocas. Prior to “The Voice”, Ernoult’s biggest musical break came when he was 12. “I played with Marcus Miller, Miles Davis’ bass player, in the Rockhal,” he says, explaining that he met the musician at a master class. “We jammed for half an hour together. Then he invited me to meet his guitarist the day of the concert at the sound check.” Ernoult met the entire band and ended up performing one of his own compositions during the gig with Miller.

The budding artist says it’s always been his dream to pursue a career in music.

So, he was over the moon when scouts from “The Voice Kids” found him on Facebook. The teenager and his family went back and forth to Paris over five months up to January 2018 for the various stages of the contest. After joining Patrick Fiori’s team at the blind audition, Ernoult went on to play the battle stage where his journey with “The Voice” came to an end.

“Everything that happened after the blind auditions was a bonus,” he says without a hint of disappointment.

Ernoult reckons the experience has given him many useful skills to progress, not to mention the exposure. “In this industry, you have to be seen by people. It’s really hard to make it on your own without a springboard. It’s really a big step because there were 4.5m viewers the first night I was on the show.”

While Ernoult says he’ll give competitions a break, his dream to make a career × out of music remains unchanged.

Alexander The Voice Kids

words photo

Jess Bauldry Patricia Pitsch/Maison Moderne

Hans Fellner, entrepreneur, in the bookshop and gallery that bears his name

The curated bookstore It may seem an odd time to open a bookstore, but eight years after he closed his last retail venture, Fellner Art Books, Hans Fellner has done just that. Fellner-­Louvigny in Luxembourg city is a modern, narrow and intimate space lined with home-made bookshelves leading to an open mezzanine that will serve as an exhibition gallery.

The marriage of books and art is perfect for Fellner, a native Dutchman who has spent years dedicated to both.

Building much of the furniture from scratch and getting a smithy to make

other unique pieces, Fellner single-handedly transformed the ground floor of the recently renovated building. And, more importantly, he also hand-picks every book that he stocks, travelling to book fairs and wholesalers, and to airplane hangars in England. Indeed, the shop feels as though it has been carefully curated.

Fellner-Louvigny specialises in books about culture--whether that be fine art or photography, cooking or interior design.

But customers will also find the quirky → type of book about a subject such as

The Journal

“Teachers have been very enthusiastic.

The iPad is a pragmatic solution that provides immediate support.”

In numbers

Facts & figures about Luxembourg

366

70,000

↑

↑

BRITS NATURALISED IN 2017

AIRBNB BOOKINGS

Luxembourg naturalised the highest proportion

There were 70,000 overnight stays

of UK nationals among Schengen zone

in Luxembourg booked via Airbnb,

countries last year: 61 per 100,000 inhabitants.

out of a total of roughly 3m, in 2017.

46%

21%

↑

↑

CROSS-BORDER WORKFORCE

WOMEN SEEN IN CAMPAIGN

The number of cross-border commuters

Only 1 in 5 political party representatives

rose from 190,000 in 1994 to 420,000

in TV, radio and press debates during

on 31 March 2018, representing nearly

the recent parliamentary election were female.

half of the total workforce.

Women were 46% of the candidates.

Sources → Le Monde → Parliamentary statement by Étienne Schneider → Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research → Claude Biver and Léonie de Jonge, Forum magazine

WINTER 2019

the history of aquariums that will usually only interest specialists, or eye-catching titles that will entice the curious browser. Fellner also stocks a range of books by Taschen, the German publisher that specialises in beautifully designed art books. And a section of children’s books is packed with lovingly made illustrated books and stories for the young reader.

Fellner came across the address at 12 rue Louvigny by chance when the owner asked if he had any ideas for uses for the space. “I hadn’t even thought about doing a bookstore again,” he explains.

But, frustrated with working as a freelance art project consultant and curator, the empty space inspired him to put together a business plan to open a new store.

“Literature sells differently because of the internet. People see the latest work by an author and click on Amazon. But my headline is ‘surprising’. Books that people aren’t looking for specifically.” Fellner has also tapped into the market for cut-price books, so that many of the titles on his shelves are available for under €20.

And he can order any book in print in English. He reckons around 60% of the books in stock are English-language titles.

“English is becoming more and more common in the city,” he explains.

Following a soft opening, the bookstore is now up and running and getting busy ahead of Christmas. “Most of my customers so far have been under 40.

That is astonishing. That shows that young professionals are interested in culture.

That doesn’t mean they go to Mudam every week, but they are educated, they have lived in big cities, and they do have a curiosity.”

As for the art space, that is a complimentary addition to the retail outlet.

“The idea is to have a showroom for Luxembourgish and resident artists.

For sure our contemporary, upper-class good artists,” he says. The first exhibition at the end of January will feature six artists who have worked in or have strong connection with Japan. “The artists I have × chosen have a different approach.”

In context

Fundraising drive, 19 November

Fellner Louvigny

Love, a golden retriever, is seen with plastic words

Duncan Roberts photo Matic Zorman

bottle caps collected in the “E Stopp fir e Mupp” campaign to pay for guide dogs.

Photo → Martine Didier

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11

The Journal

It’s not always straightforward to greet someone in Luxembourg

How to kiss hello Greeting people in Luxembourg is a minefield. Is a handshake enough? Or should

I kiss, and if so, how many kisses? And which cheek to start with? And what do I actually do with my face during all of this? Can’t I just nod hello? Please?

Whether you’ve lived in Luxembourg all your life or just arrived, none of us know the rules for what we should do when we greet friends and acquaintances.

Meeting someone in a social situation for the first time or in a professional situation is straightforward. Whether you’re a woman or a man greeting a woman or

a man, a firm (not too limp, nor too powerful please!) handshake is the way.

But when you’ve met that person a few times in a social situation, how does your physical relationship develop from there?

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE

North vs south

Belgium (French-speaking region)

In and around the capital and in the south of the country, expect to be offered cheeks to kiss if a woman is involved. But not always. On the whole, men stick to handshakes. However, the more you progress northwards, eastwards or westwards, the tendency is not to kiss. →

0 kisses Germany, Sweden, UK

1 kiss 2 kisses France (most but not all regions), Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal

3 kisses Belgium (Dutch-speaking region), Netherlands, Switzerland

WINTER 2019

“When I was younger, we never used to greet each other with kisses, but now, I find this is now pretty common,” said Albert, a 60-something long-term Luxembourger resident of the capital.

“Only with family members and not always!” said Jeanette, a 39-year-old Luxembourger from Colmar-Berg, a more northerly town. “We will kiss at bigger family gatherings, but just randomly meeting somebody from my family?

No. Personally, I consider this a Luxembourg City thing.” She confirmed that her colleague from the west of the country has a similar impression.

Could it be that the south’s proximity to France and history of Italian immigration brought this practice to the area? Yet why the kiss greeting should have become the norm in the capital is less clear. Maybe the mindset of the migrants who have settled there is relatively open, and doing something “foreign” just seems the right thing to do.

0, 1, 2, or 3

Because another oddity is why three kisses are deployed. Just across the southern border in the Moselle or Meurthe-et-­ Moselle departments (where most cross-border workers come from), two is the norm. However, in Meuse, just to the west, three is more common. Yet on the other hand, in the French-speaking part of Belgium, you only get one, while in Germany none at all.

Better news is that there is no confusion about which cheek to go for first: the right one. But a further rule is that you do not actually kiss the cheek (or ear if you’ve gone in too far by accident).

You need a light cheek-to-cheek brush and an almost imperceptible kissing sound.

Try to avoid ostentatious “air kisses” with faces several centimetres apart.

Once you’ve negotiated all that, then there’s the question of how to react when meeting a large group. In France, if you are meeting 20 friends or acquaintances, you go around each handshaking or “mwah mwahing”. We are spared this in Luxembourg. Once the group gets above about half a dozen, a few nods should suffice.

Or else just forget all of the above.

Just nod and smile sheepishly. × People understand.

words photo

Stephen Evans Mike Zenari

Social entrepreneur Laure Omont wants to equalise educational access

Tutoring for all For many young people in Luxembourg, tutoring is an essential way to improve

scores in their weakest subjects and complete their schooling. But, because it comes at a financial cost usually borne by parents, it could also be widening the gap between privileged and non-privileged learners. According to a report* produced by the Network of Experts in Social Sciences of Education and Training (Nesse) for the European Commission on what’s called “shadow education”: “If left to market forces, the shadow education system maintains and exacerbates inequalities.”

Tutoring generally falls under the informal economy, which means that quality and pricing are not regulated and parents find themselves shelling out anywhere between €13 and €60

per session. For French national Laure Omont, who was educated in Luxembourg, Belgium, France and China, tutoring in German made a big difference to her schooling when she was in China.

“I struggled quite a lot in German for some time. Because there’s so much grammar and it’s so different from French, at some point you need some help,” she told Delano. She was surprised to read the Nesse report findings, and set out to find a solution.

After completing a master’s in international business in France and the UK, in January 2018, Omont founded Now You Know It (Nyki), a social-impact company offering means-tested tutoring.

“The idea is to adapt pricing based on objective criteria. For now, we focus on → the taxable income of the family,”

* “The Challenge of Shadow Education, private tutoring and its implications for policy makers in the European Union”, 2011

12

Experience helps.”

Contact Angela Murrell, Private Banking Adviser Tel: 499 24 3752 www.banquedeluxembourg.com

Banque de Luxembourg, société anonyme – 14, boulevard Royal – L-2449 Luxembourg – R.C.S. B5310

“Wealth management is like life.

14

WINTER 2019

Omont said. Lower income parents will be able to benefit from a discount on tutoring of between 10% and 100%.

The cost difference is eventually expected to be borne by a margin in the fees of parents who don’t receive a discount.

“That’s the mid-term goal.” Until they reach that critical mass of clients whose custom can subsidise the lower-income customers, Omont’s growing team of tutors will work pro bono or for a reduced cost. “They’re not doing it for the money.

They want to share something with children and teenagers, to give them something that they benefited from.

That was important for me.”

Omont likens the solidarity tutoring concept to fair trade where consumers know that by purchasing a fair trade product, they are making a difference to the value chain. In the case of solidarity tutoring, it is the distribution side which benefits from customers paying full price.

“When you pay for school tutoring with Nyki, you make this service accessible to your child, but you are also contributing to making it accessible to other children who wouldn’t otherwise access it,” she said. Since launching, the initiative has attracted customers aged from 4 to 18, from public and private schools and speaking a range of languages. “We’ve this multiculturality but in school systems, sometimes it can be complex.”

Omont, who also tutors in French, maths and study methodology, hand selects the tutors for each learner, to ensure a good match. She says the tutors adapt their teaching to the child, particularly important in the case of children with additional education needs. “We won’t come with a curriculum that works for all children. We adapt what we offer to what we feel children are responsive to.”

She gave the example that if a learner with dyslexia is struggling with French grammar, that won’t be the focus. In a later stage, she hopes to invest in special education needs training for the tutors.

Early interest levels have been encouraging, Omont said. “The demand keeps growing. So far, there are students × who joined and stayed.” ↳ www.nyki.lu

words photo

Jess Bauldry Patricia Pitsch/Maison Moderne

Mirco Rubel runs one of several Facebook groups popular with international residents

“Liked” by expats Facebook groups in Luxembourg targeting expats are growing exponentially,

providing a real-time source of information and support to new arrivals or those just seeking help, advice or ideas. Mirco Rubel started Expats de Lux ten years ago when he first came to the country: “I lived in Brussels before and there was a similar group. It didn’t exist in Luxembourg, so I decided to start it.”

Expats de Lux now has some 10,600 members. “Expat events were rare when we started, or not often publicised.

The group initially shared events, but members soon started asking each other for advice. We have lively discussions about expat issues such as housing,” says Rubel, who is also the Luxembourg “ambassador” for InterNations, an expat networking site.

Ara City Radio presenter Marina Lai Lentz started Ladies of Luxembourg on Facebook three years ago: “The sooner you find a sense of community, the sooner you

feel settled in a new place. I wanted to reach out to other women working and living here.” Originally, she planned to create a mixed group, but “quickly realised that women prefer to discuss certain topics in private, and some feel more comfortable with a single sex group”. Its success--it has over 7,000 members--led to the recent launch of Gentlemen of Luxembourg.

“People want to read about others’ experiences so they know what to expect.

Questions range from simple requests about winter tyres to more complex ones about housing contracts. The most popular topics are usually subjects not covered in English,” says Lai Lentz. “I’m really proud of the way our members support each other and people tell me that this group has really changed their experience of Luxembourg.”

The biggest Facebook group, Luxembourg Expats, was started more than six → years ago as a “community for expats

Expats de Lux

Ladies of Luxembourg

Luxembourg Expats

Luxembourg Parents

My Mamer

words photo

Sarita Rao Mike Zenari

Fact file

15

Useful and random information about Luxembourg

Luxembourg is the only country outside of France allowed to call its sparkling wine “crémant”.

Source: Vinsmoselle

Karl Marx, born in nearby Trier, started developing his socio-economic theories after witnessing abject poverty among winegrowers in Luxembourg’s Moselle Valley.

Source: South China Morning Post

Luxembourg residents spend an average of 25 minutes per day on shopping and personal services, such as going to the hairdresser.

Men spend 19 minutes and women 31.

Source: Eurostat

The Journal

to help each other enhance their living experience”. With close to 24,000 members, expats seek advice and recommendations on everything from housing, jobs, eat-outs and insurance to shopping and travel. News and views, services and events are also shared or searched and its buy/sell group separately has close to 23,000 members.

“The dynamism and the fast-growing size shows the group is meeting an important demand for almost half the population who are expats,” say the group’s administrators.

Luxembourg Parents was created in 2013 by a group of expat mums. Like all the other busy mums, Romanian-born Mirela Dragota, one of the founders and the current group administrator, wanted a space where parents could seek advice, arrange meetings or discover kids’ activities. Posts cover classes for parents and kids, activities, and places to visit with the family but it’s also an advice forum. What was initially a forum for mums to meet up extended over the years to 6,000 plus membership and is still growing. “It’s brilliant to see people ready to help,” Mirela says.

There’s also a new trend in location specific groups. British mother Jane Exall started My Mamer “to meet local residents and make friends. We first met at a friend’s house, and chatted whilst the children decorated cookies.” The group has since been active in recommendations, reviews, coffee mornings, cooking courses, a book club, crafting club and establishing a local language cafe. Online tips are mixed with meetups: “We recently had a very successful Sunday coffee morning,” she says.

A promotion day allows local businesses and entrepreneurs to advertise to the 615 members. “The aim of the group is to learn, and share ideas together as a community. Many people say it has added a sense of belonging,” explains Exall.

“I’m happy to see similar groups have been set up in Strassen and the Mullerthal × and Moselle regions.”

Community spotlight

16

Meet the people who add zest to life in Luxembourg

The Danes

Artistic integration WINTER 2019

I

t’s hard these days to find a global statistic on happiness or quality of living in which Denmark doesn’t top of the polls. However, according to Statec, more than 2,500 Danes are happy to leave this utopia behind them to call Luxembourg home. It is true that in many cases, Danes come to Luxembourg for a few years to work in the financial sector and then return home. However, there are many who have planted firm roots here.

Martin Elmquist, conductor of the ­Luxembourg Philharmonia orchestra, is one of them. After training at the Royal Danish Academy of Music as a violinist and conductor, he spent eight years with the Rome Opera Orchestra before moving to Luxembourg in January 1991. “My sister had been living in Luxembourg since 1973 and convinced me that there were many

opportunities for someone like me.

I began working as a violin teacher at the Conservatoire du Nord in Ettelbruck before being approached in 1995 to become the conductor of the Philharmonia,” E ­ lmquist explains. “Initially, there were just 30 of us, but over the years, we have grown to 90 musicians, both keen amateurs and retired professionals. In 2014, we celebrated our 35th anniversary and last year, we toured Italy for the first time.”

Whist Luxembourg is not Rome, ­Elmquist believes that, musically, Luxembourg has made huge headway.

“Obviously, the building of the Philharmonie has put Luxembourg firmly on the map. Now, we are able to attract some of the world’s most renowned musicians and orchestras,” he explains. “In addition, we → have conservatoires in the city and in

↑

MARTIN ELMQUIST The conductor and violinist is pictured in the Philharmonie, where his orchestra performs many of its concerts.

Luxembourg Philharmonia ↳ www.philharmonia.lu

←

STINE BÜLOW The trained goldsmith focusing on a new creation in her workshop, above her jewellery store in the centre of the capital city. ↳ www.stinebulow.com

Ettelbruck providing ‘would be’ students with the ability to rent instruments.

It’s all very positive.”

Stine Bülow has made her career as a goldsmith, but interestingly enough, she also has a musical streak, having studied classical clarinet in the past.

“I loved the clarinet, but I am a people person and it was too much of an isolated career for me,” she says with a smile.

Initially from Copenhagen, Bülow studied as a goldsmith in Funen and then in Jutland. “It’s a very specific and traditional training that has not changed over the years,” she explains. “My grandfather was a goldsmith and I use his tools every day when I’m working.”

