We now live in a beautiful, spacious house in the countryside – with a big backyard and plenty of room. The life we live now is only possible here.
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Anne was raised in the historic Luther town of Wittenberg, later moving to Lübeck for university. But her connection to home remained strong. In this interview, she talks about why she chose to return to Saxony-Anhalt – and where she enjoys spending her free time.
Strolling through downtown Wittenberg, jogging along the Elbe River, or walking through Wörlitz Park – Anne truly appreciates the quality of life in Saxony-Anhalt. It’s a big part of why she came back. After nine years in Schleswig-Holstein, she wanted to return home and start a family. For her, the decision was driven by more than just the beautiful natural surroundings – excellent childcare options and the chance to fulfill her dream of owning a home in the countryside sealed the deal.
Finding a job in Saxony-Anhalt wasn’t a problem either. Since 2018, Anne has worked at IDT Biologika in Dessau-Roßlau, one of the world’s leading contract manufacturers and developers of vaccines and pharmaceuticals. She particularly values the company’s family-friendly policies and the numerous professional development opportunities. Not only does the chemical and pharmaceutical industry have deep roots in Saxony-Anhalt, it is also driving innovation that makes headlines around the globe. For Anne, making a lasting contribution to global health is more than a job – it’s what gets her out of bed in the morning.
Who helped you especially with your return to Saxony-Anhalt?
To start with, I attended the Commuter and Returnee Day to connect with local companies. That helped me tremendously during the application process later on. It makes such a difference when you can talk to people face to face, instead of just submitting an application online. That’s actually how I found my current job in Saxony-Anhalt. It also helped that I still had strong ties to the region. My family and friends are here, which made it much easier to find an apartment, get settled, and organize everything.
What does Saxony-Anhalt offer that you couldn’t find elsewhere?
One of the biggest advantages is childcare. Where I lived before, it was really difficult to find childcare that allowed women to return to full-time work after parental leave. That was very important to me – I grew up with a mom who worked full-time, and I want to be that same role model for my own kids. I want to show them that as a woman, I can be independent, earn my own money, and build a career. Of course, it’s also wonderful to be close to family again. The grandparents can help out when I’m busy with work or need help for some other reason. We also wanted our children to grow up surrounded by family and to feel as rooted here as we do. Another big factor was our dream of owning a home. In Saxony-Anhalt, it’s much easier to find affordable real estate. Now we live in a beautiful, spacious house in the countryside – with a big backyard and plenty of room. The life we’re living now? Simply wouldn’t be possible anywhere else.
Anne lives with her two children and her husband in a large house surrounded by woods and enjoys the closeness to her family, the good childcare in Saxony-Anhalt, the varied career opportunities and the fact that she has enough time for her hobby, knitting.
Where do you like to spend your free time?
I love meeting up with friends and exploring other cities nearby. We recently visited Halle and took a small boat out on the Saale River – that was a lot of fun. Magdeburg is also a beautiful city. Everything is pretty close by, and thanks to Wittenberg’s excellent train connections, it’s easy to get places. There are also a few hidden gems in the region. One of my favorites is a tiny ice cream parlor run by an ice cream manufacturer in Mauken. It’s actually part of a dairy farm, but they make their own ice cream as well. We love discovering little ice cream spots like that around here. And of course, I always enjoy strolling through Wittenberg. The charm of the historic city center really comes from the small, quirky shops – places where you can find yarn for knitting, a good book, or beautiful Scandinavian-style home furnishings.
What does your perfect weekend in Saxony-Anhalt look like?
I like to spend my weekends relaxing and doing things with friends in the city. Wittenberg’s historic old town has a special charm and lots of great cafés – perfect for brunch, a coffee, or some ice cream. My go-to spots are the Independent and occasionally Kaffeehaus Dorn. There are also plenty of great bars and restaurants. My top recommendation is Charles Bar, because it offers creative, one-of-a-kind drinks for every taste. Wittenberg is surrounded by greenery, and Saxony-Anhalt in general has beautiful forests, scenic landscapes, and lots of great swimming spots, including former quarry lakes. I especially love the historic gardens like Wörlitz Park, which are perfect places to spend time outdoors. And I really enjoy jogging along the Elbe River.
What’s still on your personal Saxony-Anhalt bucket list?
I’ve actually never been to Naumburg. That’s something that I definitely want to do, since I’ve heard it’s a really beautiful city. A colleague recently told me that if you’re from Saxony-Anhalt, you have to visit Naumburg at least once. Also on my list is the Teufelsmauer – a sandstone rock formation in the Harz Mountains. It’s said to be very impressive and is also steeped in legend. And while I’m in the Harz, I’d love to visit the famous Blauer See again – it’s a great place to go for a walk, and I’ve been wanting to go back.
