Eight key moments that shaped Luxembourg

From the Bock to Schengen and the throne, eight dates trace Luxembourg’s rise as a small state with a major European role.

963. Count Siegfried acquired the Bock promontory from the Abbey of Saint-Maximin in Trier. The site was known as Lucilinburhuc, widely considered to be the origin of the name Luxembourg. It marks the historical birth of Luxembourg, in heritage and identity terms.

1815. The Congress of Vienna created the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and placed it in personal with the King of the Netherlands. Luxembourg became a distinct state, while sharing the same sovereign as the Netherlands.

1839. The Treaty of London settled the conflict stemming from the Belgian Revolution by dividing Luxembourg in two: the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Belgian Luxembourg, now a province of Belgium.

1951. Luxembourg took part in the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, or ECSC, before signing the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which established the European Economic Community. A small country, but a major player in Europe.

1985. The Schengen Agreement was signed, named after the Luxembourg village at the meeting point of three borders where the agreement was concluded. It became a symbol of the abolition of border controls and marked the beginning of free movement for people.

2000. The Grand Duchy changed sovereign. Grand Duke Jean abdicated in favour of his son Henri, who became Grand Duke of Luxembourg and reigned until 2025.

2012. Luxembourg was elected for the first time as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2013–2014 mandate. A defining moment for the country’s diplomacy.

2025. Grand Duke Henri abdicated and his son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, took the oath as the new Grand Duke on 3 October. A major moment in Luxembourg’s history, and a day of celebration across the country.

Notable personalities

Grand Duke Guillaume. He is Luxembourg’s head of state. Aged 44, he acceded to the throne on 3 October 2025, following the abdication of his father, Grand Duke Henri.

Luc Frieden. Luxembourg’s Prime minister and head of government, he is a member of the CSV and has also worked in the private sector, notably in banking.

Lydie Polfer. She is one of Luxembourg’s best-known political figures. She has served twice as Burgomaster of Luxembourg City, first from 1982 to 1999 and again since 2013.

Vicky Krieps. One of the few Luxembourgish actresses to have achieved major international recognition. She won the European Film Award for Best Actress in 2022.

Key figures on Luxembourg

Small on the map, dense in reality. In just 2,586km², Luxembourg brings together a highly international population, a cross-border labour market, three neighbours, three administrative languages and a surprisingly large share of forests. A compact country, yes – but one with a lot packed into it.

2,586km2. That is the surface area of Luxembourg. Small? Yes. But within its 2,586km², you could fit Singapore, Bahrain, Malta, Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco and the Vatican – all at once.

690,959 inhabitants. As of 1 January 2026, Luxembourg had 690,959 residents. Of these, 53.4% were Luxembourg nationals and 46.6% were foreign nationals, representing around 180 different nationalities.

100 municipalities. Luxembourg is divided into 100 municipalities. The most populous is the capital, Luxembourg City (137,678 residents), followed by Esch-sur-Alzette (38,358). The least populated municipality is Saeul (1,081), in the west of the country.

Three borders. Luxembourg shares borders with three countries: Belgium, Germany and France. Its longest border is with Belgium, stretching over 148km.

12 cantons. The country is divided into 12 cantons: Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange-sur-Attert, Remich, Vianden and Wiltz. Wiltz is the largest canton, while Vianden is the smallest.

560m. That is the height of the Kneiff, Luxembourg’s highest point, located in the municipality of Troisvierges, in the north of the country. 

1,800km. Around 1,800km of rivers and streams criss-cross Luxembourg, including the Sûre, Moselle, Alzette and Our.

Three administrative languages. Luxembourg has three administrative languages: Luxembourgish, French and German. Luxembourgish is the national language, while French, German and Luxembourgish are used by the administration. French remains the main language of legislation.

35%. Forests cover 92,150 hectares of the Grand Duchy – around 35% of Luxembourg’s territory.

Five tourist regions. Luxembourg has five tourist regions: Éislek, also known as the Luxembourg Ardennes; Mullerthal, or Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland; the Moselle; Guttland; and Minett, the Land of the Red Rocks.

This article was written for the 13th edition of the Expat Guide, published by Paperjam on 8 July. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the full Paperjam archive. Click this link to subscribe to the magazine.

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