Étude

Reporters

The journalists writing in Étude's newsroom.

Reporters ›

What readers are following this month.

All topics ›

Luxembourg

An open motorway curving through green Luxembourg countryside under a bright sky.
Driving in the Grand Duchy

Speed Limits and Key Driving Rules in Luxembourg, Explained

Luxembourg sets default speed limits of 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h on rural roads and 130 km/h on motorways, dropping to 110 km/h in the rain. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L, tightened to 0.2 g/L for novice and professional drivers. Priority goes to the right unless signs say otherwise, seatbelts are compulsory, hands-free phones only, and winter tyres are mandatory in wintry conditions. A 12-point licence system backs it all up.

By Julia Weber

Europe

An open mine cut into a snow-dusted Nordic hillside under a pale sky.
Critical raw materials

Europe's race to mine its own rare earths, explained

Europe wants to break China's grip on rare earths, the magnet metals behind EVs, wind turbines and missiles. A March 2026 upgrade made Norway's Fen complex the continent's largest deposit at 15.9 million tonnes of oxides; Sweden's LKAB is chasing rare earths as an iron-ore by-product. But mining is not refining, and China still does most of both. Here is what the projects can realistically deliver, and what to watch.

By Luc Bertemes

Finance

A supermarket trolley of groceries with a long receipt, in Luxembourg.
Money & living costs

The Cost of Living in Luxembourg: Is It Expensive, and How Much Do You Need?

Luxembourg ranks among Europe's most expensive countries, driven overwhelmingly by housing. A one-bedroom flat in Luxembourg City rents for roughly €1,966 a month (Numbeo, May 2026). A single person can expect about €2,700-3,300 a month including rent; a family needs more. Free public transport, high salaries and an indexed minimum wage of €2,703.74 gross partly offset the cost. This explainer breaks down rent, groceries, transport, childcare and health.

By Pierre Hansen

Politics

An open language notebook and pen beside a small Luxembourg flag on a wooden desk.
Your rights explained

How to get Luxembourg citizenship — and how the Sproochentest works

Most people become Luxembourgers through naturalisation: at least five years of legal residence (the final 12 months uninterrupted), a pass in the Sproochentest spoken-Luxembourgish test, and the free 'Vivre ensemble au Grand-Duché' civic course or its exam. Dual nationality has been allowed since 2009, so you keep your current passport. A faster 'option' route exists for spouses, people born or schooled here, and 20-year residents. The Article 89 ancestry route is closed.

By Marie-Anne Kayser

Culture

Golden early-autumn light over the Grund and the Alzette valley seen from the Corniche in Luxembourg City.
Travel guide

The Best Time to Visit Luxembourg, Season by Season

Luxembourg is at its best from late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, when daytime temperatures sit around 20 to 25 degrees, days are long and terraces, festivals and trails are in full swing. June brings National Day on the 23rd, late August opens the giant Schueberfouer funfair, and September turns the Moselle into wine country. December lights up for the Christmas markets, while the quiet shoulder months trade weather for lower prices and smaller crowds.

By Léa Schmit

Tech & Science

A bright, modern co-working and incubator space at golden hour, long shared desks and laptops by tall windows overlooking the towers of Luxembourg's Kirchberg.
Startup Guide

How to Start and Fund a Startup in Luxembourg: A 2026 Founder's Guide

Luxembourg's startup ecosystem counts more than 810 companies and raised €407 million in 2025. This guide maps the practical path for founders: setting up a SARL-S, getting the business permit, stacking equity-free grants such as Fit 4 Start (up to €150,000), raising from business angels and venture capital, and tapping the Luxembourg Future Fund, the European Investment Fund and EU money from the EIC.

By Noah Schreiber

Greater Region

A double-decker regional train waiting at a station platform under a glass canopy in morning light.
Cross-border rail

Double-decker trains arrive on the Metz-Luxembourg line as France and the Grand Duchy chase 21,000 peak-hour seats

The Grand Est Region unveiled at Metz station on 4 May 2026 the first of 16 double-decker trains now running on the Metz-Thionville-Luxembourg line. Each five-car Z26500 set seats 554 passengers, up from 313, and has been cleared to cross into Luxembourg since 29 April. The plan lifts peak-hour capacity toward 21,000 seats by 2030, with Luxembourg co-funding a new Metz-area workshop.

By Mathias Faber

World

Oil pumpjacks silhouetted at dusk across a plain under a hazy sky.
World

Venezuela's 'Normalization Without Transition': Inside the Post-Maduro Order

Since US forces captured Nicolas Maduro on 3 January 2026, deputy Delcy Rodriguez has governed Venezuela, opening the oil sector to private investors and freeing hundreds of prisoners while sidestepping the elections the constitution requires. Analysts call it 'normalization without transition.' The Trump administration, focused on stability and energy, has effectively backed Rodriguez over Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, who now vows to run for president.

By Julia Weber

More from Étude

↑↓navigate↵openescclose