Rhea, who moved to Luxembourg at eight, reflects on its safety, languages and charm – but also what's missing for the younger generation.

At eight years old I left London to move to Luxembourg. The shift in environments was a major jump, going from a constantly buzzing, hectic place with busy streets and a large population to serene emptiness. Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries, its population is just over 680,000, and more than 47% are foreign nationals.

This mixture of nationalities is significant for education purposes; I believe it creates necessary exposure to develop children's language skills and perspectives. Luxembourg has three official languages, French, German and Luxembourgish but communication is manageable if you just speak English. This range of languages gives children an opportunity to learn young, since languages can be absorbed at a quicker pace.

However, social circles could present a language divide, which can be a challenge to immigrants whose first language is English. Its neighbouring countries are Belgium, France, and Germany, and they can be mostly reached in under an hour, making day trips feasible at any time of the day.

There are not many shopping malls in Luxembourg, and residents frequently cross the border to neighbouring countries for groceries and general merchandise. This could either be due to the higher prices in Luxembourg, or that there is not enough variety of stock to please residents.

In my opinion, Luxembourg is a delightful, small, convenient country for family life since it's one of the safest and cleanest nations in the world. Safety heightens the possibility of freedom levels, giving children an opportunity to increase their confidence and responsibility while growing up.

With a diameter making it easy to go from one destination to another in a short time, bumping into someone you know is very likely wherever you go in Luxembourg, which helps to build a sense of community in the country. It was the first country in the world with free public transport offering citizens a convenient, cheap style of travelling.

Additionally, from my experience, I’d say children from young ages have the opportunity to travel alone to school safely, saving adults time and creating a start to independence from young ages. I think the predominant factor in Luxembourg when growing up is the school you attend, as it influences who you become and affects the friends you make – which can shape your opinions, interests, likes and dislikes.

School is where most of one's childhood is spent, and where most memories are made. I’ve attended two different international schools in my time living in Luxembourg, Lycée Michel Lucius and St Georges, which were two very different experiences.
 
From my perspective, I think Luxembourg has beautiful scenery with many different viewpoints, hiking paths and forests, adding a charm to the country. It has good air quality and a sufficient amount of outdoor sporting locations, which contributes to a healthy life. Diverse cuisines and local cafes are accessible all around the country, making it easy to find something for everyone.

On the downside, there aren't that many activities and entertainment, or places to spend time with family or friends, which could lead to a feeling of boredom. The country is lacking some fundamental activities that could increase its visitors or even population, which would be nice to have while growing up.

Rhea Sheth is 15 years-old and was an intern at RTL Today in June 2025.