Weiswampach, the northernmost municipality of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a peaceful entity, appreciated in particular for the swimming opportunities it offers in summer. However, its attractiveness has been growing steadily in recent years. The population is growing, as are the many companies that are setting up on its territory. The need for housing is therefore considerable.

 Seen from the centre of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the small municipality of Weiswampach seems very far away. And it is true that the road to the far north of the country is long. It takes a good hour from the capital to reach this rural region.

However, the distance from the centre does not prevent the small municipality from developing at a good pace. If you follow the example of the mayor, Henri Rinnen, you will soon realise that the municipality has changed considerably over the last fifty years. "We were primarily an agricultural community. Fifty years ago, the village of Weiswampach had about fifty farmers. Today, there are only three. The commune, through its various villages, was home to a hundred or so farms, of which only fifteen or so remain. Many things have changed, indeed. Many companies have set up shop. The proximity of the border is a big factor," explains Henri Rinnen. "The population has also increased considerably and is still growing.

Enhanced attractiveness

In 1987, Weiswampach had 878 inhabitants. Before the last elections in 2011, there were only 1,350 inhabitants. Today, there are 1,510. At the crossroads of major roads and close to important airports, Weiswampach is as close to Luxembourg as it is to Liège, Charleroi and Düsseldorf.

The municipality is situated between the two borders that the Grand Duchy shares with Belgium and Germany. For a long time, Weiswampach was mainly popular with people who came from abroad to get cheaper fuel, while company mailboxes lined up in large numbers. Although Weiswampach was home to a large number of businesses, there was little real activity. "This was the reputation of our community. We wanted to change this state of affairs by pursuing a proactive construction policy, in order to attract entrepreneurs wishing to develop a tangible activity on our territory and genuine tourists," continues the mayor. So he went to meet investors to convince them to build modern office buildings in his municipality. And thus to allow companies to physically set up shop. The legislator, who demands that every company develop substance, agreed with him. Today, Weiswampach has over 2,000 employees. "Fifteen years ago, there should have been no more than 400," says the politician. The companies are active in a wide variety of sectors, from construction to IT, via the Horesca, trade or other highly specialised companies. "What we need now is a commercial area that can not only accommodate new companies and activities, but above all meet the expansion needs of the companies already established in the area," continues Henri Rinnen. "Because the companies active in the commune need more space to develop. We want to be able to meet these needs. One of the challenges for the years to come will be to allow companies to leave the villages and thus relieve traffic congestion and increase the quality of life of all our citizens.

As the attractiveness of Weiswampach increased, the population grew naturally. The creation of housing followed. "The desire is to work on two fronts, the economic and the demographic. We are of the opinion that we must be able to develop jobs that are close to home," continues the mayor.

This action has given the community a new lease on life. Inevitably, when the population grows, you have to adapt. "This is what we have done by creating, for example, a water treatment plant that can meet the needs of a population of 5,000 inhabitants. At the moment we are building a halfway house and an extension to the basic school, which will be up and running in the next few weeks. "One of the important projects for the next few years will be the creation of a sports hall and a cultural centre. We should start with the sports hall. There is a real demand for sports activities. These infrastructures should reinforce the tourist attractiveness of the commune, which is already appreciated for its lake and its leisure and holiday centre. The project exists. We have a plot of land. We hope to be able to implement it in the next few months," explains Henri Rinnen.

Tourism and leisure

On a municipal area of about 65 ha, a category I campsite is situated on the banks of two artificial lakes of 6 ha each. Various water sports such as swimming, canoeing and windsurfing can be practised on the lower lake, which is bordered by a large lawn. The upper lake is reserved for fishing.

Pedal boats can be rented on site. The starting point for a 25 km mountain bike trail and a 4 km walk is near the lower lake.

"During July and August, the leisure centre is very busy, with events every weekend," explains Henri Rinnen. "Tourists come from the surrounding area and further afield to relax with their families and to swim in the high quality water. In the summer, we get a lot of Dutch people. They make up just under half of the tourists who visit us.

Housing for young people

If Weiswampach has succeeded in revitalising its economic activity and growing its population, it must now attract young people, or at least encourage them to stay. "They are the ones who will bring new ideas and new projects tomorrow," says Rinnen. "If the development of the village of Weiswampach continues, we must not forget the small villages either, where it is important to stop the ageing of the population.

It is therefore necessary to create housing and to try to curb the growth of property prices. "Although they are more modest than those in the centre of the country, the price of housing has been rising continuously and significantly for several years. Today, it is becoming difficult for a couple to own a house," adds the mayor.

Projects are therefore multiplying in an attempt to meet the high demand. And they take several forms: apartment buildings, single-family housing estates. "Since I have been mayor, we have created seven housing estates, for about a hundred single-family homes. We are continuing to create housing and office space. Fifty flats are going to be built along the N7," explains the mayor. There are many ongoing and future projects. "For example, a housing project with sixteen houses and a smaller project with three houses are awaiting authorisation to be developed.

In the eyes of the mayor, the flat can be an affordable investment for a young couple, which can be revalued after a few years. This is a way for the mayor to keep young people in his municipality.