She moved to Luxembourg in 2009 leaving behind her an established business and reputation. “It was a big decision to make and a little frightening, but I just loved the international

atmosphere and really wanted to build something here in Luxembourg.”

For several years, Bülow continued to sell her work through other designers and helped found Art Rooms, a concept space for creatives located on avenue de la Liberté, with artist Ben Carter.

It wasn’t until she had the opportunity to rent a space at the now-defunct Ben & Pepper that Bülow began “showing” her work to the local market. “Being able to show my work and meet people in person really made a big difference,” she says.

“My creations are a form of expression, so having a place to both create and showcase my work was ideal.” In addition, Bülow’s designs were sold in the Mudam shop, a collaboration which was to lead to a wonderful opportunity. “Someone who worked at the ministry of foreign affairs saw my fox collection and thought the cufflinks and bracelets would make an

WHERE TO MEET THE DANES CONSULATE OF DENMARK IN LUXEMBOURG consulatdedanemark@as-avocats.com

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The Journal

Stine Bülow Jewellery

ideal gift for dignitaries and other officials visiting Luxembourg,” explains Stine.

The fox design, based on national literary treasure “Renert” by Michel Rodange, proved to be an elegant way to promote one of Luxembourg’s most prolific writers and poets.

Today, Bülow has her own shop and atelier located in the Carré Bonn centre just off place d’Armes and is happy to say that the majority of her clients are local.

“If you want to be an entrepreneur in Luxembourg, you need to be outgoing and never give up,” she says. “It’s not easy to open a business in Luxembourg when you don’t have a lot of money,” says Bülow.

“You really have to build your own network and integrate as much as possible.

Very few of my friends are Danes.”

Elmquist agrees. “You have to open your door to Luxembourg. Attend local events and meet local people through clubs or organisations. Every commune has a local centre where plenty of activities are happening.”

Neither Elmquist or Bülow have intentions to return to Denmark in the foreseeable future. They are just as happy, × if not more so, here in Luxembourg.

Alix Rassel Mike Zenari

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↳ www.scanshop.lu

↳ www.belgien.um.dk

DEN DANSKE KIRKE

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↳ www.nobelux.se

↳ www.dankirke.lu ↳ www.vl.dk

15 rue Dicks, Gare

NJORD Restaurant serving freshly made Nordic food

SCANDINAVIAN STAND AT BAZAR INTERNATIONAL Contact Ebba Odhner (gift stand), email: ebba.odhner@gmail.com, or Maria Osterblad (food stand), email: maria@osterblad.lu

MNHA, Centre

↳ www.bazar-international.lu

↳ www.crossfire.lu

↳ www.njordfood.com

Copenhagen is frequently listed as among the 10 most liveable cities in the world. Luxair operates flights to the Danish capital three times a day on weekdays and two times on Sunday. ↳ www.luxair.lu

Photo → Shutterstock

DANISH MANAGEMENT SOCIETY CROSSFIRE BAR Friendly bar where Nordics gather

Think Local

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Expats who have truly integrated into local life

David John Pike/Canadian

Strategic passion WINTER 2019

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↑

RECORD RELEASES David John Pike has a full winter schedule of performances and is eagerly looking forward to the January release of a new recording with the Gryphon Trio performing Beethoven. That will be followed by a performance of Mahler songs recorded in Trier with renowned organist David Briggs. ↳ www.davidjohnpike.com

“The two worlds regard each other with suspicion.”

avid John Pike isn’t your typical baritone. He’s an imposing Don Giovanni on stage and is equally as impressive when educating concert promoters about the finer points of the US/Luxembourg tax treaty.

To maintain a dual career track in accounting and music, he’s had to maintain a unique skill set--and an uncommon equilibrium.

On one side of the fence, there is a stable job with a steady income. On the other side, the realisation that money and business aren’t everything. Pike, the businessman: It’s difficult to turn down profitable business projects for art. Pike, the vocalist: You need to feed the soul as well as the bank account. “It’s a question of strategic decisions,” he says. “You have to make choices and don’t overthink them.”

Although he started singing as a youth, and quite seriously in young adulthood, Pike didn’t decide to give it his full attention until about nine years ago. At the time, he was studying in Luxembourg with Daniel Lewis Williams, one of the world’s most sought after interpreters of the German and Italian repertoires. Williams’ religious insistence that Pike “do something” with his talent eventually bore dividends and he began to make meaningful commitments to music. Pike has since worked with leading ensembles, including the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the London Philharmonic.

“Making the decision to develop a vocal career alongside a traditional business was difficult,” he says. “The two worlds regard each other with suspicion. Some clients get what I’m doing and others don’t.” His work now entails a new kind of risk management that includes weighing coaching costs, time costs and opportunity costs. Preparation for an operatic role requires a huge investment.

Learning new material involves rigorous study and a major time commitment at the expense of other work. He has to consider whether or not he will perform the role more than once. Asked how long it takes to prepare adequately for a major operatic role, × Pike answers simply, “a lifetime.” words photo

Tonya Stoneman Matic Zorman

We wish you an

amazing 2019!

ing.lu ING Luxembourg SA - 26, Place de la Gare, L-2965 Luxembourg – R.C.S. Luxembourg B.6041 – TVA LU11082217 – ing.lu

To all day dreamers, to the projects you have now, and to those still to come.

Snapshots

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Highlights from international community and networking events

Christmas market

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Food and drink, and the Ferris WINTER 2019

wheel, brought smiles to city centre visitors, 22 November.

“Every year, we reunite here at the Christmas market, it’s one of my favourite things about Christmas,” said Siobhain, originally from

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Ireland. Runs till 24 December. ↳ www.winterlights.lu

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Esther Bechtold Jan Hanrion/Maison Moderne 1 Siobhain and Kendra enjoy their Irish coffee 2 This merry group was enjoying their “first Glühwein of the season” 3 Rotating roasted almonds 4 Place de la Constitution 5 Gabriel selling antiques and collectables 6 Dagmar Osselmann uses local products for her mulled wine and cider

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Find more events Check Delano’s digital agenda for the latest happenings: ↳ www.delano.lu/agenda

1 Tomas Lichy, Kamila Lichy, Jade Greene and Jason Greene 2 Marine and Alexandre 3 Xavier Bettel received the 2018 Amcham Leadership and Prosperity Award 4 Randy Evans, the US ambassador, and Paul Schonenberg of Amcham are seen with a Thanksgiving turkey

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PM says “thank you” Luxembourg’s prime minister US and told expats living here that they were ambassadors for the country during the American Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg’s 23rd annual Thanksgiving Dinner, 16 November. ↳ www.amcham.lu

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Robots for breakfast

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Stefano Torti of Banque Havilland spoke on the use of “robot advisors” in the private banking sector during the first-ever Delano Breakfast Talk, 14 November.

Delano magazine

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Patricia Pitsch/Maison Moderne Stefano Torti Delano’s Duncan Roberts Simône van Schouwenburg and Melvin Tjon Akon 4 Chloé Sauvage and Felix Hemmerling 1

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Natalie Bachiri Lala La Photo

The Journal

praised historic ties with the

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Marathon man marathon in 196 countries, to raise awareness of prostate

Under the big top

cancer, 16 November.

Some 430 guests attended the

↳ www.runningtheworld196.com

16th Red Cross Ball, which had as

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Nick Butter hit Luxembourg as part of his mission to run a

its theme “Let the circus begin!”

The event raised €200,000 for 1

various Red Cross projects.

WINTER 2019

↳ www.croix-rouge.lu

1 Nick Butter with Christian Barkei of St Georges International School and the British ambassador John Marshall 2 Students enjoyed a photo opp 3 Butter was supported by a handful of local runners on his Luxembourg marathon

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Xavier Bettel and Gauthier Destenay 2 Mathias Lentz, Tom Alzin, Simone Schmitt, Lynn Zoenen, Marina Lai Lentz and Christophe Folschette 3 Steve Vermeer and Natasha Feidt 4 Bridget and Laurent Lazard, and Vicky Hansen 5 Stéphane Bern and Stéphane Aubert perform on stage 1

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Friendly fight Tornado Luxembourg and Spangdahlem Air Base played their 2nd friendly Veterans Day hockey game, to honour military veterans, at the Kockelscheuer ice rink, 17 November.

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1 Randy Evans, the US ambassador, speaks with a Tornado Luxembourg player 2 Spectators take in the action

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Bal de la Croix-Rouge

1 and 2 “A History for Today” exhibition 3 Student guide Saskia Frank 4 Student guide Julia Zhang

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The Journal

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Anne Frank’s story 3

Luxembourg teenagers took special training and served as guides for “A History for Today”, an exhibition about the Holocaustera diarist Anne Frank held at the International School of Luxembourg in November and December.

International School of Luxembourg

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Jess Bauldry Jan Hanrion/Maison Moderne

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WWI anthology “The many faces of 1918” anthology shared 17 perspectives on the first world war. The book premiered at Neumünster abbey, 20 November.

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Matic Zorman

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1 Grand Duke Henri arrives for the book premiere 2 Sinéad McCoole, Aleksandar Gatalica and Guillaume Rihs speak on a roundtable moderated by Delano’s Aaron Grunwald 3 Claudio Cicotti, a professor at the University of Luxembourg, reads from his contribution 4 Gregor Schusterschitz, the Austrian ambassador

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Art week cocktail

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250 guests attended a private cocktail hosted by Atoz Tax

1 Manuel Baldauff and Atoz’s Keith O’Donnell 2 Steve Idrissou, Gilles Sturbois and Harmonie Meraud 3 Kelly Weber-Jones 4 Serge Krancenblum and Nordine Zidoun

Advisers and held at Victor Hugo Hall during the 4th edition of Luxembourg Art Week, 9 November.

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Eric Chenal

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Internet security The 5th edition of Luxembourg Internet Days, organised by Lu-Cix, focused on cybersecurity and Luxembourg’s “data embassy” partnership with Estonia,

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13 November. ↳ www.luxembourg-internet-days.com

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Charles Larue and Arnaud Vanderroost 2 David Laine, Moussa Ouedraogo and Sébastien Hoch 3 Sandra Särav (on the right) working at the Estonian government stand 4 Marco Houwen of Lu-Cix 1

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Nader Ghavami

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Alternative funds talk

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Both private equity and real estate but potential dangers lie ahead, attendees heard during an Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry conference, 3

20-21 November.

ALFIfunds

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photos 1 Justina Deveikyte, André Schnurrenberger and Andrius Dovydavicious 2 Nirosha Jayawardana and Kieran Dowling 3 Jesus Orozco 4 Claude Marx, Anouk Agnes and Christian Schmitz 5 Chris Staveley of JLL 6 Michael Jackson of Mangrove Capital Partners

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Stephen Evans Lala La Photo

The Journal

funds are booming in Luxembourg,

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1 Supriya Sodhi was honoured for Dogstays.lu, her dog sitting site 2 Marie-Christine Mariani, Catharina Biver and Kirsten Krebs 3 Piotr Kozikowski and Pawel Wroblewski 4 Magdalena, Laurie and Ivana

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Women entrepreneurs A budding Indian entrepreneur was awarded first prize at the Luxembourg-Poland Chamber of Commerce’s entrepreneurial

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women programme awards ceremony, 12 November.

Luxembourg-Poland Chamber of Commerce

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Jess Bauldry Lala La Photo

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Delano Live: women in funds

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1 Susanne Schartz of Seqvoia, Sophia Karlsson of DNB Asset Management, Vanessa Grüneklee of Schroders Investment Management and Steen Foldberg of Aberdeen Asset Management speak on the panel, moderated

by Delano’s Aaron Grunwald 2 Iida Poylio, Pamela Kuymani, Tania Vanessa Yordan Cardenas and Damilola Ola-Odudu 3 Deirdre Ryan and Louise Bernroth 4 Merouane Hamidi, Stephanie Vitalone, Aurelie Bertozzi, Estelle Iovalone, Delphine Halle and Christophe Gaire

Is the Luxembourg investment fund industry a good sector for women to work in? That was the topic of Delano Live, 15 November. More pictures, audio and video from the talk on our website. ↳ www.delano.lu

photos

Jan Hanrion/Maison Moderne

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WINTER 2019

Who’s been nice?

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Cover story

Who’s been naughty?

As 2018 draws to an end, Delano staff reflect on a momentous year and select our best and worst moments from the last 12 months.

Then we ask experts to look ahead to 2019.

Nice

Society

Culture

Favourite first spouse

A helluva summer

WINTER 2019

Gauthier Destenay, Xavier Bettel’s husband, was praised as her favourite of all world leader spouses by Brigitte Macron. He was also 7th in Monocle magazine’s global power spouses list. Monocle called him the “dapper first gentleman”.

Royal websites

Tessy Antony launched her own website highlighting her work for Professors Without Borders and female empowerment. Her former mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, followed suit in October in preparation for the “Stand Speak Rise” forum she is hosting in Luxembourg in 2019.

Business

↳ www.tessydenassau.com ↳ www.grande-duchesse.lu

Refugees integrating

From the success of restaurants Chiche and Julia Dumna to Hariko finding a new home and Hatim Almshal setting up his Lux Jardinier, there were plenty of positive stories about refugees in 2018.

Rotondes pulled out all the stops again for its Congés Annulés festival, a godsend to anyone who stays in the grand duchy during August.

↳ www.rotondes.lu

Siren’s Call for the family

The music festival put on by den Atelier made a real effort to include shows and activities for younger kids this year. It is now a festival for the whole family, yet attracts some major names like MGMT and Eels. ↳ www.sirenscall.lu

Masterpieces at the MNHA

Flemish, Spanish and Italian baroque art on loan from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp provides for a stunning major exhibition that can still be viewed until February 2019. ↳ www.mnha.lu

juliadumnalux ↳ www.chiche.lu ↳ www.hariko.lu

↑ Doors open at House of Startups

The home of co-working space LuxembourgCity Incubator, fintech promotion centre Luxembourg House of Financial Technology, and entrepreneurship support platform Nyuko, officially opened its doors in June.

↳ www.host.lu

Firms fleeing Brexit

Luxembourg turned out to be a prime location for many UK and international companies seeking to establish substance in Europe.

Over 40 financial services businesses had relocated by end November.

Casa Ferrero

The Italian confectioner unveiled plans to build a new 75,000-square-metre global headquarters at Findel.

↳ www.ferrero.com

Politics No wave of populism

No viable right-wing populist party was on the ballot at Luxembourg’s parliamentary elections.

Bettel gets the beers in

The Luxembourg prime minister invited Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel for spontaneous beer and chips in Brussels after an EU meeting in October. Bettel paid because he was celebrating the Luxembourg election results.

AAA ↑ Triple A rating

As Xavier Bettel announced in his State of the Nation address in April, the grand duchy’s public debt ratio of 23% is one of the lowest in the EU. And Luxembourg retained its AAA credit rating throughout 2018.

↑ International acclaim for local films

Govinda van Maele’s rural noir thriller “Gutland”, animated feature “White Fang” and co-production “The Breadwinner” led the way in garnering nominations at prestigious international awards ceremonies, including the Oscars and European Film Awards. ↳ www.filmfund.lu

Photos → Matic Zorman → Edouard Olszewski

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Society

Culture

Housing

Film industry up in arms

A common theme emerged in the acceptance speeches at this year’s Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis--recipients called on politicians in the room ahead of the October election--to ensure public finances continued to support the film industry. ↳ www.filmreakter.lu

Tearing down the chapel

Controversy raged at Mudam when it was revealed that Wim Delvoye’s iconic “Chapel” exhibit was being dismantled. ↳ www.mudam.lu

Overreaction to ‘FCK LXB’

Business ↑ Flood devastation

The year started with high waters on the Moselle spilling over into towns along the river, while at the end of May, torrential rain resulted in flash floods in the Mullerthal, causing several million euros worth of damage.

A satirical rap by Turnup Tun (son of satirist and singer Serge Tonnar) caused apoplexy in certain quarters for its chorus “féck Lëtzebuerg”.

Turnup Tun

Websites crashing

Fans of Rammstein were left frustrated as the den Atelier website had problems handling demand for tickets for the group’s show in Roeser next summer. ↳ www.atelier.lu

Despite securing land for its possible data centre near Bissen, the tech giant still has to confirm whether it will choose the grand duchy as a location.

Planetary Resources sale

The government took a hit when it sold its share in the flailing asteroid mining company, reportedly losing investment worth €12 million.

Join losses

The communications operator, in which Post Luxembourg has a majority stake, was reported to have lost up to €100 million since starting operations in 2014. ↳ www.join.lu

Photos → Mike Zenari → European Commission

Loss of an ally

There is concern that Luxembourg will lose an important ally at the negotiating table on EU financial policy when Brexit happens next year.

Politics No election reform in sight

Despite several examples on election night of the current system failing to translate the popular vote into actual seats in parliament, there is little appetite among the major parties for a change.

Unwieldy coalition

The narrow win for the government parties and the shift on balance of power among them means necessary tough reforms of pension and health system are likely to be put off.

↑ Juncker the dancer

Never mind his missteps at the Nato summit in July, the head of the European Commission reserved his most scampish moves for a quick mimic of Theresa May’s Abba dance moves ahead of a speech in Brussels.

