Pieter(45)

For fifteen years I worked as an engineer at ASML in Eindhoven, specialized in mechatronics. It was great work, but I always wanted to be in the automotive industry. When a headhunter approached me for a position at Porsche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, I seized the opportunity. The automotive sector in Baden-Württemberg is immense: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, ZF — it's a world-class cluster.

The relocation was well organized by Porsche. They offered a relocation package: help with the Anmeldung, a broker for the Wohnungssuche, and even a welcome pack with information about Stuttgart. This is common with large German employers — they know foreign employees need help with bureaucracy. The Anmeldung, Steuer-ID and Krankenkasse were arranged within two weeks.

Stuttgart is expensive — after Munich the most expensive city in Germany. My three-room apartment in Stuttgart-West costs €1,500 Warmmiete. The city sits in a valley, surrounded by vineyards and hills, which is beautiful but also means air quality sometimes leaves something to be desired. Public transport is good thanks to the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn, but many Stuttgarters drive — it is the car city par excellence after all.

At Porsche I discovered German work culture in industry. The Betriebsrat (works council) is much more powerful than in the Netherlands. They have real input in decisions about working hours, layoffs and working conditions. The IG Metall union negotiates the Tarifvertrag (collective agreement) annually, and salaries in the metal and electrical industry are excellent. With my experience I earn €85,000 plus a 10-15% bonus, and I have 30 vacation days plus Gleitzeitkonto (flexible hours).

The Swabian mentality is different from what I was used to. Swabians are frugal — "Schaffe, schaffe, Häusle baue" (work, work, build a little house) is no joke. In the canteen nobody talks about money, but everyone saves obsessively. The Kehrwoche — the weekly cleaning of the stairwell, mandatory for all residents — was a culture shock. Every week you check the roster and sweep the stairs. If you don't, the neighbors will definitely call you out on it.

After two years I feel at home in Stuttgart. The nature around the city is beautiful — the Schwäbische Alb, the Black Forest, Lake Constance. On weekends we cycle through the vineyards or visit a Weinfest. My twelve-year-old son attends the Gymnasium and now speaks fluent German with a Swabian accent. The only thing I miss: Dutch directness. Swabians are polite but reserved — it takes time to form real friendships.