As of 1 January 2024, there were 2,859 Luxembourgers were living in Switzerland, according to Statec. This makes it the sixth most popular destination for Luxembourg expatriates, behind the United States but ahead of the United Kingdom. Having lived in the Alpine country for ten years, Bernard Ries, 45, “can’t imagine ever returning to Luxembourg.” After studying at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), this mathematics graduate worked as a researcher in the United States, then as a professor in England and France, before returning to Switzerland in 2015. A professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Fribourg, he has also been its vice-rector since 2019.
Paperjam: Why did you leave Luxembourg?
Bernard Ries: I chose to leave for my studies. At the time, there was no full degree course in Luxembourg, because the University of Luxembourg had not yet been created. After that, the question for me was: why not return to Luxembourg to work? As I wanted to stay in academia, the University of Luxembourg was my only option. However, professorships there are rare, and there was no indication that a position in my field of research would be opening up any time soon. At the same time, I had really enjoyed my experiences abroad. I therefore preferred to stay outside the country.
Was Switzerland your first choice?
Absolutely. The university system here is particularly well developed, with excellent universities and polytechnics. What’s more, the quality of life here--between the mountains and the lakes--is exceptional. By chance, a position corresponding to my field of research opened up in 2015 at the University of Fribourg. So I decided to apply.
So leaving Luxembourg was not a difficult decision?
Yes and no. On the one hand, my wife and I were aware that it meant moving away from our family and friends. On the other hand, we knew that Switzerland wasn’t far away and, more importantly, we’d already lived there, so we were able to anticipate our new life. So we couldn’t wait to go back. Our previous experience there had left a very positive impression on us. What’s more, an opportunity like this, with this position in Fribourg, would probably never come up again.
How did it go, settling down in Switzerland?
When we arrived in Fribourg, we hardly knew anyone. At first, you mainly talk to your work colleagues, but outside the professional environment it can be lonely. However, we quickly made friends. As our children were born in Switzerland and go to school here, this has enabled us to meet other parents and widen our social circle. Our involvement in associations and sporting activities has also made it easier to meet people.
Fribourg is a city that is passionate about its ice hockey team. As a fan of the sport myself, I went to games whenever I could, which gave me the opportunity to meet new people. All in all, I don’t think it was too difficult to integrate. You just had to take the first step towards others.
What opportunities have you encountered as a Luxembourger?
We are naturally multilingual, with good skills in French and German. Fribourg, on the border between French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland, is a bilingual city, as is its university. My language skills have opened doors for me, including the position of vice-rector of the university. At our meetings, everyone speaks their preferred language, French or German. This in no way hinders my understanding and helps me to coordinate discussions.
What cultural differences between Switzerland and Luxembourg have impressed you the most?
What struck me most was the deep connection that the Swiss have with nature. They are very proud of their landscapes. At weekends, the station platforms are overflowing with people: they take the train to go to the mountains, to relax by a lake or to go skiing in winter. Hardly a week goes by without the Swiss being in direct contact with nature outside their homes.
Another aspect that impressed me was the ubiquity of public transport and cycling. The rail network is excellent and the trains are remarkably punctual.
What Luxembourg traditions have you kept abroad?
We celebrate Saint Nicolas the Luxembourg way: children receive presents. In Fribourg, St Nicholas Day is the main festival--he’s the city’s patron saint--but here, the children only receive biscomes [editor’s note: traditional Swiss gingerbread].
We also remain attached to Luxembourg specialities, such as Bouneschlupp or Baamkuch, and we like to introduce them to our Swiss friends.
The quality that I probably value most is our multilingualism.
How do the locals view Luxembourg?
I have to admit that the people around us know very little about Luxembourg. They imagine it as a small country where the quality of life is close to that of Switzerland, but beyond that their knowledge is limited. Except perhaps on one point: the fact that public transport is free for everyone. In fact, former minister François Bausch was once invited to the University of Lausanne to talk about this innovation, which made quite an impression on a lot of people. But most have never set foot in Luxembourg.
What stereotypes or preconceived ideas about Luxembourg do you think need to be corrected?
When I lived in France, I often heard that everyone in Luxembourg is rich and doesn’t pay tax.
To what extent do you feel you are an ambassador for Luxembourg?
I am always proud of my country of origin. I don’t hesitate to say that I’m a Luxembourger when we talk. As many people know little about this country, I like to share information and invite them to discover our little corner of the world.
What qualities do you put forward to represent Luxembourg positively?
The quality that I probably value most is our multilingualism. It’s a considerable asset, which I myself have benefited from, as has my wife. Sometimes we don’t realise just how many opportunities it can open up. It’s something that’s crucial to preserve in our education system.
What did you learn in Switzerland that you’d like to see in Luxembourg?
This strong link with nature and the respect we have for it have had a profound effect on me. I haven’t found it anywhere else until now. Even though Luxembourg doesn’t have any mountains, this relationship with nature could nevertheless be developed further.
Moreover, the Swiss are much more aware of living in a prosperous country. They are grateful for it and know how to be content with what they have. In Luxembourg, I often get the impression that this isn’t the case. We don’t always realise how lucky we are, and there’s this constant quest to always want more.
Do you want to come back and live in Luxembourg one day?
It’s often said that you should never say never, but honestly, at the moment, I can’t imagine ever returning to Luxembourg. We feel very much at home in Switzerland, as do our children. As they were born here and have always lived here, I think they feel more Swiss than Luxembourgish.
This article in French.