The remote archipelago of Svalbard | DW Documentary

The archipelago Svalbard in the Arctic is a place anyone can call home. A zone with no visa requirements, people from more than 50 countries live and work here. But life in the Arctic is demanding, and there are no social services to rely on.
Darkness reigns in Svalbard during the long winter months. But that doesn’t deter people from moving to the visa-free archipelago. For some, it’s a well-paid job that brings them to this remote Arctic location. Others are drawn by the breathtaking landscape. Efren Regato from the Philippines works as a cleaner in Svalbard. He’s had to adjust to frigid temperatures in Europe’s far north, while his sons complain that life in the capital of Longyearbyen is pretty monotonous. But while citizens of any country are welcome to settle in Svalbard, there are no social services to rely on if they fall on hard times. Those who can’t cover their living expenses must leave.
Élise Thil from Belgium and her French husband Loup Supéry almost had to give up on their dream of a new start in the Arctic. The coronavirus pandemic pushed them to the limit. For months on end, they couldn’t earn money as tour guides, because no tourists were coming. Now the tourists are finally back, and with them the hope of better times. German tour operator Christian Bruttel is also dependent on tourists. He used to work as a teacher in southern Germany - until he discovered his fascination for the Arctic. We join him as he prepares for his next excursion. His guests have booked a camping trip in the snow and ice, far removed from civilization. As they embark on their adventure, the group will need to be armed - because the residents share the archipelago with hundreds of polar bears.
#documentary #dwdocumentary #svalbard
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[@jdscatcher]

I demand to see Cecilia and Grim and Christopher in this documentary!!!

[@rreid3689]

And Fenris

[@startagain127]

Are these all of your homies there? Haha

[@jessiedalton2681]

@@rreid3689 Yes! Don't forget Fenris. 😊🐕

[@virginiagirl6628]

Definitely!😊

[@967244724]

These people work hard, not like youtubers that just live on others expenses!

[@popefrancis80]

DW docs are the best. I feel so lucky that we can just open our computers or phones and watch these. There's so many great ones

[@rozelynjenkins1811]

Agreed!!! I recommend their docs to friends all time.

[@Sebajstard]

Good point.

[@lostmynavigation5537]

that was I always wanted to tell. thanks, DW

[@georgewin7243]

God will continue to bless this filipino family! very hardworking!

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

What god

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

I visited family who live in Dawson city Yukon Canada 🇨🇦 during the summer solstice and it was extremely hard to get used to sleeping when the sun dies not go down. I remember drinking around a campfire and asking what time it was thinking it was early turns out it was around 5 am

[@Johnyboyknowsbetter]

Awesome place to visit. To Mr Regato, what a humble and extraordinary person you are. I really admire your good attitude !

[@sinetteiversen9978]

Me too

[@margielavarias1490]

Hello po kuya! God bless everyone

[@somaghosh2960]

Svalbard means : white snow, Natural beauty, Northern lights and holiday destination. Good documentary by DW.

[@RegulareoldNorseBoy]

The name was first attested in 1194 as Old Norse Svalbarð, from svalr (“cold”) + barð (“edge, ridge, turf, beard”), thus roughly meaning “cold shore,” probably alluding to the treeless landscape mostly covered with grass, although there is uncertainty as to what the name originally referred to

[@lim8581]

This documentary captures the resilience and adventurous spirit of those who call the challenging Arctic home. It's a testament to the human capacity to adapt and thrive even in the harshest of conditions. Thanks for sharing their inspiring stories of life in Svalbard.

[@Sophia-tz6lp]

I was lucky enough to visit Svalbard in March 2022. It is an incredible place, one of the few places where you can experience true, raw wilderness. Awe inspiring place and lots of interesting people living up there!

[@bhargavimeka7670]

Could you please let us know how is the weather in March and is it possible to see any wildlife and outdoor activities during this time. We have plans to go to Svalbard this coming March.