Naughty

↑ Google’s procrastination

Cover story

With prices continuing to rise on average at 5% per year, reflecting a lack of supply, finding a reasonably priced home remains one of the major stumbling blocks to enjoying life in Luxembourg.

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Sports

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Architecture and design

WINTER 2019

↑ F91’s Europa League adventure

Architecture and design

The team from Dudelange made history by qualifying for the group stages of the competition. And despite losing all six matches, they made a brave show especially against the once-mighty AC Milan.

Metaform

Red Lions roar

The removal of trees along the avenue de la Liberté caused much consternation, even though they will be replaced with different species of tree when work on the tram line to the central railway station is completed.

↳ www.flf.lu

Post office view

The architecture office won numerous awards and competitions in 2018. It will design the national velodrome and the Post HQ at the central train station and opened an office in Dubai, where its design for Luxembourg’s pavilion at the 2020 World Expo is being built. ↳ www.metaform.lu

Tram up and running

It may have started operations last year, but now the tram is running to place de l’Étoile.

It has become a part of the landscape in the upper town and Kirchberg.

Both the national football and rugby teams enjoyed success on the pitch and are now competitive at their level.

↳ www.rugby.lu

Bob Jungels wins

The Luxembourg road race champion, who cycles for Quick-Step Floors, was victorious in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in April.

↑ Chopping trees

The erection of the Royal-Hamilius on the boulevard Royal in the city centre has taken shape, but has also blocked much of the view of the iconic Post office building.

Media Success of Reporter.lu

Even though it is currently only in German, with some French, the new crowd-funded investigative news website has proven its worth and gained an additional 84% of subscribers since its launch.

The show at the Luxembourg pavilion of the Venice architecture biennale successfully raised awareness of the problem that very little public building land is available and questioned how it could be freed up for construction projects.

Design Friends birthday

The platform that promotes interest in design in Luxembourg celebrated its 10th anniversary with a blow out and exhibition at the Casino.

↳ www.reporter.lu

English-language satire

Following in the footsteps of Benelux News, John Paul Gomez launched the Luxembourg Wurst, which also promoted the brilliant cartoons of Julia de Bres.

If one thing was guaranteed to annoy people, and especially drivers, in 2018, it was the plethora of roadworks around the capital city.

Redesigning the Irrgarten roundabout as a turbo-roundabout is a great idea, but the process involves blocking traffic lanes on what was already an overloaded junction.

↳ www.wurst.lu juliadebres

Bausch beats LuxPrivat

Déi Gréng cabinet minister won a defamation case against shlock tabloid LuxPrivat, which had claimed he attempted to pass blame for the fatal rail accident in Dudelange in 2017 on to the French authorities.

Larry Potash op Lëtzebuergesch

The presenter of Chicago’s “WGN Morning News” attempted to say “Gromperekichelcher” and, to much hilarity, “dat ass fantastesch” during a segment about Brexit and Brits learning Luxembourgish to obtain nationality.

Photos → José Carsí → Olivier Minaire → Anthony Dehez

↑ The Architecture of the Common Ground

↑ Roadworks

Sports 2018 Players political gesture

Those who kept the editorial team on their toes in 2018.

DISRUPTER OF THE YEAR

BREXIT EXPLAINER OF THE YEAR

Racism and fights

The lower leagues are still occasionally blighted by racism and outbreaks of violence among players and fans. The referee at a reserve team match between Hamm and Mullenbach had to take players off the pitch for 10 minutes to calm them down.

Sven Clement

Gilles Müller retires

After a rollercoaster career that included some truly outstanding moments, most memorably beating Rafael Nadal in a Wimbledon epic in 2017, the best tennis player Luxembourg ever produced announced he will stop playing.

Xavier Bettel

The president of the Pirate Party was undoubtedly instrumental in his party winning two seats in parliament. That set the cat among the pigeons at the election, as the traditional parties lost seats and the CSV failed to return to government.

Describing his view on the progress of negotiations at a European Council meeting in March, the Luxembourg prime minister said: “Before, they were in with a lot of optouts and now they are out, they want a lot of opt-ins.”

NATION BRANDER OF THE YEAR

ACRONYM OF THE YEAR

Media Vicky Krieps

The resignation of Jean-Paul Hoffmann as director of the public service radio and subsequent decisions by the government over its governance and funding have raised questions in parliament and concern among the broadcaster’s staff. ↳ www.100komma7.lu

Media ownership

The annual Media Pluralism Monitor report for 2017 found that Luxembourg is at a high risk over concentrated ownership of the media, which is dominated by just three groups--RTL, Saint-Paul and Editpress. ↳ cmpf.eui.eu

Photos → Nader Ghavami → Edouard Olszewski → EU

↑ Trouble at 100,7

Interviews in The Guardian and Vanity Fair, among others, plus a fabulous couture fashion photo shoot for the Evening Standard put the actress, and Luxembourg, on the map at the start of the year.

The dawn of the EU’s general data protection regulation had many IT managers running around like it was Y2K all over again. GDPR proved to be something of a double-edged sword.

EXCLAMATION OF THE YEAR!

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

“ Merde alors!”

Jean Asselborn’s outburst reverberated around Europe when he reacted to Italian counterpart Matteo Salvini talking about Italian migration to Luxembourg and alluding to slavery.

Chamber of Deputies

A breach of parliament’s data revealed by investigative journalists at 100,7 public radio caused furore. The journalists said data was gathered simply by modifying the Chamber of Deputies website URL.

Cover story

Two F91 players caused a storm in Greece when they were photographed making the double-eagle gesture at the Acropolis before the team’s match with Olympiacos in November.

Delano distinctions

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Retro(per)spectives 2018-19

WINTER 2019

On the cusp of a new year, Delano asked two prominent Luxembourgers to give their verdict on the last 12 months and to look ahead to 2019. Christoph Bumb, co-founder of Reporter.lu, analyses the election and the impact the results will have on the next five years. Carlo Thelen, director general of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, speaks about the challenges facing the grand duchy’s business sector and economic policy makers.

photos

Carlo Thelen, director general, Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce

Mike Zenari

Working for qualitative growth

T

raffic jams and the housing shortage marked 2018, as well as the need for a more competitive and sustainable growth model.

Luxembourg has a highly productive economy, but productivity has not grown for the last 15 years. Rather, the economy has expanded by attracting people to come and work, and this influx will prove to be difficult to sustain in the long run. A new qualitative growth model is required. This is the essence of the challenges facing the grand duchy seen by Carlo Thelen, director general of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.

“On the face of it, things are going well in Luxembourg, and on the whole they are,” Thelen noted. Economic growth is set to reach 3% this year and probably will do so again in 2019. This is good by European standards, if a little less than the country’s recent long-term average. This helped ratings agencies confirm the country’s credit worthiness, with the grand duchy being one of the few to have an AAA score for its sovereign debt. New firms are arriving, and existing ones are expanding operations. They need more space and this brings more residents (the population has grown by more than 2% annually this decade) and more cross-border commuters.

However, this evolution comes with a less appealing kicker. “The economy is growing, but in many ways, quality of life is being negatively affected as we struggle to provide the necessary business zones, housing and transport infrastructure,” Thelen said. “However, I was pleased that this debate was central to the election campaign as it is raising consciousness that we need to work to perfect our fundamentally successful economic model.”

While not questioning the need for Luxembourg to continue to be an open, attractive country for anyone who wants to work and do business here, Thelen wants to encourage more qualitative growth that is less needy of human and energy resources. In particular, this means encouraging activity driven by digitalisation and productivity gains, while rethinking and optimising urban planning.

Digital drive

In this context, 2018 was marked by the official launch by the Chamber of Commerce of the House of Startups and the Luxembourg-City Incubator (LCI, launched in cooperation with the City of Luxembourg). The LCI provides 2,000 square metres of co-working space for innovative firms which

Prepare for the future and the next crisis

Thelen (just as Gramegna used to) warns that salary levels in this country can be off-putting for investors and innovators. Hence the concern that the statutory salary indexation mechanism chips away at this country’s ability to compete in different price-sensitive sectors where Luxembourg is a price taker. Thelen is particularly concerned by some of the landmark policy proposals of Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party: an increase of the social minimum wage backed by the companies and a 38-hour maximum working week, down from the current 40. “This would be a disaster in terms of competitiveness and exacerbating labour shortages,” he said.

“We should also be concerned about growing trends in Europe to limit the free flow of labour, goods, services and capital across borders in the EU,” he added. “I’m not too pessimistic, but we have to be careful and do our homework to remain fit for the future and prepared for the next crisis.” × words

“ The economy is growing, but in many ways, quality of life is being negatively affected…”

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Cover story

have a particular focus on urban tech, the environment, retail, construction/ housing, tourism and logistics, with ICT being a strong enabler. Then, there was the Go Digital programme launched in January by the chamber’s House of Entrepreneurship. This helps small- and medium-sized enterprises explore their digitalisation options, both in terms of developing new products but also streamlining internal processes.

As for the future, Thelen hopes for further development in this direction. He remains a firm believer in the vision of the digitally driven third industrial revolution as articulated in the report published in 2016 by economist Jeremy Rifkin. This report was compiled with the close cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, the think tank Fondation Idea (started by the chamber) should continue to inject innovative ideas and new topics into the public socio-economic debate.

No doubt these views are being heard in government. Thelen’s predecessor was the present and probably future finance minister Pierre Gramegna (DP), who often spoke of the need to maintain economic competitiveness.

He is an influential figure, but of course the probable three-party coalition will have to manage competing political demands.

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Carlo Thelen

Director general Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce

Stephen Evans

Strengthen parliament

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018 in Luxembourg was dominated by October’s general election. But Christoph Bumb, co-founder of new investigative news site Reporter.lu, says the DP-LSAP-Déi Gréng coalition actually started to prepare for the elections through their policies long before the second half of the year. “Even after the referendum in 2015, they had some kind of clear new beginning. The starting point was the tax reform. With the strength of good economic figures at their back, they had an opportunity to distribute some money and even change policy on a few fronts. They prepared quite well.”

The CSV felt too secure, and thought the polls were accurate and so didn’t take any risks, Bumb argues. “In retrospect, this was a mistake because they didn’t take the time to tell the voters why a change of government was necessary.” On the other hand, the election result was not a clear confirmation of the previous government, because they lost some seats.

But one clear conclusion from the election is that the popular traditional parties, the CSV and the LSAP, did not do enough to renew themselves.

“Especially the LSAP has seen their traditional voters vanishing, because society is changing. It doesn’t have any topic that really distinguishes it from the other parties.” The result was not a disaster for the CSV, despite losing three seats, but rather a return to the “normal level” the party had →

THOSE WE LOST IN 2018

Camille Gira Secretary of state for the environment and former mayor of Beckerich Raymond Goeres Founder of luxury watch retailer Horlogerie Goeres Christian Heinzmann Former CEO of Luxair

Peter Kok Former Dutch ambassador to Luxembourg Tom Theisen Studio engineer and general good guy at Ara Radio

†

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WINTER 2019

“ Parliament is quite weak compared to other countries.” ↑

Christoph Bumb co-founder Reporter.lu

historically enjoyed before the arrival of Jean-Claude Juncker as prime minister in 1995. Both parties have a generation gap between the experienced older politicians and the young new guard, there is nobody in between. The DP and the Greens are much better positioned, Bumb says.

“The success of the Greens is down to the fact that they are being seen as the main alternative for centre-left voters,” he says. Their platform was sound on ecological issues, but also issues that concern modern young families. “There is also a Luxembourgish angle, they focused on their job to lead their ministries in an efficient way and they have politicians who are open and pragmatic.”

As for the Pirates, it is difficult to analyse their success because there’s no real platform that explains it. Bumb puts the Pirates’ surge in popularity down to “an alternative funky protest vote. Like in many countries, voters don’t feel represented by traditional parties. But in Luxembourg there’s no real need to shift to the far right or the far left.” He reckons they will retain their seats in future elections, “if they succeed in making some difference in parliament.” Luxembourg’s electoral system of proportional representation makes it quite hard to get into parliament, but also makes it quite hard to be voted out again, he explains.

The next legislature

Christoph Bumb, co-founder of Reporter.lu

Bumb expects the Greens to have much more say on government policy, especially on matters of fiscal policy. “They were disappointed that they didn’t manage to get this ecological aspect into the last tax reform. And they will want to tackle petrol tourism and the Modu 2.0 mobility policy, so they can achieve much more than in the last five years.”

Luxembourg still has the same economic model it has had for several years, and Bumb doesn’t expect too many changes in how the government distributes its resources in the next legislative period. “Space mining is a nice campaign, but I wouldn’t expect too many surprising shifts in policy.”

Bumb agrees that the emergence of the space sector can change the perception of Luxembourg in the world, but points to the collapse of Planetary Resources as evidence that it is a risk. “It’s a bet on an evolving sector whose outcome is unsure. I would be sceptical about the positive effects.

I think we have to wait a few years.”

He lists housing and social justice as the main areas that need addressing. “People looking at Luxembourg from the outside don’t know this is a problem, but if you look at statistics, it’s still there. Luxembourg is no different from other liberal capitalist democracies where there is always a gap between those who do well and those who can’t catch up.” Reform of the state in general would be something Bumb would like to see the government tackle over the next five years. “Not just the voting system, but giving parliament more powers to control the government. Parliament is quite weak compared to other countries, and the administration of parliament is always dependent on the administration of the executive branch. If you look at how laws are prepared and how the political system works, it is quite a serious problem in Luxembourg. Parliamentarians vote on laws but × don’t contribute to changing course on policy.” words

Duncan Roberts

170k

*

See conditions at www.post.lu

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WINTER 2019

Special stigma Education

Parents of children with learning disabilities are increasingly turning to private schools to find the right support.

As these schools reach capacity, what alternatives remain in Luxembourg?

words 

Jess Bauldry with Sarita Rao

Photo → Lala La Photo (archives)

essay

there are three languages which you have to learn fluently, my son would have floundered,” she says. Kate was faced with the choice of schooling Alex in the UK and moving there, with or without her husband, or sending him to a private school in Luxembourg. They stayed, and enrolled Alex at St George’s International School. “It was like a reset button for him,” Kate says.

“We feel tremendously supported. But it’s been a long journey.”

Feeling blamed

M

other-of-two “Kate” grew up in the UK speaking a different language in school to that which she spoke at home. So, when she moved to Luxembourg 15 years ago with her husband and began a family, it felt natural to send her son to a public school where he would learn the three national languages. That was until her son, “Alex”, began to develop hearing and communication difficulties. (“Kate” and “Alex” are not their real names; she only agreed to be interviewed if they remained anonymous.) “It’s been an uphill battle,” she laughs. “Between crèche and pre-school, we were aware there were problems. We would get daily reports from the crèche saying ‘your son isn’t integrating’”.

She and her husband, who had been speaking Chinese and English at home to Alex, rapidly realised their son wasn’t able to understand what was being said to him. Alex was transferred to the Centre de ­logopédie, a “special” school for the hearing impaired. “That was wonderful for him. It was a very small class, he had a wonderful teacher,” Kate explains. He received speech therapy in English, was seen by neurologists and the family received valuable support and advice.

But one year in, the parents were told there was nothing more the Luxembourg school system could do for Alex. “He was later diagnosed with dysphasic symptoms, which is a language disorder. He needed a solid foundational language before learning other languages. In a system where

Kate’s experience, though challenging, is at the milder end of the scale. Lynn Frank of the parent support group Passage recalls conversations with parents of children with additional education needs who have felt “blamed and shamed” by the school because their child can’t adjust to the system.

“Parents have been called in and told their child has a problem and that they need to sort it out,” Frank says. Left feeling somehow at fault, the topic becomes taboo.

Some families moved back to their country of origin because of it, Frank states, while many of those who stay fear any criticism of the system will result in unfair treatment of their child.

Delano can attest to this fear, which we saw in the handful of parents who were afraid to speak on the record for this article, even under the cloak of anonymity. One common solution has been for parents to move their child into the private system, says Frank.

“We’ve received children not just from the public system, but we’ve had students with additional needs come from European schools for example,” says Christian Barkei, St George’s International School principal.

In this small school, support is tailored to the individual needs of the learner and could include a learning support assistant and after KS4-adapted technology and teaching techniques. Parents pay a contribution towards the cost of the support. The demand is such that Barkei says the school carefully monitors the situation. “We need to look after the existing students and we need to make sure they’re successful and supported. The difficulty with new applications is that some years are essentially at capacity and we simply can’t admit another student with that particular challenge.”

The International School of Luxembourg has also recorded an increase in the number of pupils with additional education needs, though this, it says, is “due to the growth of student enrolment”. In the 2017-2018 school year, one in 10 students benefited from learning support services.

Inclusivity

Depending on the severity of the learning disability, studies show it can be →

39

Education

← Luxembourg special education support groups are under extreme strain, with bodies like Dys-positiv recording long waiting lists

↑

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS Passage.lu Parent support group and social network for parents and professionals related to the field of health, education and children’s social development in Luxembourg.

Dys-positiv.lu A service offered by Caritas Jeunes et Familles to support young people with dyslexia, dysorthographia, dyscalculia and/or dyspraxia.

Dyspraxie.lu Informational website founded by two mothers of children with learning difficulties. It trains teachers to use tablets as a special education needs teaching tool.

