For many, moving abroad is a distant dream, often overshadowed by work, family, and daily life. But for Dutch couple Rebecca Scholten, a sustainability advisor and PhD candidate, and her partner Edzo Klawer, a medical technology professional, it was a shared goal—living abroad, embracing a new culture, and finding a home where they could be close to nature, while balancing their active lifestyles and careers.
The spark, a love story with Norway
Rebecca’s fascination with Norway began over a decade ago while studying sustainability and researching Scandinavia. A short time later, Rebecca visited Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. While all three countries have their charms, Norway stood out to Rebecca - its unparalleled natural beauty left a lasting impression.
She vividly recalls a defining moment during her first visit to Oslo, standing in front of an office building, and telling her travel companion, "I can see myself working here in ten years." Little did she know then, that dream would soon become a reality.
Arendal, a close knit, welcoming community
After holidaying in Norway over several years, Rebecca and Edzo made the big move. Their dream materialised when Rebecca secured a job in Oslo in 2021. Due to Covid, she spent an extended time at the companies’ head office in Arendal where restrictions were less severe.
Both quickly fell in love with Arendal and Edzo decided to apply for a job in Arendal, instead of Oslo.
“We knew little about Arendal before moving here and what really surprised us was how much easier it is to integrate into Arendal compared to bigger cities like Oslo because of the large international network that we have here in Arendal,” Rebeca said.
“People here are so nice and friendly and open to welcoming you to the community. We have met some amazing people here, both locals and internationals, through initiatives and events organised by the Arendal municipality such as UBUNTU. With the help of Relocation Agder on immigration matters, the process was made much easier for us. It gave us a head start.”
“Now, we also have Welcome Hub Agder and so these types of initiatives to welcome and support newcomers to the community … they all add up. It makes a difference.”
A peaceful yet vibrant town, perfect for families and professionals
Professionally, Arendal exceeded both their expectations.
“Work-life balance here is a game-changer,” Edzo said.“ In the Netherlands, long hours are the norm, but here, people build successful careers without sacrificing family time and personal well-being.”
“Living and working here is easier than we had expected,”he added.
They plan to stay in Arendal for the long-term and have rented out their apartment and purchased a house on Hisøy island.
“Being a home owner was surprisingly simple and transparent,” said Edzo “And it’s just so spacious here. You can breathe.”
The couple have also expanded their family, welcoming their son Elias, now 3 months old.
Living the dream
Their love for sports and the outdoors makes living in Arendal a dream come true.
“Here in the southern region of Norway you get more of the Norwegian experience than you would in the bigger cities … people in the south live close to nature and get to spend a lot of time outdoors and have the opportunity to have a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle,” Rebecca explained.
From skiing to hiking and visiting saunas and island hopping around Arendal, the choices are endless, they pointed out.
“We get to enjoy an incredible outdoor lifestyle in Arendal. Everywhere you turn, you’re just a stone’s throw away from nature and outdoor activities,” Rebecca said.
“We live close to a beach and we also love the swimming pool where the temperature is a comfortable 25 degrees celsius,” said Edzo, referring to Norway’s first floating outdoor swimming pool at the Arendal marina.
A triathlete, Edzo has also begun volunteering at a local club for triathlete youths, where he hopes to use his experience to help the club grow.
“I think volunteering is just our way of giving back to the community that has welcomed us so warmly.”
Hytteliv or cottage life is also a family favourite. The couple has rented a cottage for a year and often spend their weekends there by themselves or with friends.
Ironically, moving to Norway has also strengthened their connections with friends in the Netherlands.
“Our friends from the Netherlands, they want to visit and stay with us and experience the beauty of Arendal firsthand,” Rebecca said.
