- Daiki Saito
When my company decided to send me to Essen, I took a quick look at the local community and said: Please do!
Living in Kiel
Kiel is a city of 242,000, situated on the Jutland peninsula of northern Germany. It is the capital of Schleswig-Holstein and is one of Germany’s most important maritime cities. This prominence is reflected in the city’s hosting of the annual Kiel Week sailing regatta, the largest sailing event anywhere in the world. Kiel is thus also aptly known as “The Sailing City”. It is one of the main home ports of the German navy and is also a modern center for ship building. Its strategic position makes Kiel an important hub for sea transport and it is also located on the Kiel Fjord and Kiel Canal, which is the world’s busiest canal. Expats living in Kiel will find a wealthy city, where average income is well above that of either Germany or the EU. Kiel is a handsome city, and its center can boast such sights as the 13th century St Nicholas’ church. There are popular beaches nearby for relaxation. As a new expatriate in Kiel, you can use the InterNations community to gain insights into the cultural life and attractions of the city through connecting with fellow expatriates and global minds living in Kiel or other parts of Germany.
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Moving to Kiel
Being a major port, Kiel has ferry services to Russia, Norway and Sweden. It is also situated on one of Europe’s major international roads, the A7, connecting the north of Europe with the south. There is furthermore a well-connected train station. The nearest international airport, however, is at Hamburg, some 90km to the south of the city. Expats moving to Kiel should nevertheless not encounter any logistical problems, for a regular shuttle bus service connects the airport to Kiel. Expatriates in Kiel may choose to live in one of the leafy 19th century districts of the city, such as Blucherplatz, Dusternbrook, Ravensberg or Schreventeich. These areas also contain many of the official buildings of the city. Getting connected with other global minds or expats living in Kiel via InterNations is a great way to get the inside track on which area may be best suited for your needs.
Working in Kiel
Many expats in Kiel arrive to work in the maritime industries, such as ship building. There is also a thriving high-tech military economy and some noted maritime research establishments. Kiel is also an important transport center and has a booming service sector. The University of Kiel, meanwhile, is the most important and prestigious seat of higher learning in Schleswig- Holstein. InterNations is a platform not only for the local Kiel expat community, but expatriates around the world, who can use InterNations to gather and share experiences, socialize as well as network. The forums and discussion boards are thus a valuable source of local as well as global knowledge and InterNations’ Expat Magazine provides lots of articles on making the most of the expatriate lifestyle.