Delano February 2015 by Maison Moderne

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EDITORIAL

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Photography by CHRISTOPHE OLINGER

GUTLESS QUASI SELF-CENSORSHIP

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Julien Becker shot Runa and Thorunn Egilsdottir at Njörd Kantine in Kirchberg. NOTE TO OUR READERS

The next print edition of Delano will be published on 11 March. For news updates, commentary and our weekly what’s on guide, visit www.delano.lu.

n the wake of the senseless and cowardly attack on the staff of Charlie Hebdo and the police officers sworn to protect them, thousands of Luxembourgers showed their support for the victims with dignity. However, the debate the attack sparked on self-censorship was rather less dignified. Newspapers here and abroad that declined to reprint the Islam mocking Charlie Hebdo cartoons in support of the victims were unfairly labelled cowardly by large swathes of the social media community. Danish paper Jyllands-Posten, which sparked outrage by printing a series of cartoons of Mohammed in 2006, said that it chose not to reprint the cartoons because “concerns for employee safety are paramount.” Surely an editor has the right to think about the well-being of his staff and their families without being pilloried? Furthermore, Charlie Hebdo’s brand of deliberately crass humour, in the very best French provocative tradition, is anathema to readers of much British satire, who would struggle to find the cartoons funny. So why should UK newspapers reprint something they would not usually publish, just because a request from a journalist association (the laudable Reporters sans frontières) says to do so shows support for the Charlie Hebdo victims?

Charlie Hebdo editor in chief Gérard Biard claimed, rather arrogantly, that the satirical paper’s cartoons were a “symbol of freedom of speech, of freedom of religion, of democracy and secularism” and that “those who declined to publish them, or blurred them, were blurring out democracy.” That is sadly typical of this age of media led, knee-jerk, reaction--if you don’t openly show support for a cause, it is assumed you oppose it. However, the word “blur” is key in Biard’s comment. Those papers that did not publish the cartoons at least took a stance, for whatever reason. Those that did reprint but blurred the image of Mohammed are the real cowards-their quasi self-censorship is the worst kind of gutless wishy-washiness. It is akin to placing an asterisk in a four-letter word and thinking that will somehow spare the blushes of readers who take offence at the word fuck. It is condescending and an attack on reader’s intelligence.

DIGNIFIED SUPPORT Luxembourg marched to show solidarity with the victims February 2015

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CONTENTS

DELANO FEBRUARY 2015 CURRENT AFFAIRS 6

UPFRONT Carte blanche

Meeting the goals of the new UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 campaign to help end the Aids epidemic requires tackling stigma and discrimination, says MP Marc Angel. 8

SOCIAL COHESION Food bank helps foreigners

Cent Buttek, entirely run by Luxembourg volunteers, keeps food on the table for hundreds of local families. 10

BUSINESS 30

Six go-getting women from Iceland, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden talk about their experiences in Luxembourg.

Not the final countdown

The only Nordic embassy remaining in Luxembourg will close this year. But even without resident ambassadors, the communities do not suffer from lack of representation or togetherness.

Nordic groups guide

LIFESTYLE 56

UPFRONT Catching up with…

UPFRONT Perfect weekend

GETTING INVOLVED The code to success

Paul Schuh of Luxembourg’s telecom regulator says EU mobile roaming fees are almost finished… almost.

48 hours for reluctant Valentines. 58

MOBILE TELECOMS Ten apps for the road

Girls In Tech Luxembourg is ready to move out of beta testing. Want to encourage women to make a digital move?

AUTOMOTIVE Festival fantasies

Traveling this year? These nifty apps could help make your trip run a bit smoother. Or at least help you keep your head. 40

THE BUSINESS OF ROMANCE St. Valentine’s Day

PRICIER THAN NYC

Luxembourg comparatively more expensive than Big Apple. www.delano.lu/news/relativelypricier-nyc

Dream about special deals and intriguing wheels during the annual auto festival. 62

QUICK GUIDE Nordic shopping

COVER STORY Nordic cool

DELANO DIGITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Thinking about giving chocolates, updating your look and love life or hitting local shops? Delano goes inside those sectors in a three part series on Luxembourg’s passionate “affairs”. 42

SNAPSHOTS 40% by 2019

Luxembourg’s equality minister touted the government’s corporate board member goals during the 6th Female Board Pool seminar in Luxembourg. 44

FUNDS Northern lights

RESUMES ON FILE

Do Luxembourg recruiters really keep CVs “for future reference”? www.delano.lu/news/cvs-file Want to enjoy some northern cool? From famous brands to local favourites, here’s how to find Nordic stuff in Luxembourg. 70

SNAPSHOTS Love and weddings

Attention cross-border couples: the “Love Bash” was a very international affair. 74

MY FAVOURITES They’re an open book

BILINGUAL BRAINS

Speaking more than one language is good for your “white matter”. www.delano.lu/category/keywords/ psychology

Want to connect with the folks from up north? Here are 20 community organisations worth checking out.

The Expo Creative fair fired up the imagination of family members young and old.

Ahead of a financial trade mission to Norway and Sweden this spring, Delano looks at the out-sized role that Nordic fund firms play in Luxembourg. 54

MY OTHER LIFE Rafael’s ice canvas

Artist and hockey player Rafael Springer finds beauty and inspiration in two very different arenas.

Adrian Leica and Andreia Mihai share their favourite places to find and enjoy English books and magazines in Luxembourg.

80% ON TIME

Two out of ten flights departed or arrived late at Findel. www.delano.lu/news/findel-80-time

HAVE A COMMENT?

Delano is always looking for contributors and for reader feedback: news@delano.lu

February 2015

Photos: Juhan Sonin/Creative Commons Jeff C/Creative Commons

SNAPSHOTS 99% inspiration

UPFRONT

CURRENT AFFAIRS NATION BRANDING LAUNCH

The Luxembourg government has reached agreement with faith groups over their future funding. The coalition had announced when it was formed that it would revise religious funding and had more recently pledged that the question of whether salaries of priests should be paid by the state would be on the planned referendum on 7 June this year. That question will now be struck from the referendum paper after the new deal was inked on 26 January by prime minister Xavier Bettel, education minister Claude Meisch, archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich (photo) and representatives of other faiths that receive state funding, including the Rev. Chris Lyon from the Luxembourg Anglican Church. The deal, which requires a change in the constitution that can only be sealed with a two-thirds majority of parliament, recognises Islam, will see state funding significantly reduced, bring an end to religious education in schools and much of the property belonging to the Catholic church will become subsumed into a public fund. Hollerich said the new agreement would “hurt the Catholic church.”

MICHEL GOEDERT

The Luxembourg scientist has been awarded the European Grand Prix for Research by the Foundation for Research on Alzheimer’s disease based in Paris. February 2015

ROBERT MANDELL

The US ambassador to Luxembourg has announced his retirement from the post, effective 27 February. Mandell arrived to serve as ambassador over three years ago.

For more information: www.nationbranding.lu

Photos: Mike Zenari Olivier Minaire

CHURCH AND STATE COMPROMISE DEAL

The much-vaulted nation branding exercise initiated by the government (see Delano Winter edition) has launched its public portal website. The nationbranding.lu site, available in English as well as Luxembourgish, French and German, asks visitors to “help us improve the brand image of our country, by sharing your perception, your opinions and your ideas.” The website launch follows internal studies carried out by the ministry for the economy under the auspices of secretary of state Francine Closener as well as surveys conducted by TNS-Ilres. The campaign to give Luxembourg a stronger identity was launched well before the LuxLeaks scandal, but has become an even more pressing issue since the negative headlines hit the Grand Duchy’s image in November last year. Closener told Delano that it was important “that the brand we define is authentic.” The new website, which requires a log in, is asking the public to give its tweet length summary of how they characterize Luxembourg and also participate in an online survey.

ENGLISH HELPLINE

Parental helpline Kanner Jugend Telefon has launched an Englishlanguage online service. The new platform provides personal and confidential advice from a team of 16 experienced counsellors who have undergone 130 hours of training. The site promises to answer first-time enquiries within three days. The Kanner Jugend Telefon, which was founded in 1992, had lobbied English-speaking parents to determine what sort of service they wanted. They overwhelmingly replied that they preferred an online email service rather than using the telephone. The need for a helpline is sometimes more urgent for expat parents who have no available family support nearby. www.kjt.lu/en

FACEBOOK HATERS JAILED

A 54-year-old man found guilty of disseminating hate messages and even death threats against Serge Kollwelter and Laura Zuccoli, the former and current presidents of immigrant rights group ASTI, has been sentenced to nine months in prison. An accomplice received a suspended sentence. The men had used the social network platform to discuss shooting the campaigners. In addition, both of the men were fined and ordered to pay legal costs.

CARTE BLANCHE

CHAMPIONING THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS Meeting the goals of the new UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 campaign to help end the Aids epidemic requires tackling stigma and discrimination, says Marc Angel. UNAIDS, under its executive director Michel Sidibé, has asked Luxembourg to be the “champion” of its new campaign, “90-90-90: An ambitious treatment target to help end the Aids epidemic”. I was very honoured when the minister for development cooperation and humanitarian action, Romain Schneider, asked me to become the “face” of this campaign. It fits with my current position as president of the parliamentary commission on foreign and European affairs, defence, development cooperation and immigration. But it also goes back to my past. In the 1990s I was very active in the fight against HIV/Aids and in promoting prevention. I co-founded the NGO “Stop Aids Now” together with Dr. Vic Arendt (who is the president of the National Aids Committee) and Henri Goedertz. So to me this new mission in a way is closing a circle, bringing something to completion. So what is 90-90-90? It is basically a triple objective aiming that by 2020: 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status; 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. Reaching these goals by 2020 will put us on the right path to ending the Aids epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, which is the ultimate goal of UNAIDS and is the proposed target for the post-2015 development agenda. This means that, by 2030, the number of new HIV infections will have gone down so drastically that it is no longer considered an epidemic but rather a manageable disease, which is under control. However, this will not be possible without tackling stigma and discrimination, which are often still the main barriers to access to life-saving services.

UNAIDS has always been very strong on this, anchoring the Aids response in a human rights framework and addressing the particular needs and vulnerabilities of key populations. Although 90-90-90 is in essence a treatment strategy, it does include elements of combination prevention. Prevention efforts have decreased significantly since the 90s but it is clear that without comprehensive combination prevention we will also not reach the end of the epidemic. Luxembourg’s championing of the 90-90-90 campaign and my role as its “face” entail our participation in a number of high-level thematic meetings in Geneva--the first of which takes place on 10 and 11 February, addressing the topic of key populations--as well as a number of other events around the world, notably in Brussels and in New York. 2015 is the European Year for Development and Luxembourg is taking over the EU presidency in the second half of the year, these constitute excellent opportunities to further promote this campaign. I have met with Michel Sidibé and his team in Geneva to discuss these different steps, and I am very proud and excited to be championing such an important cause with such a great team. A great team not only at UNAIDS, but first and foremost also at the directorate for development cooperation of the ministry of foreign affairs, as well as at Luxembourg’s permanent mission to the UN in Geneva, who are my direct colleagues coordinating this effort. Marc Angel is an LSAP parliamentarian and president of the parliamentary commission on foreign and European affairs, defence, development cooperation and immigration. February 2015

CURRENT AFFAIRS

SOCIAL COHESION

Text by JAMES WALKER

Photography by SVEN BECKER

FOOD BANK HELPS FOREIGNERS Cent Buttek, entirely run by Luxembourger volunteers, keeps food on the table for hundreds of local families.

HELP FOOD BANK AT: WWW.CENTBUTTEK.LU

hile the Grand Duchy is the third richest nation in the world when it comes to GDP per capita, like many countries there are people who fall through the cracks. “It really is surprising how many people in Luxembourg need help,” one volunteer told Delano at the Cent Buttek (cent shop), a food bank in Bettembourg. The Cent Buttek, which also has a location in Beggen, has distributed 233 tonnes of food since it started in August 2010 and it shows no signs of slowing down. According to the not for profit group, last year 331 families (including 399 children) depended on it as their primary food source and more than 90% of its clientele are foreign nationals. The food bank is run entirely by volunteers--all Luxembourgers and predominantly female retirees--who say they just want to give back to Luxembourg and do something useful instead of sitting at home. “I was starting to get bored after retirement, and wanted to do something,” said Adely Thill-Gross, a former banker at BGL, who has headed the operation since its infancy. SMALL ACTS ADD UP “It’s the small things,” Marcelle Rischard, another volunteer who has been there since the start, replied when asked what kept her coming back. Thill-Gross agreed with this, explaining how the people that they helped appreciated small gestures such as providing Easter chocolate and the group’s end of year party prizes. She recounted how during the 2012 tombola, one woman won a one night trip to Paris with €100 spending money: “The woman, her joy, it was really awe inspiring.” February 2015

FOOD BANK VOLUNTEERS Marcelle Rischard and Adely Thill-Gross at Cent Buttek in Bettembourg

Volunteers agreed that the recognition they sometimes get from their customers is another nice part of the job. Rischard explained how one Christmas her son posted a photo of him and her on Facebook, after which one of her son’s friends commented: “Your mother has always been there for me and my family, please thank her.” Rischard said that this was really heartwarming. One client, a woman with two young daughters, explained: “It’s really exceptional; these are people who aren’t paid, it’s really touching how they give their time freely for us.” Another customer added: “It’s well organised; I thank them.”

Not every part of the job is great though. Adely said the first time someone comes they are often embarrassed and sometimes break into tears while explaining to the volunteers why they are there, often telling depressing stories. Just the other day, Thill-Gross told Delano, a woman came in and talked about her recent cancer diagnosis. “It was really sad.” The whole operation relies heavily on donations, whether it is equipment or groceries as the food bank only accepts a maximum of €2 per visit from each customer (although that can be nothing, depending on their situation). To donate time or money, contact the Cent Buttek via the link above.

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COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

NORDIC COOL: WOMEN DOING THEIR OWN THING The composition of Luxembourg’s Nordic communities has changed and adapted over the years as economic and political circumstances have shifted. From the early pioneers from Iceland, living and working in the city that was Icelandair’s mainland Europe hub in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, to the Swedes and Finns who arrived to work at Kirchberg institutions when both countries joined the EU in 1995, the Nordic population has ebbed and flowed over the past four decades or so. But one thing remains constant. Most Nordic expats feel at home in Luxembourg, even if they do miss the natural landscapes and some of the social mores of their native country. And many of them play an active role in society, both within their own community and on a broader scale. Here six Nordic women talk about life in a home away from home.

f any one person were required to represent the Nordic communities in Luxembourg, then Thorunn Egilsdottir would be high on the list of candidates. The singer, born in the capital city in 1975 of Icelandic parents, is one of the most recognisable faces in the Grand Duchy. A finalist in The Voice Of Germany two years ago, Thorunn has just released a new album under the name When ’Airy Met Fairy. But Thorunn’s younger sister Runa would not be far behind. The graphic designer has her own baby clothes and accessories company now sits on Luxembourg City council for Déi Gréng party. The Egilsdottirs moved back to Iceland when the girls were in their early teens, but Thorunn and Runa both eventually returned to Luxembourg after studying and working in different countries.

February 2015

Photography by JULIEN BECKER

Another returnee is Katrine Olsen. The Dane, who runs clothing showroom Cascais Copenhagen with Portuguese business partner Filipa Felner, first arrived in Luxembourg at the age of two. After returning to Denmark to study, she came back to Luxembourg in 1996 for her first job in the hotel trade. She moved into the financial services sector, but after being made redundant she saw an opportunity to start her own business and grabbed it with both hands. Norwegian resident Hege Tovik also runs her own business as a physiotherapist. Like Katrine, she moved to Luxembourg as a young child--at the age of ten--and, after studying and working in Belgium and living in Hong Kong and the UK, ended up back in the Grand Duchy in 2001, 11 years after her parents had moved back to Norway.

