The story of Bram and Laura as physiotherapists in Lucerne

Anyone who decides to work as a physiotherapist in Switzerland embarks on a special adventure. Every year, dozens of healthcare professionals take this step through PhysioMatch, in search of more job satisfaction, a beautiful environment and personal growth. This week we speak with Bram and Laura, who have been living and working in Emmen, Lucerne since February 2024. They share their experiences, from their first doubts to everyday life in Switzerland.

From the Netherlands to the Swiss mountains:

Bram (25) and Laura (25) moved from the Netherlands to Switzerland just over a year ago. Originally from Oosterhout near Breda, they now live together in Emmen, in the canton of Lucerne. Both work with great enjoyment at a large organisation with no fewer than 17 locations in and around Lucerne.

Bram and Laura both work from Monday to Thursday, including two evening shifts per week, at the same location. Laura combines her work in a regular practice with two days a week at an institution for people with disabilities.

The working environment suits them very well. “A lot is organised by the practice,” Laura explains. “Because many colleagues come from abroad, you feel welcome very quickly as a newcomer.” Every year, the organisation hosts a team weekend. One previous trip included the Amsterdam Marathon, and this year a sporty weekend in Zermatt is planned. In addition, there is a social team get together every quarter.

Bram and Laura work as physiotherapists in Lucerne, Switzerland: We truly feel at home here.

Bram had been graduated for a year and a half, and Laura worked for another eight months in the Netherlands after graduating before taking the step to Switzerland. About this transition, they say: “Physiotherapy in the Netherlands is more modern and a bit more is expected of you. That made the transition to Switzerland relatively easy, as the work pace here is slightly more relaxed.”

From dream to reality: Bram and Laura on their move to Switzerland

The idea of moving to Switzerland did not come out of nowhere for Bram and Laura. During his studies at Avans University of Applied Sciences, Bram already considered doing a minor or internship abroad. “But that was not really encouraged by the school,” he explains. Still, the idea of going abroad kept lingering. Through LinkedIn, the couple came into contact with PhysioMatch, and things moved quickly from there.

“Switzerland immediately appealed to us,” Laura says. “The nature, the mountains, the active outdoor lifestyle, it just suits us.” Other distant destinations such as Australia were also considered, but Switzerland turned out to be the perfect mix of adventure and accessibility. “Eight hours by car and you are there. That is very different from a 24 hour flight.” Nowadays, they spend their free time hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, cycling and climbing, exactly as they had imagined.

A new beginning in another country

The first weeks in Switzerland took some getting used to. “There is quite a lot to arrange,” Laura explains. “Insurance, registration, banking. And everything moves a bit slower here than in the Netherlands.” Their tip for future adventurers is to take the first two weeks off, so you can settle in calmly and arrange everything properly. “That really gave us the space to adjust.”

What immediately stood out was the impressive landscape. “In winter you suddenly find yourself surrounded by snow covered mountains. It really felt like a dream come true,” Bram says.

Small cultural differences and surprises

Of course, Bram and Laura also encountered some surprises. “On the first day we could not make coffee, because Swiss power sockets are different from those in the Netherlands,” Bram laughs. The pace of administrative processes also took some getting used to. “We had to send documents back and forth several times to open a bank account. A lot is still done on paper.” Fortunately, work within the practice is becoming increasingly digital.

They also had to adjust to everyday life. “On Sundays everything is closed, except for restaurants. That took some getting used to for grocery shopping. But the nice thing is that people are all outside. You see whole families walking and enjoying nature. We really like that.”

Financially ahead: In Switzerland you keep more than you expect

Bram and Laura quickly noticed a clear difference in salary between the Netherlands and Switzerland. “In the Netherlands you start around €3,000, here you quickly start at around 5,500 CHF per month,” Bram explains. “In Zurich, salaries are often even higher, because the cost of living is higher there.” Still, the overall cost picture turned out to be better than expected. “We made a budget in advance, but it turned out more positively than we thought.”

