Niederkorn — Not All Villages Are Created Equal

So, if you’ve been following me over on the ‘gram, you’ll know I recently moved to Luxembourg City.

But….weren’t you already living there? You might ask.

No.

Yes, I moved to Luxembourg in September for graduate school, but Luxembourg — the country. It’s like New York in that sense. The capital of Luxembourg is Luxembourg.

So, where exactly was I living?

Niederkorn.

Don’t worry, a lot of people here struggle to find it on the map too.

It’s a tiny little commuter village of around 5,500 inhabitants. Many of whom are students like me, living in the random residence the University built there — due to cheap cost. The other residents don’t really spend much time there, as most commute to the capital city for work. Some also work in the various factories (more on that in a sec) in the south. Others perhaps Esch-sur-Alzette, the country’s second city.

And again, if you’ve been around the blog or my Instagram much, you’ll know I had a rough few months here in the Grand Duchy. A main catalyst of which was being absolutely depressed living in Niederkorn.

What was wrong with it?

Where to start…

Well, if you know me at all, you know that I don’t tend to prefer major cities. In fact, I loathe them, unless it’s somewhere special, like Sydney or Montréal. In general though, I prefer smaller cities or large towns. I love a good village charm. I’d love to live in Cotswold for example.

But man, Luxembourgish villages. At least in the south, are ummm….not great.

The north is another story, Vianden, LaRochette, etc. (also home to fairytale-like castles) are lovely. I think I’d be quite happy there — if a bit isolated.

The south however, is mostly an industrial commuter area. There’s still quite a few factories in use (which can’t be good for the air quality… a big no-no for me), and a LOT of traffic. All very surprising on what you’d think would be quiet country roads, due to most jobs being in the capital. Also, the thousands who commute across the border from Belgium and France drive through this part of Luxembourg, which just adds to the cars.

Seriously, for a country with free public transport, you’d think there’d be less personal car traffic.

It’s not exactly the fairytale European life many probably imagine.

What was specifically wrong with Niederkorn? Here’s a quick overview —

Niederkorn is Industrial AF

As already mentioned, there’s like an insane amount of factories still in use in this country. It’s initial wealth (now the richest country in the world) can be credited to the steel and iron industries. The factories for which lie in the south, where, yup Niederkorn is located. A lot are out of commission, and the old one in Belval has been incorporated into the University’s shiny new campus where I study and work.

But, industrial parks remain the norm in this part of the country, despite efforts to diversify the area, making Esch-sur-Alzette a European Cultural Capital.

On the train ride back from Luxembourg City one day I was astonished to count 5 factories between there and Niederkorn. Another day, after a run in the forest — which required climbing a hill from the village. I came across a perfect view of ANOTHER factory nearby on the descent down, steaming something that I’d never noticed before.

If you watch Disenchantment it’s basically Steamland (click to see what I mean) up in here, LOL.

Meanwhile in Niederkorn…

Yeah, probably note what you imagine life in a “quaint” European village to be.

There is Nothing in Niederkorn, seriously — NOTHING

Some of the other villages, such as neighboring Differdange, aren’t so bad, as they actually have amenities (bank, grocery store, a few cafes.) We had one bakery and a pharmacy. A Carrefour Express JUST opened in my last week there, but it’s expensive and not big enough to do the work of a regular grocery store.

It was particularly stressful after I first arrived and had all my immigration and admin stuff to handle. All of which required at least an hour to be blocked out to travel to/from whatever government office/bank/health center, have the appointment, you get the point.

I guess it wouldn’t be soooooo bad if you had a car, but still. Putting students there? Most of us foreigners who probably can’t afford a Luxembourgish car? WTF?! And even in the other surrounding villages there isn’t much. Yeah, I mentioned before that there’s a grocery store and some cafes, but come on, that is the BARE MINIMUM of somewhere you’re labeling a “village”. Particularly if one (i.e. the University) is sending students, most of whom don’t know anyone in this country, to live there.

Also, it’s just straight up creepy to basically live in a location that’s a ghost town 24/7 (but particularly after 6pm.) Honestly, more than that, it’s depressing.

Again, as I’ve said over and over, I tend to like a peaceful village vibe à la Cotswold. However, I’d say Niederkorn (and its’ neighbors) are more like a depressive Twilight-zone version of a country village, if that makes sense. A very eerily isolated one that isn’t particularly well-connected to Luxembourg City or Esch-sur-Alzette.