[@jamesgribben798]

Was it a polar change for you or where are you from?

[@BillyTheCheeseMonger]

“One of the few places” uhhh let me introduce you to 90% of Canada

[@georgemarquez590]

that's why i truly believe... that in every corner of the world...there's a FILIPINO...😊😊😊🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@floridaaguada4216]

True,round the globe na ang pinoy.

[@edwardmaya1396]

They are escaping from the dirty country of the Philippines that's it

[@kewlmanable]

The smiling people. I love pinoys

[@lighteningsnips]

Such an interesting, insightful documentary on a remote island in the Arctic.

[@kariahkariah9523]

Im so very proud of you Kuya, I know that feeling na sobrang lamig pero na kaya mo. 👏

[@judiwakhungu5477]

Appreciative of this documentary. I have fond memories of analyzing the “Triassic Paleopalynology of the Svalbard Archipelago” as part of my PhD curriculum decades ago.

[@Dad-lu1oi]

Why don’t you go move there if you like them so much

[@jamesgribben798]

Would you go back?

[@Foxy_ladyYTSL]

Wow!

[@freeagent8225]

I worked my passage on a ship from Tromso but had to camp 18 days till the ship returned. It was an adventure, hitching into town is easy. Greeting from Australia.

[@penguinswithwifi]

He’s an excellent worker. So meticulous and thorough!

[@heyjude3780]

Hello, I am Luke and I am Watching from from Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines😀😀 God bless you all Kababayan!

[@ginny1068]

This is the life! Excellent documentary 🏔 The Huskies Cafe is absolutely brilliant, and so sweet! 🐺☕

[@80bbygrl]

Mr. Regato is an amazing housekeeper! I'd love to have him come to my home, lol. What a beautiful place! Too much snow for me, though 🤣 That tour guide is cute, too! Lol!

[@ariemea]

My absolute dream is to live and work on Svalbard, but I don’t know how I would be able to stay forever. Having to leave in old age because one can no longer work, when one has grown so fond of somewhere, would be completely heartbreaking.

[@travelerpradatta]

That orange sky was beautiful 😍

[@mansoorakhtar1424]

Excellent documentary on life at Svalbard very humbling to see the impact of pandemic on people livelihood and recovery now, Best wishes to all of them

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Another interesting, insightful documentary coverage video was shared by my favorite DW documentary channel ... Thanks for sharing....

[@Drxsan]

This man from the Philippines is a good person. I hope he wins a lottery so he doesn't have to work anymore. 🙂

[@butchfajardo8832]

Thanks for doing this documentary!

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and for the positive feedback!

[@bakenumber4]

America sends warm wishes to the people. May your new year be full of love, laughter and peace.🎉

[@nicholasdumon5579]

Thank you DW for introducing Efren for he analogizes “indigenous.”

[@jongz]

Thank you for such a great documentary.

[@arbaz79]

As always a great documentary by DW 👍

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and are glad you like our content!

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

@@DWDocumentary where is Cecilia Christopher and Grimm ever heard of them

[@maryanngibbs6963]

I watch cecilia bloomdahl on here and ive seen her visit the huskies cafe so it was interesting to see Élise was the owner 😊But this does put some perspective on peoples lives who dont use youtube as an income and work in svalbard and their struggles during the pandemic

[@InterestedCitizen]

Fascinating. I wouldn't want to work there now at my age but I'd love to visit.

[@cynthnyabols3359]

It seems like a great place to see. But that life is tough.

[@greendsnow]

I admired that Filipino that moment I listened to his part... Genius.

[@PaddyThePole]

This is my dream - live such incredible life in remonte location.

[@lighteningsnips]

You should visit it one day - make your dream come true!

[@Dave_Sisson]

I wonder if the Falkland Islands might be a better place to live? They are also a wealthy, remote place, but they have twice as many people, much better weather and even trees.

[@floridaaguada4216]

Thank You for this Documentary.God Bless my fellow filipino there.

