Moving to Switzerland

How did you end up in Switzerland?

This is a question everyone seems to ask. So how did we end up in Switzerland? Please let me tell you the story. Grab a nice drink, sit back and enjoy. The story goes like this ….

Joyce Spierenburg Switzerland Lake Zurich with the Swiss mountains in the background.

The Story

At the time, we were living in Amsterdam and we went for a coffee at our favourite place. While I was sipping my coffee, my boyfriend suddenly looked at me and asked:

How would you feel if I got a job in Switzerland and fly back to Amsterdam on the weekends?

My response was: that is an excellent idea! I am coming with you. I did not need to think long and hard about it, since it aligned with my goals: working abroad for 1 year.

My plan was to work in Australia or New Zealand for 1 year, but hey Switzerland sounded good too. The idea of living in another country and going on this type of adventure was right up my alley.

Because, I always have a craving for living a different type of life. A life full of adventure, travel and curiosity.

Since I had never been to Switzerland, I proposed to go on a holiday before making the big jump. Of course, I instantly fell in love with all the beauty of Switzerland: the huge mountains, the sparkling and turquoise rivers, the crystal clear lakes and so much more.

The Holiday

Traditional half-timbered house in a countryside landscape with green fields and autumn-colored trees. The scene includes a path leading to the house, set against a backdrop of rolling hills under a clear sky.

Scenic view in Rapperswill of the wooden bridge (Holzbrücke) over calm water, with a colorful sunset sky and trees in the background.

Hotel Aescher in Switzerland. Mountain guesthouse built into a cliff face with a hiker (Joyce Spierenburg) on the trail, surrounded by an alpine landscape and snow-capped peaks, under a partly cloudy sky.

Scenic view of Rhine Falls in Switzerland with surrounding greenery, a bridge, and cloudy sky.

The serene lake of Zurich with a buoy, surrounded by tall grass in the forefront. Snow-capped mountains are in the background, with a town at the foot of the hills. The sky is partly cloudy with soft, warm lighting at sunrise or sunset.

Joyce Spierenburg standing in front of a turquoise mountain lake, surrounded by pine trees, with a view of snow-capped mountains under a blue sky with clouds.

A field of sunflowers at sunset with a tree and a clear sky in the background.

Sunset over rolling hills with layered mountain ranges and a golden-orange sky. Switzerland Appenzellerland.

Joyce Spierenburg standing on a grassy hillside taking a photo of a scenic mountain landscape during a sunset. Switzerland Appenzellerland.

Joyce Spierenburg sitting on a mountain trail in the Appenzellerland Region of Switzerland, with views on the Ridge Hike.

The Decision

During this holiday in 2020, I was standing at a mountain top overlooking the Swiss Alps. I had never seen such beauty and was impressed. This was definitely a country where I could live for 1-3 years. No doubt about it.

Joyce Spierenburg in Switzerland looking at snow-covered Swiss Alps and glaciers under a blue sky.

At the same time, my love for photography came running back. I have been photographing ever since. My heart is set on telling stories with photography. Sharing the beauty of nature and inspire to protect it.

Cityscape of Zurich with the Prime Tower, Limmat River, snowy rooftops, and distant Alps under a clear blue sky.

Getting into Switzerland

How to get into Switzerland? Since we are Dutch and as such have an European pasport, it was quite easy to move here.

To get into Switzerland, you need a job and a place to live. My boyfriend immediately started to look for a job in Switzerland and found one very quickly. And because of that we could also rent an appartement in Zurich.

He moves

At the beginning of 2020, during corona, my boyfriend moved to Switzerland. Unfortunately, he had to go into quarantine for 10 days. Shortly, I also went there, did the quarantine and we explored our new city Zurich.

Living in 2 places

This was also the time we decided to start living together in 2 places: Amsterdam and Zurich. I could work remote, so I could stay for longer periods of time in Switzerland. This gave me the opportunity to slowly say goodbye to my beloved Amsterdam en check out Zurich.

Making my dream of living abroad come true: living in Switzerland

After 1,5 year of testing out Switzerland, I also emigrated to Switzerland in 2022. I gave up everything in Amsterdam and started up everything in Switzerland. The plan was to live her for 1-3 years, but we love it and do not have any plans to leave any time soon. Sorry mom!

Joyce Spierenburg by a Zurich lake with the Swiss mountains in the background.

Moving to Switzerland

How it started

2020

April

The question

How would you feel if I got a job in Switzerland and fly back to Amsterdam on the weekends?

Two cups of coffee with heart-shaped latte art on a wooden tray, accompanied by two gold spoons.

August

The Holiday

Okay, but let’s check it out first. Going on a holiday to Switzerland, staying with friends and seeing if we also wanted to live there. YES.

Group of four people in hiking gear on the Aletsch glacier with snow-capped mountains in the background and clear blue sky.

November

The Job

After this holiday everything was going really fast. My boyfriend talked to his bos and she talked to someone she knew in Zurich. They had a meeting and he got the job!

A person standing on a narrow mountain trail along a cliff, overlooking a lush green valley and rugged mountains under a partly cloudy sky. Switzerland Appenzellerland.

December

The Appartement

Going to Zurich for the weekend to look for an appartement. And getting the news we got one!

Cityscape view of Zurich, Switzerland, with buildings and the Limmat River, snow-capped rooftops, and the Swiss Alps in the background under a clear blue sky.

2021

January

He moves

My boyfriend moves to Switzerland during Corona and has to go into quarantine for 10 days. We start to live together in 2 places: Amsterdam and Zurich.

Joyce and Jelmar moving to Switzerland during corona time.

2022

August

She moves

After 1,5 years of living in 2 places, I also emigrated to Switzerland. Giving up everything in Amsterdam and starting up everything in Switzerland.

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One of my favorite hikes in Switzerland is the Oeschinensee panorama hike. Simply because the views around this mountain lake are insane. Every corner you turn, offers a different stunning view. From the vivid turquoise of the lake, to the enormous mountains towering over you and even some waterfalls. It blew my mind.