This is a great guide. But could we please stop with the expat nonsense. People want to move? Unless they are literally on a short term secondment with a job, they are immigrants. Let’s normalise this for everyone.
Agreed. Generally western people are expats and brown people or eastern people are immigrants. Kind of wealth based and kind of racist. Agree with your definition personally
💯 the term expat is such a white colonialist term. america says "immigrants" and has conditioned people to think it means "black and brown ppl". but if you're a white person in a latino country or a white european country suddenly you're an "expat". sigh
I agree but not all white people were colonisers. Some were indeed colonised. Let’s respect nuances also. My point is, let’s simplify the language. Those who migrate are e/im-migrants. And migration has benefits so I am not suggesting all migration should stop.
The quality of life in much of Europe is higher than the US - a move there is often not romantic but realistic. Unless you just love cheese from a spray can, military dominance, wrestling, and canyons. Which might explain why you are tired with reading about it so often.
As a European, I have to say I really enjoy being on this continent. But life is life. People who make a (semi) permanent move are emigrants / immigrants. No issue with that but please,integrate; you are in someone else’s country for a while. Not an expat, an immigrant.
We relocated to Athens in 2023 coming in on a Golden Visa. We used a law firm to manage our real estate and visa transactions. At the time were we told by locals that we overpaid for our home, but real estate prices now make our purchase a bargain. We have been in Greek school for three years and sometimes it feels hopeless, but we are learning. Yes, we will always be Other but we were also Other in the US, so why not be Orher in a beautiful, vibrate city where the quality of our day to day lives is infinitely better than most places we lived in the US.
I definitely prefer Greek life. The lifestyle and pace of life suit me much more than American styles. There is a high value on human life here that I don't feel in the US, and there is also almost no lurking fear energy in the background, which is one of the first things I notice when we visit the US. Greek people are curious and inquisitive in a way I find Americans not to be, and have no problem asking what Americans consider highly personal questions, like "What's in your shopping bag?" This in a friendly manner from someone in your neighborhood whom you don't actually know but see frequently.
We utterly did not expect doctors to be as accessible as they are here, and that most of them are fluent in English and kind about our bad Greek. The level of care here far surpasses the level of care I had experienced in the US.
Another thing I really appreciate is the average Greek's awareness of the meta cost of energy and the measures that are common to conserve energy, like only turning on the hot water heater when you need hot water and keeping it off when you're not using it.
As a middle-aged to geriatric woman, I super appreciate the way that Greeks wear anything to the beach and there appears to be no judging about how people look. People of all ages and sizes wear whatever to go enjoy the sea and the beach, and it's all OK.
People here seem to be more highly educated than the average American, despite their financial struggles. Education and communication are highly valued. We regularly discuss consciousness, quantum physics, and energy fields with people in our working class neighborhood.
Even in the Netherlands it's worth learning Dutch. The main difference is you'll have to be at a much higher level before people stop switching to English with you, and you might have to ask them. But it's just as much a key to being part of things in Rotterdam as in Rome
Good information. But this American picked Canada. Country-wide 30% discount on everything from a US income perspective. Good tax treaty. Culturally is nearly like being in the US; and I can drive home if I wanted to.
The downsides are the weather, which is terrible if you don’t like the cold in winter, housing and many purchases can be very expensive, but the 30% discount helps a lot.
The way things work will make sense to you; also, you won’t get home sick and can always visit Europe.
So glad that all the boomers who retired rich off of a dysfunctional and highly leveraged housing market so they can go and enjoy socialized medicine, walkable cities, investments in education and clean energy.
Ya know, all the things they voted against for the last 50-60 years.
Unfortunately, most boomers don't fall in that category. Thru worked hard expecting a retirement that looked quite different from what they got. The wealthy always do well.
I have lots of stats for you to misconstrue and argue with, boomer, but I’m not going to bother because your demented self cannot even use grammar at this point.