More recent arrival Sanna van Look-Peltonen moved to Luxembourg in 2000 from her native Finland via a sojourn in The Netherlands. She worked in financial services but now, as a mother of three young children, Sanna also now runs her own company, Finnish goods import service Finlandstore.eu. Swedish banker Tonika Hirdman, who arrived in 2006 to head up ABN Amro in Luxembourg, is another recognisable face in the business world having been director of the Fondation du Luxembourg since its inception in 2009.

Do you feel integrated or torn between Luxembourg and your home country? KATRINE: “I went to the Danish section at the European School, so I was not integrated in that way. Danish was very dominant, and it is now with my children--even though they are in the Spanish section [Katrine’s husband is Spanish] of the European School. We go to Denmark more than we go to Spain. I think many people here still ‘belong’ to Denmark and eventually go back, like my parents did after 35 years in Luxembourg.” TONIKA: “Our first impression was that Luxembourg was very quiet. But then it grows on you.

It took four months before we felt at home. But Sweden is quite accessible with direct Luxair flights. It’s easy to go for a weekend. So I don’t feel really that I have left, but rather that I have two places where I feel at home. It’s an advantage rather than a loss.” HEGE: “Even though it’s been almost 42 years since I left, I am still very Norwegian. Because there are so many different nationalities here, you maybe don’t identify with the Luxembourgish side of the place. But I feel integrated. I speak Luxembourgish, so people who don’t know me don’t think of me as a foreigner.” RUNA: “Icelanders tend to say they love everything Icelandic, and we were brought up that way. We celebrated Christmas the Icelandic way. We ate, spoke and behaved like Icelanders. You can’t escape it that easily.” THORUNN: “There is a reason we are here in Luxembourg. But when I go back it all makes sense--the humour, what moves us. I realise now how much our mum and dad programmed us. My Luxembourgish friends don’t always get my sense of humour. Now that I am older, I also get this ache for Iceland that my mum had. It was the opposite when I was young. I was not happy when we went back to Iceland.

"LUXEMBOURGERS ARE OPEN-MINDED AND RESPECT YOUR ORIGINS." RUNA EGILSDOTTIR

February 2015

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

CONTINUED

But dealing with two identities can be hard, psychologically, intellectually and socially. It is a very uncomfortable feeling to be rootless. It takes maturity to find your own identity.” SANNA: “We came back to Luxembourg for a second time after a one year trip around the world. Once we decided to stay we took a Luxembourg language course. It is a different mind-set from the first time. It is home for the children, they were born here. It was more serious when we came back, I was president of the Finnish-Luxembourg Society for two years, and Friskis&Svettis is a big part of my life, I’ve been an instructor for eight years and we get a lot of Luxembourgers.”

"THERE IS A MUCH STRICTER HIERARCHY IN LUXEMBOURG." KATRINE OLSEN

What are the cultural differences between Luxembourg and your home country? THORUNN: “It was a culture shock when we moved back to Iceland. In Luxembourg everything was ordered, there were rules. There it was chaos, anarchy. I hated it. In Luxembourg you knew that if you did something wrong there would be consequences. In Iceland, you didn’t know if there would be consequences. For a child it was really difficult to understand. The teachers had no authority.” RUNA: “There were some really strong characters. Everyone is outside. If there is a storm in Iceland, you still go to school. My husband said he only really understood me when we went to Iceland.” February 2015

"FINNS ARE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD." SANNA VAN LOOK-PELTONEN

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

THORUNN: “In Luxembourg people are very polite. But in Iceland they are very direct, almost rude. But I think it is also good sometimes to be blatantly honest.” TONIKA: “The level of service in shops and restaurants in Sweden is extremely good and friendly. It didn’t used to be, but in the last 20 years it has been. Here it is less so; it could be better.” HEGE: “Norwegians drink coffee all day. If you go to someone’s house, there is a pot of coffee on. And also in Norway people don’t really have a classification. If you’re the king or a cleaning lady, people talk to you the same way--there is very little of this condescending attitude because someone is in a lower social situation.” SANNA: “Finns are very straightforward, but here there is a lot of beating around the bush--that can be positive and negative. Finns can be quite shy and more introvert.” What do you most admire about Luxembourg? RUNA: “Luxembourgers are openminded and always respect your origins. They really ask questions.” THORUNN: “I think people are only now starting to feel proud to be Luxembourgish, and I don’t know why. Maybe it was the Schleck brothers; I think they were a phenomenon. It was something very positive.” February 2015

CONTINUED

TONIKA: “Luxembourgers have been extremely welcoming. You feel that they like having foreigners here, there is not this ‘them and us’ mentality, it is very accommodating. It is so multicultural and multilingual, which adds an exciting dimension to life. It has the convenient small size in combination with a very cosmopolitan atmosphere. We said to ourselves that we would not just be part of the Swedish community, but get to know different nationalities and Luxembourgers. I also think that Luxembourg, like Sweden, doesn’t think of itself as a superpower, so you have this more humble approach in relation to how you see yourself in the world.” How is the professional working environment in Luxembourg different from that of your native country? RUNA: “As we have seen with the crisis, I think Icelanders have a very good survival instinct. They can reinvent themselves. Everyone in Iceland is doing something, has a project. Iceland has great packaging. Things are happening in Luxembourg, but they don’t know how to package it.” THORUNN: “We are not going to lick our wounds for very long, we don’t have time because it’s going to get cold and dark very soon. But I think that is why Iceland is one of the happiest nations in the world. If you are a no name here in Luxembourg it is very difficult. You have to make it outside the country before you can make it big here. In Iceland they believe in you.”

KATRINE: “The mentality in Denmark is much more relaxed, whereas I would say it is a little more French here. There is a much stricter hierarchy in Luxembourg. Though I worked for Scottish Equitable in Luxembourg and I recognised the same mentality as in Denmark, where your colleagues are also your friends. One of the reasons I wanted to be independent is that I was tired of the hierarchy. I think in Denmark they are more used to small start-ups. Here I kept to the most limited version of a business, and it still took a long time before everything was set up. And in Denmark the state will offer you a start-up package of financial support. Here it was even difficult to open a bank account; maybe if I had brought my husband along… But being Danish I refused to do that to open a simple bank account.” TONIKA: “I think both are very pragmatic and accessible, though Luxembourg is more formal. Sweden is much more informal, which I like--I think the formalities make it more complex, but you get used to it. Of course Luxembourg is a very small country and there is a small clique of people who are in the powerful positions, and with that comes the fact that everyone knows everyone. You have to understand the links between different people and organisations. Sweden is bigger and more anonymous.” SANNA: “Setting up our business was quite easy here. But then all the work around it, the administration is quite a lot, especially fulfilling the re-

quirements of an sàrl. But the Espace Entreprise was extremely helpful, they more or less filled in the paperwork for you and took you through everything step by step.” Is Luxembourg lagging behind in equal opportunities? TONIKA: “There are not as many women in influential positions here as in Sweden. That is part of Luxembourg’s bourgeois heritage. I think they are very aware of it, and things are in place to encourage women. But it is striking to see the proportion of women who are not pursuing a career. I never saw myself as a woman in a male society. I hope people see me as what I am in my function.” HEGE: “In Norway women have a different status. The man and woman share the work at home, and women have equal career opportunities. Even though here you still have the family where the husband is the man in the house who goes to work, comes home and asks what are we eating. In Norway that doesn’t exist any more.” What would one thing you would import from your native country to Luxembourg--and vice versa?

"I WOULD IMPORT COURAGE FROM ICELAND." THORUNN EGILSDOTTIR

KATRINE: “I miss individual shops with multibrands. I guess it is a question of finances. Luxembourg has beautiful buildings, and it’s a very nice city to walk around in, so if they had more local designers or more shops like Ben & Pepper or Extrabold it would be really nice. February 2015

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

CONTINUED

That’s why I started importing a Danish brand; the design is more practical and nice looking. Here they dress children like little dolls. And maybe being spontaneous. In Denmark people welcome each other into their homes. What I would take back to Denmark would be the high quality of food in the supermarkets. My parents miss that.” SANNA: “I miss the lakes, and although I am not really devastated that I don’t have a sauna, I would love one. Sauna culture is quite different here.”

"YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE LINKS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS." TONIKA HIRDMAN

TONIKA: “I miss water. In Stockholm you have the sea and lakes. In winter you go ice skating, in summer boating or swimming.” HEGE: “I would import the nature. Luxembourg is beautiful, but I always loved being on the boat--Norway has a big boat culture. And I would like people here to be more equally treated. In Norway, people are people.” RUNA: “I like that people in Ice land stick together. And sitting on the integration committee in the city council, I am amazed at how much they are doing to help foreigners integrate. I would take that to Iceland.” THORUNN: “I would import courage from Iceland, and I would bring Luxembourg’s nature and trees to Iceland--and a certain degree of politeness in certain cases.” February 2015

"IN NORWAY WOMEN HAVE A DIFFERENT STATUS." HEGE TOVIK

Portraits taken at Njörd Kantine and Konrad café

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

Text by NEEL CHRILLESEN

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

NOT THE FINAL COUNTDOWN The only Nordic embassy remaining in Luxembourg will close this year. But even without resident ambassadors, the communities do not suffer from lack of representation or togetherness.

hen the Finnish embassy in Luxembourg closes later this year, there will be no Nordic embassies left in the Grand Duchy, only consulates. The Swedish embassy closed back in 2010 (the Swedish ambassador to Luxembourg is now based in… Stockholm), while the Danish one moved its representation to Brussels last year. Iceland also conducts its diplomatic affairs from Belgium’s capital, as will Finland soon, while Norway, which has never had an embassy in Luxembourg, does so from The Hague. For the 1,200 Finns currently living in Luxembourg, the announcement made last October came as a surprise, especially as they had just welcomed a new ambassador, Timo Ranta, the previous month. The changes to Finland’s network of diplomatic missions (embassies in Bratislava and Ljubljana are also being shut down) are part of a plan to cut operating expenses at the country’s foreign ministry. “When Finland joined the EU 20 years ago, we decided to have embassies in all EU countries, which we had for a very long time,” explains Ranta. “We are downsizing our representations slightly but we will remain present in Luxembourg on all fronts. There is a tight Finnish com-

February 2015

munity who is very happy to be here and nearly everyone knows each other. I’m sure that will not change. The biggest adjustment will be how Finnish nationals get their passports, but in the future this will be possible by internet.” OFFICIAL INSTITUTIONS Luxembourg’s 2,000 Danes experienced a similar situation last year, when they were told their embassy would be moving to Brussels. The change has however not been dramatic. “Despite the fact that we don’t have an embassy on location now, we still follow Luxembourg very closely,” says ambassador Louise Bang Jespersen. “Visibility is less intense but the political, economic and diplomatic collaboration has not changed.” “I think it helped a lot that our ambassador remained the same,” says Vicky Popp Fredslund, pastor of the Danish Church in Luxem-

bourg (Evangelical Lutheran denomination). “She was here four years first, so it’s as if she just moved houses. She comes to all the important events in our community and the embassy people also travel to Luxembourg several times a year with a biometric passport suitcase.” As for events in which the Danish community participates in the Grand Duchy, such as the Relais pour la Vie or Fête du Vélo, organisation have been taken over by the Danish Association and the Danish Church. The church is also known for its Christmas bazaar and offers everything from Danish language and culture classes for children to book club nights for the grown-ups. “Honestly, our church functions 50% for cultural activities and 50% for Christianity, and that’s the way Danes here wish it to be,” says the popular pastor. “We’re lucky to have a lot of volunteers and an active and engaged community.”

" I DO FIND IT A BIT STRANGE THAT WE DON’T HAVE AN EMBASSY HERE, BUT FORTUNATELY WE ARE STILL VERY WELL REPRESENTED." STEFAN KARLSTEDT

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

CONTINUED

Denmark and Finland are the only Nordic countries to have resident pastors in Luxembourg. However, the Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic churches have services here regularly and serve as a meeting point for their communities, as do of course, the numerous national clubs and associations (see page 22). Special occasions are therefore always celebrated, be it the midwinter festival Thorrablót (where Icelanders get together and eat rotten shark and singed sheep’s head), Norwegian National Day on 17 May or the (mostly) Swedish Santa Lucia Day. INFORMAL GATHERING SPOTS Common to all Nordics is however a very special love for Christmas time, as Norwegian Kjell Skauland, owner of the indispensable Scanshop, can confirm. He welcomes members from the Nordic communities all year round when they come to pick up everything from herring and Aquavit to magazines and health products, but “November and December are without contest the best months.” “When we opened the Scanshop in 1994, we had mainly Danish products,” says Skauland, former banker who initially changed his line of business by selling Norwegian salmon to banks and restaurants. “At the time, Denmark was the only Nordic nation in the EU, so it was easier to import products. Now, we carry specialities from all the Nordic countries.” Surprisingly, the best selling items among all are bread and dairy products. “When I arrived in 1985, there were about 600 Norwegians and five or six Norwegian banks,” February 2015

KJELL SKAULAND Kjell Skauland at Scanshop

STEFAN KARLSTEDT Stefan Karlstedt at Crossfire bar

says the Scanshop owner. “Today, banks have merged and there are 250 Norwegians left. The Norwegian Association organises the National Day celebrations, Christmas parties and so on, but I wouldn’t really talk about a strong Norwegian community. We’re more part of a common Nordic one.” To prove the point Skauland says that he met his Danish wife in a bar in town where Nordics would get together.

NORDIC POPULATION IN THE GRAND DUCHY

According to Statec’s 2011 census figures, Nordic nationals represent roughly 2% of foreigners and 1% of all Luxembourg residents. Here is the breakdown:

215,078

ALL FOREIGN NATIONALITIES

COMMON NORDIC COMMUNITY Today, one of those Nordic hangouts in Luxembourg is the Crossfire bar, where especially Swedes and Finns can be found watching football and ice hockey on the TV screens. “We don’t only have Nordic customers,” says Stefan Karlstedt, a Swedish ex-banker turned bar owner. “But we do frequently organise special Nordic events. We’ve just done a Finnish karaoke party, we have live Swedish music, we celebrate all the national days and of course, we do evenings around Eurovision, as it’s very popular.” And while Crossfire is mostly known for its hamburgers, Swedish specialities like pyttipanna (hash) are also served and enjoyed even by the non-initiated. “The Swedish community in Luxembourg is very active,” says Karlstedt. “I do find it a bit strange that we don’t have an embassy here, but fortunately we are still very well represented. There’s the church, the Swedish organisation, clubs and even Facebook groups… Most importantly though, we’re all part of a larger Nordic community, who is very happy to be in Luxembourg.”

LUXEMBOURG

453 ICELANDERS

230 NORWEGIANS

1,720

SWEDES

1,964

DANES

1,077

FINNS

February 2015

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

Text by AARON GRUNWALD

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

NORDIC GROUPS GUIDE Want to connect with the folks from up north? Here are 20 community organisations worth checking out.

