The Dream of Nature

Petra Grothe and Esther Hoolwerf from Utrecht in the Netherlands wanted to do something different.

They were tired of the crowds back home and longed for nature – water, forests, open landscapes, views, and tranquility. Their dream of change began to take shape. With a small amount of savings and a year’s leave from work, they took their first step – a trip that was meant to be a holiday. It was 2019, the year before the pandemic changed the world.

– You could say that it was thanks to the pandemic that we ended up staying in Sweden and found our dream home in Stöllet, Torsby. At least something good came out of it, Petra laughs.

The First Year in Värmland

Their first year, which was a sabbatical, they spent in Lesjöfors in Filipstad Municipality, Värmland.

– We rented a house for a year and simply enjoyed the time off. We went on lots of walks, grilled in the forest, and drove around Värmland quite a bit. When COVID hit in 2020, it was easier to stay than to return to a locked-down Netherlands. Our jobs at an outdoor store back home were no longer there since the shop had closed. Here in Sweden, we were still allowed to go outside and move around. Our parents also thought we should stay, so there was no reason to go back.

They began looking at houses around Värmland, as this was where they wanted to stay. The nature felt more appealing than, for example, in Skåne. Their wish list for a house was long, but not impossible: it should be surrounded by forest yet still open with a view, preferably with a stream or lake nearby, not too close to a city, and with space for growing their own food.

A Home by the Klarälven River

The property, consisting of a red wooden house, outbuildings, and barns, is located with forest on one side and the Klarälven River on the other. It is about 40 kilometers to Torsby and around 130 kilometers to Karlstad.

– We are also quite close to the ski resort Branäs, which is great. Both Petra and I have worked there during the winter. This winter we will both be working at RentSki in Stöllet. You need to be flexible with jobs here, since there are many seasonal positions.

There’s no doubt that Petra and Esther are adaptable when it comes to work. In the winter, they work in Branäs or Stöllet, while the summer is devoted to the garden – growing vegetables that they preserve and sell at markets and from the farm. They also produce honey and sell eggs. In addition, they rent out an apartment by the night in one of the outbuildings and welcome caravans and motorhomes for free camping on the property.

– It’s fun when people come to camp here. Last summer, we had around 14 nights with campers. They pay 100 SEK per night, so it’s not a major source of income, but it’s nice to meet people, says Esther. I also fill in as a substitute during the summer delivering the local newspaper NWT, so it ends up being quite a mix of jobs, she laughs. It’s good to be versatile – there is work here if you’re open to trying different things.

Language and Integration

They have also invested time in learning the language. In the beginning, they studied Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) online, as COVID restrictions prohibited in-person classes. Later, they completed a one-year part-time course at Klarälvdalens Folk High School in Stöllet with a focus on forestry. The classes were taught in Swedish, and language proficiency was required to keep up.

– We really want to get to know the local community, both to learn Swedish and to understand the culture. There are many Germans and Dutch people living in Stöllet, which is nice, but we don’t want to socialize only with people from our own country – that’s important to us.

To become part of the community, they take various courses that interest them, including a birch bark craft course with Studiefrämjandet in Torsby and a basket-making course in Hagfors.

– Hagfors and Malung are quite close, which means there are even more courses and training programmes to choose from. We love taking courses, that way we both learn new things and practise the language. In Malung, we attended a puppy training course with our border terrier, Gunnel. In Sysslebäck, we’re taking a Nose Work course with both Gunnel and our older dog, Ica, who, amusingly enough, shares her name with a grocery store here, Esther laughs.

In the Netherlands, both Esther and Petra trained in Search and Rescue (SAR) and were part of a team that searched for missing persons. In Sweden, they have attended camps and trained in Search and Rescue with Ica on several occasions.

– Nose Work and SAR are major interests for us. In the Netherlands, we’ve taken part in searches in cities, forests, ravines, and avalanche areas. It’s exciting, but also frightening because you never know what you’ll find. You always hope to find people alive – which, sadly, we never have, Petra says quietly.

Culture Clashes and Swedish Customs

There are some cultural differences, although not many. Esther thinks that fika is a fun and pleasant tradition. Even though coffee is also enjoyed in the Netherlands, it’s a bit different here.

– Here, it’s more about cinnamon buns and cookies, and the question “Shall we have fika?”, she says. Another big difference is the Right of Public Access. Back home in the Netherlands, you’re not allowed to pick anything from nature at all – you can even get fined. And if you want to walk in the forest, you’re only allowed to use established paths.

At the same time, they feel that Swedish society is very well organized and that they have received a lot of help since they moved here. A woman from the Swedish Government Service Center, whom they met at the library in Torsby, helped them with personal identity numbers and other paperwork, among other things, which made the process smooth. She was available two days a week and saved them a lot of time and planning.

– Everything is very organised and structured here. We usually joke that the first letter we received in our mailbox at the property, just one month after moving in, was a summons for a mammogram, Petra laughs.