"In Holland we are a nice family. In Norway we are a happy family!": Om nederlandske entreprenører i bygde-Norge

Abstract

Norwegians keep moving away from the small villages in the countryside to the bigger towns. They seek the urban life far away from the boring and all too safe life in the parish. In other countries we can see something different, and among these are Netherland. More and more people here wants away from the stressful life in the big tows, to peace and quiet in rural areas. Their only problem is the lack of these places. Some solve this problem by moving to countries like Norway.

This thesis is about Dutch who move to the Norwegian countryside to find the perfect place to live, a place where it‟s quiet, where they can be close to nature and give their children a safe place to grow up. They are in search for the rural idyll. The picture they have of this idyll also involves more freedom at work, including less working hours and the opportunity to arrange this themselves. Another wish is to have more spare time with their children. To achieve this, they become entrepreneurs. The theme of this thesis will be discussed within a theoretical framework of the concepts of rurality and entrepreneurship. Globalization and place will also be introduced. To find out more about this subject, I have talked to five Dutch couples living in rural areas in southern Norway, and operating their own businesses.