BUSINESS & NETWORKING

DANISH MANAGEMENT SOCIETY Dansk Selskab for Virksomhedsledelse (known as “VL”) is a network of nearly 4,000 top Danish managers in 121 cities. “Each VL group has a membership of about 30 top executives” that meet behind closed doors, says the chair of Luxembourg’s VL group, Charlotte Pedersen, the COO of Luxaviation. You don’t have to be Danish to join, but “due to practical reasons, you would need to be able to speak Danish since all communication is in Danish.” www.danishmanagementsociety.com NOBELUX The Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg (part of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg) offers networking and business support services to companies of all sizes. Previous events in the Grand Duchy have included a speech by Sweden’s finance minister, a summit of Nordic and Luxembourg responsible investment fund mangers, and networking events hosted by firms such as Elvinger, Hoss & Prussen, Luxair and Nordea Bank. www.nobelux.se

CULTURE & INTERESTS 60+ NETWORK Netværk 60+ was founded in 2011 and has around 140 members (who are all at least 60 years old). “We organise each month a cultural activity either in Luxembourg or outside of the Grand Duchy,” says club secretary Inge Rasmussen. Previous visits include the Chamber of Deputies, several EU institutions and the Philharmonie. This year the group hits Belval, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, Pâtisserie Namur and Verdun. However, “you have to speak Danish to join.” www.60pluslux.com February 2015

ICELANDIC CHOIR Farfuglar (The Visiting Birds) performs church hymns and other songs of “mainly of Icelandic origin,” according to committee member Viktoría Valdimarsdóttir. In addition to church ceremonies, the 19-year-old choir gives concerts for Icelandic National Day, Icelandic winter festivals and the occasional private party. viktoria.valdimars@gmail.com SWEDISH WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S CHOIRS The two Swedish singing groups both got started in the 1990s. Women’s choir Les Decibelles primarily performs during summer church services in June, and during Christmas and Lucia services in December, according to organiser Susanne Resmalm. Svenska barnkören i Luxembourg, which aims “for the children to have fun with music,” has a repertoire of traditional Swedish and more modern carols. Search for “Les Decibelles” and “Svenska barnkören i Luxembourg” on Facebook

EXPAT GROUPS DANISH ASSOCIATION Participants in Den Danske Forening i Luxembourg are mostly Danes or Danish speakers, “but all members are welcome,” says board member Annette Raabjerg. On 1 March, to mark the end of Carnival, costumed children will slå katten af tønden (beat the cat out of the barrel), “but nowadays the barrel is filled with candy.” The club also organises bingo, canoe trips, a Christmas party and lectures, and co-hosts a visit from the National Danish Performance Team in June. www.ddflux.com FINNISH-LUXEMBOURG SOCIETY Founded in 1993, Finlux has 540 members today (not only Finns). The group hosts Finnish rock star Ismo Alanko and Estonian rock-band Vaiko Eplik & Eliit for a 7 Feb. concert at Melusina, organised with Estonian club Eesti

Selts. In February and March Finlux also holds “an information evening concerning the dangers of nuclear power, a visit to Bernard-Massard, a carnival for Finnish children and a cooking course,” says club press officer Jukka Vuori. finlux@finlux.org ICELANDIC ASSOCIATION The Felag Islendinga i Luxemborg “had its first meeting in 1973,” says the association’s chair, Tómas Eyjólfsson, and “it has been active ever since.” In addition to periodically putting on concerts, the group’s three main events each year are: “The ‘rotten food festival’, a pagan tradition called ‘Thorrablot’ in Icelandic” [6 Jan.], an Icelandic Independence Day celebration [17 June] and “a Christmas ball on the second day of Christmas.” www.luxarar.com NORDIC WOMEN’S CLUB The 41 year old Nordic Women’s Club i Luxembourg has more than 250 members from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland, plus a few non-Nordic members. Its activities aim to “further increase our involvement in Luxembourg society,” says the group’s chair, Inge Gerd Mormino. On 12 Feb. the NWC visits the Chamber of Deputies and on 29 March hosts a conference “to promote Nordic women entrepreneurs having their business in Luxembourg.” Search for “Nordic Women’s Club i Luxembourg” on Facebook NORWEGIAN ASSOCIATION The 15 year old Den Norske Forening i Luxembourg promotes Norwegian culture. Its biggest annual event is Norway’s Constitution Day, the country’s national holiday (17 May), which features a popular children’s parade and Norwegian songs at Parc Merveilleux near Bettembourg. Also on the agenda: walking trips, cinema visits and a Christmas dinner. But it’s not all about things up north. Last month the group had an Italian wine tasting, says committee member Rune Wangsmo. www.dnfil.lu

COVER STORY

NORDIC SPECIAL

CONTINUED

SWEDISH WOMEN’S EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION SWEA Luxemburg is one of more than 70 chapters around the world (the network says it’s the largest Swedish cultural organisation outside of Sweden). On 24 Feb. members will enjoy “semla”, a sweet roll that is eaten to mark the end of Nordic Carnival, which Eva Gram Toft, chair of SWEA Luxemburg, says “is my favorite event during the year.” It also hosts talks on subjects such as women’s health as well as restaurant outings and a crayfish fest in August. www.luxemburg.swea.org

RELIGION DANISH CHURCH Den Danske Kirke i Luxembourg usually holds services Sundays at 5 p.m. at the Dreifaltigkeitskirche (the Protestant church, rue de la Congrégation, LuxembourgCentre), says Danish pastor Vicky Popp Fredslund (pictured). It holds Konfirmation 24 May in Cents, its very popular church bazaar 28 Nov. at Salle Victor Hugo, Lucia services (St. Lucy’s Day--known for the girl’s candlelight procession) on 13 Dec., and organises children’s activities big and small throughout the year. www.dankirke.lu

FINNISH CHURCH The Luxemburgin Suomalainen Merimieskirkko holds Sunday services six or seven times per year at the Protestant Centre (1 rue Jules Wilhelm, Luxembourg-Clausen), says its pastor, Wille Westerholm. The next are 15 March and 7 June at 1:30 p.m. The weekend of 7-8 March it participates in a youth weekend camp “in English” with the Protestant Alliance of Luxembourg and 15-17 May a Finnish speaking camp for Benelux youth, both in Neuhäusgen. S e a r c h f o r “ Lu x e m b u r g i n Suomalainen Merimieskirkko”on Facebook ICELANDIC CHURCH Íslenska Kirkjan í Lúxemborg is the local congregation and community group for members of the National Church of Iceland. www.facebook.com/ IslenskaKirkjanLuxemborg NORWEGIAN CHURCH The Sjømannskirken i Brussel also covers Luxembourg, where services are held once a month at the Protestant Centre in Clausen, according to the church’s website. www.sjomannskirken.no/belgia SWEDISH CHURCH Swedes in Luxembourg are looked after by the Svenska kyrkan i Bryssel. Its Brussels-based pastor holds services in the Grand Duchy several times a year, the church says on its website. www.svenskakyrkan.se/bryssel/ luxemburg

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION FINNISH SCHOOL The 30 year old Luxemburgin Suomi-koulu still has “places free in all groups for kids from 3-10 years so anyone interested can join also in the middle of the year,” says Liina-Maria Munari. The Finnish school not only offers language courses, but also organises cultural activities. “This spring term we will have a small theater group visiting us from Finland, in addition to our other out of class activities like ice skating in February and the summer party in June.” www.suomikoulu.lu

February 2015

SWEDISH SCHOOL Svenska Skolföreningen i Luxemburg “was founded in 1984 as a non-profit organisation and follows guidelines from the Swedish national agency for education,” says Lisa Weber. “The aim of the Swedish school is to develop and strengthen the students’ native language skills and culture awareness.” Classes are held Wednesday afternoons (2:30 to 4:15 p.m. for grades 1-5 and 3:45 to 5 p.m. for grades 6-7) at the International School of Luxembourg campus. www.svenskaskolaniluxemburg.com

SPORTS & FITNESS FRISKIS&SVETTIS The volunteer-run fitness outfit marks its 15th anniversary in Luxembourg this May (it started in Sweden in 1978). It provides “enjoyable” exercise courses, like barbell, box, dance and jogging. Friskis&Svettis generally offers “more than 20 classes per week… for adults, kids and families,” says Maria Österblad. A 6 or 12 month card provides unlimited access to all classes. And “you can become a member during anytime during the year,” so there is “no ‘best time to join’.” www.friskis.lu NORDIC WALKING Technically this is not a Nordic community group but the 80-odd members of Nordic & Walk Luxembourg are into Nordic walking, hail from five countries (with English, Luxembourgish, German and French all spoken) and “social togetherness is highly important,” says the club’s president, Jutta Kanstein. The group organises around 200 walks per year, for different fitness levels. On 23 April it hosts a “wine&walk around Wormeldange with wine tasting and regional lunch.” www.nordicwalking.lu

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Text by WENDY WINN

Photography by STEVE EASTWOOD

99% INSPIRATION: SHOW FIRES UP THE IMAGINATION

mong all the things to buy at the Expo Creative fair, there was one thing more valuable than any one of them that everyone left with--and for absolutely free: inspiration. Luxembourg’s famous Bastel-Kiste showed how masterpieces could be made using acrylic pens, acrylics and spray paint, while Leila’s Patchwork said a large quilt can be completed in four hours. Workshops

like those kept the event lively for both kids and adults. “It’s important that kids have fun here--they’re the future of our business!” said Jose Gomez, owner of Tiffany Glascenter. And while you never know where your creativity will lead you, one thing’s for sure: a little inspiration will set you on your way to find out. Organiser “Expo Concept” is on Facebook

FAMILY FUN A. Lynn Kemp and Marie-Rose Milbert B. Fabianne Schoen and Denis Leider C. Kids got crafty during the “Expo Creative” held at LuxExpo last month D. Sandy Rischette and Alexander von Debschitz E. Marta and Laura Ferreira F. Madia and Luana Sgura G. Vicky Wishof and Max Jaeger H. Françoise and Christiane Thoma I. Maureen and Robert Foley

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

EDUCATION

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

TEACHING LOCAL PRIDE Some eight months into the job, the head of primary at St. George’s International School is clearly relishing her role and says she no longer feels like the new girl.

SOCIAL LIFE A new Friends of St. George’s association, open to parents and teachers and anyone else interested, including old girls and boys, has been launched. The group organises events, including fundraisers for the school and for the charities it supports both local and international. It also provides a network for new parents. “We have a strong, supportive group of parents here.” Nuttall has also started a parents’ forum to discuss various issues, and in January the school sent its first Tweet.

aving lived and worked abroad for much of her life, the relatively new head of primary at St. George’s International School is a firm believer in teaching children respect for their host country. “You want them to be proud of where they live and the country’s achievements,” Claire Nuttall said at the start of the new term. Nuttall, who arrived from London to take over from the long-serving Heather Duxbury last summer, says she has now fully settled in. “Coming back after Christmas I feel that it is my school now. When you first arrive you are still in transit, with one foot in your old job and one foot in the new. It was a welcoming place, but I now feel more part of the furniture, less the new girl.”

CLICK ON "NEWSLETTER":

LUXEMBOURG CONTEXT St. George’s follows the International Primary Curriculum. “So we can include the Luxembourg context and a more international dimension. Children learn when things are relevant to them.” She cites an example of a maths teacher using a view of the manicured and geometrically designed English garden, close to the Pont Adolphe, to teach pupils about shapes. The older children in the primary school at St. George’s are also starting to learn Luxembourgish. However, Nuttall thinks there is still some room for improvement in interacting directly with the local community. As a child Nuttall attended international schools in Jordan and Hong Kong, and since qualifying as a teacher has worked in Taiwan and Gambia, so she has seen the advantages of an international schooling. “It teaches tolerance and February 2015

WWW.ST-GEORGES.LU

CLASS ACT Claire Nuttall is an enthusiastic advocate of international schooling

understanding that you maybe don’t get in non-international schools.” Her own children are attending St. George’s, so she has seen first hand how welcoming the school is for new arrivals, though Nuttall is also fully aware that there has to be a certain sensitivity to children who move school often. There has been plenty of evidence recently that more and more parents in Luxembourg are seeking an English language education for their offspring. “We have 52 nationalities here. Many parents choose English because it is their common language. And, looking to the future, a lot of universities

teach in English, even in non-English speaking countries.” Indeed, the primary school at St. George’s is close to capacity, with some 430 pupils. Nuttall jokes that she is always looking to see where we can steal some space, maybe by putting a window in a storage area. However, although there are plans for a new building--details of which will be revealed in the coming months--the head teacher says that parents at the school are happy with its current size. “That personal care, the personal knowledge of the children is still there. And we wouldn’t ever want to lose that.”

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UPFRONT

BUSINESS PRINT VS. DIGITAL

The Grand Duchy’s capital was the 28th most expensive world city out of 232 locations in Expatistan’s “Cost of Living Index”. The crowdsourced survey found that Luxembourg City was cheaper than Zurich and Paris, and more expensive than Frankfurt and Brussels.

"THAT WOULD MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT A CREDITWORTHY ENTREPRENEUR FROM OSNABRÜCK COULD ISSUE A BOND WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS IN THE NETHERLANDS." YVES MERSCH

The Luxembourg member of the European Central Bank executive board, calling for “a truly integrated capital market” in the euro area that would allow smaller firms to break their dependence on local bank financing. February 2015

TICKER

China Merchants Bank said it would move its European headquarters into the “Royal20” building, currently under construction at the site of the former Hotel Rix, in the spring of 2016. >>> The public health institute CRP-Santé and biomedical research centre Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg merged, becoming the Luxembourg Institute of Health. >>> In a preliminary opinion, an advocate general at the European Court of Justice in Kirchberg said the European Central Bank could undertake “quantitative easing”; a final ruling is expected in three to five months. >>> European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker’s “plan to deliver €315 billion of investment over the next three years, mostly from capital markets, to boost the economy is ambitious but achievable,” said Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. >>> Fitch, a credit ratings agency, affirmed its highest score on Luxembourg’s debt, saying its public balance sheet was “outperforming the ‘AAA’ median.” >>> Mario Draghi, head of the European Central Bank, said it and euro area central banks would buy one trillion euro worth of public and private bonds in a bid to stave off deflation. >>> A second, at press time unnamed, Frenchman was charged in the “LuxLeaks” case on 23 Jan.; in December Antoine Deltour was accused of stealing confidential tax documents from PwC and passing them to journalists.

Photos: Steve Eastwood David Laurent (archives) European Commission

The battle between print and digital media was the subject of a debate hosted by the British Conservative Association of Luxembourg at the Ibis Hotel in Findel at the beginning of January. John Chalmers proposed the motion, “This house believes that hard copy print media is a technique of the past,” while Delano’s own Duncan Roberts opposed. Chalmers introduced a number of facts and figures highlighting the decline of the traditional print newspaper in support of the motion. He argued that younger generations in particular are turning away from daily print in droves and instead looking to get their information from media websites and specially designed apps for mobile devices. Roberts counter-argued that only a few media houses had managed to find a sustainable business model that would make digital news economically viable. He also suggested that well-made magazines still attracted a healthy audience, especially among those who still enjoy having something tangible to read. The debate, moderated by the association’s Chris Garratt, was then opened to the floor and sparked some interesting and entertaining comments from the audience. The general consensus was that print and digital media could continue to live side by side. The next debate will be on the subject: “This house believes that all Luxembourg taxpayers should have the right to a national vote.” See the association’s website for details. www.conservativesluxembourg.org

BANKCOMM BOARD OKS BRANCH

China’s fifth largest bank has formally decided to open up shop in the Grand Duchy, joining three of its larger rivals. Directors of the Bank of Communications approved “the proposal on establishing [a] Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Luxembourg Branch” during a board meeting last month in Shanghai, the company said in a statement. The bank already has offices in Frankfurt and London, in addition to its operations in the US, several other Asian countries and 182 domestic branches. Following the board vote, a Bank of Communications spokesperson told Delano that its license application was “still subject to the approval” of Chinese and Luxembourg regulators so it could not comment on a launch date. The Luxembourg branch will target Chinese firms expanding into Europe.

