Culture
Luxembourg is located on the borderland between the French and German cultural spheres, and is characterized by both. Luxembourgish authors have worked and are working partly in the country’s language, Luxembourgish, and partly in German or French.
The national poet is Michel Lentz (1820–1893), who wrote in Luxembourgish. Recent followers include Pol Greisch and René Kartheiser.
One of the foremost German-language poets is Anise Koltz, who has oriented herself towards German culture in her works. Edmond Dune (1914–1988), like Nic Klecker, is one of the most important French-language writers and poets.
The dance procession in Echternach, a Catholic tradition at Pentecost, is on the UN agency UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
2015
November
Few refugees from Greece
Thirty Syrians and Iraqis are being sent from a Greek reception center to Luxembourg, as part of a relocation plan agreed by the EU countries to manage the large migration flows. Luxembourg has offered to receive about 400 of the total 160,000 that need to be placed.
- Countryaah: Overview of the capital city of Luxembourg, including information about its population, economy, geography, history and map.
October
Luxembourg is no longer a tax haven
October 30th
According to Abbreviationfinder, the OECD deletes Luxembourg, as well as Cyprus and Seychelles, from its list of countries that do not cooperate on information exchange. They are now placed in a new category with countries that “essentially” follow the rules.
June
Three no in referendum
7 June
Voters vote down by a large margin a proposal to give citizens who lack citizenship the right to vote in national elections. Only 22 percent support the proposal, which would have increased the electorate by a full 50 percent. A large majority also say no to lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 and to introducing a ten-year limit for the Cabinet of Ministers (a proposal tabled after Juncker’s 19 years as prime minister).
May
The head of government includes same-sex marriage
15th of May
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has been marrying his partner for many years, thus becoming the first sitting EU head of government to enter into same-sex marriage.
March
The OECD warns Luxembourg
March 29th
The OECD urges the country to broaden its economic base and not just rely on the financial sector. The background is stricter international rules that are intended to make it more difficult for large companies to use financial services abroad to avoid tax, which is a cornerstone of Luxembourg’s economy.