Health insurance is more expensive, and leisure activities or having a drink on a terrace also cost more. “That is because staff are paid better here,” Laura explains. “But on the other hand, you do a lot outdoors here. Hiking and cycling often cost nothing or very little. Parking is often free as well.”

Their tip: “If you share a home and pay some attention to groceries, you can save a lot. At the same time, we really enjoy life here without having to spend a lot of money.”

Bram and Laura feel completely at home in Switzerland, both at work and outside of it. “We are happy with the balance between work, relaxation and the nature around us. It suits us very well.”

Quality of healthcare

One important difference is access to physiotherapy. In the Netherlands, patients can visit a physiotherapist directly, but in Switzerland a referral from a doctor is required. “Here, the doctor makes the diagnosis,” Bram explains. “As a physiotherapist, you can still do your own assessment, but it is not always necessary.” Contact with doctors is less direct than in the Netherlands, and in Switzerland much more diagnostics are done through imaging.

Contact with colleagues and patients is also slightly different. Laura worked in a large, friendly practice in the Netherlands and finds the atmosphere in Switzerland comparable. “The team feeling is just as strong.” Bram, on the other hand, worked with only two colleagues in the Netherlands and now appreciates the larger, international team. “We work with people from Germany, Italy and Spain, among others. Because many colleagues are also new to Switzerland, you quickly build social connections and do fun things together outside of work.”

With patients, they sometimes see similar expectations as in the Netherlands. “Some expect mostly passive treatment,” Bram explains. “That is exactly our opportunity to guide them towards a more active role.”

Living and working in Switzerland: “It feels like we are on holiday every weekend.”

Room for growth and development

Keeping your professional knowledge up to date is important to Bram and Laura, and Switzerland offers surprisingly good opportunities for this. “I recently followed a two day course on the cervical spine,” Laura says. “High quality, and the credits were recognised in the Netherlands through the quality register.” In September, both of them have three course days planned on temporomandibular disorders.

Longer programmes, such as a master’s degree, are less common in Switzerland. “Here they often opt for shorter programmes or so called mini masters lasting around six months,” Bram explains. “These are not recognised as full master’s degrees in the Netherlands, but here they are often sufficient.” Another advantage is that the practice contributes to training costs, often up to 80 percent spread over two years. For more expensive programmes, a personal arrangement is made. “There is definitely room to continue developing yourself, and it is actively encouraged.”

Work life balance the way you want it

In the Netherlands, the couple worked full time, but in Switzerland they consciously chose an 80 percent working week. “That gives us three days off every weekend, which is definitely not a luxury here,” Laura laughs. “There is so much to do in the area that you almost run out of time.” They feel fortunate that they both have the same day off and that this is financially feasible.

Travelling back to the Netherlands for a visit takes a bit more time, but is very manageable. “People often take the night train or a flight, otherwise they travel by car.” They also regularly receive visitors from the Netherlands, often just for a weekend.

Living at the foot of the mountains

Their home was found through a video call and turned out to be a perfect match. “We live in Emmen, less than ten minutes from the city of Lucerne. Everything you need is close by, shops, sports stores and nature.” Within minutes you are at Lake Lucerne or in the mountains. “We hike a lot, cycle, ski. It is an ideal place for sports lovers.”

The surroundings certainly contribute to their job satisfaction. “We consciously keep work and private life separate,” Laura says. “But it definitely helps when you come home to such a beautiful environment.”

A final tip for colleagues

Would they recommend other physiotherapists to take the step to Switzerland? They are very clear about that. “Do it,” Laura says without hesitation. Bram adds: “If it turns out not to be for you, you can always go back. But it is a unique experience for your personal development, your career and simply to meet new people and experience a different culture.”

Their most important tip is to make sure you have some savings before you leave. “We set aside money in advance. That allowed us to cover furniture, a car and our initial expenses.” And one final golden tip from Laura: “Take the first two weeks off. You really need that time to arrange everything and properly settle in.”

In conclusion

Thank you Bram and Laura for sharing your inspiring story. Would you like to discover what it is like to work as a physiotherapist in Switzerland, just like Bram and Laura? Feel free to contact us. We guide you step by step, from the first introduction until you are fully settled.