Photo: Johan Larsson/Creative Commons

WIRELESS CARRIER ADDS SPEED

Mobile operator Tango claimed its brand new “4G+” network rolling out this year is 50% faster than regular 4G (which is already 10 times faster than 3G). Download speeds will be “as high as 225 Mbps,” the firm stated. Theoretically that means a 45 minute HDTV show could be downloaded in less than 2 minutes, based on Apple figures.

PAUL SCHUH The head of Luxembourg’s telecom regulator says roaming charges will soon, finally, be dead… sort of.

CATCHING UP WITH…

Viviane Reding first proposed capping mobile roaming charges back in 2006, and in the decade since the cost of using your phone in another EU country has come down by more than half. By December this year they will nominally disappear entirely, something for Luxembourg’s former European commissioner and current MEP to phone home about. But Paul Schuh, director of the Grand Duchy’s telecom regulator, the Institut luxembourgeois de régulation, warns the charges could partially re-emerge under a different name. “It will not be ‘roaming’ but ‘mobile termination rates’ or something like that,” he reckons. Mobile termination fees are how telecom operators reimburse each other for completing calls between their customers. And those “costs are remaining.” Schuh cannot estimate the potential savings the EU rules will bring to Luxembourg customers because much of his data is confidential. He also notes that the new rules only apply within the European Free Trade Association (“except Switzerland; they have other tariffs”). The ILR sees lots of cases where travelers have returned from popular vacation spots like Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey with steep bills. The biggest? “Around €10,000.” The main problem, he explains, are apps--particularly apps that use geolocalisation--that run automatically unless users change their settings. “Even the weather forecast is very dangerous if you’re abroad.” In such cases, the ILR’s mediation service--which is staffed by lawyers--tries to reach a deal with the carriers. Schuh cannot discuss the specifics of any one case, due to privacy laws, but “mostly we find an arrangement,” he says. “We speak to the operators because some operators do not have good” customer service. “When you buy now a smartphone, you have to be informed what this smartphone is able to do without any intervention on your side,” and this does not always happen, according to Schuh. The ILR’s offices are right off the Knuedler and when the 68 year old retires at the end of April, he will miss popping out to the farmer’s market at lunchtime on Wednesdays. Brushing off suggestions of moving into consulting work, Schuh says he plans to, paraphrasing Voltaire, “cultiver mon jardin.” www.ilr.lu Interview by AARON GRUNWALD Photography by ANNABELLE DENHAM February 2015

BUSINESS

MOBILE TELECOMS

Text by AARON GRUNWALD

TEN APPS FOR THE ROAD

PERSONAL BUSINESS

Traveling this year? These nifty apps could help make your trip run a bit smoother. Or at least help you keep your head.

03 EASILYDO

BATTAKLANG

This “smart assistant app” puts your day in order automatically. Going on a trip? Boarding passes and reservations are synced with your calendar and you get a message if your flight is late. Heading for a meeting? Directions pop up with your reminder when it’s time to leave. — Free; €4.95 per month with Salesforce integration

06 MOIËN – GLOBAL PHRASEBOOK

Produced by Ralph Becker, a Luxembourger living in Silicon Valley, this app provides common words and expressions in 50 languages, “so that you can strike up a conversation with virtually anyone, anywhere around the world.” You can look up phrases between any two of the 50 tongues. — Free

09 WORD LENS

What does that strange sign say? Take a picture with your phone’s camera and the app will translate it. Works between English and French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Last year Google bought the start-up and is integrating Word Lens into Google Translate. — Free ANDROID APP ON

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Developed here in the Grand Duchy, “BattaKlang is an app to learn Luxembourgish by associating pictures and Luxembourgish words,” developer Béatrice Warichet tells Delano. BattaKing is a similar game for learning English. An Android version is coming soon, she says. — Free basic version; €4.99 with audio clips

02 DASHLANE

“Dashlane is life changingly great. And free. Get it,” says David Pogue of The New York Times. The free password manager automatically logs you in across the web. “Even on complex logins with two steps or three fields, like bank accounts. No clicks or keystrokes required,” states the firm. — Free for a single device; €39.99 per year to sync multiple devices ANDROID APP ON

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04 ELEVATE

This “brain training app” helps develop communication and analytical skills and boosts focus and memory. “Users who train at least four times per week have reported dramatic gains and increased confidence,” the firm claims. Elevate was named Apple’s 2014 App of the Year. — 16 free daily games; €4.99 per month for eight more ANDROID APP ON

07 MY PERFECT MAN

Need a diversion? Take the virtual schlub next door and turn him into Prince Charming. The makers enthuse: “Playing My Perfect Man now makes it possible to stop the distasteful lifestyle behaviors of men: women can say goodbye to lifted toilet seats, socks lying on the floor and dull household chores!” — Free; in-app purchases €0.89-€69.99 per item ANDROID APP ON

05 GOING ABROAD

Want to know “what is the speed limit on Spanish motorways? Do I need to wear a helmet when I cycle in Sweden?” Published by the European Commission, the “European road safety app” lists the main traffic rules for EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. — Free ANDROID APP ON

08 NEWS REPUBLIC

Where else can you find daily coverage from over 1,000 news sources? News Republic, based in France, licenses articles, photos and video from outlets including Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The Independent, ITN, Reuters, Sky News and TechCrunch, which can be seen in the app itself. — Free ANDROID APP ON

February 2015

10 YOUR PASSENGER RIGHTS

“If you’ve ever been stranded at a European airport or had your luggage lost by an airline, you can now use this mobile app to check your rights immediately, on the spot,” says the European Commission. It also covers rail, bus and boat travel, and can be used without a data connection. — Free ANDROID APP ON

Photo: Christof Weber

15.05 - 31.07

Editio

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BUSINESS

Text by ZUZA REDA-JAKIMA

THE BUSINESS OF ROMANCE

GET CREATIVE Nathalie Bonn at the Chocolate House

February 2015

Photography by LALA LA PHOTO

THE COCOA TASTE OF LOVE

Giving chocolate to your sweetheart is a big St. Valentine’s Day tradition in many cultures. Although they see growing demand from across Europe and Asia, it is not the biggest holiday for Luxembourg’s chocolatiers. The first of three articles on “the business of romance”.

he moment I enter the Steinfort site of Génaveh, a local chocolate producer, an overwhelming sweet scent makes me immediately forget about the -2°C temperature and snow outside. The whole crew, dressed in white aprons with some brown spots here and there, seems to be taken in by the tender atmosphere: smiling, in great spirits, welcoming me in the chocolate palace of delight. Everyone is already in a St. Valentine Day’s mood. St. Valentine’s is a busy period for the Grand Duchy’s chocolate makers. Orders come from all over Europe, but also from Asia. You can get double-layer chocolate boxes for two: with love signs on the pralines; chocolate lollipop hearts and roses; but also special, custom-made confectionery. How about a dark chocolate

Eiffel Tower? Or a hazelnut covered Pyramid of Giza? The chocolate designers will be delighted to fulfil your dreams. The sky is the limit; provided the laws of physics make it possible. Among the craziest ones, chocolate makers get orders for chocolate penises, chairs and mini petrol stations. The requests come equally from men and women. Normally they would choose a chocolate heart or a rose decorated box, but for St. Valentine’s men especially are very creative. Instead of giving a bouquet of roses the most romantic ones order chocolates in the shapes of women’s most desired accessories. “Last year we have designed and produced a gorgeous high heel shoe with a red sole,” says Nathalie Bonn, owner of Chocolate House in heart of

the capital. If the man of your dreams is still saving for those Christian Louboutin shoes you would die for, a chocolate version of them is better than nothing. The busiest periods for the Grand Duchy’s chocolate producers are Christmas, when businesses order Santa Clauses, and Easter, as the local Luxembourg tradition of offering pretzels and chocolate eggs to one another is particularly strong. St Valentine’s is gaining in popularity, however, and chocolate-makers do see a steady growth in demand for the day. “Our big business opportunity is the Asian market, especially Japan, Korea and China,” notes Génaveh’s owner, David Naveh. European products are in high demand, plus Asian consumers are among the most devoted celebrators on 14 February. The chocolate-makers are reluctant to share how much of their annual revenue is associated with St. Valentine’s but they do admit that in the busiest periods their chocolate usage increases by 1,000kg on average. On a yearly basis they use dozens of tonnes of their core ingredients, including cocoa, milk powder, hazelnuts, almonds and sugar. The chocolate business is more vulnerable than others where it comes to global supply crises and raw product prices. In contrast to other commodities--such as coffee or rice, when the price of the final product depends on the market anomalies of the commodity itself--chocolate producers are constantly being hit by various storms. The cocoa bean is just one part of the story, but a bar’s cost is equally affected by almond, pistachios and fruit prices. For example, hazelnut crops in Turkey were badly hurt by weather recently and prices of the nuts almost tripled. However, chocolatiers generally sign long-term contracts with suppliers to keep the costs more or less stable. The market is difficult and the competition fierce, though. “We base our existence on the fact that there are people who still appreciate very good chocolate made with tender and care,” says David Naveh. With all the love and affection the cocoa beans get in the production process, the final product must be pricier than a mass, factory-made one.

THE BUSINESS OF ROMANCE

CONTINUED

“It is almost impossible to fake the taste, so regardless of commodity prices we always stick to our core quality ingredients and recipes. In some periods this means cutting down on margins, but this is how this business is,” admits Geula Naveh, chocolate designer at Génaveh and wife of David. When asked about the queen of chocolate, the experts refuse to give a straight answer. “All the producers base their production on the same raw material, which is cocoa. What counts in the final taste, though, is the quality of all the other ingredients and the proportion of the mix,” states Bonn. As with coffee, the quality of cocoa bean also depends on the soil, the sun and the roasting technique. The same rule applies: if you drink the best coffee straight, you can easily taste the gourmet in Columbia, Kenya or Blue Mountain Arabica beans, but if you add milk, sugar, cream and syrup, the raw material is not as important anymore. “Of course, there are some regions that produce very high quality cocoa beans, like Madagascar or Venezuela. But if you mix such beans with low quality milk powder or you exaggerate with sugar, the effect will be the same as when using common beans,” explains David Naveh.

"OUR BIG BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IS THE ASIAN MARKET, ESPECIALLY JAPAN, KOREA AND CHINA" DAVID NAVEH

For a cocoa pod to turn into a delicious praline it must go through a long process. First, there is the cocoa bean drying, roasting and grinding in order to take out the cocoa butter only to put back a part of it. Then, you compose the mixture and decide on the percentage of cocoa solids. Only then you add the flavours. The main ingredients of chocolate are cocoa mass and sugar, plus milk powder for milk chocolate. In white chocolate, however, there are no cocoa solids, just cocoa butter, milk powder and sugar; that is why a lot of producers do not even consider it chocolate per se. There is much more cocoa butter in the grain than is used February 2015

during chocolate production, but nothing is lost: some 80-90% of it then goes to the cosmetics industry. Taste preferences vary by region. Americans have a particularly sweet tooth and are milk and white-chocolate fans. Chinese, on the contrary, prefer dark chocolate. Germans always crave chocolate with nougat or praline filling, while the Polish would kill for fruity flavours. The tastes are also linked to the seasons: in winter there is more demand for alcohol filled pralines and “winter tastes” like ginger, while on hot summer days people prefer fruit and yogurt flavours. When asked about the most famous producers of chocolate, the Luxembourg manufacturers do not have complexes. “Belgian and Swiss chocolate is all about good marketing. Do not forget that Nestlé, the major global chocolate producer, is based near Geneva. They do have the knowledge and resources to best promote their products. But remember, we all use the same raw material,” comments Bonn.

Historically, France was home to the most admired chocolate producers. “The philosophy of the French, of the high quality of chocolate, is based on the ganache--the creamy filing of a praline. We operate in the same manner: if we produce ganache of rose it is made of real petals, [if it] is of pistachios, we use real nuts,” notes Geula Naveh. Normally when you have a busy period at work, you need to de-stress in some way. In the chocolate industry it is the other way round, she says. “I am a biologist and chemist by formation and have worked in the industry for many years. Ten years ago my husband and I decided to pursue our dream and create a chocolate manufacturer. Since then, even in the most demanding times, when the production is crazy, I don’t need to unwind. Standing by the production line, doing repetitive actions, supervising the process, it is so soothing and relaxing… Much better than yoga!”

INGREDIENTS ARE KEY Geula Naveh of Génaveh

MORE INFO All chocolate lovers should visit either the Chocolate Museum in Cologne (www.schokoladenmuseum.de) or Cadbury Museum in Birmingham (www. cadburyworld.co.uk). Chocolate House 20 rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, Luxembourg-Centre Génaveh www.chocolateriegenaveh.com

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BUSINESS

THE BUSINESS OF ROMANCE

Text by NEEL CHRILLESEN

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

THE LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD FACTOR Men are spending an increasing amount of money and effort on looking good. Short on time and expertise, many turn to professionals to help them achieve style, muscles and love.

ooking good leads to feeling good, which boosts confidence and draws positive attention. This message, conveyed to women for centuries, has seemingly reached the male ear too, as men are now spending nearly as much on clothes and personal grooming as their counterparts. The quest for increased “handsomeness” is largely motivated by getting ahead at work, which is not that surprising: studies show that good-looking men earn up to 13% more during their career and are more likely to be hired in a recession. Attracting partners and feeling more successful in private life are other major reasons for “upgrading”. Style coach and founder of The Gentleman’s Academy, Michael Leopolt, has helped thousands of men find their path. “Your style is much more than just the ability of dressing well,” he explains. “You’re telling the world your personal story. What you’ve seen, what you’ve experienced, what your beliefs are, but also where you’re heading to. It is your individual energy and it can attract interesting people and situations, or repel them. The way you dress and look is of course only part of the story, but it is very relevant because people visualise more than anything else. Other style components are how you talk, walk, smile, interact with other people and deal with situations.” KNOW THYSELF Clients come to Leopolt because they want to “move forward”, need a fresh start or have the desire to reinvent themselves. Springtime is therefore naturally the busiest period. “The biggest challenge for men is to get to know February 2015

UPGRADING MEN A. Jesper Enemark: Fitness helps find balance B. Michael Leopolt: Style is more attitude than fashion

themselves,” he says. “Style has to be coherent with who you are, otherwise it can’t be authentic. It’s an attitude and it should reflect your personality and values. It has nothing to do with fashion.” The answer is to be found somewhere between British “understatement” and Italian “effortlessness”: a simple, unpretentious style that appears natural. According to the style coach, the ability to match your shirts with your ties is secondary, but of course he teaches his clients the dos and don’ts, the rules about colours, fabrics, cuts, collars, tie knots and the “often underrated” shoes and haircuts. “Finding a brand that fits you

in terms of price, quality, cut and size is essential,” Leopolt says. “In 99% of the cases, when you buy a suit off the rack, alterations are necessary to get the perfect fit--but most men don’t bother. Our prime minister, Xavier Bettel, dresses elegantly, adding an Italian touch with his scarves, but his pants are baggy and he ties his tie in an old fashioned Windsor knot. Small details count.” What lies under the suit is increasingly important too. Six-packs are definitely in and women are not the only ones under media pressure to have perfect bodies. Jesper Enemark has 20 years of experience as a personal trainer and has

INSPIRED TO MAKE A MOVE?

in a fitness centre. According to a Belgian survey, 70% of those who take a gym membership stop going after three months. As a personal trainer, I’m there to keep my clients motivated. We discuss what they’ve done in the past, why they haven’t been successful and which results they want. Then I create a tailor-made fitness programme for them. For those who have difficulties fitting it into their professional life, we schedule the sessions like a meeting and I make sure they come on time!” FIT INSIDE AND OUT a wide and diverse range of clients, from those who need help with losing a few kilos to those preparing a marathon. “Common to them all however, is that they have taken an outright decision to start working out,” says the Dane. “They have thought it through and have a goal. For men, it’s typically getting more muscles, more energy in their job and losing weight.” Not unexpectedly, the beginning of the new year is when Enemark gets the most requests. “February is generally the month when people are ready to honour their resolutions,” he says. “The mistake many make then is to run out and buy a standard solution

Exercise helps tone your body and lose weight if necessary, but also helps alleviate stress and get the oomph back. “In Luxembourg, because many are here on short-term contracts, they give everything they have at work,” says Enemark. “Some are overstressed, others have backaches or feel down. Many also enjoy a good life here and want to be able to have that extra glass of wine without feeling bad. Fitness helps find a balance no matter what.” Efforts made on the bench press are also motivated by increasing the chances of finding a partner. After all, love is the ultimate feel good factor.

