Ralf – a Dutch expat in Småland
Ralf Fleuren (44) is a self-employed entrepreneur working as a freelance marketer, business developer, and trainer in professional business skills. He has also founded a Swedish education company named Blixt Utbildning, which focuses on entrepreneurial skills for professionals in Sweden. In 2023, he moved from the Netherlands to Moheda (Alvesta municipality) together with his wife, Annelous, and their two children. In Sweden, they welcomed their third child, Sarah, in 2024. She is now almost two years old.
Tell us about your move – what made you take the leap?
We were looking for more calmness and space, and for a more natural environment for our children to grow up in. After a six-week camping trip through Sweden in 2022, we fell in love with Småland and decided to move to Sweden.
We usually say we “moved” rather than “emigrated,” because remote work makes it possible for us to work internationally and still enjoy the Swedish nature.
What worried you before moving?
We had plenty of questions and worries at first. How would the children settle in Sweden? Would they learn the language quickly enough and make new friends? And what about work, would we be able to build something in Sweden too? We don’t want to work only for Dutch clients forever; we also want to establish ourselves professionally here.
Thanks to the great support and strong network of NyföretagarCentrum, I’ve been able to start a business in Sweden as well. And we truly feel at home in Småland now, after having bought a house in Moheda in 2025.
What turned out to be easier than expected?
The children are learning Swedish incredibly fast and they’ve made friends quickly. They’re much more flexible than we are, and the facilities and support for children in Sweden are excellent. Through the kids, we’ve built many new friendships ourselves, and by now, we truly feel at home.
We expected it would be difficult to connect with Swedes and build new friendships. But living in the countryside, we were actually welcomed very warmly, and we made some wonderful friends right away. Even though Swedes can sometimes be a bit more reserved at first, they’re genuinely open to the friendly and spontaneous nature that many Dutch people bring. So our advice is simple: keep your spontaneity when you move to Sweden.
What do you wish you had known before moving?
What we wish we had known is how long it can take before you really understand how everything works in Sweden, and before you feel confident navigating daily life. Learning the language and building a new life takes time; it can easily take a few years.
It helps to give yourself a transition period, without putting pressure on yourself to find work right away or to build friendships quickly. As Swedes would say: ta det lugnt—take it easy.
How does everyday life in Småland actually work?
With a young family, our life largely revolves around the children and their school routine. Because we work a lot from home, and have super-fast fibre internet even out in the countryside, we can stay flexible around the kids and spend plenty of time with them.
In summer, we often go for a swim in the afternoons in one of the amazing lakes near our home. In winter, we enjoy the snow. On weekends, we do fun things with friends and spend time outdoors in nature. And of course, loppis—we regularly go on a loppis round to find beautiful, worthwhile items for very little money. Moheda has several great loppis places.
Växjö, as the nearest larger city, is also really valuable for us. Having a central hub just 30 minutes from our countryside home, with lots of facilities and services, makes life much easier. It’s also a lovely city with a great atmosphere: exactly big and small enough (Lagom in Swedish).
What made you stay?
What makes us feel truly at home here are the close friendships we’ve built, our lovely house on the countryside, and the fact that our work has become stable enough.
Since 2023, we’ve been creating a Dutch-language podcast called Fika Fleuren, where we share our experiences and everyday life with our network. We have around 1,000 followers, and some of them have even become real friends who occasionally come to visit us.
We’re also making plans to develop our old farmhouse, built in 1883, into a place where we can inspire others, including fellow Dutch people, to live closer to nature. Think small camper spots, a food forest, and similar initiatives.
We still have so much to discover in Sweden. Our adventure is far from over.
What would you tell someone standing where you were today?
Dare to follow your dream, even if you don’t have a concrete plan yet. Even if you’re not sure how everything will work out; go for it, step by step. Småland is a wonderful region with lots of opportunities, and above all: peace, nature, and space. You’re very welcome here!