[@themetalchronicles.9557]

Hopefully i will be visiting Svalbard by the end of November. My kind of weather ❤

[@1trueloveforever]

Such an awesome documentary. Im in Saskatchewan, Canada and today feels like minus 40 but at least we have proper summers.

[@abdistarmohamed]

Minus 40?? That's crazy. Welcome to Nairobi Kenya 🇰🇪. 😊

[@nthabix]

Fugget about it 😅

[@kckamote]

Great documentary. Happy New Year to all.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you, we wish you a happy New Year to you too!

[@ivychua4091]

Absolutely divine 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 but too cold for me 🤍🤍🙏

[@52sec1901]

I'll go live there soon😊 am so excited to get ready

[@AchieAwiti]

Did you go??

[@livingintheforest3963]

❤❤❤ Cecilia and Christopher!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@Brunin22bh]

I have always been curious about Svalbard because is visa free but I don't think it is for me. Thank you DW.

[@julierael8995]

Kuya Proud ako sayo kasi nakakayanan nu ang sobrang lamig sa bigat ng trabaho nu

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers to comment on our channel in English so that we can answer questions and encourage dialogue. Thank you and all the best, The DW Documentary Team

[@pjk1714]

Good documentary The Huskey cafe has become a big hit and meeting place. No other dogs are permitted inside though. Grim is tied off when a pop in takes place. I'm surprised DW didn't take advantage of her ties to tourism or videography. Seeing the landscape by water is beautiful. Hope those boys learn the language. Even Swedish is accepted picking up Norwegian in the first two years of study. Drive probably isn't there after five years of gaming. That was sad but their choice. So many other events in that community not mentioned.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback!

[@johncbny]

They are too busy gaming and complaining. They don’t even help their dad in his business. After he works he has to come home and make dinner for THEM.

[@arisjatmika]

I never see real snow, i hope someday i can touch real snow from the sky in Europe 🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

[@finestliving7580]

Excellent documentary thank you.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for the feedback!

[@sistermoonofthephilippines6767]

Thank you for this very fascinating documentary ! It’s an eye opening and very informative, I never knew existed .

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for your constructive feedback! :-)

[@antoinettedewet2071]

How do I make contact with the people living there? I would love to explore the possibility of working and living in Svalbard. @DW Documentaries, can you possibly with information?

[@antoinettedewet2071]

I too was unaware this place existed and am in awe of these people.

[@dimphinapereira1502]

Awesome

[@infernal6969]

i think the artic is a good place to find some inner peace for a short time or maybe even a long time like these people

[@bernierb1977]

I hope to spend a year here in my lifetime.

[@Aquinilia]

Appreciate a lot for those people lives there, that's not easy but they survives even leave behind their original country to find a better job income for their family...wow

[@esterike.s5978]

the best country always night and cold. so nice.

[@ImbaFreez]

I can see it being huge in the future when skiing gets explored there

[@inayatullahhingoro3228]

Very beautiful Life Here at Like a Dream

[@JJONNYREPP]

The remote archipelago of Svalbard | DW Documentary 27.12.22 1603pm sounds good. until the novelty wears off.

[@erinr8512]

I love svalbard so much! I visited beginning of november now I watch these videos and tear up because i miss it 🥲 visiting the husky cafe was one of my favorite things

[@FClub_Manila]

This is a very beautiful docu.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching!

[@ilantymkiw4566]

Awesome!

[@FrankieFlakes]

Giving me the 30 days of night vibe

[@jwh0122]

18:35 supermarket, supply ship every 10 days 21:43 Norwegian companies got subsidies during Covid

[@themiltongroupstudios7943]

REally ENjoed THis

[@sosyalnagutom6086]

Dream place to visit

[@KalimaTumbi]

Thats filipino very adoptable,,im proud...But im sad about his love story just we are desame,but i got so inspired like him..Watching from the durian capital city..

