One of the most commonly voiced complaints about Luxembourg is that it’s boring (something I disagree with entirely), and that people are unfriendly (again, I disagree). As such, people often ask how and where to actually meet people and widen your social circle.
Having moved here in 2016 this is a situation I myself was in quite recently, though admittedly I did (indeed do) have the distinct advantage of having a Luxembourgish partner. Still, I’ve got a fair few suggestions to get your started.
Before we get into it, I’d love to hear from you, our readers, for this particular instalment (though of course we are always interested in hearing from you and getting feedback and suggestions). How did you go about meeting new people in Luxembourg? What advice do you have for newcomers or others who want to widen their social circle? Did I miss something that you think might be helpful? Let us know! Contact details at the end of the article.
Now, let’s do this thing!
We all feel a bit homesick at times, and many of us appreciate the opportunity to speak our native tongue for a change every once in a while. Being an exceptionally international country, Luxembourg offers no shortage of opportunities to meet people from pretty much any counry.
The first thing you might look for is a national society. There are quite a few around, and unfortunately I won’t be able to list all of them.
The main ones that I am familiar with are:
There are also several national women’s clubs, such as:
As noted above there are plenty more, and a quick Google (or DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, whatever search engine you may prefer) will be all it takes to find them. You can also contact your local embassy or consulate, as they will often have information about societies and other clubs and associations.
Another good way to meet people from your home country is to get involved with the organisation of the many national stands at the annual International Bazar.
And finally, those of you who are on Facebook will find no shortage of nation-specific expat groups on there. There’s this one for British people, this one for Irish folk, this one here for Swedes, or this one for Indians and Pakistanis, for example.
Nationality and language are, of course, not the only things that might bring people together. Some people apparently also have hobbies and interests outside of work! If you are one of those people. you will find no shortage of like-minded folk in the Grand Duchy.
While there is no shortage of different groups to cater for essentially any interest, finding them may not always be the easiest. Personally I tend to go to one out of two places when I want to find something specific - the first is the Luxembourg subreddit, the second is the huge Luxembourg Expats group on Facebook. I find both to be friendly places, and I’ve yet to see a question asked that has not been answered.
Several apps cater specifically to expats and young professionals looking to meet like-minded people in a casual and welcoming setting.
Meetup is one of those apps, where you can both text a person you like and meet up individually, or attend one of their regular events.
They organise regular fast-friending and networking events, created for those who are new in town and eager to build real connections and friendships. Their international language exchange night happens every single week, which is an amazing way to meet new friends and practice languages in a cozy pub setting.
Other apps commonly used in Luxembourg include Bumble, particularly the Bumble BFF feature, where users can swipe on profiles to find people they feel they might connect with, and Internations, which hosts many expat-focused events and networking opportunities.
Another option is to look at Eventbrite, where you will find a wide variety of events in and around Luxembourg.
Other apps commonly used in Luxembourg include Bumble, particularly the Bumble BFF feature, where users can swipe on profiles to find people they feel they might connect with, and Internations, which hosts many expat-focused events and networking opportunities.
To give you a taste of the variety of clubs and associations available in the Grand Duchy, here’s a list of ones that I am familiar with (but not necessarily part of myself, at least yet).
I’m more than happy to add to this list if you have any suggestions (contact details at the end of the article)!
Acting - New World Theatre Club
Acting - Pirate Productions
Choir - Voices International
Nerding out - Science Fiction and Fantasy Society Luxembourg
Writing - Lux Writers Who Talk
There are an almost silly number of sports clubs in Luxembourg, and again this list will be anything but exhaustive. Contact details at the end of the article if you’d like to have another team or club added - but do note that you have to (1) be open to new members and (2) at least partially operate in English.
Cricket - Optimists
Ice Hockey - Tornados
Lacrosse - Lacrosse Luxembourg
Rugby - Rugby Club Luxembourg
Volunteering is another great way to meet new people. If you don’t speak French, German or Luxembourgish you may think that volunteering opportunities are limited - but you’d be quite wrong! There are actually rather a few organisations around Luxembourg that are more than happy to take in anglophone volunteers as well.
The easiest place to start may be with one of the bigger international organisations such as Caritas, the Red Cross, Greenpeace, or Amnesty International.
There are scores of smaller organisations as well though, such as Serve the City, the Centre for Ecological Learning, or Dress for Success Luxembourg, to name but a few.
Luxembourg is multilingual, with Luxembourgish, French, and German widely spoken. Language classes are one of the easiest places to meet people because everyone shares the same goal, namely learning and practicing.
Popular places to study include Institut National des Langues Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Lifelong Learning Centre, where you can learn a language in a relaxed and social environment while still receiving structured, high-quality instruction.
Classes often include group activities and social breaks, making it natural to connect with classmates, so make sure to sign up!
Finally, there are many other events in and around Luxembourg worth the mention.
Carlitos Comedy Club often organises English comedy nights, which is perfect for expats who want to meet like-minded people. After the event, there is plenty of opportunity to mingle and meet new friends.
If you’re more into creative activities, The Social Club hosts a variety of arts and crafts events, including candle making, pot painting, and textured art, always accompanied by drinks and snacks. It’s a fun and relaxed way to meet new people while crafting something you can take home at the end of the day.
For those who prefer fancier mingling, you could try your luck at becoming a member at Cercle Munster, which is a local association with regular social and cultural activities.
Finally, Luxembourg Pride has many events and parades in July, with concerts, marches, artistic presentations and social gatherings. Perfect for those who want to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community in Luxembourg!
That’s it for now, but as I noted at the start of the article (and a few times throughout), I would love to hear how all of you went about meeting people and any advice you might have for others. Whether you’ve got a sports team or national society to add to the list, or a whole new section that you think should be added, anything and everything is welcome!
To get in touch, simply drop a message to audience@rtl.today.lu, under subject heading ‘Meeting new people in Luxembourg’.