Matchmaker Cristina Kampe, who also offers workshops and relationship counselling, only works with people who are looking for “something serious”. “Many men who contact me don’t have the time to take care of their personal life. They also want full discretion, which is really important in a small country like Luxembourg,” says the ex-banker, whose service displays no names, photos or profiles online. “I meet with my clients so I can screen them properly and know exactly what they are looking for. Unfortunately, most men still want to meet women who are 20 years younger than them, which is rarely the best fit!” Kampe also has to deal with differences in the perception of gender roles, which varies a lot because of many nationalities in Luxembourg. However, she says the biggest issue for men remains shyness. “Many don’t know how to approach women or have had bad experiences and are afraid of being rejected. I teach them not to take negative encounters personally and to stop thinking they aren’t ‘good enough’. Men overthink a lot too,” she insists. As if it wasn’t complicated enough being a woman already.

BECOME A NEW MAN Specialist coaches can help provide the insight and inspire the motivation you may have been missing. They can boost you, give you valuable guidelines and help you push through your issues and personal “roadblocks”. But to benefit from their input, you have to be ready to move forward and out of your comfort zone. Michael Leopolt Coach in style, etiquette and business image Gives training sessions and presentations in companies and also offers individual coaching. www.thegentle mansacademy.com Jesper Enemark Personal trainer Provides structured, doctor-approved fitness plan and personal nutrition plan. Trains people in the Athletic Center in Hollerich and in the Petrusse valley. www.enemark fitness.lu Cristina Kampe Matchmaker and relationship coach Provides discreet, personalised matchmaking service and relationship coaching. Organises monthly “Mars meets Venus” workshops. www.matchmaking. cupidosmatch.com February 2015

BUSINESS

THE BUSINESS OF ROMANCE

Text by ALICE VERBERNE-BENAMARA

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

LOVE IS IN THE AIR… OR IS THAT SCENT MARKETING? Savvy business owners know that if you don’t smell good, then you don’t look good.

cent has the ability to call up powerful memories in an area of the brain that controls behaviour and mood. Many brands are now using that insight to woo consumers. “The goal is to please the customer so that they linger in the space,” Cyrille Gerhardt of Smell Marketing says of the many merchants in Luxembourg that have added his firm’s services to their sales strategy. Smell Marketing, a niche fragrance distribution firm, has been sniffing out B2B sales in Luxembourg since 2013. Gerhardt aims to optimise a company’s reputation through what he calls “olfactory scripting”. His goal is to help clients differentiate their business by associating their brand with a smell. In this way a service provider or shop owner may attach a signature aroma to a product or place. The aim is to create a more pleasurable customer experience and possibly up sell to clients. His client base spans a broad range of international and local businesses such as jewellery boutique Pandora, the House 17 private members club and the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. His grass roots marketing concept is to gain a following via recommendation. The company has also branched into the United Kingdom and is focusing on Canada. THE SMELL OF COTTON Gerhardt says it was easy to convince buyers to choose his product due to his expertise. The 38-year-old has worked over ten years in the luxury perfume industry. One of his first patrons, clothing brand Blanc du Nil, wanted to inspire the aura of cotton, which has no scent. He created a signature fragrance with which they so deeply identified that they chose to February 2015

reproduce the brand scent as a retail item so that customers could purchase it for home use. Additionally, Gerhardt is aware of the legal matters that hang over the market, which gives buyers further confidence. “There is a growing concern over the liability of dispersing synthetics that could trigger allergic reactions. That’s why we use organic substances,” he says. Liquid scent is aerated by a cold diffusion system that circulates a fine mist, just enough to trigger a mood. Timers regulate dissemination so there’s no waste. Price and selection are also factors in attracting clients. Gerhardt has a catalogue of 450 fragrances and the possibility of 3,000 raw materials from which he can create the right essence for a specific environment. Costs vary depending on the contents of the scent, but pricing is more affordable due to his connections in Madagascar, cutting out middlemen. One plug and smell subscription disperses aroma throughout 300 square meters for about €100 per month.

WHIFF OF SUCCESS Cyrille Gerhardt photographed at private members club House 17

Understandably, smell marketing is not an exact science and results can vary. That is where Gerhardt’s consultation comes in handy. For instance, for St. Valentine’s Day his company created an organic massage candle in orange flower, green tea and mango-passion fruit. He maintains that the light, sweet and soft on the skin product is reminiscent of love and wellbeing.

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BUSINESS

SNAPSHOTS

Text by JAMES WALKER

Photography by LALA LA PHOTO

" BEYOND THE PALE, MALE AND STALE" A

s one speaker put it, “smashing the male monopoly” on corporate board membership was the aim of the 6th Female Board Pool seminar in Luxembourg. Lydia Mutsch, the minister of equal opportunities, said the government’s plan for women to represent 40% of company board members by 2019 was an ambitious but attainable target. Martin Hilb of the University of St Gallen reckoned that female candidates must have an assigned role and possess a certain “know how” to be the perfect board member. Monique Bachner, an attorney in Luxembourg, stressed “the importance of going beyond the pale, male and stale” stereotype. She cited a 2013 survey of 5,977 companies in 45 countries that found 36% of boards did not even have one female member. “I am one of the pale, male and stale,” proclaimed Paul Schonenberg of Amcham. He said women should adopt “the gung-ho, confident approach that men often have” and as “half of the brains on this planet belong to women” it would be a shame to waste them. www.femaleboardpool.eu

February 2015

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BREAKING BARRIERS A. Lydia Mutsch, the equality minister, during the 6th Female Board Pool seminar in Luxembourg, held in January at the Chamber of Commerce B. Anne Schweizer and Monique Bachner C. Joanna Bown and Paul Schonenberg D. Martin Hilb of St Gallen University takes a question E. From left: Christina Coustry, Thao Nguyen and Marion Bauer F. Dano Moldoveanu, Simone P. Niclou and Aisling Whelan G. Göde Piwar Erdogan, Lara Foster and Maryse Duffin H. Iris Sigrist and Viviane Clauss I. Virginie Issumo and Marie Collard

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BUSINESS

FUNDS

Text by STEPHEN EVANS

Photography by SVEN BECKER

NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE FUND INDUSTRY Ahead of a financial trade mission led by Luxembourg’s finance minister to Sweden and Norway this spring, Delano looks at the out-sized role that Nordic money managers play in the Grand Duchy’s investment sector.

ordic firms have been small but significant long-term players in the local fund landscape. Reflecting this and the on-going potential, the government is to lead a financial mission to Scandinavia in May. So what special seasoning do the Nordics offer? Funds from Swedish promoters totalled €51bn in net assets at the end of last September, putting them a somewhat surprisingly high ninth on the list published by the regulatory agency CSSF. That is approaching 2% of the total in Luxembourg, just short of the figure for the Netherlands. The market is dominated by the US, UK, Germany and Switzerland, which together account for twothirds, but there is still room for funds with a slightly different flavour. “Nordics are important players in Luxembourg and have been here for a long time,” noted Anouk Agnes of the fund sector trade association ALFI. “As a Nordic firm we are often seen as outsiders compared to major fund promoting countries, but this can work in our favour as it generates interest,” noted Thierry Muller of the pan-Nordic bank Nordea. “We can’t complain at all and results for last year will exceed those for 2013,” he added. Europe accounts for around 95% of business, with Luxem bourg as the distribution hub outside of the home markets. As well, the firm has recently opened an office in Sao Paulo (2012) and Singapore (2013). This success is built on their expertise but they couldn’t do it without Luxembourg’s skills and reputation. “The Luxembourg brand is definitely stronger than the Danish one in this business,espe cially outside Europe,” commented February 2015

BUSINESS

FUNDS

CONTINUED

Jacob Nordby Christensen of the Danish firm Sparinvest. Nordea is one of the bigger players here with several hundred employees, with Sparinvest having just 20. This Luxo-Nordic blend works well for both. So what is the essence of being a Nordic fund promoter? While recognising that this was not a unique trait, both men suggested their businesses tended to adopt a pragmatic outlook when it comes to investment, but also the way their businesses are run. “It is not about ego for us but giving our clients the services they need,” insisted Muller. “If we feel we need to bring in expertise for any given strategy or asset class then we will team up with external managers,” he said. They have operated this “multi-boutique” approach since 2007, so that now this is used for 15 funds out of the 65 based here for international distribution. “This increased our range while guaranteeing the quality we require,” he added. That said, they prefer to keep most of their administration functions in-house, with Nordea only outsourcing custody functions. The Grand Duchy is an even bigger part of the story for Sparinvest, which moved its fund headquarters here in 2011. They have had funds based here for 15 years, but they wanted to make a clear statement to the market and to senior management within the firm. “We are a niche, boutique player but we have the full range of products, with the asset management carried out in Copenhagen,” said Christensen. “We find it easier to market Luxembourg-based funds than Denmark-based funds,” he added. “This is particularly the case for markets outside of Europe, such as the Middle East, South Africa and Asia. They know Luxembourg, so if you want to grow and be international then Luxembourg is the obvious choice.” The move also helped impress senior decision makers internally as well as February 2015

NORDIC PLAYERS A. Thierry Muller: Being seen as an “outsider” has its advantages B. Jacob Nordby Christensen: In the international fund world, Luxembourg is better known than Denmark.

externally that Sparinvest was fully committed to internationalisation. “If you say it then you have to walk the talk to demonstrate your faith,” reasoned Christensen. As well, the usual rules apply when it comes to choosing this country. The politicians, civil servants and regulators are more attentive here than in bigger countries. Then there is the central location, multilingualism, the infrastructure and expertise. RESPONSIBLE INVESTING “Very often Nordics have been the front runners when it comes to responsible investment, a feature that does mark them out,” noted Anouk. Known in Europe for their social, inclusive economies, this reputation is being leveraged by fund providers from the region. For example, Sparinvest has worked closely with ALFI and LuxFlag, the responsible investment labelling agency. “We are involved in the new initiative to create the LuxFlag ESG label for environmental, social and governance

investing, something which is very close to our hearts,” remarked Christensen. “This is a very good way to communicate to investors, and they don’t need to pay consultants to perform the due diligence on each fund. We are happy to have been one of the first to be awarded the label for one of our funds in late 2014.” A mission to Scandinavia underlines the importance of the region to Luxem bourg. It will be led by Pierre Gramegna, the minister of finance, and will take in Stockholm on 4 May and Oslo the following day. Sweden is the largest player in the Luxembourg financial centre and Norway is home to the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. So if the Nordic fund industry in Luxembourg has an identity, it is about getting the job done in an efficient, non-flashy manner and with an eye on social responsibility. Details of the financial mission to Stockholm and Oslo will be published on: www.luxembourgforfinance.com

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BUSINESS

Text by MARC WAGENER

Photography by LALA LA PHOTO

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REFORM A new policy paper outlines seven of the Grand Duchy’s most important healthcare challenges.

uxembourg is characterised by a rather generous public healthcare system that stands for universal access. However, given the economic constraints, this generosity brings the sustainability of healthcare system under question. In its recently published report, Healthcare system sustainability in Luxembourg: a reality or a utopia?, Fondation IDEA aims at informing the relevant stakeholders on the way forward by adopting a holistic and simultaneously international perspective on healthcare organisation. In the years following the economic crisis of 2008, Luxembourg has been trying to address the sustainability issue by undertaking a number of major structural reforms in the healthcare sector. Some of these reforms seem to face significant operationalisation hurdles, whereas others need to catch up with the current trends in the gradually globalised healthcare industry. By placing Luxembourg’s initiatives in the global healthcare trends context, the report tries to disentangle the hurdles Luxembourg faces and suggests ways to move forward. The literature review is supported by information derived from a series of open discussions with various stakeholders. As a result of the aforementioned approach, we identified seven pillars considered as being crucial for the future development of the Luxembourg healthcare sector. First, given that hospital expenses are among the main cost drivers of healthcare budgets, hospital planning and budgeting should continue to score high in the policy agenda of Luxembourg. Second, the initiative of the “médecin référent” [primary care physician] is in February 2015

132 X 88 MM

CARTE BLANCHE

MARC WAGENER Injecting some adrenaline into debate

line with the global trends towards a paradigm shift in physician’s practice and remains an important aspect of the healthcare policy reforms. Third, diffusion of biomedical research, besides the profound advantages for the Luxembourg population’s health, appears as a promising sector of econo mic activity that needs to be boosted. Fourth, making the most out of ICT solutions is a way to establish an efficient and effective way to communicate health related data. Moreover, it offers significant economic opportunities as well. Fifth, cross-border health is a promising field for Luxembourg, in particular as its strategic place offers a substantial economic opportunity for Luxembourg and the Greater Region. Sixth, health technology assessment is gradually becoming an area of interest for Luxembourg, adding significantly to the information needed for effective decision making.

Last but not least, accounting for patients’ preferences is gaining grounds across the globe, partly forming healthcare policies. The report aims to be used as a roadmap for the way forward in healthcare in Luxembourg with a holistic and international twist. Thus, the policy recommendations presented in the document are in no way binding but capitalise some of the most important healthcare issues Luxembourg faces. Once again the scope is to raise awareness among the various stakeholders and prepare the grounds for a productive dialogue that will frame Luxembourg’s healthcare policy of tomorrow. Marc Wagener is operational director of the Fondation IDEA, a think tank backed by the Chamber of Commerce. This article was adapted from the foundation’s Healthcare system sustainability in Luxembourg: a reality or a utopia? report, which can be found at www.fondation-idea.lu.

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INFORMATION SESSION Thu, Feb 26th at SESSION 6:00 pm INFORMATION Thu, Feb 26th at 6:00 pm John F.Welch COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

John F.Welch 7, Rue Alcide de Gasperi

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS c/o Chambre de Commerce L-2981 Luxembourg 7, Rue Alcide de Gasperi c/o Chambre de Commerce www.shu.lu L-2981 Luxembourg welchmba@shu.lu

www.shu.lu welchmba@shu.lu

JOHN F. WELCH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Call for details: (352) 22 76 13 1

Luxembourg

BUSINESS

SNAPSHOTS

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Photography by STEVE EASTWOOD

MEMBERS ONLY

MORE HIGHLIGHTS AT:

he cosy residence of British ambassador Alice Walpole was the venue for the annual members’ New Year cocktail hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg last month. Walpole, in her role as ambassador, is the honorary president of the British Chamber. Sponsored by Champ Cargosystems, the event was a social gathering allowing members to catch up after the holiday break and giving the ambassador and BCC chairman John Johnston an opportunity to look to the year ahead; a year in which not only will the United Kingdom have a general election but Luxembourg will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the 11th time. The British chamber currently boasts some 300 members--companies and individuals--from a wide range of economic activities. Its primary objective is to “follow and influence developments in the economic and business world in Luxembourg affecting members’ interests.”