Men.lu The website of the Luxembourg education ministry contains information about its services for children with special education needs (SEBS).

Cepas.public.lu Offers psychological and therapeutic consultations for parents and young people, and socio-educational support.

Scap.lu Consultation and support service for attention deficit disorders, perception or psychomotor development disorders.

Mediationscolaire.lu Recently created mediation service to intervene in issues between families and schools.

Asebs.lu Voluntary association to support children with learning difficulties in private schools in Luxembourg.

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WINTER 2019

more beneficial for learners to be integrated into mainstream education. But this can be challenging to pull off in a country like Luxembourg, whose public education system uses three languages (teaching ­Luxembourgish, German and French in that order). It is further compounded by the fact there are 170 different nationalities and almost half of the population is comprised of foreign nationals. In some cases, young people master up to two languages at home (if their parents are of different nationalities) in addition to three at school.

The education system is more inclusive towards the international community today than when Kate’s son started school.

Half a dozen different schools offer education programmes in English: adopting the British system at the Lycée Michel ­Lucius secondary and primary, the European School curriculum in the Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette, Mondorf and Junglinster international schools, and the international baccalaureate at the Athénée.

Frank praised these steps but also raised concerns that without appropriate support for people with learning disabilities, these schools risked becoming a dumping ground for young people who don’t thrive in the Luxembourg system. She based her concerns on the fact that existing special education support bodies are under ­extreme strain, with Dys-positiv recording long waiting lists, and Scap, which provides psychomotor, perception and ADHD assistance, suspending admissions since April 2018.

Increasing resources appears to be a big part of the education ministry’s latest education measures, which has been encouraging schools to adopt a differentiated approach to education, meaning teachers adapt classes tailored to the range of learner levels. The education ministry also hired 221 specialist support staff for this school year, of which 84 are teachers, a number which is expected to double by 2020. Special need support teams (ESEB) have begun working with learners in schools where needed. Meanwhile, the ministry is establishing four new support centres treating dyslexia, gifted children, children with behavioural issues and young people making changes in their professional lives. Delano requested an interview about these programmes, but the ministry did not make a representative available before press time.

Tablets in schools

It will take time for these measures to benefit young learners today, but one shift that can have a more immediate impact is iPad devices in classrooms, a roll-out of which was announced by prime minister, ­Xavier Bettel, in 2017. The Mondorf international

school (EIMLB), which opened in September 2018, uses them in conjunction with a programme inspired by the Dalton Plan, giving learners more autonomy by offering a repository of materials at differing levels.

While educational experts are divided about their benefits for children, tablets have been found to help children with learning disabilities like dyspraxia. Samia Hedeili and Magali Netrval, two mothers who established platform Dyspraxie.lu, are promoting the iPad for “dys” children programme to teachers in Luxembourg. “The iPad is a pragmatic solution that provides immediate support,” Hedeili says.

Another step that would have an immediate impact is subsidies for parents paying for additional support and therapies for their child, like counselling. “Currently, parents have to pay school fees and also any additional one-to-one support requirements that the private school is unable to provide due to demands on school resources,” says Pam Charlton, St George’s Secondary School special education needs coordinator. Barkei says he would like to see further financial support from the state for public school additional education support.

Vocational studies

These measures would strengthen support for primary and secondary school aged children, but what about after? Kate’s son, who has learning support assistants for specific lessons, is approaching the end of his compulsory education after which she says he will no longer be eligible for such help. Knowing that he wouldn’t cope in a boarding school in the UK, she is now considering moving back with him even if it would mean splitting the family. “I know I’m not the only one. I know a lot of families who had to leave Luxembourg because they had no other choice. We know families that have had to split because of it.” ×

↑

9 COMPETENCE CENTRES IN LUXEMBOURG FOR LEARNING DIFFICULTIES Centre de logopédie Specialist school for children with language and speech difficulties. ↳ www.logopedie.lu

Centre pour le développement des compétences relatives à la vue Specialist school for children with visual impairments. ↳ www.idv.lu

Centre pour le développement moteur Specialist school for children with cerebral palsy. info@cc-cdm.lu

Centre pour le développement intellectuel Centre regrouping all of the differentiated education sites in Luxembourg. ↳ www.men.lu

Centre pour le développement des enfants et jeunes présentant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme Specialist centre for young people with autism spectrum disorders. info@cc-ctsa.lu

Centre pour le développement des apprentissages Grande-Duchesse Maria Teresa Centre for learners with dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia. ↳ www.cc-cda.lu

Centre pour enfants et jeunes à haut potentiel School for gifted children. info@cc-cejhp.lu

Centre pour le développement socio-émotionnel Centre for learners with behavioural disorders for whom local and regional intervention hasn’t worked. info@cc-cdse.lu

Agence pour la transition vers une vie autonome Helps support young people and their parents in the new stages of their working lives. info@cc-atva.lu

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42

The chief commercial officer of clean-tech energy company Boson Energy, Heike Carl Zatterstrom, shares his insight on the circular economy, Luxembourg’s commitment to R&D and tackling “nimbyism”.

WINTER 2019

First mile solutions interview

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T

wo of the biggest environmental problems that the world currently faces are how to deal with waste and how to produce clean energy. Attempts to convert waste into energy on a large scale have often proven to be inefficient and also require mass transportation. But Boson ­Energy, founded in 2008 in Luxembourg, is now developing the next generation of efficient small-scale solutions to convert local waste into clean energy for direct local use. The company’s ebullient chief commercial officer, Heike Carl Zatterstrom, explains more.

You have an obvious passion for the technology solutions that Boson provides. How did you come to be involved in the company?

duncan roberts

heike carl zatterstrom I ran into [founder and CEO] Jan Grimbrandt five years ago and

Green energy

Duncan Roberts

photos

Matic Zorman

what Boson was doing felt like something very meaningful. At the time, I was the only non-engineer in the company. One of the things companies like this often struggle with is communication. Actually, my job is communicating what we do in a way that is digestible and understandable. And you have to match the vision and long-term view and impact with the pragmatic engineering perspective on what we are delivering now.

It is a very physical business. What we want to put out there has to be manufactured, assembled and operated. But we don’t do all that ourselves. The possibility to tap into and build a supply chain with partners allows us, as a company of 25 people, to have this vision to build 1,000 plants by 2030. That literally means taking care of the waste from some 200 million people. We

felt it was time to turn the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals into physical targets. So we set that as a target.

We work with United Nations’ Sustainable Energy for All, and their CEO, Rachel Kyte, is a big supporter of what we do.

What support have you had from the Luxembourg government?

We have been awarded a €2.8 million R&D grant relating to our demonstration project in Göttingen, that we are building together with Stadtwerke Göttingen and Viessmann. The fact that we received a German environmental permit to run our biomass gasification technology in the centre of what is one of the “greenest” cities in Germany is a pretty strong indication that we have what it takes to build → “In My Back Yard” plants.

43

↑

Heike Carl Zatterstrom, Chief commercial officer, Boson Energy

Green energy

“ We are trying to build a business that is technology agnostic.”

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WINTER 2019

One of the things a government can do is to think ahead. A lot of the private money goes into project financing while a lot of government money goes into very early-stage development. But in between having a proven core technology and being ready for expansive commercial project financing, there is not a lot of financing available. Which is something the European Investment Bank has realised, and they actually specifically developed the product “InnovFin Energy Demonstration Project” to address that. If you don’t get new technologies off the ground to the commercial stage, what happens is that all the money goes to established technologies, which are not necessarily disruptive enough to address the challenges we face as a planet.

For governments, to support that stage of development is vital.

→ Heike Carl Zatterstrom says that government support to help new technologies off the ground to the commercial stage is vital

You describe your activity as “imby”.

How difficult is it to convince people to shift from a “nimby” mentality?

At the end of the day, it comes down to delivering value to the local community and building trust. To keep it simple, our first commercial plants will be in locations that are already zoned for waste treatment, but Swedes, Danes, Germans and Austrians have had waste incineration plants in city locations for decades, so done right, this is not an issue.

A key difference here is that if you have a large-scale installation, you process other people’s waste. Whereas with our small-scale “first mile” model, you basically process your own waste. Waste literally doesn’t travel more than a mile, which reduces transportation and urban stress dramatically. On top of that, the energy that is produced is fed into the local community.

The power goes into the local grid. And the thermal energy by nature cannot be transported far, so we put it to use in the local community either as process heat for local industry that creates jobs, or efficient no-greenhouse-gas cooling that goes into a local food distribution centre, or hospitals, or offices and such. And the fact that the energy is delivered locally destresses the power grid, so as a consequence, you will have more reliable power supply. That is imby, if you ask me!

So what is the business model?

First of all, we develop and own the core technology that makes our “first mile” solutions for waste possible. Secondly, we take a lead in developing our plant projects and they generate cash flows for 20-30 years.

At the same time we are, paradoxically to some, working to build a business that is technology agnostic. We have a performing technology that we are very comfortable

↑

BOSON ENERGY

with. But if we focus only on developing that technology, at some point something else might come along. So building this into a utility as a service model, where we deliver a service over full life cycle rather than a specific technology, we can pick up any technology that is appropriate to the customer need and make that into a business, leveraging the execution capacity that we and our partners have. There are already other technologies that approach us and ask whether what they are doing can fit into our platform somehow. With all the aspects to “first mile” solutions and urban stress, we have very interesting expansion possibilities. If, for example, we can take grey water or sewage water and use that in our process, we can reduce sewage system stress and produce irrigation water for local use, right inside the city, and also contribute to greener cities without “com× peting” with drinking water supply.

Boson Energy was founded in Luxembourg at the end of 2008 to develop the next generation of efficient small-scale solutions to convert local waste, including hazardous waste, and low value biomass into clean energy for direct local use. The waste is transformed into a completely harmless inert glassy slag, which is only 2-5% of the original waste volume. The energy harvested comes out as power, heat or cooling for direct local use without the need for expensive large-scale district heating or cooling grids. ↳ www.bosonenergy.com

MORE CHOICE, MORE WOW!

46

reportage

Police dogs

Biting crime WINTER 2019 ↑ "Igor", the police officer seen here (not his real name), says he has always loved dogs and became a dog handler after serving for nine years as a patrol officer and then investigator. His second police dog, Poison, belongs to the police but lives with him at home

words

Jess Bauldry

photos

Lala La Photo

47

Police dogs

Luxembourg’s first-ever police dogs and handlers started working in 1974, after being trained in the UK. Today, there are 14 active dogs and handlers, specialised in the detection of arson, drugs or, like Poison, pictured during an exercise at Findel airport, explosives detection. The two-year-old Dutch Shepherd trained for 12 months before entering the force with his handler Igor in June 2018. “It’s so hard to find a good dog. Normally, we have to test 15 dogs to find a good one. Then there could be unexpected problems, to their health for example,” says Igor.

“It’s not easy to make a police dog.”

Delano followed the pair on a patrol in Luxembourg City’s central train station and on a training exercise at the airport in November.

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WINTER 2019 → Poison is Igor’s second police dog

49

Police dogs

↑ Inspector Rick Steffen says that the Gare is the district with the highest crime levels. “Every day, we’ve incidents with fights. The dog is there for the safety of the people and rail passengers”

→ Police dogs are considered a tool to prevent crime as they can quickly diffuse a tense situation before it becomes serious, for example, at football games or fights. “When you bring the dog, it makes a big impression because it’s not afraid,” Igor explains

50

WINTER 2019 ↑ Igor says: “It’s lifelong learning with the dogs.

We train every week, when we can. It’s not like a USB stick you put in the brain.

The first steps are the basic training, then comes the specific training”

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WINTER 2019

Personal finance

You’ve still got time to take steps to reduce your 2018 tax bill, but you need to act before the end of the year.

words

Stephen Evans

Photo → Mike Zenari (archives)

How to cut your tax bill

he Luxembourg tax code offers us numerous ways to cut our tax bills. But you need to get moving before 31 December to benefit. Subscribing to a particular sort of retirement pension life insurance policy (known as “111bis”) is a popular move. Annual payments from €1,500 to €3,200 (depending on your age) can be written off, with older people getting to write off more. Ask your bank or insurance company for details.

You can also claim back up to €672 multiplied by the number of people in your family for each of the following: life insurance, healthcare insurance, civil responsibility (third party) insurance and housing savings plans. Again, your financial advisor will be able to point you in the right direction.

Many tax breaks

The state also subsidises borrowing. If you want to borrow for a new car or a holiday, the state will let you write off €336 per person in the household for personal loans. Housing loans are also encouraged, with you able to write off interest related to the purchase, construction, renovation and redecoration of your home. Often, home cleaners and nannies are paid in cash on the black. But if you declare this home help, you can write off up to €3,600 per year. The same goes for crèche fees and help for the aged. C ­ haritable giving is another way of avoiding a tax bill, as up to €1m can be written off by donations to officially approved Luxembourg-based charities.

Eco-transport is also supported, with tax deducted for electric cycles and cars.

More than this, though, having a nuclear family is one of the best ways to save tax. Being married or in a civil partnership puts taxpayers into tax class 2, which leads to a substantial tax boost. Similarly, having children is subsidised through the tax system with further ­allowances. Alimony can also be offset. Up to €24,000 can be written off, but with that sum then taxable

tax return by 31 March 2019,” she added.

Non-residents living in France and Germany can opt for tax class 2 if 90% of their inBig changes for cross-border commuters come comes from Luxembourg. This figure The 2018 tax year features significant is 50% for Belgian residents. This excludes changes for non-resident workers. Over the first 50 days of working abroad and the next few months they have some major €13,000 personal income. decisions to make. In its 2016 tax reform This has come as a shock, as many the government said the “regime for non-­ cross-border workers had a more favouraresidents will be aligned with that of resi- ble deal than residents. “The tax adminisdents.” This concerns whether they fall into tration has calculated that around a third of tax class 1 (mostly applicable to unmarried non-resident workers will benefit from the residents) or tax class 2 (people who are changes, but two thirds will lose out,” notmarried or in civil partnerships). ed Philippe Graces, director of AssCoFisc.

Households with one wage earner who He points out that it will generally be lowis a cross-border commuter earning all their er earners who will lose most. Also many income in Luxembourg will mostly be bet- now have to go to the effort of completing ter off under the new regime. This is just like a tax return for the first time. their resident colleagues. However, if their On top of this, Foulds is concerned partner works outside the grand duchy this about how accurate the tax office will be will now have to be declared on the 2018 tax when applying the rules. “Those with the form if they opt for tax class 2. Previously most uncertainty are individuals whose sitthis foreign earned income did not need to uations changed in the year... We anticipate be declared. Before 2018 married/partnered many will have a year-end adjustment one non-residents chose the advantageous tax way or another,” she said. “Assessments will class 2, without any need to declare their have to be made on a case-by-case basis on spouse’s income in Luxembourg. From 2018 whether they should opt for tax class 1 or 2,” this has change, with the frontalier either said Graces. choosing tax class 1 (and thus foregoing the So after taking steps to reduce your bill substantial tax break that comes with be- this year, the information about incomings ing married/in a partnership) or tax class 2 and outgoings will then need to be commuwhere their spouse’s income will be consid- nicated to the tax office via the tax form. ered for taxation in Luxembourg.

“Taxpayers receive a letter from the tax administration in February informing them The choices they must file a return by 31 March, but “Non-residents will be assigned tax class 1 they have more time than this,” commented as a default position, and must meet cer- Graces. Normally people can wait until betain conditions to elect for and obtain tax fore November without the risk of penalties class 2,” Laura Foulds, managing director for late filing. However, for non-residents of Analie Tax & Consulting, explained. who want to change their tax class, they “Opting for tax class 2 must be made on must file their return by 31 March 2019, or × the tax card or by completing and filing a the default tax class 1 will be applied.

53

Limits for deductions/tax credits

Mortgage interest

€1,000-€2,000 per person

Debit interest

€672

Insurance

€672

Personal pension

Up to €3,200

Home savings scheme

€672-€1,344 per person (conditions & restrictions apply)

Childcare/housekeeping

€5,400

Children not at home

€4,020 per child

Single parent tax credit

Up to €1,500

Eco-transport

Up to €300 (bicycle) or €5,000 (car)

Alimony

Up to €24,000

Source → Analie Tax & Consulting/Mazars

T

for the receiving spouse. Single parents can also claim a tax credit up to €1,500.

Personal finance

← Laura Foulds, managing director of Analie Tax & Consulting, says cross-border workers need to make important decisions about their tax status soon

54

Real estate

WINTER 2019

Housing prices still booming Residential property prices just keep rising.

Supply can’t keep pace with the demand as Luxembourg’s growing economy continues to attract more residents.

From being a marginal issue at the 2013 general election, it was voters’ main concern in October.

words

O

n the whole, purchase prices appear to have increased substantially more than rental costs. On average, the monthly rental for a flat in the grand duchy over the 12 months to September was €1,486, and for a house it was €2,740, according to recent figures published by atHome, a property listings site. The increases over that period were around 5% and 6% respectively.

Given that inflation was less than 2%, this represents a substantial real increase.

For the first time, average rent of a studio nationwide now exceeds €1,000.