You sound like a trump voter: resentful and entitled. I don’t appreciate being lumped into some fantasy you use to justify failing to meet your own expectations. I’m not “house rich,” don’t own a home, worked my ASS off as a single parent so that I could afford to pay my bills when I retired. I’m by no means wealthy; I’m solvent. I never lived beyond my means - which meant living in a cheap one bedroom apartment until my daughter was 8 years old. I’m a democrat. I’ve never once voted to destroy the earth, the climate or my neighbors’ health and well being. So STFU.
Baby Boomers hold the majority of U.S. household wealth at over 51% (more than $85 trillion), despite comprising only about a fifth of the population. Generation X holds approximately 26%, while Millennials and Gen Z account for around 11%
Your generation has been in charge of damn near everything public, nonprofit, and private since ‘92 AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
Musk has more wealth than almost 50% of the world. I guess if boomers are responsible for everything from adulthood till today, you see us as homogeneous. But like Gen X, the wealth of their generation and those that followed is held by a small group of individuals known as the tech bros. That's how life is. So, instead of victim blaming, because we are all victims of the oligarchs, I've just been victimized longer, we should be clear on where the blame belongs because it's going to take all of us to make real change. I have children. I want a better life for them.
You are completely changing your position with this comment. Also, do you know what a straw person is? Plus bringing Musk up at all is a red herring.
Are you fundamentally dishonest or just demented?
You sound like a MAGA incel screeching about “nOt aLL mEn” when I give you facts that contradict the earlier position that you took directly out of your exhaust pipe.
Thank you. Noel Keith doesn't seem to understand that most boomers got screwed like those who followed. Every generation has the wealthy that do just fine. And I do believe GenZ is getting the worst of it with even less opportunity, but it's just as ignorant to blame a generation for all the ills of this nation as it is to blame immigrants. Look up. It's the tech bros and other oligarchs.
Baby Boomers hold the majority of U.S. household wealth at over 51% (more than $85 trillion), despite comprising only about a fifth of the population. Generation X holds approximately 26%, while Millennials and Gen Z account for around 11%
Your generation has been in charge of damn near everything public, nonprofit, and private since ‘92 AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
No matter where one chooses, no matter if one speaks the language, no matter if one has traveled a lot in a country: The minute you are a resident and not a tourist, it becomes clear you’re an Other.
Excellent piece. I’d add Estonia to the list somewhere, but only for the warmest 3 months of the year 🤭 I’m apt to keep doing the Schengen Shuffle myself and be a perpetual renter.
Well, there are a few reasons: weather, cost of living, and even if the language is the same, there are cultural differences. I'm sure many Americans enjoy and love London, but I thought for a list like this one, the main focus should be on continental Europe. There's more opportunity for cost arbitrage, and culturally speaking, my hunch is that the majority of Americans who look to relocate to Europe are looking precisely for a degree of cultural shock. :)
Is it assumed that Americans are looking for sun and heat? I enjoy a sunny day, but can't take heat, and a rainy day in London or Copenhagen is my idea of a good time! My "wish list" is temperate climate, four seasons, and loads of museums. I may be an outlier.
Can we not encourage them? The last thing Europe needs is more load brash ignorant racist Trump voting Americans. They can stay and fix their own screwed up country rather than bringing their ignorant religious fundamentalist views into Europe.
The Trump supporters I know consider European countries to be full of communists (because they don’t actually know anything economic and political systems) and cultural elitists and so they would never consider living there. It’s those of us who already travel and are more open-minded and want to learn and experience other ways to live and be within a community that are looking at Europe.
Europe is very welcoming to alternative cultures. Though every country clearly has its own nuances. Culturally Americans tend to be a lot louder than us. That can be challenging but I’m sure most yanks who travel are aware . Culturally as a Brit we get laughed at a lot for how often we say please and thank you. Cultural differences are fabulous when approached with consideration for the host nation. Just please, leave the Trump supporters there! We don’t want that type of attitude across the Atlantic.
Boston is lovely. I’ve been a couple of times and have lovely friends there. I feel awful for all those having to live in the USA who didn’t vote this shit show in. I feel worse for the world that’s having to deal with the fall out.
My background in terms of immigrant ancestry is all UK -- England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. I live in Maine, so climate isn't really an issue. I wish it was more affordable for an older starving artist.
