We chose Härnösand
Meet some of our latest newcomers, the Marklund/Bakiras family who swapped Malmö for Härnösand and Gustav Mark who moved here from Gävle.
Vide, Sara, Sigge and Christian got considerably more room to maneuver when they changed Malmö for Härnösand.
The Marklund/Bakiras family
HOW WE LIVE
Even though it's a rented apartment, it has a villa feel, which is nice. My parents live just 200 meters away. We have our fantastic parent cooperative preschool Fröet nearby - also a big bonus. Then I can say all the clichés: close to the forest, schools, jobs, there is a good association life, there are real winters ... and everything is true. It has turned out very well overall for the whole family.
It was my partner, who grew up in Stockholm, who suddenly said one Christmas "We should move here!". I myself grew up here, but hadn't had any thoughts of moving home, but he argued hard for Härnösand, which he felt was a warm and friendly town. In the end, I became homesick, and we finally moved up.
It's a fantastic freedom to be able to influence where and how you live. In a big city, you kind of have to take what you get and work for many years if you want to change your home. If you have a dream of living in a smaller town, it is - usually anyway - realistic, whether you want to live in the countryside or in the city center.
THE FAMILY CONSISTS OF
Sara Marklund, 37, Christian Bakiras, 34, Sigge, 6, Vide, 2.5. Sara is a human rights developer at the County Administrative Board and Christian is a nurse at Härnösand Municipality. They moved to Härnösand in January 2023.
THE HOUSING
Swapped a rental apartment in central Malmö for 180 square meters with a garden at Brännan.
"I can say all the clichés: close to forests, schools, jobs, there are good associations, there are real winters ... and it's all true"
Sara Marklund
Gustav Mark lives on the mainland and often walks to and from work in the city centre. There are many nice environments even in the city center and he likes to walk along the water in Gådeåparken.
Gustav Mark
THAT'S HOW I THRIVE
I didn't know how I'd like the job and the city, and I had no previous relationship with Härnösand, so I thought a rented apartment would be a good place to start. Now I've lived here for just over six months and I think I live really well. It's close to nature, close to bus connections, and it's reasonable distances to the center and work so I can walk to everything if I want to.
I like Härnösand very much. It is a reasonably large town. It has all the services I need, as well as a rich cultural life and associations. Even though the city centre is small, it really feels like a CITY. I like that it's hilly, and it's a nice city with the cathedral as a pastry in the middle.
The proximity to nature is a big plus. Härnösand is like a hub for outdoor life where everything is very easily accessible. I have discovered a lot by participating in the HittaUt orientation.
ABOUT ME
56 years old. Works as a county lawyer at Västernorrland County Administrative Board. Moved to Härnösand on March 1, 2024 to start a new job.
RESIDENCE
Lives in an apartment on the mainland. Swapped a rented flat with the public housing association in Gävle for one in Härnösand. It was easy to find accommodation - unusual but good!