5% + the recent norm

These increases appear to be broadly in line with the 4.9% rise in housing prices reported in the Q1 2016-Q1 2017 period by the Housing Observatory, a government agency. In this period, new apartment prices were up 6.1%, a 4.7% increase for pre-lived in apartments, and 4.1% for “used” houses. If these increases seem steep, they are about half that seen in the early part of this century. The Luxembourg Central Bank’s “Financial Stability Review” report published in June pointed to residential property prices tripling since 2000. That was five times the rate seen in the Eurozone. Increases were

Stephen Evans

graphics

Maison Moderne

strongest in the years before the 2008 financial crisis, increasing by 10.7% per year on average between 2000 and 2007.

Prices actually fell in 2009, since when growth has averaged around 5%.

To break this down, the atHome report features prices of different sized properties that have previously been lived in (i.e., which aren’t brand-new).

A one-bedroom flat cost €1,299 in rent per month (up 6% on the year), with a two-bedroom place going for €1,527 (up 5%). Average rent per square metre was €21.04. Three-bedroom houses were going for around €2,116 (+4%) while those with four bedrooms cost €2,774 rent per month, with a sturdy 8% rise on the year.

Houses vs apartments

As for sale prices, these averaged €460,983 for an apartment and €764,860 for a house in the country as a whole. Purchase prices surged by no less than 8% for an apartment and 9% for a house over this period. These are even higher rates of growth than in 2016-2017. In 2017-2018, the average price per square metre was €5,390 for an apartment and €4,308 for a house. One can expect to pay 20%-25% more than these averages for a new home.

Incidentally, these averages are in line

with figures for 2017 prices quoted in the last Housing Observatory report.

Purchase prices for already lived-in one-bedroom flats reached €344,945 (+7%), compared to €402,387 for new properties. Two-bedroom places needed an outlay of around €455,599 (+6%) or €537,996 for a new-build. The average per square metre price was €5,390 (+9%) or €6,250 for new. Older houses with three bedrooms cost €597,314 (up 4% over 12 months) with those with four bedrooms retailed for €765,096 (+8%).

Centre at the top

No surprise, the central region is the most sought after. atHome reckons 43% of searches on their website are for this area, of which 60% are for the capital.

The south accounted for just over a quarter of searches, with Esch, Dudelange and Differdange most prominent.

No question the capital is the most sought-after, with the average price of a square metre of housing space going for €7,644, which equates to almost €1.3m for the average 180-square-metre house and €800,000 for the average 100-square-metre flat. The average prices in the centre more generally are €1,033,272 for a house and → €604,717 for an apartment.

COMPARING THE INCOMPARABLE

NORTH Average prices

€337,621 Houses

€573,773

BELGIUM

Real estate

To give an idea of prices and how they are moving, we have used figures published by the estate agent atHome. They highlight average for-sale prices over the 12 months to September 2018.

These are a decent guide to the state of the market, but less relevant than the statistics which are normally published by the Housing Ministry’s Housing Observatory. They use the actual sale prices as recorded by the Land Registry (rather than the for-sale prices featured here), and they give quarter-by-quarter progressions. However, this data has not been updated since February. Care should also be taken as judging property price inflation is a much tougher job than for, say, a food shopping basket, as pretty much every home is different.

Apartments

55

GERMANY

ECHTERNACHERBRÜCK

TRIER

EAST

WEST

Average prices

Average prices

Apartments

Apartments

€435,534

€494,891

Houses

Houses

€815,428

€821,129

CENTRE Average prices

SOUTH Average prices

Apartments HETTANGE-GRANDE

Source → atHome

Apartments

€499,077

Houses

FLORANGE

FRANCE

Houses

€782,934

€604,717

METZ

€1,033,272

West

Average apartment and house prices in selected locations in the western region.

House prices

Apartment prices

Mamer

WINTER 2019

Dippach

Käerjeng

Steinfort

Redange 0

300k

600k

900k

1,200k

REDANGE

Apartment rent is on average 10% higher than the rest of the country in the capital. To buy a house costs 41% more.

Even renting a room in a shared house costs around €850 a month. As the chart below shows, there are substantial differences between the neighbourhoods.

Limpertsberg is the most expensive and Hamm the least expensive, respectively 22% more and 15% less than the average.

Similarly in the east, it feels pretty close to the city in Junglinster, but being next to the Moselle river is a fair commute.

There is thus great variability in cost in this region, meaning the averages are somewhat unhelpful: apartment rent is 21% lower than the national average cost while to buy a house requires 7% less.

Apartment prices of €435,534 and house costs of €815,428 are the norm.

Other regions

Further away options

The south is a growth area and has the greatest supply of new housing. This, and the fact that these are less desirable locations, contributes to apartment rent being on average 26% lower than the national average, while house prices (€782,934) are 13% less than the norm. The average price of a flat is €499,077.

The western region extends from the Belgian border to places like Mamer which almost have the feel of being suburbs of the capital. Hence the average rent is just 14% lower than the national average, but to buy a house, you’ll need slightly more (3%) than the average. Prices gravitate around €494,891 for apartments and €821,129 for houses.

The north remains the cheapest place to live, but prices have tended to rise in line with the national averages. Apartment rent is on average 33% lower with home hunters needing 23% less to buy a house.

The respective average costs are €337,621 and €573,773.

The report also highlights prices in France and Germany. There is a great variability. Houses in Longwy, France or Bitburg, Germany average about half that of anywhere in the grand duchy. Of course for this you have to factor in housing taxes, which are very low in Luxembourg and pretty steep in France. Then of course there is the commute, with petrol and parking costs, and wear and tear →

B

STEINFORT

A

MAMER

C D

E

Luxembourg City

Selected Luxembourg City districts listed price per square metre for housing (apartments and houses).

Price €/m2

DIPPACH KÄERJENG

Limpertsberg (A)

Kirchberg (B) Cents (C)

Bonnevoie (D)

South

Hamm (E)

Average apartment and house prices in selected locations in the southern region.

House prices

0

2,500

5,000

7,500

10,000

Apartment prices

Leudelange

LEUDELANGE Frisange

Sanem

FRISANGE

DIFFERDANGE SANEM

Differdange

ESCH/ALZETTE Esch/Alzette 0

300k

600k

900k

1,200k 1,500k

Source → atHome

56

Together, let’s find the home that suits you !

Your Residential Agency in Luxembourg.

Selling - Renting - Valuations - Consultancy.

A dedicated team to help you find the home that suits you.

We can advise you in your language.

LUX - FR - ENG - NL - DE - IT - SP 41, Rue du Puits Romain • L-8070 Bertrange • T. 46 45 40

www.jllr.lu

58

East and north

Average apartment and house prices in selected locations in the eastern and northern regions.

Centre region, excluding the capital

House prices

Average advertised apartment and house prices in selected locations in the central region outside of Luxembourg City. Averages for the capital were €777,329 for apartments, €1,272,500 for houses.

Apartment prices

Schengen

Mondorf

CLERVAUX

Contern

Ettelbruck

Hesperange

Echternach

Strassen

Clervaux 0

300k

600k

900k 1,200k 1,500k

Colmar-Berg

ETTELBRUCK ECHTERNACH

Mersch 0

300k

600k

900k 1,200k 1,500k

COLMAR-BERG

on your car adding up to often more than €1,000 a month for a 60-80km daily round-trip commute.

MERSCH

Property bubble?

STRASSEN

HESPERANGE

CONTERN

Greater Region

Average apartment and house prices in selected locations in Germany and France.

House prices

Apartment prices

Trier, Germany

Hettange-Grande, France

Echternacherbrück, Germany

Metz, France

Florange, France 0

300k

600k

900k

So is this a bubble? That depends if prices are artificially inflated by speculative pressure rather than the fundamentals of supply and demand. Economists often use two methods to seek to understand this: comparing sale price changes to rent and disposable income of residents. Figures in the Luxembourg Central Bank’s “Financial Stability Review” might appear to give some cause for concern, as these ratios have doubled this century.

Plus, they are both substantially higher than the Eurozone averages.

However, the bank pointed out that Luxembourg does not have a free market for rent. It most often remains fixed throughout a tenancy agreement. Indeed, the European Commission has classified the grand duchy’s home rental market as one of the most regulated in the EU. Moreover, the Luxembourg state’s tax policy encourages home ownership with generous tax breaks and very low property taxes. The Central Bank also pointed out the obvious, that demand for property is galloping ahead due to the population rising by 2.0%-2.5% each year since the financial crisis. Supply hasn’t kept pace. Also, there has been tendency for banks to offer longer mortgage repayment schedules, which helps households afford higher prices.

MONDORF SCHENGEN

Given these fundamentals, the Central Bank, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the OECD have all suggested that price increases here are not due to excessive financial speculation. “Over the short term, the risks linked to Luxembourg’s financial market seem to be contained,” said the Central Bank’s paper.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that house prices will not fall in Luxembourg. The European economy could take a turn for the worse, immigration could slow, the market could overreact leading to an oversupply of homes, or the experts could be wrong. Other concerns are that 70% of mortgages have variable interest rates. It might seem far-fetched now, but a spike in rates could leave many homeowners and banks exposed. The Central Bank points out that Luxembourg is one of Europe’s most highly indebted countries, mainly because a third of households have mortgages compared to the Eurozone average of a quarter. They advised lenders and bor× rowers to show “caution”.

Source → atHome

WINTER 2019

House prices

Apartment prices

I MUST BE the best property salesman EVER.

get the picture

Wood industry

Forest figures

90,000 hectares of Luxembourg territory are covered in forests, about 35% of the country’s total area.

What is the sector’s contribution to the economy? words

photo

Esther Bechtold Jan Hanrion/Maison Moderne

WINTER 2019

Added value The sector added €311 in value to the economy per hectare of forest area. [4]

Companies and employees Roughly 1,500 businesses are directly or indirectly involved in wood production and trade, employing 11,000 people in the grand duchy.

[1]

Production mix About half of Luxembourg’s forest harvest is hardwood and about half is softwood. [5]

Trade in raw wood Luxembourg produced 350,000 cubic metres of raw wood in 2017, which was insufficient for local needs; the country ran an import deficit of 171,000 cubic metres. [5]

Wood production 500,000 cubic metres of wood are harvested every year, of which 25% is highquality timber that can be used for carpentry, half is used by industry and a quarter for energy. [2]

Value of output Luxembourg’s forestry and logging sector added €22.6m to the economy. [3]

Luxembourg Wood Cluster There are 103 members of this group, which promotes the sector.

“It was set up in 2016 as a platform for exchange between all players in the wood sector, spanning from wood production to the end consumers of wood products,” says Luxinnovation, the organisation which runs the cluster. [2]

Sources → [1] Department of the Environment, 2016 → [2] Luxinnovation → [3] Statec, 2017 → [4] Eurostat, 2015 → [5] Nature Conservation Agency (Administration de la Nature et des Forêts)

60

The water features

The separate toilet on the ground floor took over a year to be designed and is unique in its kind by the marriage of natural stone and a reworked tree trunk to support the sink.

In short, it is the quality of life that we wish you!

The park

The outdoor kitchen overlooks a very large terrace surrounded by a dry wall and sought-after plantations.

Between the fruit trees, the vineyards and the spicegarden, there are the playgrounds consisting of a petanque track,a sandbox and a tree house.

The 3 large duplex bedrooms

Located on the 1st floor on the barn side are directly accessible from the main house lobby at the same level.

The master bedroom with its dressing room and office shares a bathroom with a 5th bedroom.

Number of rooms can be extended to 8 rooms or more.

Fa r m h o u s e i n R i p p i g A farmhouse completely reworked and this in the rules of art Natural materials have been carefully selected, resulting in the installation of solid wooden floor treated with natural and ecological substances as well in the 5 rooms as in the office, for example.

There are 3 kitchens, one additional, one outdoor and the main kitchen over 70 m2. The first living room is on the ground floor. It is equipped with a wood stove and exposed beams that give a warm touch to the room.

On the 2nd floor, there is a large and bright living room with a mezzanine.

€ 3.240.000.contact@fare.lu

+352 26 897 897

1 Rue du Verger L-2665 Luxembourg

62

special report

HR & recruitment

WINTER 2019

Career track Switching jobs used to be the best way to boost your salary, and that still holds true for many entryand mid-level professionals.

That’s probably a question to bring up with your recruiter.

But first, a look at fathers taking advantage of Luxembourg’s newish family leave rules.

The steep rise was partly driven by a threefold increase in the number of fathers opting to take parental leave. (The reform also benefitted women: a study published

by Marie Valentova of the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research in October 2018 noted a steep rise in the number of working mothers in Luxembourg under the new system.) So, what is it like for fathers who decide to take parental leave and how are employers adjusting to this change?

Brian Ballantyne, who works for a technology company in Luxembourg, is one father who has taken advantage of his employer’s flexible working hours, as well as a three-month sabbatical from work to spend time with his children. “Twelve years ago, I was lucky to get a fortnight off to spend time with my kids,” he said.

“Although I still work in the same industry,

Brian now works from home two days a week, when he has responsibility for supervising the children’s homework as well as providing the usual parental taxi service. “The school holidays in Luxembourg are extremely long and I think a lot of expats without family here really struggle,” Brian commented. “Unlike other countries, there are not many options for children when both parents work.

There is the maison relais [afterschool childcare centre] and that’s about it.”

Neil, another father, who has chosen to take 12 months of half-time parental leave, agrees.

“One of the reasons I took 12 months rather than 6 was due to how long the school holidays are in Luxembourg,” explained Neil, who is originally from Australia and did not want his family name published.

“As Antipodeans, we usually make the decision to ship the children off to their grandparents for the holidays, but it’s a long time to be apart and I don’t want to miss the opportunity of seeing my children grow up.”

63

One stay-at-home dad, who would prefer to be referred to as “Bob” for this article, has not found parental leave such smooth sailing. “I work within the fund industry and am not at managerial level,” he stated.

“So getting time off as a worker bee was much more difficult.” Indeed, Bob had to wait for almost a year before his request was accepted. “As for my future in the organisation, I am a little bit sceptical about my immediate career prospects,” he said. “12 months is a long time to be off and things change, I am not entirely sure if I will return to the same job or if my chances of being promoted will diminish.”

According to Sandra Carvalho, head of communications and strategy at Aleba, Luxembourg’s largest financial sector trade union, parental leave was “a subject of high importance to Aleba and makes up part →

Whilst taking parental leave has generally been smooth sailing for Brian and Neil, they are both aware that not all employers are forward thinking and it often has a lot to do with your seniority within an

Photo → Patricia Pitsch/Maison Moderne

Since the government put into place parental leave reforms on 1 December 2016, there has been an exponential increase in the number of parents taking parental leave, with an increase of 70% in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to Luxembourg’s family ministry.

Part-time leave

organisation. Brian said: “I know a lot of senior males within my company who have chosen to take parental leave and have met many stay-at-home dads from my interactions within the kids’ school.”

HR & recruitment

1.

The realities of parental leave for men

times have changed and employers are more aware of levelling the playing field, especially when it comes to gender equality.”

Brian Ballantyne Working father

↓

“ Twelve years ago, I was lucky to get a fortnight off to spend time with my kids."

64

Parental leave The number of women and men taking their full- and part-time parental leave since the scheme was introduced in 1999. New rules took effect in December 2016, allowing

Women, full-time Women, part-time Women, incremental Men, full-time Men, part-time Men, incremental

family leave to broken up and taken in incremental tranches. This has led to more men participating overall and more women and men working part-time.

Source → Ministry of Family, Integration and the Greater Region, 2017 annual report, as of 31 December each year

3,500

3,000

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0 1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

of our programme for the next social elections in March 2019”. The group aims to gain reassurance for working fathers who take their family leave.

Positive benefits

All the fathers Delano spoke with have no doubt that the time they have taken off has benefited both them and their children.

“It’s been a year now since I took my 3-month sabbatical,” said Brian. “But the benefits have definitely stayed with me.

I find that I am a lot calmer than before and able to be ‘more in the moment’.” Brian has also seen an impact on his family’s daily life: “We learnt to really communicate with one another,” he explained. “We have also learnt just to hang out together, especially having spent so much time in airports.”

Neil has also seen a difference in the relationship between him and his children.

“Before I took time off, mum was always the go-to person for everything, particularly homework,” he stated. “Now, I am much more involved in their daily lives and am just as likely to be asked for homework help as my wife.”

All employers must follow the legislation regarding parental leave that was updated two years ago. However, as Delano discovered, it depends not only on the culture, but also on the size of the company in question. Larger organisations may have greater budgets to hire temporary workers to cover paternity leave absences. But the smaller the organisation, the less flexibility

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

they may have to hire and train employees.

At press time, no official figures were available to detail the costs that parental leave has on companies directly. However, according to the family ministry’s 2017 annual report, the cost to the state for parental leave increased 98% between 2016 and 2017, to €166m. It may be a large monetary figure, but the impact it will have on gender equality in the workplace, in addition to the physical and psychological effect it has on children, may be priceless. × words

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

such as: ‘Give me an example of when you have had to work in a team.’ They are looking for clear, concise examples.”