[@cynthnyabols3359]

People have such fascinating lives. I need more information about everyone 😂

[@user-ui6iy7im1t]

Best lives that I have wanted to live.

[@j3dwin]

I spent many days in Svalbard as Eivor of the Raven Clan.

[@andyplus1352]

Even Deutsche Welle ( DW ) did not explain the visa requirement more clearly they just told a HALF TRUTH. You need a Schengen Visa to enter Norway and then fly to Svalbard from Norway. SVALBARD: Do not need a visa requirement. NORWAY: Needs a Schegen Visa This is especially for persons coming to Svalbard from African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun and also those coming from Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc When Svalbard is recommended to us as a VISA FREE TRAVEL DESTINATION on the internet they use the word A ZONE WITH NO VISA REQUIREMENTS. That tend to raise our anxiety and interest on the understanding that we will not go through the rigours of getting travel visa from an EU embassy to get to Svalbard. But a careful thinker will find out more about what they mean by No Visa required to travel to Svalbard.

[@candydormizzi2500]

Where’s Grim and Cecilia ?

[@followerswillfollow]

I have just asked myself the same question 🤣🤣

[@monpatel2729]

And Kristofer

[@electrikoptik]

Whatever your opinions is of Filipinos, they are some of the hardest working people you'll ever meet.

[@heide-raquelfuss5580]

Especially women! Men are a little more lazy😂

[@uglycouplejourney216]

No place like home My home country😍🥰

[@Kianosh_Solheim]

You are from Norway?

[@uglycouplejourney216]

@@Kianosh_Solheim no im from asia

[@pinoyrunningpenguin]

It is a very nice place to visit to relax, but to work there permanently it will become very monotonous. It does not have any other industry aside from tourism as it is a very small remote and frozen island.

[@jimofthenorth8090]

It has other industries :) I worked there for 4 years as a woodworker. There are plumbers, electricians and carpenters. The university centre (UNIS) employs many.

[@sunpinggang866]

@@jimofthenorth8090 I also want to work there,can you help me,thanks

[@Parvathipinapala]

I also want to work there. Help me

[@user-nk2ni8ue5m]

Two and a half months of complete darkness would be my WORST nightmare. Daylight and sunlight are a MUST for my mood and morale. Then, we have the skin numbing cold of minus 20 degrees celsius to go with the pitch darkness... going well into their spring. NO way !!! No trees, no pretty flowers, and no songbirds... I'd sooner stay for a decade in a high security prison than endure December and June in Svalbard.

[@KuyaPixels23]

This is Cecelia’s territory, I was hoping to see a wild Grim and Fenris running around 🐺

[@Jqteadventures1659]

Omg it’s the husky cafe. As seen on cecilas channel

[@CHMichael]

5:05 2 years? In Florida we lost 4 months. Quarantine in the ice could have been a good slogan.

[@hell-o-kitty1976]

I want to visit!

[@jerrystaana3891]

I like to go there no visa nice but I doubt I can handle the cold especially during polar night lol

[@realtrini2007]

if you want to find out more about Svalbard there is a youtuber called Cecilia Blomdahl.

[@Dan-fo9dk]

She has maybe learned about some of the life in Longyearbyen.....but her understanding of the Arctic is not overly impressive.

[@cleopatra1633]

she is taking crazy risks and one day will regret her foolishness

[@AngelLuluBlu]

@@Dan-fo9dk Her channel is about living in Longyearbyen and adventuring on Svalbard not about being an expert about the arctic. 😂

[@AngelLuluBlu]

@@cleopatra1633 No she’s not. 🙄

[@marveld.c1420]

Love❤ from India🇮🇳.

[@breezeanonymous6034]

No please. We don't want Europe overpopulated.

[@thinkabout602]

💚 from Florida

[@striker44]

@Breeze Anonymous but Europeans are well known for their culling of population, right?