Why do people live out there and commute (often 1 hr or more if by car, as traffic is horrendous in this country!!)?

Great question. One that I’m not 100% sure of the answer. But my guess would be that since Luxembourg is so fucking expensive and the capital city particularly unaffordable, especially if you want to buy something, people are now going further and further out to have a house.

Personally, I don’t think it’s worth it. As a student especially, but even if I was a long-term or permanent resident, I don’t think I could stomach living there, no matter the size of the house. There’s no community feel or town center to make for a nice quality of life.

There’s a few forest trails, but compared to the beautiful castles and nature in the north (which I’ve barely been able to explore as it’s so out of the way), Niederkorn doesn’t even begin to cut it.

Major Roommate Problems

OMG where do I even begin?!

Well, let’s start with the worst one, I won’t name names (because I’m nice like that), but man, one of the guys just thought he knew everything about everything regarding studies, Luxembourg, and life in general.

He had lived in the residence for over 2 years. The rest of us were brand new, so he thought he owned the place and was constantly nitpicking and micromanaging what we could and couldn’t do.

Par exemple:

• Stay out of this sink because he’s a vegetarian and doesn’t want animal products on it (then rent your own studio dude.)
• Don’t buy that soap (you don’t have to use it.)
• Don’t buy a certain kind of pesto (DUDE WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT I EAT?!?!)

Not to mention the entitlement with use of space. For my first — I swear two months, no room was made in the fridge, even after being assured my first few days it’d be cleared. And yes, I continually asked. And it was always HIS stuff taking up all the room.

Eventually I just had to shove stuff out of the way and carve out a little corner juuussst big enough for a bit of yogurt and carrots. Then one of the other guys complained and I had a full shelf for a few weeks before leaving for the holidays. LOL better late than never I guess?

Additionally, I learned very quickly his SUPER anti-vax, anti anything related to Covid-prevention. This was not because I brought it up either, like he would lecture ME on it and tell me I’m brainwashed….

You’d think for the sake of keeping the peace he would shut up when I was visibly uncomfortable in these…I can’t even call them conversations. It was just him ranting and expecting me to agree when he knew I didn’t?….

He also brought this energy to Every. Damn. Topic.

Once, after only having been in the house for maybe a week or so, I asked if there had been anything for me in the mail, as I was still awaiting my bank card. He said no, then seemingly innocently asked what bank I’d opened an account with.

I told him and then the asshole had the audacity to lecture me about choosing the wrong one.

And before you ask, no not for valid reasons like they charge huge fees or have bad customer service. Just more conspiracy theories.

If you can’t tell, I tended to avoid the kitchen (our one common area) anytime I heard someone else in there.

Also, motherfucker would take the mail key and forget it in his room for days at a time.

Before I moved, I also thought perhaps the fact I was the only girl was a factor, and maybe age, although they weren’t really that much younger than me. But now I’m currently in a big house divided into apartments (the top floor with my suitcases was interesting LOL) and am the only girl on my floor and haven’t had any issues. So yeah, I think it was more the age/point in life thing as all the dudes I currently cohabitate with are young professionals just trying to live a normal life, nothing crazy. No first time away from home disrespect or uncleanliness. The former roomies weren’t that much younger than me, but still emotionally it was like living with my 15 year old brother again (well he’s not 15, but when he was …you get the point.)

I’m Just Over Dorm Life

I’ve referred to the residence as an apartment, and I guess that’s more or less accurate. Not to mention it was very cheap (by Luxembourg standards) for a private room and bathroom, but it was SO NOT WORTH IT.

Additionally, going off the point above, I was just done living with students, regardless of closeness in age or not. It was an odd dorm vibe, nowhere the level of American college — but still just not where I am in my life anymore.

Niederkorn is Poorly Connected

The location wasn’t that far from the University, but the trains only ran every 30 minutes. In the US that’d be amazing, for Europe it’s pretty lame. Also, they frequently wouldn’t come, or would be SO late it was basically the next train.

And while it (in theory) wasn’t too far from campus, getting to Luxembourg City or Esch-sur-Alzette (the only places with much going on in this country and also where you’d need to transfer to visit neighboring countries) was a feat. 

So, have you ever lived anywhere comparably shit? LOL.