Ode to the civil cervants at Ville de Luxembourg

In many countries "efficient civil service" would be an oxymoron. Not so in Luxembourg. Those who have lived in France or Spain will appreciate how efficiently things are run here. None of this running to five different places in five different parts of the city to be told five different things by five different pencil pushers and being none the wiser at the end of it. I've spent so much of my life slagging off civil servants and central administrations that I now feel compelled to give some positive feedback.

The Ville de Luxembourg administration (or City Hall or whatever you want to call it) is a wonderfully well-run place. You can do most of the essential personal admin at the so-called Bierger-Center (or Centre d'acceuil des citoyens if you prefer), which is the awful, brown building by the central post office at Place Hamilius (the central bus station). You have to take a ticket, but waiting times are generally reasonable and a sign clearly explains which of the two types of ticket you need for your particular activity or request. It's aim is to provide a one-stop-shop for all the initial admin. When you first arrive in Luxembourg, a trip to the Bierger-Center is pretty much compulsory. If you're lucky enough to have been provided with a relocation service (e.g. Integreat.lu), chances are you will be accompanied there by a local. If you have to go on your own, don't worry, it's a painless experience. This is where you go to report a change of address, apply for a local ID or carte de sejour, family certificate (you need it for child benefits etc etc), tax cards, parking permits, certified photocopies, cheques services (to be used for child care subsidies), you name it. And the people working there are generally a nice bunch.