And what about similarities between Bremen and the UK?
Haha, the weather is the same. Three days of summer. Similarities with Burton-on-Trent? They both have a river and a lot of breweries. So, river and beer. But Burton-on-Trent lacks the cultural diversity. Bremen just has a lot more to offer. Whenever you have visitors, you always notice how many options there are for things to do and see. My parents really love Bremen too!
If you come from a big city, you might laugh at Bremen, but there's plenty to do here if you look for it. If you open yourself up to it, you just have to love Bremen!
What do you do in your spare time?
I go to the cinema a lot, and the museums in Bremen and Bremerhaven are also great. We almost always get an annual season ticket for the Universum Bremen – that's really good. We live near the Rhododendron Park. When everything is in bloom in May it's just out of this world. Amazing. The Klimahaus and the German Emigration Centre are also worth a visit. And the Christmas markets are spectacular. Every year at Christmas, we get a lot of visits from friends and family – they all want to go to the Christmas markets.
Is Bremen an international city?
Definitely! There are a lot of Brits and Spaniards here. My neighbour is English, and I have another who's French. I think that says it all. Bremen has a history of being cosmopolitan, and the city very much remains so. It's very multicultural, and that's a good thing.
Why would you recommend Bremen to other people from the UK?
There's a great choice of arts and entertainment, for example the Breminale arts festival, arthouse cinemas and theatre. And the city is quite compact. Even the airport – you can drive right up to the terminal. You don't get that very often. And there's always a slice of nature close by to escape to. You're in the Bürgerpark in no time. Bremen is great for families. I always feel safe, even when I go out by myself in the evening or am out and about on my bike.
And you get so much more house for your money here! If we had gone back to the UK, there's no way we could've bought the type of house we have here. And we would be commuting for two hours. Here it takes me twenty minutes by bike to get to work. It's just brilliant that everything is so close together here.
What would your advice be to people who are new to Bremen?
The first step to integration is learning the language. Become part of society. There are many opportunities to integrate, for example through the local sports club.
And what about getting to know the city?
Anyone wanting to experience Bremen should simply go for a walk through the city. Start in the Viertel – I adore all the little shops and cafés there. Then continue on to the Kunsthalle art gallery and walk across the beautiful market square. It's incredible. As you continue on, you can see Bremen's history and how the city has evolved. Then you arrive in Überseestadt, which also has plenty to offer. No matter where in Bremen you are, it's always buzzing. Those old dockside warehouses and all that. I really like Bremen.
Want to find out more about Bremen?
If you are interested in moving to Bremen from abroad, please feel free to contact Andreas Gerber, head of the international relocation team at WFB, tel: +49 (0)421 960 0123, andreas.gerber@wfb-bremen.de.
Our window on Bremen will show you what else the city has to offer: the bremen.de city website has all kinds of additional information, plus useful tips on how to plan your own, personal leisure activities.