Building a life of security and balance was the reason why Rudolf and Olivia Nagy moved to Boden. He works at Stegra, she has started her own business as a Pilates instructor. Now they are looking forward to creating a future here.
A home of their own, preferably in the countryside, with a large garden where they can grow their own crops, is high on Olivia and Rudolf Nagy’s wish list. After just a few weeks in Boden, the windowsills in their rented house in Torpgärdan are already filled with freshly sown herbs and green branches from the still snow-covered garden. On the enclosed porch, their bicycles are parked alongside several potted plants and a mini-greenhouse, all waiting, along with their owners, for summer to arrive.
“Summer is the very best thing about Sweden. We don’t understand how people can leave during the summer,” Rudolf says with a smile.
The couple originally comes from Serbia, moved to Hungary as young adults, and have since lived in Malta and spent seven years in the United Kingdom. In 2022, after Brexit, Rudolf’s job in machine maintenance brought them both to Skåne. However, Rudolf longed to go further north, to nature and the northern Swedish landscape. Olivia was less convinced when they moved to Skellefteå in May 2023.
Like many others, they hoped to be part of Northvolt’s investment and contribute to the green industrial boom in the north. Rudolf was one of the employees who still had a job after the company’s first round of layoffs last autumn. Olivia had started her own business and begun building a client base as a Pilates instructor in Skellefteå. But as time went on, the feeling that they should seek something more secure grew stronger. Looking back now, after Northvolt recently declared bankruptcy, they are grateful they made the move before it happened.
Staying in the North
“We wanted to stay in the north, and since we still don’t speak Swedish very well, we needed a place where we could find jobs in English. That’s why we chose Boden,” Rudolf explains.
Even though Olivia never imagined ending up in northern Sweden, her eyes sparkle as she now describes their life here.
“What makes this place so special? The breathtaking nature. The endless summer days filled with golden light. The peaceful winters when the world slows down. The soft, powdery snow that turns everything into white magic. The calmness, the space to breathe. The friendly people who make us feel welcome. And the forests, always offering their gifts – like the sweetest blueberries, ready to be picked.”
In-demand skills
Rudolf’s skills were also needed at Stegra in Boden, a company he personally reached out to. The decision to move was made just before Christmas, and in January, they arrived. Today, he is part of a technical maintenance team alongside colleagues from Skellefteå, Kiruna, Boden, Luleå, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
A second chance
The Nagys describe their move 150 kilometers further north as a second chance, a fresh start, and “another step into the north we have come to love.”
With nature right outside their doorstep, they have also embraced winter life in Boden.
“I never thought I’d enjoy running in the cold. But then I discovered the best thing – broddar (ice grips) for my running shoes! Now I can run comfortably, even on snow-covered roads,” says Olivia.
They are also learning cross-country skiing.
“We can take our skis from the house straight down to the lake, where there are tracks on the ice, and we’ve also skied in Pagla,” Rudolf adds.
Before arriving, the couple had an introductory meeting with Boden’s relocation service and have since found their way to what they need in their daily lives. A friendly neighbor, equipped with snow-clearing machinery, helps them with snow removal when necessary.
New dreams with “närhetsliv”
In Boden we live a life of #Närhetsliv. By that we mean the life where you’re close to everything that matters and more.
“We’ve found a favorite place – Nordpoolen! In Hungary, spa culture is a big thing, and we’ve really missed that. We go there every week,” says Olivia.
Rudolf is also interested in birdwatching and photography. This summer, he hopes to finally see a bird he has long dreamed of – the crane.
“I’ve seen them in large numbers in Hungary during the winter, but I’ve always wanted to see where they go in the summer. So, I’m really looking forward to that. And walking in the forest.”
Both Olivia and Rudolf are vegans and passionate about gardening. They are eagerly waiting to see what will emerge from under the snow in their new garden. After living in an apartment in Skellefteå, they are now making plans for what to grow under Boden’s midnight sun.
Olivia hopes to restart her business and offer Pilates courses both digitally and in-person in Boden. She has started attending business breakfasts and is gradually making new connections. She wants to learn the language and make new friends in Boden.
“Now, we finally hope to call this place our home. To settle down, grow, and create something beautiful,” says Olivia.
Rudolf adds:
“Boden is the perfect place. Small enough, but with everything we need.”