I am genuinely afraid of what will happen this autumn. Being in Maine, I am watching the Platner-Collins matchup for the US Senate seat with great trepidation. Planter is far from perfect personally, but the man has the correct platform on the issues. Collins is getting insane amounts of money from billionaires, largely because she keeps voting for their tax cuts. Our services here in Maine are difficult and getting worse. Rural hospitals close, including labor and delivery units, all the time. The childcare tax credit that would have helped so many struggling families in Maine, as well as across the US, failed because Collins pulled her support from it, and began raking in massive amounts of cash. That’s just a couple of issues. Then there are our forever wars, and Collins is on the wrong side of that, voting for every single blank check for the Pentagon. Platner served, saw things no human being can see and still stay untouched. He came back, struggled, works his way through his problems, and sees how our system fails ordinary people every single day. Get outside Portland and away from the summer people, and life up here is guttingly hard, and getting harder every single week as gasoline and diesel prices skyrocket. The problem is, the Republicans will cheat like crazy to keep Collins in her seat. And they are very good at rigging elections. I’ve started telling people to take their cellphones to the polls and photograph their ballots. We’re going to need the evidence.
So yeah, I want to load up my dog, my brushes, sketchbooks, and dry media, and get the hell out of here.
I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with that! We have a very different system and recently it’s been made even stricter. Wales went as far as making it illegal for politicians to lie to the public. A reaction to the lunacy of the Whitehouse.
I hope the November elections balances things to prevent the insanity getting by worse.
We have beautiful countryside and villages. Away from the cities it’s a slower pace of life. Long walks in the countryside. Everything an artist needs to breathe.
Take care of yourself. Don’t stress over what you can’t change.
This is good info. We are going to attempt the Schengen Shuffle for a few years: Jan-Mar a 2nd city in either southern Spain/Italy/France, Apr-Jun UK or Ireland, Jul-Sep diff 2nd city in Spain/Italy/France, Oct maybe try Albania, Gibraltar, or North Africa, then back to USA for the Nov & Dec holidays. Not looking to pursue residency right away.
There had been a lot of changes meanwhile, do not go to big cities in Western Europe. They all have become dangerous because of Muslim immigrants and from Africa, especially UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden. You have stabbings and rape on a daily base. Beautiful Islands like Madeira have been overrun within 6 months. Spain will follow because Sanchez more or less opened the border for illegal immigrants. Half a Million will get legal Status. The only bad place on your list ist Lyon yet. More or less safe are still Netherlands, Switzerland, , Cyprus, Greece, Austria and parts of Italy ( Milano, Rome and Naples are already lost ). If safety is one of your concerns, go to Eastern Europe, Prague is safe like the whole Country is, Croatia is, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia are. Bulgaria is a tax haven, also Romania, both safe. Check photos from Brasov and Sibiu in Romania. I guess you will like it at once, Europe at its best and how it was in the West 20 years ago. The baltic States are also safe but their politicians are provoking the Russians permanent which is not the best idea. The Non-Eu States like Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia are also good choices. And keep in mind, living or having Business in the EU is Moving from a free country (USA) to a place where everything is overregulated. They treat businesspeople like an enemy ( also their own ) and will do everything to prevent you from being successfull with all of their stupid laws and regulations. Two examples, plastic Straws are forbidden, Bottle caps have to be fixed to the bottle, that you cannot throw them away ( which no one with a brain does ), from nextyear on the little sachets for sugar or Ketchup will be forbidden. The main purpose of EU bureaucracy is annoying people with bullshit, I guess.
Strange. I lived for over 20 years close to the "Muslim" part of Montpellier (La Paillard but they changed the name to I forget what) and I met with nothing but kindness and friendliness everytime we went to the market there. By contrast at Lunel's big and very French Sunday Market we were pick pocketed several times (which I've never experienced anywhere else ever) and had our car lightly vandalised.
Jurgen, you're a textbook racist and if you could overcome your fear of the unknown, you could discover a world of interesting, friendly people.
