European town offering free accommodation in a bid to attract residents
A quaint European town is luring new residents with free accommodation as a way to boost population in the area.
Eisenhüttenstadt, located on the Oder-Spree district of the state of Brandenburg, is a hidden gem on the Germany-Poland border.
The town is on the hunt for new people to call it home, with the council offering a 14-day trial starting September 6. Successful applicants will receive free furnished housing, local tours, and career networking opportunities as part of the innovative migration program called the 'Make Plans Now' campaign.
The application window is now until early July, and is aimed at attracting skilled workers, former residents who have moved away and self-employed workers looking for a change of scenery.
According to local German publication, The Local, before residents leave, they will be asked to write a 'love letter to Eisenhüttenstadt' in which they share their impressions of their stay.
The city was founded in 1950 by East German authorities as a socialist model city after the end of WWII alongside a massive steel mill, the town's largest industry.
It was known as Stalinstadt between 1953 and 1961.
According to The Local, the population of Eisenhüttenstadt has dropped by over half since German reunification in 1990. Reasons have been attributed to young people moving because of a lack of job opportunities and prospects.
However, the council is hopeful its rent-free move will help boost interest.
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