WWW.DELANO.LU/ BCCNEWYEAR2015

LAUNCHING THE NEW YEAR A. Dave Evans and Sophie Kerschen B. Nigel Fielding and ambassador Alice Walpole C. James Bermingham, Simône van Schouwen and Stéphane Compain D. Francesca De Bartolomeo and Pat Hutchines E. BCC chair John Johnston (speaking) F. Daniel Eischen, Andy Adams and Darren Robinson G. Jan Stig Rasmussen, Gillian Arcone and Neil Underwood H. Artur Sosna, Ben Lyon, Frauke Oddone and Michael Stone

www.bcc.lu

February 2015

Professional Training and Qualifications for the Fund Industry Developing knowledge and competence in Luxembourg in association with ALFI and the fund industry’s leading specialists. The professionalism of the Fund Industry in Luxembourg is in constant progression. The IFBL – Institute, the “finance” pillar of the House of Training, offers you in association with ALFI the tools and resources needed to keep up with both fundamental and specialized training demands. With certifications, expert trainers, materials that are permanently kept up to date, IFBL / ALFI fund training is the choice of the industry to keep driving forward.

Subscriptions open!

_ENG The directive and its environment, objectives, impact and scope. Passports, conduct of business, delegation, transparency provisions and implementation. 30th March

UNDERSTANDING AIFMD

UCITS AND NON-UCITS MANCOS

_ENG

Explanation of the role, responsibilities, authorization, passport and programme of activities. 27th April

DEPOSITARY BANK IN PRACTICE

_ENG

Roles, responsibilities, interactions, oversight of funds and counterparts, collateral and crisis management, specifics of master feeder structures. 29th April

INTRODUCTION TO FUND COMPLIANCE

_ENG

Ethics, governance and rules of conduct, market abuse, insider trading, customer complaints, conflict of interest, data and confidentiality. 30th April

INTERNATIONAL FUND REGISTRATIONS

_ENG

Key principles, roles of actors, European domestic market specificities, registrations outside the EU. 1st June

_ENG Applied understanding of AML and industry guidelines, roles and responsibilities, the risk based approach, due diligence, vigilance and outsourced partners. 9th June

APPLIED AML FOR FUNDS

INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN FUND TAXATION

_ENG

Basic notions, terminology, key EU markets, reporting. 7th July

HEDGE FUND MODULES, PRIVATE EQUITY AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMES All programmes and modules are being delivered in full.

IFBL - L’INSTITUT customer@ifbl.lu | Tel. : +352 46 50 16 – 1 | Fax : +352 46 50 19 | www.ifbl.lu

_ENG

BUSINESS

AGENDA

TEN EVENTS

HYPERLINK 5 Wed 25 Feb

Betacube

Delano presents a selection of upcoming business and networking events for Luxembourg’s international community. Advance registration or fees may be required, so consult the website indicated for full details. All events are held in English. CHINESE NEW YEAR

www.betacube.eu

The web professionals group says: “Join the Hyperlink meetup and have a great evening talking about the latest happenings in the web development world while holding a juicy beverage.” Technoport, Esch-Belval, 19:00-23:00

TRANSFER AGENCY SUMMIT

43,5 X 23 MM Tue 10 Feb Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce www.cc.lu

Reception to mark the year of the goat, organised with the Chinese embassy, Hong Kong trade office and the China-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. Cocktail chat tip: goats are calm, creative and careful. Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 18:00-20:00

43,5 X 23 MM

GROWTH SESSIONS

Leadership and personal development workshops on “futurefit leaders”, building your own brand and “how to boost your creativity”. Advanced registration required. Neimënster, Luxembourg-Grund, “future-fit” and personal brand 09:00-12:15, creativity 14:00-17:15

www.workshop4me.org

BREAK GLASS CEILINGS

“To celebrate International Women’s Day, we would like mums and girls to code together. We are sure they will #MakeItHappen!” Organised with Microsoft and Geek Girls Carrots Luxembourg. Microsoft, Luxembourg-Clausen, 18:00-20:30

Wed 25 Feb

THE INTERFACE INTERFACE

Tue 24 - Fri 27 Feb www.itas-event.com

The 14th annual confab for investment fund operations professionals. Speakers include Richard Clarke of RBC, Geoff Cook of Brown Brothers Harriman (pictured) and Graham Goodhew of JP Morgan. Neimënster, Luxembourg-Grund, all day event

TAXING CHANGES

The Network

www.thenetwork.lu

The women’s professional networking group (which boasts 22 nationalities among its membership) hosts a seminar on “gender balance in the corporate world”, followed by informal networking. Hôtel Le Royal, Luxembourg-Centre, 19:30-21:30

43,5 X 23 MM

Thu 26 Feb

TIGFI

www.tigfi.org

Wed 25 Feb British chamber www.bcc.lu

Tue 10 March

Design Friends

www.designfriends.lu

In this social design talk, Sven Ehmann and Dennis Elbers address “how they create an interface to discuss the way designers and audience deal with social responsible graphic matter.” Casino art forum, LuxembourgCentre, 18:30-21:00

REFORMING BANKERS

Europe’s new VAT rules and what it means for Luxembourg explained. Speakers are David Arendt of the Freeport (photo), Daniel Liebermann of the economy ministry and Karine Bellony of VAT Solutions. Doubletree by Hilton, Luxembourg-Dommeldange, 18:00

David Shirreff, a former journalist at The Economist, offers his proposals on “restructuring the banking system and ending the bonus culture” during the financial ethics club’s monthly luncheon. Cercle Munster, Luxembourg-Grund, 11:30

Sales, Research Estimations 4-6, Rue Adolphe, L-1116 Luxembourg tél. : 26 97 97-8101 • info@epestate.lu

February 2015

Wed 4 March Workshop4Me

ITAS 2015

Thu 12 Feb

club.paperjam.lu

SISTERS ARE CODIN’ IT FOR THEMSELVES

SPEECH SKILLS

Tue 10 March + Wed 11 March

Toastmasters

www.district59.eu

Public speaking groups Bossuet Gaveliers, Casematers, Greenheart and Tip Top Toastmasters Club each meet two evenings per month. No requirement to be a native Anglophone. Click on “Go to… Select a Club” on website for venues and times.

HAVE A SUGGESTION? If your organisation is holding a business or networking event of interest to the international community, send details to: news@delano.lu

Photo: US Mission Geneva/Eric Bridiers

The IDEA Foundation is a Luxembourg based Think Tank focusing on socio-economic topics. Supported by the Chamber of Commerce, IDEA endeavours to work as an autonomous, versatile and open entity and strives to lead reflections in terms of sustainable development in Luxembourg by pursuing the general economic interests of the country, and to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic debate. The objective of IDEA Foundation is to improve the quality of socio-economic policy, notably through fact-based economic analyses and the development of innovative ideas presented and discussed in public with various audiences. Curious ? To find out more about the IDEA Foundation please visit our homepage: www.fondation-idea.lu or contact us by email info@fondation-idea.lu

54 54

BUSINESS

Text by TONYA STONEMAN

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

RAFAEL’S ICE CANVAS Artist and hockey player Rafael Springer finds beauty and inspiration in two very different arenas.

afael Springer, defence for the Luxembourg Tornados is the oldest hockey player to participate with a scoring point in a World Championship game--he was 49 when his team played Ireland in Mexico City. This is fitting, of course, since Springer had never even heard of the sport until he was 18 years old. The son of a classical musician, Springer came to Luxembourg as a child in 1965 when his father took a post as a conductor for the symphony orchestra here. Surrounded by art all of his life, he gravitated naturally towards sculpting, painting and writing. But in 1976 something completely unexpected took his breath away: ice hockey. “I was fascinated,” he recalls. “I started playing late in life because I hadn’t ever known what it was. But when I discovered the sport, I became addicted.” After five years of aggressively indulging his newfound passion, Springer reached a crossroads. A struggling artist by day and a hockey player by moonlight, he ran out of money for the equipment he needed to continue. “I thought about it and decided that as a fine artist, a sport like hockey really didn’t fit with my lifestyle,” he says. Maybe he was genuinely convinced that he would lose credibility in the art world if people know he had given a piece of his soul to a rough neck sport or maybe he was looking for an excuse to choose between his two loves, but whatever the motivation Springer left hockey for ten long years. February 2015

MY OTHER LIFE

It was his son that finally brought him back to the sport. “When I got back at it I was 35 years old,” he says. “I wanted to share this with my children.” (Springer now has three kids, and his youngest plays hockey.) He learned a lot in the decade away: three years of accounting taught him that he did not want to spend his life in a swivel chair, living on a painter’s salary taught him that being an artist doesn’t feed your pocketbook, but it feeds your brain (and that’s more important to him), and returning to the rink taught him that there is genuine artistry in hockey. “The ice rink is a blank canvas,” he says. “It links harmony, speed, physics and results. I never thought I would come back to it, but I have. It’s a sport for the whole body. It makes you think a lot.” It’s been a while since Springer played seriously and he is no longer on the first team; he plays in the fourth French league and teaches his son the game. When he’s not skating, he paints, sculpts and writes books and poems. When he’s not creating, he skates. He finds the pursuits compliment each other nicely.

TWO CANVASES Rafael Springer’s artwork: www.rafaelspringer.com Luxembourg Tornados host Aigles de Besançon on Friday 7 February at the Kockelscheuer rink: www.sport50.com/team/tornado/

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UPFRONT

LIFESTYLE

s g n i n e p o w e N erican denim n chain , more classic Amy centre and hio fas h tis Bri a for t firs cit A o iconic venues in the and the reopening of tw get to check Delano’s “Ten things to do for n’t and events. in Clausen . And do for more new opening this week ” via Delano.lu

PYROS ON PARADE

GRAND DUCHY FILES

FASHION FIRST British fashion brand Karen Millen has opened its first stand-alone Luxembourg store in the Auchan shopping centre. Further store openings are reportedly being planned. The range covers everything from offduty weekend to statement dressing. Where: Auchan shopping centre, Luxembourg-Kirchberg Info: www.karenmillen.com

DENIM DREAMS Iconic jeans marque Levi’s has also opened a dedicated store. Situated right in the centre of Luxembourg City, the shop carries the entire Levi’s range, from the classic 501 jean and other trousers to jackets, sweatshirts and even dresses. Where: 85 Grand-Rue, Luxembourg-Centre Info: global.levi.com

WILD THING The bar at 17 rue du St.-Esprit has changed names several times over the years, but can lay claim to being the hippest location in Luxembourg. Its latest incarnation is De Gudde Wëllen (the good wild one) and like previous venues it hosts live music and is frequented by cool guys and gals. Where: 17 rue du St.-Esprit, Luxembourg-Centre Info: www.deguddewellen.lu

REFURBISHED CLASSIC Retaining its upmarket vibe, Brasserie Mansfeld has reopened following extensive refurbishment. The menu features classics of French cuisine, Chateaubriand or whole sea bass to be shared by two diners, as well as a selection of platters and desserts. Where: 3 rue de la Tour Jacob, Luxembourg-Clausen Info: www.brasserie-mansfeld.lu

February 2015

e alluded to Game of Thrones the last time we wrote about Luxembourg’s winter traditions and the celebrations over the next two months or so in various towns and villages around the country also have something of a medieval fantasy atmosphere about them. The first Sunday of Lent, for example, is Buergsonndeg. Now legendary among expat residents who have never seen such a thing, this celebration and involves the lighting of a huge fire, often in the shape of a cross, in village and neighbourhoods. The fire represents the victory of the sun over winter and is supposed to herald in spring. Local associations such as Scout troops or the volunteer fire brigade will organise the collection of combustible material for the fire--the Buerg--and the festivities will include the ubiquitous grill selling sausages and pork chops as well as a drinks stand selling champagne, beer and even Glühwein if the weather is cold enough. Incidentally, the word Buerg in this case is not derived from the German word for castle, but from the Latin comburere, meaning to burn. This year, Buergsonndeg falls on Sunday 22 February so look out in your neighbourhood for activity --though once again the Ville de Luxembourg will not be hosting a fire in the Pétrusse due to the construction work on the Pont Adolphe. Carnival in Luxembourg might not have the exotic flavour of celebrations in Rio or the soul of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, nor, indeed the ritual and ceremony and strange language of Karneval in Mainz, Cologne or other German cities, but it is celebrated by one and all. The carnival period stretches over several weeks and takes in parades, usually on a Sunday, through the streets in towns such as Diekirch (15 February), Esch-sur-Alzette (8 March) and Pétange and Remich (both 15 March) as well as huge costume balls. And fire plays a part in a special tradition in Remich on Wednesday 18 February, when a straw man effigy is taken on to the bridge over the Moselle, set alight and thrown into the river.

Photos: Benjamin Champenois Olivier Minaire Luc Deflorenne Charles Caratini Gary Tanner/Creative Commons

Perfect weekenndt Valentine for the relucta

make many tine’s Day is enough to riced candlelit len Va St. g din un rro su overp The hype k out alternatives to the couples--and singles--see . ary bru Fe of d en ek we dinner over the second

FRIDAY 13.02 – 7 P.M. GIVE IN TO BASIC INSTINCT… …even though it’s going to be horribly pretentious, rose-tinted S&M porn. But go watch 50 Shades Of Grey if only to learn from the swoonsome Jamie Dornan how to tie a sheepshank knot. Where: Utopolis, Luxembourg-Kirchberg Info: www.utopolis.lu

Photos: MK2 Productions Studio 352 Witry & Witry Studio Smack - Rayfish Footwear

Diary BINOCHE VISIT As well as starring in Antigone (see page 59), Juliette Binoche will be the guest at a screening of Trois couleurs: Bleu at the Cinémathèque on 18 February. She will be in conversation with Cinémathèque director Claude Bertemes before the film. Where: Cinémathèque, Luxembourg-Centre Info: www.cinematheque.lu

ANOTHER OSCAR SHOT Following the success of M. Hublot, and nomination of Ernest & Célestine, at the Academy Awards last year, another Luxembourg animated feature is up for an Oscar this year. Studio 352’s Song Of The Sea faces stiff competition from Disney and Dreamworks. Where: Los Angeles, 22 February Info: oscar.go.com

NOD FOR ARCHITECTS Local architects Witry & Witry have been nominated for the EU’s Mies van der Rohe Award, recognising the best in European contemporary architecture, for their work on the Aalt Stadhaus Differdange, transforming the former town hall into a cultural centre. Where: Differdange-Centre Info: www.witry-witry.lu

DESIGN SHOW Local designers are part of a Luxembourg postscript to the Resolute Design Changes exhibition currently showing at the Casino. The original exhibition was held in Breda last year and explores social responsibility displayed by graphic designers. Where: Casino-Luxembourg contemporary art forum, LuxembourgCentre, until 3 May Info: www.casino-luxembourg.lu

SATURDAY 14.02 – 8 P.M. CHILL AT THE FREEEEZE FESTIVAL… …which, for the uninitiated, is a French urban music fest featuring live acts and Hip Hop dance and scratching workshops. Electro artist Rone is the headline the act. Where: Rockhal, Esch-Belval Info: www.rockhal.lu

SUNDAY 15.02 – 10 A.M. GRAB SOME VINYL… …which will be on sale at Exit07’s Foire au Disques. Sellers from France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands will have stands featuring rare vinyl as well as CDs and DVDs. Where: CarréRotondes, Luxembourg-Hollerich Info: www.rotondes.lu

February 2015

LIFESTYLE

GETTING INVOLVED

Text by JAMES WALKER

Photography by LALA LA PHOTO

Finding the code to success GIRLS IN TECH:

Marie-Adélaïde Gervis and Marina Thiriet started Girls In Tech Luxembourg just over a year ago and are ready to move out of beta testing. Want to encourage women to make a digital move?