Berglind Fridriks, an HR director who has worked in the sector for more than 23 years, agrees. “An interview is not a one-way dialogue, it’s more of → an assessment of whether you are

Alix Rassel

2.

Ask your recruiter The unemployment rate in Luxembourg dropped to 5.3% and there were nearly 8,000 vacant positions in October, according to statistics released by the jobs agency Adem. The positions most in demand were in the competitive areas of IT and finance (particularly accounting and audit). So how does one best prepare oneself for that crucial job interview and what questions do recruiters really want you to ask?

“The most important thing to remember is that the recruiter wants to know that you can do the job you are applying for,” according to a former talent acquisition manager in the financial sector, who did not want their name published. “Experienced recruiters will usually ask competency based questions based on your past experience,

Photo → Olivier Minaire (archives)

WINTER 2019

2,500

Berglind Fridriks HR executive ↓

“ Have a list of questions ready to ask.”

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suitable for the job advertised and whether the working environment is one that suits your skills and personality,” she said. “The company wants to make sure that you are a good fit for their culture and vice-versa.”

WINTER 2019

Whilst both agree that there is always some formality to the interview process, it should, in theory, allow the maximum freedom for the applicant to express themselves.

“External recruitment companies should offer coaching on the job interview process,” stated the ex-recruiter. “But in reality, this is not always the case, especially when the recruiter is overseas and does not know the intricacies of the Luxembourg market.”

Berglind concurred: “Do your homework and be prepared for the interview. Ask people you know about the company you are applying to work for. Does it have a high turnover? Is there a good working environment? What are the organisations’ ethical values? Have a list of questions ready to ask.”

Generation Y workers, in particular, are interested not just in the salary on offer but also other benefits. Fridriks said that she welcomes questions on values, environment and benefits, which are particularly important to this demographic and show a genuine interest in the company. “As a multicultural country, a number of languages are sometimes required for a position,” Fridriks said. “Unfortunately, many external recruiters do not have the required skills to test 3 or 4 languages. Especially if they are abroad.” She added: “That is why it is of great importance on your application to detail your language level, as this can be a ‘showstopper’.”

For those applying for a position who currently don’t live in Luxembourg, it is important to be aware of the cost of living.

“On several occasions, I have interviewed candidates from abroad who thought the salary was great but had no idea how expensive it is to rent an apartment in Luxembourg City,” Fridriks stated. “Each individual’s tax circumstances are different, so an HR department can only give you a ‘rough’ idea of the net salary, it’s important × to keep that in mind.” words

Alix Rassel

3.

The hiring bottleneck Employers are hiring at a rate not seen since the financial crisis. This demand sees upward pressure of salary expectations,

but this is clashing with employers’ desire to keep costs under control. Who’s winning this battle?

Around 1,200 more jobs have been created each month in Luxembourg over the last two years. Increases on this scale haven’t been seen since the financial crisis. Growth sectors include business services, mainly accounting activities, temporary work and cleaning activities, said the national statistics office Statec. Other strong increases are seen in construction, financial and insurance activities, and healthcare and social welfare services. Financial and business services are driving economic growth, and this is leading to job creation across the economy and in the state sector to support this expansion.

Substance and Brexit

“Keeping up with regulatory change has been a major driver,” said Sinéad O’Donnell, director of DO Recruitment Advisors.

“Accountants, legal, risk specialists and so on are needed to ensure compliance and → to provide the substance firms need.”

↑

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? Switching jobs Robert Walters, a recruitment firm, estimated “10-15% average salary rises for professionals changing jobs in 2018” in the banking and financial services sector.

Staying put Luxembourg is “experiencing an increasingly competitive war for talent,” Joël Poilvache of Robert Half, another recruitment firm, wrote in its 2019 salary guide.

“To really win this ‘war’, the best line of attack may very well be a defensive one: companies with a clear retention and talent management strategy will eventually come out on top.”

To foster loyalty, employers need to be flexible with their staff and invest in training, in addition to offering financial incentives, according to the firm.

Photo → DO Recruitment Advisors

66

Sinéad O’Donnell Director DO Recruitment Advisors

↓

“ Often, we are seeing clients seeking people with three to seven years’ experience.”

↑

AUTOMATIC RAISES Under Luxembourg’s “indexation” system, pay and pension payments rise automatically when the average inflation rate remains 2.5% or higher for more than six months. Wages go up by 2.5% for all employees. The last indexation took place in August 2018.

EXECUT IVE

68

WINTER 2019

Accountants with qualifications respected in the English-speaking world are particularly sought after at the moment.

Brexit is also having a substantial effect, as UK-based firms seek to ensure long-term access to markets on the European mainland. Statec recently estimated that more than 40 financial companies have indicated they would be transferring some of their operations to the grand duchy for this reason. The statistics office reckons these relocations have brought at least 400 new jobs to date, but this figure looks quite conservative.

Anecdotal evidence suggests dozens of firms are hiring 5, 10, 20 people to meet their Brexit strategy. Mostly, this is back and middle office support, but some are going further. “Some asset managers are starting to put front office support here,” noted Richard Neale, director of Redbridge Recruitment.

“These are not front office staff as such, but people who have good knowledge of the products and so can add value,” he explained.

Mainly, this appears to be about building substance to avoid accusations of creating “letterbox” companies, rather than a strategic shift of centralising operations in Luxembourg. However, there are instances of firms taking the decision to rationalise operations here.

Effect on salaries

As the months and years go by, we feel the drip-drip effect of this increase on the daily commute and house prices, but what about salaries? It appears that employers are trying to avoid major wage-bill commitments by targeting younger, perhaps more ambitious, staff to carry the load. “Salaries are increasing, but at a quicker rate at the junior

0-3 years’ experience

3-5 years’ experience

5-8 years’ experience

More than 8 years’ experience

CFO – financial sector

75-85

85-100

100-120

>120

Treasury manager

70-80

80-90

90-110

>110

Financial controller

50-70

70-80

80-90

90-110

General accountant

30-35

35-40

40-55

55-65

AML/KYC analyst

32-50

50-55

55-65

-

Legal officer – bank

32-45

50-60

60-80

80-120

Tax advisor – trust

40-55

55-70

70-90

100-130

Office manager

30-31

31-36

36-42

42-48

to middle end,” said Neale. O’Donnell agreed: “Often, we are seeing clients seeking people with three to seven years' experience.

These people can be effective and operational, but at a reduced cost.”

Thus, firms might hire one or two executives to run the office on €100,000 plus per annum, but they calculate that two young people earning half are better for other roles. The belief is that enthusiasm and commitment will be sufficient to compensate for a lack of experience.

Not least because firms coming from the UK can be quite surprised at salary expectations in Luxembourg.

“Accountants with a few years' experience can receive five to ten job offers, but those with 15 years might only get one or two,” said O’Donnell. Pressures on salaries appear to match this, as those with relatively less experience are able to push for substantial hikes, while their older, higher earning colleagues tend to tread water. This is probably a temporary phenomenon while the market adjusts to new realities. But until a plateau is reached, such market distortions are likely to persist.

Sweetening the pill

Some are seeking ways to massage the salary negotiation process. Fringe benefits such as parking spaces are increasingly sought after. Several employers are looking to introduce more structured systems of substantial bonuses, offering 20%-30% rather than the one or two months that have been standard until now. The aim is to make remuneration more results-driven.

Salaries offered can depend on the size of the office. Places with just a handful of

staff might be willing to pay at the upper end. Good news for the employee, although working in a smaller place reduces opportunities for promotion.

Some firms are bringing in senior people from the UK in Brexit-related activities, but they need to hire locally as they require staff to have experience of working with local financial regulators.

The market has been very active in recent years in the financial and corporate sectors, and so this has been a boom time for recruiters. However, the thought remains that we are nearing the point where substance levels reach their optimum and Brexit plans will have been enacted.

Ambitious office building plans are taking shape on the Kirchberg and Cloche d’Or, but will the market rise to meet this supply?

End in sight?

“I’m still talking to new firms that want to come to Luxembourg, and those who are already here after hiring their senior managers and they are now looking to hire,” said Neale. As well, new avenues keep appearing. For example, law firms have made a major move to Luxembourg in recent years, often with ambitious business plans. The recent arrival of the Bank of Singapore to run private banking activity from Luxembourg has made people think that maybe more is set to come in this direction. Neale added: “People have been saying for a while that we should expect the market to plateau, × but there is little sign of it yet.” words

Stephen Evans

Source → Hays

Salary scale Selected white-collar salaries, 2018 (€’000s)

WINTER 2019

Photo → Greenfield Sàrl

70

Know what and why Perspectives

What advice and tips would you give to future jobseekers in Luxembourg?

Christopher Purdy Managing director Greenfield

This is a very wide topic, and, of course, suitable advice for jobseekers will change dependent upon the function or role being looked for, the experience of the individual seeking employment, and the actual aspirations of the individual jobseeker.

At Greenfield, we specialise in both senior and strategic hires across the funds, financial services and commercial sectors in Luxembourg, and my advice would be geared towards these arenas, although, of course, could be generically applicable also.

Network!

Of course, we know that networking is important for career development, but it is important to remember that in Luxembourg, access to key decision makers in hiring companies can be as simple as attending the correct industry specific event. You never know when you will make that career-defining connection.

Your network is your most powerful jobseeking tool.

Know what you want

A clear recruitment plan is essential, and you must be clear on the type of role you are looking for, the industry, the characteristics of the company you would like to work for, and the career path and professional development you desire.

Know why you want to change role

It is essential that you understand why you are looking to make a move. Is it company culture? Is it for future career development? Remember that a salary increase should not be the most important of your considerations--no amount of money will compensate for leaving a great × place to work.

Photo → Patricia Pitsch/Maison Moderne (archives)

Photo → Institut National des Langues

Perspectives

Photo → Crestbridge

71

Get prepared

Adaptability and lifelong learning

Know the environment

Fiona St Clair-Bolam Director, group head of HR Crestbridge

Antoine Rech Administrative and financial director Sacred Heart University Luxembourg

Karin Pundel Director INL

There are a number of things to consider from a jobseeker’s perspective when seeking a career move.

Giving advice to future jobseekers is challenging, but in our fast-changing environment, two generalities always make the difference: adaptability and skills demanded. Our team constantly monitor the feedback from operators to redefine the content of our courses and design new ones that are in demand by firms.

For example, only a few years ago, we were not offering any courses in behavioural finance, digital transformation, private equity, digital supply chain management or blockchain virtual currencies. Now we do.

It’s a lot about languages, but not only.

Having participated in numerous recruitment processes these last years, one general piece of advice is to have a sound knowledge of the selected company as well as a clear motivation for applying. Obviously, you need to meet the educational requirements and it’s an advantage to have comprehensive work experience. If your CV is not straightforward, be prepared to provide clear explanations about your career path.

Research the market

Research the market thoroughly to gain a good understanding of job opportunities. This includes seeking advice from recruitment agencies and finding out what vacancies they have on their books, and talking to friends in the finance industry to see if there are opportunities at their workplace.

Update your CV

Remember: don’t make it too detailed; keep it factual; and cover and highlight previous experience that will be relevant to the role for which you are applying.

Do your homework

In advance of any interview, spend time preparing. Ask contacts who work there about the culture of the company. What is the common language in the office? What is the management style of the leadership team? Investigate the office location. Is it near to the train station, tram stops, shops, restaurants? Familiarise yourself with the job description. Prepare questions you want to ask at the interview.

Interview

First impressions are vital, so ensure your first meeting with your prospective employer is memorable for the right reasons. Dress appropriately for the role.

Arrive on time--ideally 5 minutes early.

Turn your phone off. Demonstrate honesty and integrity throughout your interview.

Remember your list of questions--but don’t ask about salary on your first interview.

Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. × Best of luck!

Someone seeking a job or looking to redirect a career will have to take into consideration the local market. Of course, the ideal situation will be that a candidate will have skills and knowledge that companies are looking for. In that matter, higher education can definitely facilitate the match.

Whatever time frame, whatever location, it is crucial to understand that adaptability will be key. A fisherman will still need to be able to fish but that same fisherman will need to adapt to the climate change, as jobseekers will need to adapt to artificial intelligence, social entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Adaptability and lifelong learning will be the privileged assets for a × career progression in the long run.

The Luxembourg employment market is not an El Dorado where you just need to reach out to get recruited. Getting to know the Luxembourg multilingual and multicultural environment seems essential to me as well as having a basic notion of the functioning of the country.

Even public administrations increasingly hire people from abroad. However, without a solid knowledge of at least two of the three official languages, it will be hard to enter the public service, take part in the compulsory training programme and succeed in the exams for a permanent job contract.

With nearly 12,000 course enrolments per year in one of the three official languages of Luxembourg, the Institut National des Langues experiences this need for language learning for professional purposes on an everyday basis. People are eager to learn, but also clearly feel the pressure from the job market to be fluent in these languages.

So not surprisingly, our learners cite professional reasons and social integration × as their primary motivation.

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SALT THERAPY CLIENTS The salt cave is recommended as therapy for people with bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, allergies, skin disorders such as psoriasis, cardiac and rheumatic complaints, sleeping disorders, thyroid dysfunction, and even stress, depression or exhaustion.

WINTER 2019

↳ www.salzgrotte.lu

interview

Entrepreneurs

Dead Sea breathes life in Junglinster Can Dead Sea salt keep away the flu by boosting your immune system?

Victoria Jakobek’s customers at the Salzgrotte in Junglinster think so.

words photo

Sarita Rao Mike Zenari

I

n an unassuming corner of Junglinster, you’ll find the Salzgrotte, a haven for relaxation and therapy. Created by ­Polish-born Victoria Jakobek, who came to Luxembourg 25 years ago, it contains 3.5 tonnes of the white crystalline delivered directly from the Dead Sea. “I grew up in Krakow, which is close to the salt mines in Wieliczka. I discovered the health benefits of salt in my early childhood as it was in direct proximity. After I moved here, I wanted to bring this alternative form of therapy to the people in Luxembourg and for them to recognise the health benefits of salt for strengthening their immune system

while drifting away into deep relaxation,” explains Jakobek.

The salt grotto's unique microclimate and sheer whiteness offer a place of calm, whilst breathing in all the minerals, ­Jakobek believes, enhances the body’s defences.

Jakobek used a Polish company called Zdrowa Grota to transform the salt into a cave. The walls are made from pressed salt, the ceiling is covered in stalactites, also made from salt, and the floor is covered with 20cm of salt. Visitors are invited to sit on recliners, listen to calming music and just relax. Light therapy, in the form of gentle colours that change from warm reds, yellows and oranges to cooler violets, blues and indigos, creates a womb-like ambience.

“One session lasts 45 to 50 minutes. To ensure that our visitors feel at ease and are able to switch off completely, we book the entire salt cave per booking request.

Regardless of whether you come alone or with the entire family, you will not be sharing the space with strangers. I believe that the soothing effect of the salt cave is enhanced when sessions are kept private,” says Jakobek.

Her customers include people of all ages, from young families to older people, and those with skin problems or respiratory complaints. “Families with kids as young as 3 months are amongst our recurring visitors. Older people are also interested in this as an alternative to a regular spa.”

The Salzgrotte also welcomes groups from elderly homes and senior clubs.

The Salzgrotte also offers reflexology sessions in the cave, in addition to shiatsu, reiki, hot stone and other types of massage which are given elsewhere on the premises.

“Over the years, I’ve noticed for myself, and it has been confirmed to me many times, that the salt therapy does have a remarkable effect on the immune system as well as on general health. The air in the cave contains high amounts of iodide and minerals. In other words, it mimics the climate you can find at the seaside. As this country is completely landlocked, I wanted to create a place which is equally beneficial for people in and × around Luxembourg,” says Jakobek.

Agenda

WINTER 2019

PC4E Toastmasters

ANELD

Demo meeting

Meet & Discover

Pitch Craft 4 Entrepreneurs, a newish Toastmasters public speaking club for business owners, holds an open session on refining an elevator pitch.

Luxembourg law students can hear about legaltech and other technology topics from practitioners at Arendt & Medernach, a major law firm.

Thu 20 Dec 2018, 16:00

Tue 18 Dec 2018, 18:45 The Office coworking space

Arendt House, Kirchberg

The Office SARL

ANELD - Association Nationale des

Russian Club of Luxembourg

Étudiants Luxembourgeois en Droit

8th Russian Charity Ball

British Chamber of Commerce

Members cocktail

Level2 Hackerspace

Open Tuesday “This is a place where people interested in computers, science and technologies can hang out together, tinker with technology, hack on projects, socialise, and collaborate.”

John Marshall, the UK ambassador to Luxembourg, hosts the chamber’s annual new year reception. Members only. Space is limited. Book by 2 Jan. Wed 9 Jan 2019, 18:30 British ambassador’s residence ↳ www.bcc.lu

Tue 18 Dec 2018, 20:00

Formal fundraiser for Russian children’s charities. Held under the patronage of Étienne Schneider, Luxembourg’s deputy PM and economy minister (second from left).

Sat 19 Jan 2019, 19:00 Cercle Cité

Russian Charity Ball Luxembourg

Eivilux

HR Lux Trade Fair A trade fair for human resources professionals in Luxembourg, featuring panels and stands from a variety of peers and providers.