Funny, you can´t stand the truth. I am travelling Europe 10 months each year. I live there. I know nearly every place of interest. I saw how it changed. Let me give you an example. I worked In Paris for 15 years, one week a year. I could watch the fall of the City over 15 years, same with other places. That makes me a racist. I speak 5 European languages, watch the news every day, Reading the same, daily stabbings, daily rapes, offenders always the same. That makes me a racist? Yo are kidding. Where do you live? Sitting at home watching Television?
“Let me give you an example. I worked In Paris for 15 years, one week a year. I could watch the fall of the City over 15 years, same with other places.” And the example is? The example is your opinion of Paris?
“offenders always the same”. If you don’t want people think you’re racist, don’t make statements attributing individual acts to groups you think they represent.
Paris was one example of many and that the majority are always the same people you can read in any Police Report. So when you think the truth is racist, then you are an ignorant. If you can´t stand the totally unwoke reality it is your problem not Mine
You try to explain something which makes no sense, no one throws a bottle away without it, because there will be always a rest of fluid in it which Runs into you sag without it
This is a great guide. But could we please stop with the expat nonsense. People want to move? Unless they are literally on a short term secondment with a job, they are immigrants. Let’s normalise this for everyone.
Agreed. Generally western people are expats and brown people or eastern people are immigrants. Kind of wealth based and kind of racist. Agree with your definition personally
💯 the term expat is such a white colonialist term. america says "immigrants" and has conditioned people to think it means "black and brown ppl". but if you're a white person in a latino country or a white european country suddenly you're an "expat". sigh
I agree but not all white people were colonisers. Some were indeed colonised. Let’s respect nuances also. My point is, let’s simplify the language. Those who migrate are e/im-migrants. And migration has benefits so I am not suggesting all migration should stop.
The quality of life in much of Europe is higher than the US - a move there is often not romantic but realistic. Unless you just love cheese from a spray can, military dominance, wrestling, and canyons. Which might explain why you are tired with reading about it so often.
I thought this the other day. The romanticizing of Europe is getting old. Just go visit. Or find a good café where you live. Or open one.
As a European, I have to say I really enjoy being on this continent. But life is life. People who make a (semi) permanent move are emigrants / immigrants. No issue with that but please,integrate; you are in someone else’s country for a while. Not an expat, an immigrant.
💯
Yes I guess it’s more like romanticizing immigration, to the point of calling it something else.
We relocated to Athens in 2023 coming in on a Golden Visa. We used a law firm to manage our real estate and visa transactions. At the time were we told by locals that we overpaid for our home, but real estate prices now make our purchase a bargain. We have been in Greek school for three years and sometimes it feels hopeless, but we are learning. Yes, we will always be Other but we were also Other in the US, so why not be Orher in a beautiful, vibrate city where the quality of our day to day lives is infinitely better than most places we lived in the US.
Nice! How would you compare Greek life vs. American life? Which are the unexpected differences you discovered only by living there?
I definitely prefer Greek life. The lifestyle and pace of life suit me much more than American styles. There is a high value on human life here that I don't feel in the US, and there is also almost no lurking fear energy in the background, which is one of the first things I notice when we visit the US. Greek people are curious and inquisitive in a way I find Americans not to be, and have no problem asking what Americans consider highly personal questions, like "What's in your shopping bag?" This in a friendly manner from someone in your neighborhood whom you don't actually know but see frequently.
We utterly did not expect doctors to be as accessible as they are here, and that most of them are fluent in English and kind about our bad Greek. The level of care here far surpasses the level of care I had experienced in the US.
Another thing I really appreciate is the average Greek's awareness of the meta cost of energy and the measures that are common to conserve energy, like only turning on the hot water heater when you need hot water and keeping it off when you're not using it.
As a middle-aged to geriatric woman, I super appreciate the way that Greeks wear anything to the beach and there appears to be no judging about how people look. People of all ages and sizes wear whatever to go enjoy the sea and the beach, and it's all OK.
People here seem to be more highly educated than the average American, despite their financial struggles. Education and communication are highly valued. We regularly discuss consciousness, quantum physics, and energy fields with people in our working class neighborhood.
