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Luxembourg

A bright modern hospital reception hall in Luxembourg.
Newcomer's guide

How Healthcare Works in Luxembourg, and How to Register With the CNS

Almost everyone living or working in Luxembourg has compulsory health insurance through the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS), funded by social contributions. You are usually affiliated automatically via your employer and the CCSS, and get a card with your 13-digit matricule. You freely choose any doctor. Traditionally you pay first and the CNS reimburses most of the cost; a direct-payment reform is changing that. This guide covers affiliation, the card and cover.

By Julia Weber

Europe

An open mine cut into a snow-dusted Nordic hillside under a pale sky.
Critical raw materials

Europe's race to mine its own rare earths, explained

Europe wants to break China's grip on rare earths, the magnet metals behind EVs, wind turbines and missiles. A March 2026 upgrade made Norway's Fen complex the continent's largest deposit at 15.9 million tonnes of oxides; Sweden's LKAB is chasing rare earths as an iron-ore by-product. But mining is not refining, and China still does most of both. Here is what the projects can realistically deliver, and what to watch.

By Luc Bertemes

Finance

A signed deed, a fountain pen and house keys on a notary's desk by a window over Luxembourg townhouses.
Homeownership explained

How to buy a property in Luxembourg: the process, costs and notary

Buying a home in Luxembourg follows a clear path: a bank pre-approval, a signed offer, a binding compromis de vente, then the notarial deed (acte notarié) that transfers ownership. On top of the price, expect registration and transcription duties of roughly 7% plus a notary fee of around 1%. The Bëllegen Akt tax credit of up to EUR 40,000 per buyer and the 3% VAT on building cut those costs. There are no restrictions on foreigners buying.

By Luc Bertemes

Politics

An open language notebook and pen beside a small Luxembourg flag on a wooden desk.
Your rights explained

How to get Luxembourg citizenship — and how the Sproochentest works

Most people become Luxembourgers through naturalisation: at least five years of legal residence (the final 12 months uninterrupted), a pass in the Sproochentest spoken-Luxembourgish test, and the free 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché' civic course or its exam. Dual nationality has been allowed since 2009, so you keep your current passport. A faster 'option' route exists for spouses, people born or schooled here, and 20-year residents. The Article 89 ancestry route is closed.

By Marie-Anne Kayser

Culture

A wooden walkway threads a mossy sandstone gorge on the Mullerthal Trail in Luxembourg.
Walking the Grand Duchy

Hiking in Luxembourg: the Mullerthal Trail and the best trails

Luxembourg is one of Europe's most rewarding hiking destinations: compact, superbly waymarked and reachable on free public transport. This guide covers the 112 km Mullerthal Trail through the UNESCO Global Geopark Mëllerdall, the 106 km Escapardenne Eislek Trail and 53 km Lee Trail in the north, the Moselle and Upper Sûre routes, and more than 200 short circular walks, with practical tips on maps and seasons.

By Léa Schmit

Tech & Science

A bright, modern co-working and incubator space at golden hour, long shared desks and laptops by tall windows overlooking the towers of Luxembourg's Kirchberg.
Startup Guide

How to Start and Fund a Startup in Luxembourg: A 2026 Founder's Guide

Luxembourg's startup ecosystem counts more than 810 companies and raised €407 million in 2025. This guide maps the practical path for founders: setting up a SARL-S, getting the business permit, stacking equity-free grants such as Fit 4 Start (up to €150,000), raising from business angels and venture capital, and tapping the Luxembourg Future Fund, the European Investment Fund and EU money from the EIC.

By Noah Schreiber

World

Oil pumpjacks silhouetted at dusk across a plain under a hazy sky.
World

Venezuela's 'Normalization Without Transition': Inside the Post-Maduro Order

Since US forces captured Nicolas Maduro on 3 January 2026, deputy Delcy Rodriguez has governed Venezuela, opening the oil sector to private investors and freeing hundreds of prisoners while sidestepping the elections the constitution requires. Analysts call it 'normalization without transition.' The Trump administration, focused on stability and energy, has effectively backed Rodriguez over Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, who now vows to run for president.

By Julia Weber

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