Free, but advance registration is required.

Fri 25 Jan 2019, 08:30-17:00

Syn2Cat, Bonnevoie

A selection of upcoming business, informational and networking events for Luxembourg’s international community

European Convention Center

Syn2Cat asbl

↳ www.hrlux-tradefair.com Paperjam Club

Young adults & money Paperjam

Top 100 Every other year, Paperjam names the 100 most influential people in Luxembourg’s economy. Who, if anyone, replaces construction exec Marc Giorgetti at number one?

Wed 19 Dec 2018, 18:00 Rockhal, Belval ↳ club.paperjam.lu

Millennials are redefining the meaning of luxury, investing and work, says Pascal Monfort, a consultant who speaks on how banks and insurers can gain their trust.

Thu 17 Jan 2019, 18:30 Banque de Luxembourg ↳ club.paperjam.lu

Luxembourg-Poland Chamber of Commerce

Monthly meetup Network with members of the LPCC, who are active in a number of sectors, including finance and technology. The chamber’s official language is English.

Thu 31 Jan 2019, 18:30 To be announced

Luxembourg-Poland Chamber of Commerce

British Chamber of Commerce

Bausch luncheon François Bausch, at press time the Green party sustainable development and infrastructure minister, will address the chamber at this networking luncheon.

Wed 30 Jan 2019, 12:00 La Table du Belvédère, Kirchberg ↳ www.bcc.lu

Find more events Check Delano’s digital agenda for the latest happenings: ↳ www.delano.lu/agenda

Photos → Mike Zenari → Alexandre Debiève via Unsplash → Maison Moderne → Arendt & Medernach/Gaël Lesure → Helena Lopes via Unsplash → Lala La Photo → Matic Zorman

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STUPID FUCKING BIRD

– 11, 12, 17, 22 & 23 JANUARY 2019 AT 8PM

THÉÂTRE DES CAPUCINS With Matthew Brown, Isaac Bush, Catherine Elsen, Elisabet Johannesdottir, Rita Reis, Raoul Schlechter, Owen Sharpe Director Anne Simon Set & Costume Design Clio Van Aerde Assistant Director Tom Dockal Production Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

THÉÂTRE DES CAPUCINS 9, PLACE DU THÉÂTRE INFORMATION & TICKETS WWW.LESTHEATRES.LU WWW.LUXEMBOURGTICKET.LU

© BOHUMIL KOSTOHRYZ

CREATION

THÉÂTRE DES CAPUCINS

AARON POSNER

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WINTER 2019 in focus

International links

Tree for life Czech ambassador to Luxembourg Petr Kubernát and LSAP MP Marc Angel are pictured helping plant a lime tree to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. They were joined by Andrej Michalec from the Slovak embassy in Brussels, a number of representatives of Luxembourg political life and the leaders of both communities in the grand duchy. The lime is the national tree of the Czech Republic. The tree, planted in the park behind the Grand Théâtre, should live for around 1,000 years. Some guests likened the split of the Czech Republic and Slovakia to a very amicable divorce, while others said the two countries were like brothers who had grown up together but had decided to go their separate ways.

Children and adults from the Melimelo folklore group sang the national anthems of Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as an excerpt from the European Union anthem, Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’.

words photo

Duncan Roberts Matic Zorman

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International links

The Source A guide to culture and lifestyle

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86

88

Interview

Interview

Special feature

Stephan Gehmacher on the cultural influence of the Philharmonie

How an association is nourishing debate through cinema

Driving to the Alps or flying south?

Our holiday tips

Best of both worlds

Queer film

Winter getaways

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interview

Culture

WINTER 2019

The best of both worlds

The Philharmonie has become a classical music venue of international renown. But its director Stephan Gehmacher is convinced it can be even more influential on the cultural scene.

words

photos

Duncan Roberts Mike Zenari

duncan roberts You said in a recent interview that you have a great love of music. But where did that stem from?

In my case, education played an important role. Simply the family I grew up in. Music was always a topic throughout my childhood. I seemed to like the idea of talking about music, listening to and playing music myself. There was no way to escape. But I never thought about becoming a professional musician. However, during my law studies, I worked at the Salzburg festival in various departments. After I finished, the artistic director at the time was looking for a PA. I applied, thinking I could stop my law career for a year, but I didn’t get it. However, two weeks later, an even more interesting job as concert manager opened, and I interviewed for that. And that was it; I stayed there and never felt like I should return to law. One job came after another, so there was never a need to reconsider the decision.

stephan gehmacher

How important is high culture in attracting businesses and talent to Luxembourg?

It’s obvious that a city or region that wants to attract people to work and live needs a culture offer. Because Luxembourg is such an international place, they created institutions that have an international programme. Like the Grand Théâtre chose not to be a local repertoire theatre, but it brings the best of the world to Luxembourg and makes local audiences, and sometimes artists, interact with them. And that attracts people like me and many collaborators to the Philharmonie. Also, if you talk with international musicians and artists, they name Luxembourg along with all the worldwide capitals of music. It has become one of the places where the world’s most interesting musicians want to play. It is fascinating to see how that has developed.

We were lucky that the architect [Christian de Portzamparc] and the people who shaped the project in the beginning took some good decisions. We have a concert hall that is the perfect size, has perfect acoustics, wonderful architecture. It is a place people want to be, on stage as well as a member of the audience. The challenge, nevertheless, remains to bring that together for a limited audience.

How important is touring for the OPL’s international reputation and for the development of its musicians?

The orchestra has quite a rich history.

With the opening of the Philharmonie in 2005, they were challenged with being put in the international context. As a consequence, in 2012, the OPL and the Philharmonie merged with the challenge →

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↑

Stephan Gehmacher Director, Philharmonie

Culture

“ Classical music will always be at the core of the programme.”

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Then you see how well the machine functions, but also how sensitive it is when you do something really different.

We have a fairly unique concept of working with a project manager for every concert or series. They steer the development of the project across the fields, which has proven to be very efficient so that not every decision has to go up and down the hierarchy.

WINTER 2019

Is there no danger you may step on some toes by booking artists like Einstürzende Neubauten or Ólafur Arnalds?

We are careful. Classical music will always be at the core of the programme, but we want to look left and right and see what’s there, what’s interesting for our audience but also for us as an institution. The question is, do we assume that people who come to Nils Frahm or Ólafur Arnalds will only come for them, or can we also interest them, in the long or short run, in classical music?

I don’t yet have an answer. I am convinced that both worlds will come together, which doesn’t mean mixing the repertoire but mixing how they are presented.

How important is the young people’s programme?

I think from the beginning, under my predecessor [Matthias Naske], the idea was to offer a programme to every generation.

But not in the sense that children are our future audience, but to really take them seriously as our current audience. I think we have found the right programme for all those under 12. We have not yet found the ideal way, and I don’t think anyone has, for teenage audiences--it’s the hardest age group to programme for. Uniquely, in Luxembourg, the student audience is also difficult. Those who are here seem less interested in the culture offer.

THE PHILHARMONIE Opened in 2005, the iconic concert hall now attracts world renowned musicians and orchestras as well as putting on a programme for younger audiences. It hosts some 450 concerts a year and pulls in audiences of over 150,000. ↳ www.philharmonie.lu

of how to create more local identity with the orchestra. How do you get someone moving from London or Paris to identify with the local orchestra, especially when international orchestras come here to perform? On the other hand, we also wanted to develop the orchestra internationally.

I think we have reached a new level.

Last year, the Philharmonie hosted around 450 concerts. How do you cope with the sheer logistics of that?

The output is, of course, teamwork, and everyone has to play their role. Starting from the production to the marketing and front of house and ticketing, it’s a welloiled machine. The real challenge is when we step out of our comfort zone for things like the Rainy Days festival, where we host concerts in people’s houses, for example.

Finally, like many other cultural institutions, the Philharmonie closes during the major school holidays.

Are there any plans to change this?

Gradually, we have started to open on the first and second weekend of the autumn, carnival and Easter holidays. We do have some programme during the Easter week.

But, like every concert hall in the world, we also need a 3- or 4-week break in the summer to perform all the technical work that is required. We can only do that when the house is not operational. And I don’t think there is yet the critical mass of tourists to fill our concert hall in the summer. Furthermore, especially during the EU summit weeks, it is often very difficult to find good hotel accommodation for our artists at a good price. But we will continue extending our summer by holding the big open-air × concert in the Kinnekswiss park.

On stage

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A major musical, edgy theatre, fun with classical music and the hippest Irish band on the scene Theatre

Cats WINTER 2019

A touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hugely successful musical, based on the poems of T.S. Eliot, comes to the Rockhal.

The record-breaking show features a string of familiar songs including ‘Memory’ and ‘Mr Mistoffelees’. It is a show for the whole family, and children under 14 get in for half price.

5-10 February Rockhal, Esch-Belval ↳ www.rockhal.lu

Dance

Angelin Preljocaj

Europe – My Heart Will Be Broken and Eaten

Theatre

Rumpelstilzchen Another chance to see Ian de Toffoli’s post-modernist take on the Grimm fairytale. Directed by Myriam Muller, the play is dark and fantastical but not without humour as de Toffoli’s script satirises the modern financial industry. Marco Lorenzini makes a wonderful malevolent creature and a brilliant cast features the likes of Elisabet Johannesdottir, Larisa Faber and Pitt Simon. The production uses projections, sound and lighting design and music and costume to marvellous effect. There are subtitles in English.

27-29 December

German director Armin Petras takes on a text by Romanian author Salat Lehel that is itself inspired by Jean Cocteau’s “La Voix humaine”. A young Eastern European woman, only seen on screen, is trying to better herself.

Played by Maria Tomoiaga, she has a series of telephone calls with a not-so-young wealthy but bored western man, Jean-Guillaume Weis.

The audience doesn’t hear him speak, just sees him reacting.

12 & 13, 30 & 31 January and 1 & 2 February Théâtre National, Luxembourg-Merl ↳ www.tnl.lu

27-29 December Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg ↳ www.theatres.lu

MUSIC ROUNDUP Hang player Manu Delago performs on the instrument (which was only invented in 2000) at the Philharmonie on 10 January.

Over at den Atelier, the ever-popular Tom Odell plays a show on the back of his third studio album “Jubilee Road” on 21 January, and the eclectic alternative rock outfit Cake plays on 25 January.

Singer-songwriter Kevin Devine and Vancouver experimental pop trio We Are The City play de Gudde Wëllen on 23 and 30 January respectively. ↳ www.philharmonie.lu

Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg

www.atelier.lu

↳ www.theatres.lu

www.deguddewellen.lu

words

Duncan Roberts

Photos → Bohumil Kostohryz → Alessandro Pinna → Jean-Claude Carbonne

Theatre

French dancer and choreographer Angelin Preljocaj returns to the Grand Théâtre with his latest show. “Gravité” explores different aspects of gravity, with 15 dancers interpreting sensations of weight and mobility. Preljocaj sets the different to carefully selected works by Gérard Grisey, Philip Glass and Johann Sebastian Bach.

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Wang, Igudesman & Joo Russian violinist Aleksey Igudesman and Korean pianist Hyung-ki Joo perform shows as a duo that combines comedy with classical music and popular culture. Their musical sketches reach a wide audience and have brought many great musicians to tears of laughter. Here, they team up with vibrant violinist Yuja Wang for what promises to be a hugely entertaining evening.

3 February Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg ↳ www.philharmonie.lu

On stage

TOP PICK

Pop

Theatre

Stupid Fucking Bird

Classical

Pascal Schumacher The Luxembourg vibraphonist performs a new project titled “Rosace.8” with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Schumacher sees the vibraphone as the lynchpin of multi-sensual perception and this new show promises to be “an evening full of electrifying discoveries.”

30 January Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg ↳ www.philharmonie.lu

Anticipation is high for the latest project directed by Anne Simon.

The Luxembourg director brings vital energy to whatever she touches.

Aaron Posner’s “Stupid Fucking Bird” is right up Simon’s street and will thrill anyone who saw her excellent take on Zach Braff’s “All New People” in 2017. An irreverent, contemporary and very funny remix of Chekhov’s “The Seagull”, Posner’s play was hailed by The Economist for being “new and crackling, at once incisive, poignant and darkly funny.”

Simon, as is her wont, promises to push the boundaries of the play.

A cast including some of her favourite actors, like Isaac Bush, Elisabet Johannesdottir and Owen Sharpe, should prove equal to the task.

11 & 12, 22 & 23 January Théâtre des Capucins, Luxembourg-Centre ↳ www.theatres.lu

Rock and roll

Fontaines DC Playing what has been described as “concise and immediately authentic indie-punk”, Dublin quintet Fontaines DC has been the subject of much hype in the music press and on radio. Singer Grian Chatten does nothing to mask his Dublin accent and the rest of the band pummel their instruments with wild abandon, creating garage music that hits the solar plexus with real force.

This should be a blistering gig.

16 January

Photos → Florence Grandidier → Bohumil Kostohryz

De Gudde Wëllen, Luxembourg-Centre ↳ www.deguddewellen.lu

Hip hop

The Streets Classical

BalthasarNeumann Ensemble Conducted by its founder Thomas Hengelbrock (photo), the Balthasar-Neumann Choir & Ensemble performs a programme featuring Franz Schubert’s ‘Stabat Mater in G minor’ as well as his 8th, ‘Unfinished Symphony’.

The programme is completed by Robert Schumann’s ‘Missa Sacra’.

Balthasar-Neumann is frequently listed among the world’s “20 greatest choirs”.

Mike Skinner returns to den Atelier for a third show. Incredibly, over 10 years have passed since The Streets were last in Luxembourg, on the back of fourth album “Everything Is Borrowed”. Having announced the cessation of the project in 2011, it is refreshing to see The Streets back with new material (even if the most recent tracks don’t reach the glory of ‘Weak Become Heroes’ or ‘Blinded by the Lights’) and a new live show--Skinner is a natural performer and knows how to interact with an audience.

10 February den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare ↳ www.atelier.lu

2 February Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg ↳ www.philharmonie.lu

Find more events Check Delano’s digital agenda for the latest happenings: ↳ www.delano.lu/agenda

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interview

Cinema

Nourishing the queer debate

WINTER 2019

A film-industry professional with a passion for promoting women in film, it seemed natural for Hélène Walland to join Queer Loox when she arrived in Luxembourg. words photo

Duncan Roberts Matic Zorman

QUEER LOOX Founded in 2015, Queer Loox is run by five associates--Hélène Walland, Constanze Weth, Alice Neusiedler, Katrien Deroey and Mari Väli. It hosts film screenings regularly at Rotondes. The next dates in 2019 are 9 March-Dutch feminist drama “Antonia’s Line”--and 7 May--German coming out film “Von Mädchen und Pferde”. ↳ www.queerloox.wordpress.com

T

he queer-feminist film series has held regular screenings at Rotondes since it was launched in 2015. Be it a German documentary portraying the daily life of transgender people, a Dutch “feminist fairy tale” about female empowerment, or a French coming-out drama, the films (often with English subtitles) attract a mixed audience, including a core of regulars.

“It is an open event, and anyone can attend. That also nourishes the debate,” says Hélène Walland, who has been helping select the films and publicise screenings since joining the collective in 2017. The five-strong team at Queer Loox choses films that audiences would usually not otherwise be able to see on the big screen in Luxembourg.

“And, of course, the film has to have an LGBT or a queer aspect or a feminist aspect, or all of them together. But we don’t really have an editorial line. We want to provide a platform for different topics related to LGBT culture and feminism, which you don’t see that much otherwise in Luxembourg.”

Audiences usually stay behind after the screening to discuss the film informally over a drink, but sometimes Queer Loox will also organise a more formal talk. “Last year, around Intersex Day [26 October], we had a discussion with different associations. We would like to do that more often,” Hélène explains. She cites Geena Davis’s “if she can’t see it, she can’t be it” quest to improve the representation of women and LGBT people in film as one of the ideas behind the Queer Loox screenings.

“Luxembourg is very progressive, even compared to France. It is important that those questions are raised in a more mainstream way,” says Hélène. “Women can be superheroes. There is transgender representation in films, and it is much more diverse than before. In the 70s or 80s, homosexuals in film were always represented in a very negative way. They committed suicide or were rejected by their family. And lesbians were hardly represented at all.”

The organisation also participated in the very first multi-discipline Queer ­Little Lies festival, which took place over three days at the Esch municipal theatre at the beginning of December. So progress is being made, with venues like Neimënster having a very interesting programme in its focus on feminist subjects. But in the face of wider global trends, Hélène is aware that this may not be permanent. “When you advance somewhere, there is always a backlash, and that × is not just limited to LGBT rights.”

2019 will shine! Day‌ and night We thank you for your loyalty and wish you a bright 2019.

Leo, energy provider of the capital Serviceline 8006-4848 • www.leoenergy.lu

travel

Holiday trips

WINTER 2019

Winter getaways

words

Annick Weber

Shorter days, below-zero temperatures and dreary weather conditions are part and parcel of winter in Luxembourg. For some, that is an excuse to hibernate and stay at home. For others, it is inspiration for an escape to the snowcapped peaks of the Alps or the warmer climes of more southern latitudes.