Even in the Netherlands it's worth learning Dutch. The main difference is you'll have to be at a much higher level before people stop switching to English with you, and you might have to ask them. But it's just as much a key to being part of things in Rotterdam as in Rome
Good information. But this American picked Canada. Country-wide 30% discount on everything from a US income perspective. Good tax treaty. Culturally is nearly like being in the US; and I can drive home if I wanted to.
The downsides are the weather, which is terrible if you don’t like the cold in winter, housing and many purchases can be very expensive, but the 30% discount helps a lot.
The way things work will make sense to you; also, you won’t get home sick and can always visit Europe.
So glad that all the boomers who retired rich off of a dysfunctional and highly leveraged housing market so they can go and enjoy socialized medicine, walkable cities, investments in education and clean energy.
Ya know, all the things they voted against for the last 50-60 years.
Unfortunately, most boomers don't fall in that category. Thru worked hard expecting a retirement that looked quite different from what they got. The wealthy always do well.
I have lots of stats for you to misconstrue and argue with, boomer, but I’m not going to bother because your demented self cannot even use grammar at this point.
You sound like a trump voter: resentful and entitled. I don’t appreciate being lumped into some fantasy you use to justify failing to meet your own expectations. I’m not “house rich,” don’t own a home, worked my ASS off as a single parent so that I could afford to pay my bills when I retired. I’m by no means wealthy; I’m solvent. I never lived beyond my means - which meant living in a cheap one bedroom apartment until my daughter was 8 years old. I’m a democrat. I’ve never once voted to destroy the earth, the climate or my neighbors’ health and well being. So STFU.
Baby Boomers hold the majority of U.S. household wealth at over 51% (more than $85 trillion), despite comprising only about a fifth of the population. Generation X holds approximately 26%, while Millennials and Gen Z account for around 11%
Your generation has been in charge of damn near everything public, nonprofit, and private since ‘92 AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
Musk has more wealth than almost 50% of the world. I guess if boomers are responsible for everything from adulthood till today, you see us as homogeneous. But like Gen X, the wealth of their generation and those that followed is held by a small group of individuals known as the tech bros. That's how life is. So, instead of victim blaming, because we are all victims of the oligarchs, I've just been victimized longer, we should be clear on where the blame belongs because it's going to take all of us to make real change. I have children. I want a better life for them.
You are completely changing your position with this comment. Also, do you know what a straw person is? Plus bringing Musk up at all is a red herring.
Are you fundamentally dishonest or just demented?
You sound like a MAGA incel screeching about “nOt aLL mEn” when I give you facts that contradict the earlier position that you took directly out of your exhaust pipe.
Thank you. Noel Keith doesn't seem to understand that most boomers got screwed like those who followed. Every generation has the wealthy that do just fine. And I do believe GenZ is getting the worst of it with even less opportunity, but it's just as ignorant to blame a generation for all the ills of this nation as it is to blame immigrants. Look up. It's the tech bros and other oligarchs.
Baby Boomers hold the majority of U.S. household wealth at over 51% (more than $85 trillion), despite comprising only about a fifth of the population. Generation X holds approximately 26%, while Millennials and Gen Z account for around 11%
Your generation has been in charge of damn near everything public, nonprofit, and private since ‘92 AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
Oh and please explain to me why a poor disabled guy is entitled or is blaming others for his own problems.
No matter where one chooses, no matter if one speaks the language, no matter if one has traveled a lot in a country: The minute you are a resident and not a tourist, it becomes clear you’re an Other.
Thank you so much for the helpful
Information! This is the first time I’ve seen the list broken down this way.
It’s clear to me from some of the comments that this remains a hot button issue and we have a long way to go in terms of building actual community.
Excellent piece. I’d add Estonia to the list somewhere, but only for the warmest 3 months of the year 🤭 I’m apt to keep doing the Schengen Shuffle myself and be a perpetual renter.
Re France: just watch out for the estate tax. It won’t matter to you, but it will to your heirs.
Good analysis. All very true. Spoken as a US retiree happily ensconced not far from Montpellier.
Very informative. Thank you.
Wow. Super insightful and helpful
Interesting that London isn't on your list, or any other UK cities.
