7 surprising facts about Switzerland

Door:
Tijmen Teunissen
13/1/2025
4 min reading time
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You dream of working in Switzerland or you've already taken the plunge - exciting! Of course, you'll want to know more about the country where your new adventure will begin. Yes, Switzerland is famous for its high living standards, breathtaking mountains and luxury watches. But there is so much more to discover! We'll take you through 7 interesting facts about your future home country.

Do you already speak Schwyzerdütsch?

Switzerland is a paradise for language lovers. With no less than four official languages, Switzerland is the most linguistic country in Europe. German predominates (63%), followed by French (20.3%), Italian (6.5%) and mysterious Romansh (0.5%). Don't worry, German goes a long way!

A warm welcome to a diverse country

In Switzerland, you never feel alone as a foreigner. Of the 8.4 million inhabitants, no less than 23% have a non-Swiss passport. That's almost 2 million people who, like you, chose to live in this beautiful Alpine country.

26 small countries in one

Switzerland consists of 26 cantons, each with its own character. It's like a puzzle that started in 1291 with three pieces (Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden) and continued to grow. Cool detail: each canton has its own constitution, parliament and even dialect!

Swiss Carnival? Yes, wohl!

At the beginning of February, the whole of Switzerland gets into the festive mood at Fastnacht. Think carnival, but in Swiss style! In Basel, 200,000 people even go wild with beautiful costumes and exciting guggenmusic. A party you have to experience!

The coolest sport you've never heard of

Forget skis and snowboards for a while. Switzerland's national sport is... Schwingen! In this traditional wrestling sport, two strong athletes try to push each other into the sawdust with both shoulders. And that in special jute pants. Special to see!

Mountaintop bingo

The Netherlands is flat, Switzerland... not exactly! With 48 mountain peaks above 4000 meters, you have endless opportunities for mountain adventures. Whether you want to hike, climb or just enjoy the view - it's all possible in the Swiss Alps.

From cheese fondue to rösti

Forget the stew and your sprinkles sandwich, because this is all about other treats! Dip your bread into steaming cheese fondue, enjoy a creamy raclette or start your day with fresh birchermüesli. And rösti? That is guaranteed to be your new comfort food!

Ready for your Swiss adventure? These tidbits are just the beginning. There is so much to discover in your new home country! Want to know more about life in Switzerland? Join our group app: from here, together, we'll discover all that Switzerland has to offer!

Tijmen Teunissen
Head of Innovation & Strategy
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