Forgotten world (27): Luxembourg
Of all the 45 countries that I’ve visited, Luxembourg is the smallest and the most boring. Yet this is a nation that was one of the six founder members of what we now call the European Union in 1957 and it gets to hold the Presidency of the EU as often as the UK. It is the world’s only sovereign Grand Duchy and it even has its own language: Luxembourgish.
Luxembourg’s prosperity was formerly based on steel manufacturing. With the decline of that industry, Luxembourg diversified and is now best known for its status as a tax haven and banking centre.
There are only half a million in the country and a third of the population is foreigners. Almost every taxi driver that I’ve met there is a Portuguese from the island of Madeira.
August 22nd, 2006 at 5:08 pm
That’s actually one of the few places in Europe I’ve been! A family friend took me there when I was too small to remember it. We lived in Germany (Dad was in the Air Force and stationed there), and I guess she had some trouble bringing me back over the border and called my parents really upset. I don’t remember it at all, but it worked itself out, I suppose!
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Glad that you got out of Luxembourg, Dana. It’s not a place that you want to spend too much time in.
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:50 pm
“Of all the 45 countries that I’ve visited, Luxembourg is the smallest and the most boring.”
I guess that’s subjective but I’m not bored and I’ve lived here 20-odd years. And if you do get bored, it’s only a 20-minute drive to Germany, France and Belgium and Holland is only a little further.
“Luxembourg’s prosperity was formerly based on steel manufacturing. With the decline of that industry, Luxembourg diversified and is now best known for its status as a tax haven and banking centre.”
Banking centre, yes, tax haven no. Luxembourg taxes are higher than most countries in Europe and higher than in the US.
“There are only half a million in the country and a third of the population is foreigners. Almost every taxi driver that I’ve met there is a Portuguese from the island of Madeira.”
The Portuguese are the largest immigrant segment. But few of them are from Madeira and most are employed as craftsmen. You may be mixing it up with Cap Verde, from where there are a lot of (black) residents.
But it’s largely the fact that the population is so diverse that makes Luxembourg NOT boring.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Happy to be corrected, Graham, and happy to have a reader from Luxembourg.
October 17th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
ionolsen20 HI! I love this place!