Well, there are a few reasons: weather, cost of living, and even if the language is the same, there are cultural differences. I'm sure many Americans enjoy and love London, but I thought for a list like this one, the main focus should be on continental Europe. There's more opportunity for cost arbitrage, and culturally speaking, my hunch is that the majority of Americans who look to relocate to Europe are looking precisely for a degree of cultural shock. :)
Is it assumed that Americans are looking for sun and heat? I enjoy a sunny day, but can't take heat, and a rainy day in London or Copenhagen is my idea of a good time! My "wish list" is temperate climate, four seasons, and loads of museums. I may be an outlier.
You're not. 👍🏼
Come to Ireland if you like the rain. :)
I travel to London regularly, it’s definitely warmer there. London on a warm day, all that concrete, it can seem much hotter.
That said, I love London, I just try to avoid the summer.
You've just described London. Eindhoven was on the list, and the weather there is the same.
Interesting point about Americans looking for the culture shock, and of course you can't cover everything.
Can we not encourage them? The last thing Europe needs is more load brash ignorant racist Trump voting Americans. They can stay and fix their own screwed up country rather than bringing their ignorant religious fundamentalist views into Europe.
It's actually the people who aren't any of those things who are leaving the country, so I don't think you have any concerns there.
Exactly!
The Trump supporters I know consider European countries to be full of communists (because they don’t actually know anything economic and political systems) and cultural elitists and so they would never consider living there. It’s those of us who already travel and are more open-minded and want to learn and experience other ways to live and be within a community that are looking at Europe.
Europe is very welcoming to alternative cultures. Though every country clearly has its own nuances. Culturally Americans tend to be a lot louder than us. That can be challenging but I’m sure most yanks who travel are aware . Culturally as a Brit we get laughed at a lot for how often we say please and thank you. Cultural differences are fabulous when approached with consideration for the host nation. Just please, leave the Trump supporters there! We don’t want that type of attitude across the Atlantic.
I don't think MAGA is looking to relocate.
Hey, I'd like to get away from those fools. I no longer feel safe anywhere in the US, just safe-ish in the Boston area, and that's just unaffordable.
Boston is lovely. I’ve been a couple of times and have lovely friends there. I feel awful for all those having to live in the USA who didn’t vote this shit show in. I feel worse for the world that’s having to deal with the fall out.
The UK would welcome you my friend.
My background in terms of immigrant ancestry is all UK -- England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. I live in Maine, so climate isn't really an issue. I wish it was more affordable for an older starving artist.
I’ve no idea about the immigration requirements. Personally I’d rather 1,000 starving artists than one billionaire
I am genuinely afraid of what will happen this autumn. Being in Maine, I am watching the Platner-Collins matchup for the US Senate seat with great trepidation. Planter is far from perfect personally, but the man has the correct platform on the issues. Collins is getting insane amounts of money from billionaires, largely because she keeps voting for their tax cuts. Our services here in Maine are difficult and getting worse. Rural hospitals close, including labor and delivery units, all the time. The childcare tax credit that would have helped so many struggling families in Maine, as well as across the US, failed because Collins pulled her support from it, and began raking in massive amounts of cash. That’s just a couple of issues. Then there are our forever wars, and Collins is on the wrong side of that, voting for every single blank check for the Pentagon. Platner served, saw things no human being can see and still stay untouched. He came back, struggled, works his way through his problems, and sees how our system fails ordinary people every single day. Get outside Portland and away from the summer people, and life up here is guttingly hard, and getting harder every single week as gasoline and diesel prices skyrocket. The problem is, the Republicans will cheat like crazy to keep Collins in her seat. And they are very good at rigging elections. I’ve started telling people to take their cellphones to the polls and photograph their ballots. We’re going to need the evidence.
So yeah, I want to load up my dog, my brushes, sketchbooks, and dry media, and get the hell out of here.
I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with that! We have a very different system and recently it’s been made even stricter. Wales went as far as making it illegal for politicians to lie to the public. A reaction to the lunacy of the Whitehouse.
I hope the November elections balances things to prevent the insanity getting by worse.
We have beautiful countryside and villages. Away from the cities it’s a slower pace of life. Long walks in the countryside. Everything an artist needs to breathe.