or Girls In Tech Luxembourg’s first event, the group’s two co-founders had to pay for the drinks out of their own pocket, as none of its early sponsors were willing to make the investment. “It was difficult to start from scratch” as there was a “credibility problem” at first, recalls Marina Thiriet, who runs the non-profit outfit with MarieAdélaïde Gervis (pictured). The two French women launched Girls In Tech Luxembourg in January 2014. It is part of the eight-year-old global organisation started in the US by Adriana Gascoigne that now has chapters in more than two dozen countries worldwide. Girls in Tech aims to provide women with the opportunity to succeed in a technology driven world usually very much dominated by men. Marina, who has a background in coding, and Marie-Adélaïde, who worked with Girls in Tech Paris before moving to the Grand Duchy, have managed to build up support since then, including from big name sponsors such as BGL BNP Paribas. In November the City of Luxem bourg granted the Anne Beffort prize to the group for its role in the improvement of equality in education. Receiving the prize from the capital’s mayor,

WWW.LUXEMBOURG. Lydie Polfer, and several GIRLSINTECH.ORG aldermen marked a turning point of sorts. Both co-founders feel as though the chapter is now a real platform from which to build on for the future. Marie-Adélaïde says that since they have finished “the testing period” and “found there was enough demand and attendees,” 2015 can be “more professional, more structured,” something they couldn’t have done last year. Marie-Adélaïde, a family woman with a full time job, describes herself as “an action person.” Due to her having a lot of other responsibilities, “I choose my battles, this is the battle I chose because I really believe in it.” She adds that she works towards “a vision of a more balanced had even discouraged Annabelle from her studies world.” Marina agrees with this, saying that “there are plenty of opportunities in the digital and the course she wanted to take. It is really for this reason that the women feel it is important to world, women should be a part of it.” stand for what they stand for now and encourage Although Girls on Tech is fighting for more women to take a path that they would otherwise opportunities for women in the technology not take for fear of feeling left out. industry, both co-heads stress that they are Having said this, Marie-Adélaïde acknowledges not really “feminists”. Marina says: “We try to move away from being a feminist organisation.” that not everyone is like this obviously and one of the most rewarding parts of the work is the Marie-Adélaïde adds that it is really support and recognition they have gained, encouraging that they have had “men from women and men alike. advocates from the first moment” and that When Marie-Adélaïde recently went to a big “they see that we are not a threat.” event in the ICT world, she was introduced But they also recount that another board to another, male, attendee. When she asked member, Annabelle Buffart, who is a developer, whether he knew Girls in Tech, “he replied with ‘of has felt extremely pressured and intimidated in course I know’.” Marie-Adélaïde says it’s just this the past in a sector that tends to be 90% men. sort of statement that encourages her the most. According to Marie-Adélaïde, in the past people

Community noteboo GIFTS FOR KIDS

24 DAYS CENT BUTTEK Fund service provider Prisma raised €3,000 for local food banks one like, share and online comment at a time. Info: www.delano.lu/ news/24-days-cent-drop February 2015

AWCL Two dozen companies and their employees raised €13,000, which the club used to give St Nicolas Day presents to 597 children at 60 shelters and group homes in Luxembourg. The sponsors were honoured 22 Jan. with a reception at the US embassy. Info: www.delano.lu/ news/597-visits-st-nicolas

2ND HAND SALE

ORCHARD WORKOUT

MOO AND ROO’S Kid stuff bargains at the city hostel 8 Feb. Facepainters for Make-a-Wish and clothes drop for Foyer St Antoine. Info: www.facebook.com/ mooandrooevents

NATUR&ËMWELT The English section’s next “Get fit by nature” activity is sprucing up grasslands and orchards around Junglinster 28 Feb. Info: www.naturemwelt.lu

CAR FESTIVAL BENEFIT FROM ATTRACTIVE RATES!

Extended opening hours : talk to us about your car loan - many branches are open up to 6.30 p.m. on working days from 31 January to 9 February 2015. More information and loan calculator at www.bcee.lu.

Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat, Luxembourg, établissement public autonome, 1, Place de Metz, L-2954 Luxembourg, R.C.S. Luxembourg B 30775 www.bcee.lu tél. (+352) 4015 -1

LIFESTYLE AUTOMOTIVE

ASTON MARTIN’S JEAN KERSCHEN

February 2015

Text by WENDY WINN

Photography by GAËL LESURE

Let festival fantasies drive you wild

oing in to a car showroom today, compared to a decade ago, is like switching to a huge flat screen TV from a tiny black and white. The technological advances change nearly everything, from the way we navigate, park, back up, communicate and entertain ourselves. Case in point, the Etoile Citroën garage in the Cloche d’Or. There, you don’t even have to peer inside the car to look at the on-board computers and cameras to see one of the latest innovations. You can see the “Airbump” panel on the side of the new Citroën C4 Cactus from a distance. Why did it take so long to invent a side panel that keeps your new car free of dings and dents? The airbump comes in four colours, the car comes in nine and the interior in three. The degree to which you can personalise your car has also changed over the years, right down to the cardboard pine tree dangling from the rearview mirror. Renault, with a showroom just down the road from the Etoile, takes personalising cars to a new level with its “CarLab” concept. Looking at the catalogues feels creative, somewhere between changing the outfits on paper dolls and colouring in one of those popular art therapy books you might have gotten for Christmas. You have a lot of choice, right down to the colour of the Alu-wheels. At BMW this year in particular, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Hard to remember when there have been so many stunning new models, outside of Victoria Secret’s recent fashion show in London. Set your GPS for Arnold Kontz to see them all. Not only BMWs, but also Minis, Land Rovers, BMW motorcycles, Peugeot scooters and even electric bikes. And for three years now, Arnold Kontz has offered something that ties very much in with the spirit of fantasy and fun--Aston Martins. These handcrafted beauties, won’t, however, be discounted during the festival, and the lucky manager of the dealership, Jean Kerschen, says

that his clients aren’t really the sort to want to elbow through crowds at sales. “We’re exclusive,” he says. And just what sort of person, besides 007, drives an Aston Martin? “Our clients are mostly independent, doctors, lawyers, a few bankers, not so much from the embassies and institutions because our cars are not discreet.” You can say that again. Just take a gander at the DB10 created for the upcoming James Bond film, Spectre. Not the sort of thing you could drive down the boulevard Royal unnoticed. “It’s just made for the movie, but we could expect it to be the future of Aston Martin,” says Kerschen. New, yes, but what you won’t find on any Aston Martin are all those innovative options we’ve found elsewhere this year. “We say it’s a driver’s car, not a car driving the driver. No cruise control, no parking itself, all these things that take away more and more from the feeling of driving.” “Aston Martins are not like any other car; they’re not mass produced, they’re built by hand. The components too are real… and it takes four entire hides for the interior. No barbed wire fences are used to keep the cows in, so that they don’t scratch their hides. The leather is hand-sewn and the car is polished by hand between each of seven coats of paint.” Kerschen knows a lot about the car he sells-and drives--he even collected Aston Martin brochures as a child. “I’ve been a fan for a long time and spent 30 years in the car business. When the opportunity to be the director of Aston Martin in Luxembourg opened up, I jumped on it.” The car he jumps into is a 1958 DBS Aston Martin. “I do classic car rallies; I have fun with it. It’s not my everyday car.” No, his every day car is whichever Aston Martin demo car suits his fancy. “It’s a childhood dream come true.” Come dream a little yourself this month; who knows where that road will lead you!

AUTO FESTIVAL Through 9 February dealers across the Grand Duchy have special promotions at their showrooms.

Info: Click on “Annuaire des garages” at www.myauto.lu

TOP DEALERS ETOILE CITROËN

Where: 5 rue Robert Stumper, LuxembourgGasperich Info: +352 40 22 66 www.etoilegarage.lu

RENAULT

Where: 2 rue Robert Stumper, Luxembourg-Gasperich Info: +352 40 30 40 www.renault.lu ARNOLD KONTZ

Where: 184 route de Thionville, Luxembourg- Bonnevoie Info: +352 49 19 41 www.arnoldkontz.bmw.lu ASTON MARTIN

Where: 28 route de Thionville, Luxembourg-Bonnevoie Info: +352 29 71 74 007 www.astonmartin-luxembourg.lu

February 2015

Photos: David Laurent (archives) Noebu/Creative Commons Renault UK BMW AG

you’re not really tasy and fun . So even if t what’s new fan up g rin nju co , ion A festival is a celebrat buckle up and go for a joy ride, checking ou s to be had in the market, why not re are special offers at dealerships and banker during cars on off under the hood while the lieve it or not, all of the Be al? tiv fes to au al nu t! during the an ely free--to dream abou the festival are absolut

LIFESTYLE

QUICK GUIDE

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Nordic shopping and going out come into sign, Nordic brands have de nt icie eff d an ol co Nordic food, using Known for couple of decades. Andcoveted in the world. t las the er ov n ow ir the urs , is among the most naturally inspired flavo to finding Nordic stuff in Luxembourg. ide Here’s our quick gu

FAMOUS BRANDS Nordic brands have long swayed between function and design, between Volvo’s box-shaped cars being a byword for safety and durability and Bang & Olufsen’s well-earned reputation for innovative hi-fi technology. Volvo in Luxembourg is one of the flagship brands at the Autopolis dealership in Bertrange while the latest Bang & Olufsen audiovisual equipment (photo) can be found at its store in Beggen. But for many shoppers the first brand that comes to mind when talking about the Nordic countries is IKEA. The Swedish flat-pack furniture brand, the world’s largest furniture manufacturer, is almost ubiquitous. The nearest store to Luxembourg is just across the border at Sterpenich in Belgium. Almost as ubiquitous is fashion chain H&M, which has eight stores dotted around the country. Volvo: www.autopolis.lu Bang & Olufsen: stores.bangolufsen.com/luxemborg IKEA: www.ikea.be H&M: www.hm.com/lu

February 2015

SCANSHOP Opened in 1994, Scanshop carries a wide range of Scandinavian groceries, alcohol, gift items, magazines and health products. The store also serves sandwiches and a selection of traditional hot dishes, including the famous Danish hot dogs, and customers can enjoy live radio streams from back home while browsing. Conveniently located in Neudorf close to Nordea Bank. www.scanshop.lu

NEW CROSSFIRE A Nordic bar in the Gare area of town, Crossfire is a popular venue for watching TV sports--European football as well as the more Nordic ice hockey--and also serves some mean burgers at lunch. It is also a good place to gather to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. www.crossfire.lu

BO CONCEPT The high end Danish furniture designer has had a store in Bertrange for over 15 years. Marketing its furniture as luxury at an affordable price, the brand’s designs are sleek, functional and adaptable. www.boconcept.com

STINE BÜLOW Danish jewellery designer Stine Bülow now has her atelier housed in home furnishings store Ben & Pepper on avenue de la Liberté. A qualified goldsmith who takes pride in her craft, Bülow has her own labels, the sophisticated Bülow Fine Jewellery and the more playful Vintage Fable collection. www.stinebulow.com

KONRAD CAFÉ & BAR Konrad Café & Bar on rue du Nord is owned by Swedish entrepreneur Ture Hedberg who has given the venue a cool Nordic vibe--it attracts in equal measure young mothers with their babies and toddlers, students wanting a cosy place to study and local indie nerds. A good value lunch menu and a legendary carrot cake, as well as regular stand up comedy, concerts and a Sunday evening quiz add to its popularity. On Facebook

FINLANDSTORE The import portal run by Sanna van Look Peltonen is the place to find all things Finnish, from sauna accessories to stylish Nokian rubber boots. www.finlandstore.eu

DANIA PRESENTS Carrying Scandinavian design brands and gift items as well as Danish books and magazines, Dania Presents has an outlet on rue Astrid in Belair as well as in Trier. Brands range from Rosendahl tableware to Pilgrim designer jewellery, from pappelina fabric furnishings to Flensted mobiles. www.dania.lu

HÄSTENS Swedish luxury bed company Hästens set up its first Luxembourg outlet in rue du Curé in the city centre two years ago. Its trademark blue and white chequered linen and superbly crafted beds are supposed to “change the way people think about and prioritize sleep.” www.hastens.com

DANISH DELI Settle down to enjoy freshly made smørrebrød or coffee and fabulous pastries in a contemporary deli atmosphere or buy Danish specialities including Slagter Munch’s famous sausages from Skagen and luxury herring from Christiansøpigens Sild. www.danishdeli.lu

HAPP Opened by health-conscious Icelanders, Happ has become a very popular lunchtime venue and is now also open in the THE FAIRY Run by two evenings. It serves delicious dishes Danish made from natural ingredients free residents, of additives, supplements and Mette and Tina, The Fairy artificial colouring. Also provides is a children’s fashion store healthy food package combinations. in Bertrange and an online www.happ.lu shop that sells “handpicked styles from selected suppliers with focus on quality, fashion and comfort.” www.thefairy.eu

CASCAIS COPENHAGEN As the name suggests, this showroom features fashion from Portugal and Denmark. The Danish brands include children’s clothing label Wheat. On Facebook

NJÖRD As featured on the cover of this issue, Njörd is a relatively new addition to the Nordic food market. The restaurant offers diners a quick lunch menu featuring Nordic style soups, sandwiches, bagels, smørrebrød, cakes and desserts using ingredients particular to Sweden, Norway and Denmark. www.njordfood.com

Photos: Steve Eastwood Olivier Minaire Mike Zenari Benjamin Champenois

Njörd is a Nordic inspired food concept, offering healthy & enjöyable food, homemade in our kitchen. Enjoy Njörd food at our restaurants in Kirchberg and Hamm, or contact us for more information about our companies dedicated offer for business lunch, events and meetings.