Escaping Luxembourg

WE ALL NEED A BREAK Having a holiday on the horizon makes the thought of weathering the colder months more bearable for a lot of Luxembourg residents, many of whom embark on planes, trains and automobiles to shake off the winter blues looming over the grand duchy. According to a TNS Ilres survey from 2016, a quarter of Luxembourg’s population make their way to the major European ski resorts each winter, with another large percentage planning weekend city breaks, Christmas market visits and sunshine getaways from December through to March.

Photos → CFL → ACL → Shutterstock

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Coach travel

SHORT HAUL TRIPS

↳ www.weloveto.travel ↳ www.emile-weber.lu

Hit the road

DRIVING TO THE ALPS “Austria remains the most soughtafter winter sports destination for visitors from Luxembourg,” says Robert Moro at the Automobile Club Luxembourg. “The busiest travel periods are around Christmas and New Year’s, as well as during the carnival school holidays.” From skis and snowboards to warm layers and boots, snow vacations usually demand a fair amount of bulky equipment, so the majority of continental Europeans opt for their cars as the number one way of getting to the slopes of Alpine Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy. ↳ www.acl.lu

Holiday trips

Other modes of transport are increasingly gaining popularity as viable alternatives to driving to winter sports areas in private vehicles. Luxembourg’s major bus providers like Sales-Lentz and Emile Weber offer fully organised package tours to Alpine resorts. But in the build-up to Christmas, they also provide a choice of one-day or weekend coach trips to some of the best Christmas markets in Europe, and after the holidays trips to take advantage of the sales in shopping meccas like Cologne and Antwerp, and outings to see the “winter wonderland” at Europa Park.

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Fly south

SOAK UP SOME SUN

WINTER 2019

Getting some winter sun is also the motto of many of the 700,000 annual customers of LuxairTours, the tour operator branch of the Luxembourg national carrier Luxair. “In winter, our leisure passengers have the tendency to choose slightly further afield destinations in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Tunisia,” says the airline’s Joe Schroeder.

This winter, LuxairTours’ offer also includes Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates.

This new destination has beach and adventure, including a zipline experience that is a great alternative to skiing if you want an adrenaline rush while descending a mountain.

Photos → Hadrian/Shutterstock → Pixabay

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↳ www.luxair.lu

Arctic adventure

WINTER WONDERLAND Perhaps the most unique holiday experience this season is a fourday trip to Lapland, organised

by LuxairTours to take place twice in February 2019. The northern Finnish adventure takes travellers to a destination just ten kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. It features a whirlwind of activities, from snowshoeing and dog sledding to getting up close with reindeers and visiting a local ice hotel. It may sound like fiction, but Lapland’s capital of Rovaniemi is home to the villa and headquarters of the real Santa Claus, who visitors get to meet in person. ↳ www.luxairtours.lu

DRIVING TO THE MOUNTAINS? TOP TIPS

Take a diagnostics test

Hire an MPV

Plan an alternative route

A good place to begin for getting a vehicle roadready for winter is the ACL Diagnostic Center in Bertrange. Specialists perform a 50-minute winter servicing test tailored specifically to cold-weather driving, topping up the antifreeze and checking the car battery, tyres, lights and brakes. This should provide peace of mind for braving the long, oftentimes traffic-jam-laden drive to the popular ski resorts.

For trips in bigger groups, the ACL gives club members the option to hire a sevenseater multipurpose vehicle with enough storage space for skiing gear, equipped with a ski box, tyre chains and, if necessary, a dog cage. Individual ski boxes and dog cages are available for rent to all members too.

“A lot of motorists are looking for alternatives to the general driving routes suggested by their sat-nav systems,” explains Robert Moro.

“This is where the ACL comes in; people call us up to ask us for our suggestions and help in finding the smoothest, quietest way of getting to their destination.”

PLAN AHEAD

18–20 January Luxexpo The Box ↳ www.expovakanz.lu

Railway journey

LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN The CFL Evasion division of the Luxembourg national railway company CFL helps snow-loving travellers arrange city trips to some of Europe’s most scenic winter wonderlands, among them Strasbourg, Zurich, Munich and Lyon. “Our customers are less about skiing, but more about discovering the regional Christmas markets and the wintery atmosphere in northern European cities,” says Simone Nilles, in charge of communications at CFL. “A growing number of train passengers from Luxembourg is now making use of the TGV services to travel south to warmer destinations like Montpellier and Marseille.” ↳ www.cfl.lu

Get your vignette

Take regular breaks

Be prepared

Another useful and time-saving measure is to purchase vignettes required for driving on the motorways of Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic in advance through the ACL. Each year, the Automobile Club sells some 17,000 vignettes alone for Switzerland, offered for the same price as at the Swiss border.

On the actual drive, Moro and his team recommend motorists take regular breaks in three- or four-hour intervals to stretch legs and get some fresh air. Driving speeds should be adapted to weather conditions and, especially in snow, safe distances should be kept between vehicles.

In case of congested traffic flow, which often demands turning off the engine, it is advisable to keep a blanket and a thermos flask with a hot drink in the back of the car. In case of a breakdown or accident, ACL can organise vehicle recovery, towing, repairs, taxis and hotels. ↳ www.acl.lu

Holiday trips

If you are planning a holiday later in 2019, then the Vakanz fair at Luxexpo The Box is an ideal place to start.

You might discover some exciting new destinations or bargain flights (Luxair traditionally has a bunch of good deals exclusively available if booked directly at Vakanz) and generally pick up some great advice on the latest travel.

91

words

WINTER 2019

In my suitcase

92

Aaron Grunwald Pitsch (Maison Moderne)

photos Patricia

↙ HP41 calculator “I used to have one of the best vintage collections of HP41 calculators,” says Platzer. “But I sold quite a substantial portion when I moved from San Francisco. I only kept the portion most dear to my heart.” At its peak, the collection included around 1,000 HP calculators (including several other models), which is now down to around 50 pieces.

Peter Platzer, an Austrian physicist turned entrepreneur, shares some of the things that he brought with him when he moved to Luxembourg.

↓ Physics thesis Vienna graduates typically bind their theses in black. “I bound mine in a Bordeaux red cover, a little reminder of doing something different from what everyone else is doing.”

Peter Platzer

EUROPE, ASIA & BOTH US COASTS Meet the CEO of Spire, a nanosatellite and data startup that opened its European headquarters in Luxembourg at the beginning of the year. Before moving to the grand duchy, Platzer split his time between San Francisco and Glasgow. Prior to that, he’d lived in Munich, Düsseldorf, Boston, New York, Washington, Bangkok, Singapore, Silicon Valley and Strasbourg. He arrived in Luxembourg on 14 January 2018 with his wife and 4-year-old daughter. Since then, the family has grown with the addition of two ocicats, Wolfie and Nannerl, the nicknames of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Mozart’s older sister.

The names allude to the fact that Platzer plays classical piano and worked his way through university by “singing in several professional choirs in Vienna”. He’s a tenor.

↓ Soldering iron “Since I was a teenager, I’ve liked working with electronics.” One of the first things he set up at his home office in Luxembourg was his soldering station.

93

In my suitcase

← Picture of his grandfather’s car This photo was taken, he thinks, around the turn of the century, when his “forward-thinking” grandfather owned one of three automobiles in Vienna. He displays it in his office.

↑ MBA diploma Platzer was named a Baker scholar, meaning he graduated in the top 5% of his Harvard Business School class. When he was admitted, he thought, “they made a mistake…

I don’t belong here with all the rich and famous”.

Platzer sold his flat in Vienna to pay for the degree. So graduating with distinction was a sweet reward. ← Pocket watch This golden timepiece belonged to his paternal grandfather, whom he never met.

↓

WHAT I REGRET LEAVING BEHIND

↑ Buddha statue The statue and accompanying medicine cabinet are “quite dear to my heart”. They’ve made each move with him since Platzer lived in Asia in the late 1990s.

Aquariums Platzer had a pair of aquariums where he created aquascapes, including one that was a “breeding ground for yellow and blue shrimp”, which were quite “nice scenes” to enjoy at his home in San Francisco.

Kids page

94

Thrilling acrobatics

The traditional New Year’s Eve show may be sold out,

words

Duncan Roberts

Balance and dexterity

ALSO COMING UP

Drum kids

Sculpture classes

Get your skates on

Percussionist Christoph Sietzen leads his Wave Quartet in an interactive concert for children aged 5 to 9. The marimba playing musicians, featuring Bogdan Bacanu, Vladi Petrov and Emiko Uchiyama, have been described as “sonic acrobats”.

Mudam is hosting a series of sculpture classes, available in English (as well as other languages) for children aged 9 to 12. The monthly classes, on Saturdays through to next June, will learn to model, assemble, cut and sand in order to create threedimensional art.

Even after the temporary ice rink on the place Guillaume II closes on 6 January, there are still other locations at which to skate at leisure. Kockelscheuer rink is open daily until 15 April and the open-air rink in Beaufort is open through 24 February for skating until 6 p.m.­--after that, the rink is given over to ice karting.

26 & 27 January Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg ↳ www.philharmonie.lu

Until 8 June 2019 Mudam, Luxembourg-Kirchberg ↳ www.mudam.lu

The show is inspired by the culture of the mountainous region of the High Plateaux, its ritual feasts, masks and music. The troupe’s 15 acrobats have amazing skills of balance and dexterity, and the show is marked by some beautiful tableaux and a good dose of humour. They are accompanied by five musicians. The music is described as percussive, as well as melodic. And, of course, the audience requires no specific language skills to enjoy the magic on stage. It really is quality entertainment for the entire family. The show lasts around 70 minutes × without an interval.

↳ www.kockelscheuer.com ↳ www.patinoire-beaufort.lu New Circus of Vietnam 2-4 January, 20:00 Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg ↳ www.theatres.lu

Photo → Dragon Images, Illustrations → Jan Hanrion (Maison Moderne)

WINTER 2019

The New Circus of Vietnam performs three shows to kick off the new year.

but there are still three chances to catch the thrills of the New Circus of Vietnam at the Grand Théâtre in early January.

The New Circus of Vietnam follows in the vein of pioneering work that developed what is now the new circus genre-shows that thrill and charm, tell a story often steeped in tradition, and eschew the exploitation of animals.

Founded by French-born brothers Nguyen Nhat Ly and Nguyen Lan Maurice, along with Tuan Le, the New Circus of Vietnam first toured the world to great acclaim with “Láng Tôi” (My Village). Now, they are back with a new show, “Teh Dar”, which means “going in circles around a fire” in the K’ho language of a minority ethnic group in central Vietnam.

Food trucks and live music on Christmas weekends !

JOY LOVE HAPPIN ESS MERRY CHRISTM AS

#christmasdecoration Wooden Candle Lantern H 35 cm

59,

95

Christmas Wooden Advent Calender Train

41,

95

19,95 each

59,95

Santa Claus H 20,5 cm

starting price

5,96

Plaid faux fur SKINS 150 x 200 cm

Ceramic Star white H 12 cm

each

6,95

145.Whisky Glass NEXT

Flower vase VELLUTO H 30 cm

starting price

Perfumed Candle SENS COLLECTION H 7 cm starting price

24,50

Open from Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

69, parc d’activités Mamer-Cap • L-8308 Capellen │ Tel.: 26 30 30 1

kichechef.lu

OPEN SUNDAYS 9, 16 and 23 December 2018 from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm Offers valid until 24 December 2018

Index

96

A

F

M

WINTER 2019

ADR 28

Hans Fellner

9

Analie Tax & Consulting

Fellner Louvigny

9

52

AssCoFisc 52

Laura Foulds

52

atHome 54

Lynn Frank

38

Berglind Fridriks

64

B

G

38

Boson Energy

42

Stephen Gehmacher

80

Stine Bülow

16

Philippe Graces

52

Christoph Bumb

28

Jan Grimbrandt

42

Pam Charlton

H 38

Crestbridge 70

D

14

Habitat Observatory

54

Samia Hedeil

38

I

SCAP 38

N

Spire 92

Nature Conservation Agency

60

Richard Neale

66

Magali Netrval

38

Now You Know It

12

Sinéad O’Donnell

66

Laure Omont

12

P Philharmonie 80

3, 28

INL 70

David John Pike

Democratic Party

3, 28

International School of Luxembourg 38

Pirate Party

28

60

Peter Platzer

92

DO Recruitment Advisors

66

Karin Pundel

70

Mirela Dragota

14

Christopher Purdy

70

Dyspraxie.lu 38

E Martin Elmquist Alexander Ernoult

72

Jean-Claude Juncker

28

16 8

European Investment Bank

42

Jane Exall

14

Expats de Lux Facebook group

14

Ladies of Luxembourg Facebook group Marina Lai Lentz LSAP

14 14 3, 28

Luxembourg Expats Facebook group

Q Queer Loox

L

86

R Antoine Rech

70

Redbridge Recruitment

66

Rotondes 86 14

Luxembourg Parents Facebook group

14

Luxembourg Philharmonia

16

Luxembourg Wood Cluster

60

38

Stine Bülow Jewellery

16

T

Mirco Rubel

8

U 42

W Hélène Walland

86

18

Department of the Environment

Victoria Jakobek

70

St George’s International School

United Nations

Déi Gréng

Dys-positiv 38

Fiona St Clair-Bolam

The Voice Kids

O

Passage 38

J

Sacred Heart University Luxembourg 70 Salzgrotte 72

Neimënster 86

Christian Barkei

C

My Mamer Facebook group

S

14

Z Heike Carl Zatterstrom

42

Zdrowa Grotta

72

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100001011011010010110000100000011100010111010101101001011100110010000001101110011011110111001101110100011100

Auntie Eleanor Who’s zooming who?

WINTER 2019

This month, Delano’s advice columnist answers reader questions on Luxembourgish grammar, theatre etiquette and keyboard problems.

Dear Auntie Eleanor, I hate getting stuck in traffic and am considering buying an electric scooter for the commute. But friends tell me they are illegal in Luxembourg. Is this true?

Marie in Metz

Gentle reader, it rather depends on where you’re using it. My friend at the transport ministry says if the scooter goes no faster than 25km/h, you can use it in the same way as a push bike, i.e., on bike lanes and roads. You don’t have to mess up your hair by wearing a helmet and nor do you need insurance. But, given the fact Luxembourg drivers make F1 look dull, it’s perhaps not a bad idea to invest in some lights and reflectors and truss yourself up like a Christmas tree. It’s worth mentioning that under the highway code you’re obliged to carry lights. You might also consider carrying an organ donor card. If you’re commuting on the motorway from Metz, definitely consider carrying a donor card.

DEAR AUNTIE ELEANOR, DELANO IS BEAUTIFUL, FANTASTIC, NICE, SUCCESS. YES! Jutta in Junglinster

Gentle reader, thank you for the kind words, but like many latecomers to the internet, you seem to have left your caps lock on permanently. Please contact anyone under the age of 21 for assistance immediately.

Dear Auntie Eleanor, I’m new to Luxembourg and I’ve heard a very concerning rumour: is it true that there is no Luxembourgish grammar?

I learned English by reading John Grisham novels.

Do you know if there are any similarly suspenseful novels in Luxembourgish?

Roksana in Rollingen

Gentle reader, there is, but even native speakers err in the linguistic labyrinth of diaereses, accents, double (or triple!) vowels, and don’t even get me started on the Eifeler rule. So, it is something for the courageous. But mastering it pays off: you can email all government services and all your Luxembourger acquaintances written with grammar that is far better than theirs ever will be!

“The Hobbit” has been translated into Luxembourgish if you’re willing to have the drama moved from the courtroom to Middle Earth (which truly, you should be).

SEND IN YOUR QUESTION Want to know something about Luxembourg?

Contact Auntie Eleanor via AuntieEleanor@delano.lu.

Please indicate if Delano can publish your name or if you wish to remain anonymous.

Dear Auntie Eleanor, my last two visits to the theatre, both excellent productions, were rather spoiled by people in nearby seats talking during the show. I am used to this in the cinema, where, after a “shush” and a dirty look fail, a brusque “shut the fuck up!” usually silences the perpetrators. But in live theatre, this option would risk disrupting the actors on stage. Any suggestions?

Beverly in Bereldange

Gentle reader, as someone who finds even the munching of that abhorrent invention that is popcorn an abomination in an auditorium, I can only sympathise. Although, I find theatre has become rather vulgar. When attending the opera, I find my sturdy silver topped cane (with its secreted flask for the odd nip of Drambuie) is an excellent and discreet weapon with which to prod the delinquent in question. That usually silences the buggers.

Dear Auntie Eleanor, why isn’t there a Dutch version of Delano?

Hedwig in Hesperange

Gentle reader, that’s a nifty suggestion, but producing a magazine in one language is already a serious enough endeavour for the poor hacks at Delano. Plus, we’ve been too busy eating kaaskroketten to work on it.

Dear Auntie Eleanor, what are your plans for the holidays?

Curious in Contern

Gentle reader, thank you for asking. While some celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, Auntie goes for a fortnight of 100% crémant. Not to give you the wrong idea; just ringing in 2019 with our local produce. And may I be the first to wish you × e gudde Rutsch.

Illustration → Jan Hanrion (Maison Moderne)

98

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