Take care of yourself. Don’t stress over what you can’t change.
Sending hugs. 🤗
Maybe that should be the other way around? I’d rather one impoverished artists than than 1,000 billionaires. Yes that’s better.
wow.
wow.
This is good info. We are going to attempt the Schengen Shuffle for a few years: Jan-Mar a 2nd city in either southern Spain/Italy/France, Apr-Jun UK or Ireland, Jul-Sep diff 2nd city in Spain/Italy/France, Oct maybe try Albania, Gibraltar, or North Africa, then back to USA for the Nov & Dec holidays. Not looking to pursue residency right away.
Smart! I should have done that instead of doing the resident visa approach in Portugal.
There had been a lot of changes meanwhile, do not go to big cities in Western Europe. They all have become dangerous because of Muslim immigrants and from Africa, especially UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden. You have stabbings and rape on a daily base. Beautiful Islands like Madeira have been overrun within 6 months. Spain will follow because Sanchez more or less opened the border for illegal immigrants. Half a Million will get legal Status. The only bad place on your list ist Lyon yet. More or less safe are still Netherlands, Switzerland, , Cyprus, Greece, Austria and parts of Italy ( Milano, Rome and Naples are already lost ). If safety is one of your concerns, go to Eastern Europe, Prague is safe like the whole Country is, Croatia is, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia are. Bulgaria is a tax haven, also Romania, both safe. Check photos from Brasov and Sibiu in Romania. I guess you will like it at once, Europe at its best and how it was in the West 20 years ago. The baltic States are also safe but their politicians are provoking the Russians permanent which is not the best idea. The Non-Eu States like Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia are also good choices. And keep in mind, living or having Business in the EU is Moving from a free country (USA) to a place where everything is overregulated. They treat businesspeople like an enemy ( also their own ) and will do everything to prevent you from being successfull with all of their stupid laws and regulations. Two examples, plastic Straws are forbidden, Bottle caps have to be fixed to the bottle, that you cannot throw them away ( which no one with a brain does ), from nextyear on the little sachets for sugar or Ketchup will be forbidden. The main purpose of EU bureaucracy is annoying people with bullshit, I guess.
Strange. I lived for over 20 years close to the "Muslim" part of Montpellier (La Paillard but they changed the name to I forget what) and I met with nothing but kindness and friendliness everytime we went to the market there. By contrast at Lunel's big and very French Sunday Market we were pick pocketed several times (which I've never experienced anywhere else ever) and had our car lightly vandalised.
Jurgen, you're a textbook racist and if you could overcome your fear of the unknown, you could discover a world of interesting, friendly people.
Funny, you can´t stand the truth. I am travelling Europe 10 months each year. I live there. I know nearly every place of interest. I saw how it changed. Let me give you an example. I worked In Paris for 15 years, one week a year. I could watch the fall of the City over 15 years, same with other places. That makes me a racist. I speak 5 European languages, watch the news every day, Reading the same, daily stabbings, daily rapes, offenders always the same. That makes me a racist? Yo are kidding. Where do you live? Sitting at home watching Television?
“Let me give you an example. I worked In Paris for 15 years, one week a year. I could watch the fall of the City over 15 years, same with other places.” And the example is? The example is your opinion of Paris?
“offenders always the same”. If you don’t want people think you’re racist, don’t make statements attributing individual acts to groups you think they represent.
Paris was one example of many and that the majority are always the same people you can read in any Police Report. So when you think the truth is racist, then you are an ignorant. If you can´t stand the totally unwoke reality it is your problem not Mine
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/27/how-the-plastic-bottle-cap-became-a-parable-for-the-value-of-eu-regulation
You try to explain something which makes no sense, no one throws a bottle away without it, because there will be always a rest of fluid in it which Runs into you sag without it
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/27/how-the-plastic-bottle-cap-became-a-parable-for-the-value-of-eu-regulation?fbclid=IwVERDUAScj15leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR694JHzIgKKZ5Ylkp6HIUEhvbaUlsxlEpu2l1tXW0bn8pTD1IBGT5QCVh_3bA_aem_RfW5Tev5UIVomWABsRQvyw