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GET TO KNOW NJÖRD AND ALL OUR HOME-MADE PRODUCTS: WWW.NJORDFOOD.COM

SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2015 Atelier Concert

den Atelier presents

DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST

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Send an email mentioning “den Atelier/DJ SHADOW” to contest@delano.lu Deadline for entries is 16 FEBRUARY 2015 Winners will be notified by email

LIFESTYLE

INTERVIEW

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

e r u t c e t i h c r A t u o s e h c a e r

e itecture (LUCA) will giv mbourg Centre for Archau Luxembourg new impetus xe Lu d ile ve un ly sh fre The itecture et de l’Ingénierie the Fondation de l’Arch ible, says direc tor Andrea Rumpf. and make it more access

ublic interest in architecture has grown significantly since the Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénierie au Luxembourg was founded back in 1992. The logical development of this, says Fondarch director Andrea Rumpf, has been for the institution to rethink its strategy and also to come up with a new structure for its public activities. The result is LUCA, the Luxembourg Centre for Architecture. “It is a name that better suits our activities,” Rumpf tells Delano. “It reflects the name of similar centres in other European cities.” The Fondation will retain its status as the grouping of Luxembourg’s architecture and engineers, but LUCA will be the very public face of the institution in Hollerich. “It widens our public reach, but also explains what we do.” A new logo plastered on the centre’s main building and across all media will give LUCA considerable visibility. But the centre is not just gaining a superficial new look. Rumpf explains that it will be seeking to create a programme of events, exhibitions and debates that not only provide cultural diversion, but also actively contribute to the debate surrounding architecture in Luxembourg. “It is our aim to identify problems in the building sector and develop a programme that will provide solutions and ask the pertinent questions.” In November, when Luxembourg presides over the EU council, it will host a European Forum for Architectural Policies conference. “This is interesting in allowing Europeans to learn from each other. For instance the Nordic countries are way ahead, and others want to see how their model can be applied.” Rumpf wants architecture to be recognised for its cultural social contribution, not just for its aesthetic and commercial value. Events like the Stadgespréich series of debates at the Cercle Cité, or its Walk and Talk LUXEMBOURG CENTRE tours of city neighbourhoods, have FOR ARCHITECTURE: given the public more confidence WWW.LUCA.LU to take an interest in architecture knowing that they will be taken seriously and will not be swamped with technical jargon. “We are literally taking architecture to the people and talking to them,” says the director. February 2015

The Ultimate Spa

LIFESTYLE

ON STAGE

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

MORE EVENTS AT:

14 shows you must see

WWW.DELANO.LU

DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST The hip turntablists return to den Atelier for their Renegades of Rhythm tour, which pays tribute to Afrika Bambaataa. Using only vinyl, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist will trawl through the hip-hop pioneer’s record collection to create a set packed with funk, disco, rap and experimental electronica that honours the great man in appropriate fashion. Where: den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare When: 21 February Tickets: www.atelier.lu February 2015

GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER The famous Leipzig Gewandhausorchester comes to the Philharmonie for a concert featuring Lithuanian born violin soloist Julian Rachlin. Conducted by Riccardo Chailly, the orchestra will perform Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s Violin Concerto with Rachlin as well as Gustav Mahler’s first symphony, Titan. Mendelssohn was the orchestra’s director from 1835 until his death in 1847. Where: Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg When: 9 February Tickets: www.philharmonie.lu

KATHRYN TICKELL Northumbria pipe legend Kathryn Tickell has been putting out acclaimed recordings and performing stunning live shows since 1984, when she was just 16. Now she is a real star of the English traditional music scene and comes to Luxembourg for a series of shows for kids and also this concert featuring her new band The Side. Where: Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg When: 10 February Tickets: www.philharmonie.lu

ABSOLUTELY FREE Wearing a wide range of influences on their pretty sleeves, Toronto based trio Absolutely Free create accessible new psychedelic sounds that include traces of Phil Spector, Kraftwerk and Gang of Four. Pitchfork says they “look and sound like the sort of band concocted in some sort of afterschool lab experiment,” but their stage shows are intense and exhilarating. Where: Exit07, Luxembourg-Hollerich When: 20 February Tickets: www.rotondes.lu

ARCHIVE More popular in Europe, and especially France, than in their native UK, south London collective Archive come to Luxembourg for a fifth show at den Atelier. This is in support of latest album Restriction, which has already produced three lead tracks released simultaneously. The band’s sound is founded in trip-hop with cinematic soundscapes. Where: den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare When: 24 February Tickets: www.atelier.lu

OTT AND TRISTANO Pianists Alice Sara Ott and Francesco Tristano team up for a concert subtitled Scandale, featuring works by Ravel, Debussy and Stravinsky as well as Tristano’s own A soft shell groove. Local talent Tristano has a growing international reputation, while Ott records for prestigious label Deutsche Grammophon. Together they are a dynamic, fun and sexy duo. Where: Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg When: 25 February Tickets: www.philharmonie.lu

FINK Sensitive singer-songwriter Fin Greenall fronts Fink, a trio that explores folk, electronica, blues, and rock. The trio is completed by Guy Whittaker on bass and Tim Thornton on drums and guitar. Greenall’s music has been described as melancholic, but the latest record, Hard Believer, reveals what one reviewer called “a poppier bent and soft post-rock twinges.” Where: den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare When: 27 February Tickets: www.atelier.lu

Photo: Gert Mothes Graham Oliver > Marie Staggat

some of the hip g dance performances, a fresh version uin rig int al, sic mu lt cu A a truly great ac tress in pest music around and atre--the line up of live shows in February the of a classic piece of is very enticing.

AVENTURE+ CHINA Wu Wei and Wu Man, players extraordinaire respectively of ancient instruments the sheng, a type of mouth organ, and the pipa, a lute like instrument, perform a programme of Chinese compositions with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg under the baton of Muhai Tang. Later, in the foyer, Wu Man will give a pipa demonstration. Where: Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg When: 27 February Tickets: www.philharmonie.lu

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW The great cult musical, made even more popular through the 1975 film and subsequent fan participation screenings around the world, is a camp parody of the science fiction and B horror movies of the 1940s and 50s. The Rocky Horror Show is packed with familiar songs such as “Time Warp”. The show is from the UK, but local musician Serge Tonnar plays the narrator. Where: Rockhal, Esch-Belval When: 27 February - 1 March Tickets: www.atelier.lu

AKRAM KHAN & ISRAEL GALVÁN A familiar face at the Grand Théâtre, acclaimed British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan teams up with flamenco maestro Israel Galván for Torobaka, described by critic Judith Mackrell in The Guardian as more akin to a duel--or a bullfight as the title suggests--than a duet. “The level of skill and invention on stage is remarkable,” she writes. Where: Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg When: 5 & 6 March Tickets: www.theatres.lu

CURTIS HARDING Atlanta singer and guitarist Curtis Harding calls his music “slop ‘n’ soul”, a blend of his Southern cultural roots and the heart of soul music. The mix certainly works on debut album Soul Power, which features what Rolling Stone calls “funky guitarcentred rave-ups” such as lead track “Keep on Shining”. Harding’s voice is charismatic and his grooves infectious. Where: Exit07, Luxembourg-Hollerich When: 8 March Tickets: www.atelier.lu

PLAYTIME Luxembourg dancer and choreographer Jean-Guillaume Weis presents a multimedia performance titled Playtime featuring internationally acclaimed classical pianist Jean Muller, fellow dancer Marc Fol, film by Raoul Schmitz and set design and costumes by Trixie Weis. The result is a playful interaction between the creative talents, highlighting their ideas and artistic careers. Where: opderschmelz, Dudelange When: 28 February Tickets: www.opderschmelz.lu

DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 Disbanding after one great album and a slew of legendary live performances gave Canadian duo Death from Above 1979 cult status. You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine, released in 2004 was hailed as a classic punk-dance record. Now they are back together with The Physical World, described by Pitchfork as “all sleek musculature and acrobatic riffs.” Where: den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare When: 2 March Tickets: www.atelier.lu

ANTIGONE Acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoche plays the lead role in Belgian director Ivo van Hove’s adaptation of the classic tragedy by Sophocles. This is a new translation by Anne Carson, but the text retains its explosive defiance as Antigone refuses to comply with the law and defends her dead brother’s honour to destructive effect. The play has its world premier in Luxembourg before heading to London, Amsterdam and Paris and the Edinburgh Festival. Where: Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg When: 25, 27 & 28 February Tickets: www.theatres.lu February 2015

LIFESTYLE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

A change is as good as a fest

randed with a new logo onal film festival has rebst in new film and cinema ati ern int y’s Cit rg ou ere Luxemb t its aim to generate int and change of name. Buunswerving. as an art form remains

TICKETS & INFO: WWW.LUXFILMFEST.LU

Practical info DATES The Luxembourg City Film Festival is on from 26 February to 8 March.

VOLUNTEER The festival is always looking for volunteers to help with various assignments, from accompanying, welcoming and transporting festival guests to distributing information, from welcoming the public at different festival sites to supervising school groups. Send an email to volunteers@luxfilmfest.lu if interested. PRIZES Handpicked juries--national and international--will select the best films in the following categories: international film, documentary, young audience prize and Luxembourg production.

he main film programme has not yet been finalised, but the 2015 edition of the Luxembourg City Film Festival--the first under its new name--already looks promising. The youth programme alone is worth taking some time off work to see, and the announcement of a number of “outside the walls” events has also sparked keen interest. Generally, the film festival, which was launched in 2011 as Discovery Zone, screens films that may not be put on general release-anything from challenging documentaries to indie dramas from around the world. But the programme also incorporates February 2015

a smattering of local productions, many of which receive their premier at the festival. This year, for instance, Donato Rotunno’s much anticipated Baby(a)lone, based on Tullio Forgiarini’s award winning teen-angst novel Amok, is among those receiving a premier. The youth sections also includes fascinating dramas, such as Australian film 52 Tuesdays, about a year in the life of a teenage girl whose mother is transitioning to male, and Chicago Girl (photo), a documentary about a 19-year old girl in the US city who uses social media to coordinate the revolution in Syria. Another strong female, Femen founder Oksana Shachko,

is a guest of the festival. She will be at a screening of Alain Margot’s documentary I Am Femen at neimënster. Other “outside the walls” events include a screening of The Scorpion’s Sting, a film in six chapters inspired by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali’s surrealist classic L’Âge d’Or with contributions by artists John Bock, Keren Cytter, Julian Rosefeldt and Tobias Zielony, Chicks on Speed and duo M+M, who currently have an exhibition at the CasinoLuxembourg contemporary art forum. And at Exit07 Austrian band Sofa Surfers will play live to a screening of Timo Novotny’s film Trains Of Thoughts.

FESTIVAL HQ The festival headquarters is located, as always, in the Ratskeller of the Cercle Cité (rue du Curé, LuxembourgCentre). The locale is home to a cosy pop up bar, run by Urban, during the festival and also traditionally houses an exhibition. This year’s expo is by Martine Feipel & Jean Bechameil and is titled Melancholic dislocation. Entrance is free.

Photo: Joe Piscatelli

MOVING SOON TO 102.9FM

LIFESTYLE

SNAPSHOTS

Text by NEEL CHRILLESEN

Love and weddings

Photography by LALA LA PHOTO

MORE COUPLES AT: WWW.DELANO.LU/ LOVEBASH2015

he organisers touted a carefully chosen selection of exhibitors, offering everything needed for planning the perfect day, from shoe accessories to florists, all of them promising something a bit edgy or different from what one usually comes across. “Before, most weddings were financed by the parents,” explains Flora, a wedding photographer and one of the three co-organisers behind the Love Bash wedding fair. Today “couples pay for it themselves and want something less traditional, more personal and intimate.” “The important thing is to listen to everyone’s wishes and in a country like Luxembourg, this often means including several different cultural specificities,” says Julia, a wedding planner and Love Bash co-organiser. “Even something like at which moment the cake should be eaten changes according to nationality.” “The key word today is really personalisation,” adds Gabriela, an event designer and Love Bash co-organiser. “We can make a wedding as vibrant, different and edgy as couples wish; and even in Luxembourg, couples are looking for something less traditional nowadays.” One thing, however, is not about to change and that’s the price of a wedding. It remains a hefty investment. For a “small” one-around 100 guests--specialists set the budget at around €20,000. www.thelovebash.com

BETROTHED AND BROWSING A. Ning Kong and Bob Lamboray attending the Love Bash wedding fair held at the Abbaye de Neumünster in January B. Charlotte Poncelet and Valentin Baijot C. Nina and Charles-Henry D. Caroline Modugno and Serge Molitor E. Nelly and Guillaume F. Livia Montini and Sarah Thiry G. Simon and Sigrid

February 2015

L En uxe gli m b - E sh L ou st an rg’s ab gu P lis ag re he e m d C ium 20 rèc 01 he -

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LIFESTYLE

KIDS

Text by WENDY WINN

Photography by GAËL LESURE

The art of bruar y sur viving Fe ANTHROPO- MORPHIC ART This 12 Feb. Mudamini workshop, inspired by the work of David Altmejd, is all about morphing and hybrid fantasy creatures! Info: www.mudam.lu

SWEET COSTUME, KID At this 12 Feb. KidsLab event in Grevenmacher, kids can create cupcake costumes to wear at Carnival. Info: www.kulturhuef.lu

ERKENNST DU MICH? Another 12 Feb. costume-themed event, “Do you recognise me?”, takes place at the Diekirch History Museum. Info: www.mhsd.lu

It’s easy for kids to feel cooped up during Carnival week and wintery weekends. Why not unleash their inner Picasso or Rodin?

ometimes, you have to get really creative in order to find fun things to do in the grey and cold month of February. In fact, getting creative is one of the best things to do to make staying inside a pleasure rather than a punishment. Artist and art teacher Sonja Soyer says: “It’s important that kids know that they can still make things with February 2015

their own hands. So many kids only create things virtually, like with Minecraft.” It doesn’t take a lot; you can go on a scavenger hunt in your home for buttons, toilet rolls, thread and paints and give them free reign--new carpet and cats excluded. “Kids are incredibly creative; if they are provided materials they come up with lots of ideas of what to do with it,” Sonja says. “I offer a tremendous amount of freedom in the art classes I offer. Kids are so structured at school; I want to let them explore and be open.”

Sonja’s new courses for kids start soon, and she also offers parentchild (up to teens) workshops doing cool things like Plasticine animation videos. She also offers courses for adults, her favourite being “Boost Your Creativity”. Check out her website and register soon, and meanwhile, while the kids are on school holiday, stock up on supplies and let them get some real hands-on experiences. For more inspiration, why not check out a workshop offered by local museums (see box). Info: www.sonjasoyer.com

IZABELA BECKER ART SCHOOL Kids can try a free session before signing up here, and older kids eyeing art school can prepare their portfolios under expert guidance. Info: www.malschule.lu

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Vers Kirchberg

rue de Neudorf

vers aéroport

Les Jardins de la musique

r. de Cents N1

Irrgarten Val de Hamm

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LIFESTYLE

Text by AARON GRUNWALD

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

They’re an open book

KONRAD CAFÉ Leica misses the “cosy places with special rooms” for quietly reading while having a tea or coffee next to ones for “noisy and naive students” that he enjoyed in Paris and Bucharest. One of the locales the InterNations Luxembourg book club has its monthly meeting is Konrad Café in the city centre, he says. Mihai reckons Konrad is “a great place” to read in general: “They have some publications and books but you can always bring your own.” She says: “Last year when I was passing my bar exam I used to go there in-between classes” and “I cannot help mentioning their fabulous carrot cake!” Info: www.facebook.com/Konradcafe February 2015

MY FAVOURITES

MUNICIPAL LIBRARY Mihai says her favourite place “to browse and borrow books” is the municipal library, officially the CitéBibliothèque, which moved into a refurbished building next to the Cercle-Cité, off the place d’Armes, in 2008. “They have a vast collection of English, French and German books as well as audio-books, DVDs and documentaries. It is possible to reserve a book or a DVD online and all that for free!” [Editor’s note: the 60 libraries in Luxembourg’s national network are listed at www.bibnet.lu.] She says the municipal library’s patrons “are mostly students but also retired people and professionals.” Info: www.bimu.lu

ultant, Adrian Leica, an IT conschy in Du d an Gr arrived in the a jurist 2011 and Andreia Mihai, , firm law al at an internation of Romania in 2012. Both are natives small book the and both members of t website club that is part of expa ations.org, InterNations (w ww.internn click on selec t Luxembourg, thebook s that Groups). Two favourite six months he has read in the past ented love are How the French inv urnal de by Marilyn Yalom and Joled Diary Witold Gombrowicz (tit ). She cites in its English translationess of Being The Unbearable Lightn mour en plus by Milan Kundera and L’a re Leica and adinter. He by Elisabeth B favourite places the Mihai share ir three sh book s to find and enjoy Engli mbourg. and magazines in Luxe

CHAPTER 1 BOOKSTORE “I usually buy my books on Amazon,” admits Mihai. “It is a pity that in Luxembourg there are not so many international book stores, in spite of the cosmopolitan community. One of the places where you can buy English books is Chapter 1 in Belair.” Leica says that he also goes to the Librairie Française in the city centre: “Despite the name, they do have books in English.” While both “offer the service of ordering books which are not available on the shelf,” Mihai finds Librairie Française shop assistants “unhelpful and not friendly” but likes “the cosy feeling” at Chapter 1. Yet she adds: “It is a pity neither Chapter 1 nor Librairie Française have a tea or coffee area, which would encourage customers’ interaction.” Info: www.chapter1.lu

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