[@cleopatra1633]

@@breezeanonymous6034 Indeed

[@GilbertDenila]

Hi DW, thanks for a wonderful documentary. How can one travel here on vacation, or a therapy visit?

[@YodaDiedWeCried]

You have to go to Norway first, then get a flight too svalbard

[@walterwine]

@@YodaDiedWeCried so it's not visa free afterall?

[@cthulhuaid2998]

​@@walterwinetechnically you could get there by boat visa free

[@hairyjohn5825]

Fair play to the guy! People don't want to do jobs like this nowadays!

[@nadasabbagh6273]

The cleaner? True. Which makes it easier for cleaning lovers like me to get those jobs. :)

[@CombatDoc136]

Love how the Filipino cleans the toilet with his gloves then runs the gloves through his hair and wipes his face.

[@tabbyc3970]

I’m sure he changed his gloves. He did other kind of cleaning afterwards. I did cringe when he did that though.

[@KogaNja]

Im poor af right so ty for having documentaries in youtube

[@nellymatalanga5033]

Any connections please how can one get housekeeping jobs any leads if you dont mind or any agency tht is recruiting jobs in that area ?

[@Ciumpalacu]

3:47 everyone should think about this words. 🤔

[@davidalfonso3042]

I love Svalbard women ❤ From morocco

[@armandopajaj6202]

What about for non eu people who finds a job there and move out after their temporary residency permit expires, can they travel again to the mainland without problems

[@Eliya-hn7ps]

I want to go here…

[@rodelscreation]

And I saw my kabayan here wow I am thinking to follow now 🙏😍

[@Traveler-rf8ye]

I couldn’t do that. I would be depressed.

[@hell-o-kitty1976]

❤

[@glbong42]

I feel both happy and sad for Mr Regato. Happy because he is successful in his business but sad to see his wife left him and his children are not as happy as they should be.

[@TheStockwell]

20:01 His wife left him, turning her back on this delightful, vibrant, tranquil paradise? But, life in this town is like something from a glamorous Hollywood movie - "The Shining."

[@arbaz79]

Why did his wife left him?

[@khrizlee24]

Does sponsorship necessary to work in Svalbard?

[@captdeldz582]

Can i ask how to apply I am pilipino Iwanted to work cold weather if what feels like.

[@fraukatze3856]

Svalbard is 77.87° N. VERY far north.

[@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477]

Wow, I’ve only been 67 degrees N

[@joeldavis5815]

Yes. In contrast cities like Oslo, Norway, and Anchorage, Alaska lie at around a mere 60 degrees north.

[@Dan-fo9dk]

Svalbard is not just a dot in the north at the latitude you claim. It's like saying that Germany is a dot just outside Mühlhausen at 51,20 dgr N ....or something. Svalbard has an area of 61022 sq. km, which is around 50 % larger than the Netherlands. Svaldbard stretches from just above 74 to just under 81 dgr. N. The video is about people living in Longyearbyen ....which is to be found at 78,22 dgr. N.

[@fraukatze3856]

@@Dan-fo9dk I believe Google returns the latitude of the centre of the landmass. I shouldn’t have used 4 significant figures but I didn’t want to round it up to 78° but I likely should have.

[@larryramirez3231]

Kahit saan merong Filipino na nagtatrabaho. resilient and able to adapt whatever may come. God bless you Kabayan and thanks DM for featuring one our fellow Filipinos.

[@Hyporama]

That Filipino guy looks like he does a really good job

[@Atipat12]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@pgo2372]

Wait a minute. The Filipino guy had a WIFE??? Tell me you weren't shocked to learn that.

[@shadowcult464]

These are people with a practical reason to own a 50cal BMG pistol.

[@wallymaya5672]

Hi so if someone is apply for your cleaning or any other helping jobs

[@Talk-with-Jeff]

I wish to stay here

[@FollowTheJohn]

I’d wouldn’t last a week in that place. The cold is not my thing. 8-)