FAQ

The Shop

How are products made and shipped?

Everything in the Back to Luxembourg shop is printed and shipped on demand by Printful, a print-on-demand fulfillment service. That means your order is made specifically for you when you place it. Production typically takes 2–5 business days, with shipping time on top of that depending on your location.

Where do you ship?

We currently ship to addresses within the United States.

What's your return or exchange policy?

Because every item is made to order specifically for you, we don't accept returns or exchanges for change of mind. However, if your order arrives defective, damaged, or incorrect, contact us within 30 days of delivery and we'll make it right — either a reprint or a full refund. Send a note to shop@backto.lu with your order number and a photo of the issue.

How do I know what size to order?

Each product page includes a size guide. Printful's sizing runs true to standard American sizing. If you're between sizes, we generally recommend sizing up for sweatshirts and hoodies.

I have a question that isn't answered here.

Send us a note at shop@backto.lu. We're a small operation and we'll get back to you.

Luxembourg

What is Lëtzebuergesch?

Lëtzebuergesch — sometimes called Luxembourgish in English — is the national language of Luxembourg and the native tongue of most Luxembourgers. It's a Moselle Franconian language with deep Germanic roots, distinct from both German and French, and very much still alive: it's spoken daily by Luxembourg's population, taught in schools, and increasingly used in official contexts. Luxembourg has three official languages — Lëtzebuergesch, French, and German — which means most Luxembourgers grow up fluently navigating all three. Lëtzebuergesch is the one that's theirs alone.

What is the Roude Léiw?

The Roude Léiw — "the Red Lion" in Lëtzebuergesch — is the heraldic lion on Luxembourg's coat of arms, a crowned red lion on a striped blue and white field. It's been the symbol of the Grand Duchy since the Middle Ages and appears on everything from the national flag to euro coins minted in Luxembourg. If you see a crowned red lion, you're looking at Luxembourg.

What does "Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn" mean?

It translates as "We want to remain what we are" — and it functions as Luxembourg's unofficial national motto. The phrase dates to the 19th century, when Luxembourg's independence and identity were under pressure from larger neighbors. For a country that has been occupied, partitioned, and traded between empires while somehow remaining, stubbornly, itself, it's less a slogan than a track record. Worth noting: Luxembourg has three official languages and a population that's nearly half foreign-born. The motto was never about keeping people out. It was about knowing who you are well enough that it doesn't matter who comes in.

What is the Gëlle Fra?

The Gëlle Fra — "the Golden Lady" in Lëtzebuergesch — is a monument in Luxembourg City erected in 1923 to honor Luxembourgers who died in World War I. She stands atop a tall column holding a laurel wreath aloft. The Nazis tore her down in 1940 during the occupation. The Luxembourgers rebuilt her in 1985, and in that rebuilding quietly changed what she meant: less a war memorial, more a declaration that Luxembourg had survived, again, and was still itself. She's one of the most recognizable symbols in the country.

How many Luxembourgers are there in the United States?

Estimates vary, but Luxembourgish immigration to the United States was significant in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with large communities settling in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The Twin Cities area has one of the highest concentrations of Luxembourger-Americans in the country. Many American families with Luxembourgish roots are now in the third, fourth, or fifth generation — which means the heritage is there, even if it's gotten quiet.

Can I get Luxembourg dual citizenship?

Possibly — and it's worth finding out. Luxembourg has one of the more generous descent-based citizenship laws in Europe, allowing descendants of Luxembourgish emigrants to reclaim citizenship under certain conditions. The rules involve documentation, generational limits, and some paperwork, but thousands of Americans have successfully reclaimed Luxembourgish — and therefore EU — citizenship in recent years. The Luxembourg government's official citizenship information is the right place to start, and organizations like the Twin Cities Luxembourg American Society can point you toward resources and connect you with others who've been through the process.

What is the Twin Cities Luxembourg American Society?

TCLAS is a nonprofit organization connecting Minnesotans and Midwesterners of Luxembourgish heritage to each other and to Luxembourg. It hosts events, supports genealogical research, maintains connections with Luxembourg's government and cultural institutions, and generally keeps the community alive and growing. Back to Luxembourg's founder is a TCLAS board member. If you have Luxembourgish roots and you're in the Upper Midwest, it's worth knowing they exist. You can find them at twincities.lu.