Jan-Jaap and Myrthe – a leap to Småland

In 2024, IKEA employee Jan-Jaap, his wife Myrthe and their three kids moved from the Netherlands to Småland. Today, their everyday life includes cycling to work through nature, raising four kids and enjoying a healthier work–life balance. Here, Jan-Jaap shares what it took to move – and why they chose to stay.

The Beekhuis family

• JAN-JAAP (37): Commercial Collaboration Specialist for the Bathroom department at IKEA of Sweden.
• MYRTHE (36): General Doctor at Achima Care Älmhults vårdcentral.
• THIJS (8), LOÏS (6), TIM (4), and DAAN (2).
• The family moved from Amersfoort in the Netherlands to Älmhult in August 2024.

Tell us about your move – what made you take the leap?

The opportunity to work in the beating heart of the organization put a smile on my face. The moment I stepped into the IKEA of Sweden in Älmhult building for a meeting six years ago, it gave me the feeling: I belong here.

Furthermore, Sweden is a country where you can really live close to nature. We love outdoor living, which is truly possible here.

Lastly, we see that Sweden is a good place for families with children. It is encouraged and supported to have a good and healthy work–life balance.

What worried you before moving?

Would we be able to get a house soon? Would my wife get a job? Would we be able to build a social life in another country?

What turned out to be easier than expected?

Within one week we were able to buy a house. In the second week, we were embraced by the Dutch community and made new friends.

From IKEA, we received really good support with integration: language lessons, support with registrations, and help with moving.

What do you wish you had known before moving?

After moving, my oldest son struggled to integrate at the international school. He was not able to speak English properly, and this language gap did not help with his start at school. I would really recommend newcomers to make sure their kids are more prepared in that sense.

It is also good to know that during the first year with a newborn, daycare hours are limited (max. three hours per day). This had a significant impact on my wife’s schedule during the first months after we arrived in Sweden. The schedules of the daycare and the school were not aligned, so she almost had a full-time job just picking up and dropping off the kids.

How does everyday life in Småland actually work?

We live 10 kilometers north of Älmhult in the countryside. We live in a forest, about 100 meters from a beautiful lake. Around six families live nearby, and we have good contact with them.

My wife or I use a mountain bike to get to work in Älmhult. It’s a wonderful trip straight into nature. We do this all year round – even in snow, rain and ice. It’s a great way to start the day. The other parent brings two kids to the International School of Älmhult and the other two to Swedish daycare. During the first months, my wife studied Swedish full-time, and now she is able to work as a doctor in Swedish.

Around 2:00 pm, my wife picks up the kids and goes back home. In the afternoons, the kids sometimes have playdates or sports. Otherwise, they play at home. On Tuesday afternoons, I always have my Swedish lessons. My wife continues to study on Mondays and Fridays, and the other days she works.

We enjoy outdoor activities: ice skating, indoor swimming, mountain biking, skiing and running in the winter – and mountain biking, running, outdoor swimming and kayaking in the summer. On weekends, we try to balance the things we have to do (cleaning, sorting, DIY projects at home) with the things we enjoy (meeting friends and sports).

What made you stay?

The connection with nature is wonderful. We chop our own wood for the pizza oven, collect wild mushrooms and berries, and see wildlife in our garden. You can see nature changing and evolving every day. The healthy work–life balance and the support we receive as a family are also reasons we chose to stay. We now have much more time together as a family compared to life in the Netherlands. In the afternoons, my wife is with the kids, and around 5:00 pm I join them. Then we have a few hours together – wonderful!

What would you tell someone standing where you were today?

Just do it! You win or you learn.