The year kicked off with former princess Tessy de Nassau announcing her engagement to Swiss businessman Frank Floessel.
From the sublime we descended rapidly into the ridiculous, with the news from Denmark that an animated children’s TV show had premiered which revolved around the life of John Dillermand - the man with “the world’s longest penis”.
In pandemic news, in late January all eyes were on Belgium following its announcement of a ban on non-essential travel to and from the country. The question most agitating our readers? “Can I go to IKEA?”
On home turf there was brighter news, however, with non-essential shops reopening earlier on in the month, although hospitality remained closed.
February started with more heart-warming news from the former princess, with Tessy announcing that a baby was on the way.
Mid-month, a large fire broke out in a building on the Place d’Armes in Luxembourg City. Fifty firefighters were mobilized to tackle the blaze, which could be seen from a great distance. Thankfully, injuries were limited to two people who suffered smoke inhalation.
In Covid news, as demand surged for hand sanitisers, Luxembourg’s environment agency found that three quarters of disinfectants on the market were non-compliant with Luxembourgish law.
Mask confusion also reigned in Luxembourg’s primary schools, with inconsistent rules for 5- and 6-year-olds forcing a clarification from the education minister.
March was a month of contrasts. On the one hand, many took cheer from the release of a UN report which found Luxembourg is the world’s eighth happiest country. On the other hand, a fatal crash on the N7 highlighted the dangers of driving on the country’s roads.
Pandemic-wise, there was cause for optimism as the government launched phases 5a and 2 of the vaccination campaign concurrently, thereby speeding out rollout of the jabs. But there was also a call for more patience, as prime minister Xavier Bettel and health minister Paulette Lenert delayed reopening of the hospitality sector.
This month it was all about real estate, with the news that house prices had soared by 17% in the last year alone, with the average house in the Grand Duchy costing a whopping 1.3 million euros. A vivid example of high prices was provided by this gem, for just €24,000 euros per square metre you could move into a fully renovated and modernised apartment in the heart of Luxembourg City!
As the vaccine rollout continued to expand, meanwhile, there was some welcome news for us all as the first customers were allowed back on to the terraces of cafés and restaurants across the Grand Duchy.
After learning last month about how expensive house prices can be, in May we found out that there are still some locations in Luxembourg that are affordable, more or less. Continuing the learning theme, we also got the backstory of the prime minister Xavier Bettel, discovering that fame runs in his blood - his ancestor is the classical music composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.
In pandemic news, the final phase of the vaccination campaign began with jabs becoming available for all residents aged 16 and 54. Hospitality also opened up further, with customers being allowed back inside venues.
We returned with enthusiasm to the story of Tessy’s pregnancy in June, enjoying the escapism of a photo gallery of Tessy and Frank’s baby shower - featuring papier mache storks and all. We followed the story with interest throughout the rest of the year, with Tessy getting married in July in Switzerland, and then welcoming a baby boy, Theodor, into the world in August.
The arrival of summer saw all manner of critters and creepy crawlies awaken from their winter hibernation. Oak processionary caterpillars, mosquitos, and chiggers were back in the Grand Duchy. Our report included some helpful steps to minimise the risk of allergic reactions or skin irritation.
Summer also saw a further easing off in Covid restrictions, with the curfew lifted and nightlife resuming. The arrival of the Delta variant in the UK led to bad news for some, however, as Luxembourg introduced mandatory quarantine and testing for arrivals from Britain.
Tragedy and devastation hit this part of the world in mid-July, with floods raging across Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. We kept you up to date on the rapidly unfolding situation with our live coverage.
Tragedy was averted in Bertrange, meanwhile, when a driver got stuck on a railway crossing, yet managed to escape their vehicle before a train crashed into it.
Reflecting back on the pandemic to date, a Der Spiegel data comparison found that Luxembourg had weathered the pandemic second best in the world, with only Finland balancing the economy and health more effectively.
If the prime minister thought he could relax a little, however, he had no such luck. July was also the month when Bettel got seriously sick with Covid - getting admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties. After a few days of treatment he recovered and was able to leave hospital and return to work.
August saw no let-up in what was turning into a particularly eventful year. At the start of the month, a man was shot in Ettelbruck after attacking police officers with a knife. He succumbed to his injuries.
At the end of the month, a report by Reporter.lu and the Nepali Times revealed the atrocious conditions of some Nepalese restaurant workers in the Grand Duchy, with interviewees detailing claims of violent abuse and poor living conditions.
If there was one story that continued to dominate, it was Covid vaccinations. A 22-year-old student in Italy became an unexpected internet sensation this month after tattooing the barcode of his Covid certificate on his arm.
We also revealed how, while helping the world to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, pharmaceutical firms had raked in billions from the jabs.
Another fatal crash caught the headlines in September, when a 20-year-old woman died in Esch-Belval after the driver lost control of their SUV, causing it to flip onto a roundabout.
In more light-hearted news, the prime minister was in the headlines again after he was spotted with health minister Paulette Lenert enjoying a rollercoaster ride at the Fun Um Glacis.
Vaccines were also prominent in the news this month. A new Covid law passed in the Chamber of Deputies, making CovidCheck mandatory for everyone over the age of six. During the parliamentary debate on the new law, Bettel denounced a “minority” of the population that “forces the majority” to live with restrictions instead of “participating in the collective effort”.
Showing an uncanny knack for remaining in the headlines, although not necessarily for all the right reasons, PM Bettel was again in the news as reports emerged that he may have committed plagiarism in his university thesis.
Our attention soon turned to other matters, though, with the news that Luxembourg was set to be the first country in the EU to legalise the domestic production and consumption of cannabis.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a month in the Grand Duchy without more housing news. We spoke to a researcher into the housing market, whosaid that pressures on land and property prices were approaching a ‘tipping point.’
October also saw the start of Luxembourg’s fourth wave of coronavirus, with the government going further to increase vaccinations with a tightening of the CovidCheck regime to prevent the unvaccinated from using self-tests to enter hospitality or leisure establishments.
This month you finally got to meet us in person! The Bazar International returned after a pandemic hiatus, and we had quizzes, good chat and general silliness in abundance.
This was also the month when we took the time to ensure our plans for the future were in order, as we learnt all about how to get a good pension in Luxembourg.
There was yet more Covid vaccine news as well, as the government recommended booster shots for everyone aged 18 or older. As pandemic concerns continued, measures were once again tightened with a 2G regime (vaccinated or recovered) implemented for leisure and hospitality, and a 3G regime (vaccinated, recovered or tested) announced for introduction in the workplace from January.
There was no escape from Covid news as we rounded off the year with the announcement that, from Christmas Day, a 2G+ regime (boosted, or vaccinated plus rapid test) and 11pm curfew were to be introduced in the hospitality sector.
Earlier in the month, the imposition of Covid-19 measures also prompted violent protests in the streets of Luxembourg City, with protestors clashing with police at the Christmas market. Protests continued throughout the month, although the majority of demonstrators remained peaceful.
Yet despite the ongoing tumult and restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, figures revealed that on a per-inhabitant basis, Luxembourg remains the wealthiest country in the world.
Finally, we looked ahead to what 2022 has in store for the Grand Duchy, breaking down the upcoming changes to taxes, housing, transport and more. As one commenter noted, however, unfortunately we can’t predict the weather for the year ahead. But for those who follow us on Facebook, we’ll do our best to keep you informed and entertained with our irreverent (some might say witty!) weather posts.
Wishing you a safe, happy and prosperous 2022, from all the crew at RTL Today!
