08/07/2025
LIFE UNDER THE SUN – A NORWEGIAN AND FINNISH FAMILY’S NEW EVERYDAY ON COSTA DEL SOL
By Big News co.
When the Johansen family from Norway and the Virtanen family from Finland made the move to southern Spain, it wasn’t for early retirement or a sabbatical – but to live a regular, secure family life under the sun. Today, both families reside permanently on the Costa del Sol. Their children attend the well-established Norwegian and Finnish schools in Benalmádena and Fuengirola, where safety, quality, and community come first.
> "We wanted our kids to have a secure education in their native language but still grow up in an international environment with more outdoor time," says Nora Johansen, a freelance graphic designer working remotely.
Both schools are small, nurturing, and guided by Nordic educational principles. Children receive high-quality instruction in their native language while being immersed in a multicultural setting that includes Spanish, English, and other European influences.
Meanwhile, the parents have found creative ways to maintain fulfilling careers. Eero Virtanen works as a software developer for a Finnish tech company, fully remote from his hillside home in Mijas. His wife Katariina teaches part-time at the Finnish school. On the Norwegian side, Nora’s husband Lars has joined a Swedish solar energy company in Marbella – one of many Nordic-run businesses expanding along the coast.
> "Our company is part of the AHN business network, where Nordic entrepreneurs and professionals meet regularly to exchange ideas and build collaborations," says Lars.
"It’s helped us get new clients and even made a few friends along the way."
This professional network, hosted through the Costa del Sol’s Nordic association’s business collaboration page (see here),
https://www.ahnforbundet.com/sv/ahn-medlemsforetag/
connects companies in sectors like real estate, finance, tourism, and green technology. For many entrepreneurs, it’s the perfect bridge between the local market and the Nordic community.
Free time is something families here deeply appreciate. While the parents work, the children enjoy a range of after-school activities – from padel and horse riding to surfing and hiking. Weekends are often spent exploring the mountains of Málaga province or visiting historical gems like Ronda or Granada.
> "Our seven-year-old daughter now speaks Spanish with the neighbors, Norwegian at school, and English with her new friends from Holland and Germany," says Nora with a smile.
Life on the Costa del Sol is no longer just about vacations – it’s a growing reality for thousands of Nordic families building a future in the sun. And with the right mix of education, career, and community, it’s a future that feels both secure and exciting.
