By Monika Sokol-Rudowska

Many Dutch families have settled in small towns or villages in the interior of Norway, far from big towns and cities. They are generally representatives of lifestyle immigration. They have decided to move because of a defined lifestyle which was difficult to achieve in their home country. They had no desire to continue a fast-paced life of stress and work demands and wanted a better upbringing for their children in a peaceful area. Moving to Norway could mean a complete change from their previous lifestyle and a fulfilment of their dreams.

In many cases, migrants who wanted to realise their dreams had no practical experience of running their own company. They often had a mental picture of idyllic country life, based on package holidays filled with experiences, or nostalgic ideas inspired by the media. However, economic hardship, unmet expectations of a new lifestyle, homesickness and feelings of social exclusion led in many cases to disappointment and a decision to return to the Netherlands.

But another group of Dutch people who faced the same difficulties in starting a new life in a new country settled down well in Norway and realised their dreams of freedom, independence, outdoor activities and their own house, which was too expensive in the Netherlands. The jobs they took and the businesses they established were not primarily for financial gain. Their aim was to realise their dreams - money was a means but not an end. An important argument for seeking inner peace was the Dutch value system that puts materialism and career first. In everyday life, they had felt great pressure to achieve success. But in the provincial Gudbrandsdalen, their value system could be reconsidered. Here the most important values were family time, freedom and peace, partly due to their long-awaited outdoor life.

Living in areas such as Gudbrandsdalen does not only provide opportunities previously unattainable but also involves constraints. Dutch people sometimes miss the social life and cultural activities of big towns and cities. They miss meeting their friends at a cafe, cinema, concert or pub. They long for the cultural experiences available in Lillehammer or Oslo. But homesickness among these migrants reduces over time. Most of them want to stay in Norway, but some think that retiring to the Netherlands would be a good idea.