Basel Expats

Minus five degrees, a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side, a town I’d never been to before, trams, new road signs, give way to the right, no street map, no local passenger, no clue! Surely nothing else could go wrong… could it?

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Many people employ a cleaner for a few hours a week, but do you know your obligations under the law? Find out how to keep the tax authorities, the AHV authorities and the Fremdenpolizei off your back in this useful article written by lawyer, Gabrielle Grether…

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One week before the biggie in Basel, Allschwil has its own rather smaller scale Fasnacht celebrations. The cortege starts at 2pm on Sunday 22nd February and officially ends at 4pm - but few people actually go home just then!

If you fancy getting into the swing of Fasnacht early - and many Basel Clicques do just that in Allschwil - then go along to a small scale event that is much like the big one but without such big crowds.

There will be the normal mix of Guggemusik and traditional Fyfe and Drum Clicques, plus stuff to eat and drink.

And like all of these events - it’s all free!

 Every country has fairs, but what is the Herbstmesse Autumn Fair like in Basel?

Basel’s Autumn Fair has grown and grown and now takes in five different locations across the city, each with a different flavour and rhythm. Back in 2003 and 2004 we reviewed each of the locations for you to give you an idea of what to expect, and where. Read more »

With markets in turmoil, finance in crisis, and banks in breakdown mode, just how safe is your money when you leave it in your Swiss bank? Read more »

Adopting a pet (writes Shelley) is a time which should be happy and fun, a new furry life to share. But it isn’t always, particularly if you adopt from a shelter. In September, my husband and I picked out two adorable 3 month old kittens from a local shelter….. Read more »

I didn’t feel accepted in Switzerland until I mastered my first Swiss German phrase - then suddenly, doors opened… Read more »

You know the feeling - the border is approaching - will they think you have done something wrong? Will they stop you? What will you say? It was 11 o’clock and I was driving back with my two older daughters after a very successful day out at the very impressive Rheinfalle in Schaffhausen, the largest waterfall in Europe. We’d eaten out, we were tired, and we were still an hour from Basel. Read more »

Basel Stadt has voted 27,427 against 24,533 to ban smoking in all Restaurants and public places in the city. Smoking won’t be banned in rooms set aside from the main serving area, but it will be illegal to provide any service in these rooms. No date has yet been set for implementation of the ban, this will be set by the Basel Stadt Cantonal government. Read more »

The Hash House what…?
“Running?…. Beer?…. Beer and running?… I’m not sure if I like that!” This is the normal reaction of people when I try to tell them about the Hash House Harriers - a movement of non-competitive “sports” clubs which boasts over 100,000 participants world-wide and around 1500 chapters. Read more »