Anyone lived in Denmark?

Author
Discussion

craigthecoupe

685 posts

203 months

Sunday 15th May 2022
quotequote all
after my premature midlife meltdown, we sold everything and went for a trip around some of europe in a motorhome in search of a new place to settle. i read the living danishly book, and pinned all hopes on denmark as my new home to be. we went up the west coast to about midway, then over to Aarhus and north to the ferry port at Hirtshals (this is from memory, so apologies if a bit off). we then came back into denmark on our way back down via Malmo, a couple of nights in Copenhagen, then south and back into Germany.

You certainly felt like you were in a different country as soon as you crossed the border into denmark, on the whole, infrastructure is excellent, and a very clean place. the lower west coast was beautiful, as was Aarhus.

The people we met were friendly and polite, and spoke excellent english, you'd not struggle from that point of view.

Copenhagen was a cool city, great by bike, and lots to see and do. i remeber swimming in a pool built into the river right in the city, was good fun.

I dont want to say but, as were all different. What i felt, was that broadly the landscapes were a little dissinteresting, i found it quite flat (previous life uk south coast and mainly southwest). I also had the feeling that outside of the cities, the place was a little dull. I'm not sure how to describe it, but as touched on in the book i read, life seemed a bit predictable and thus a bit......flat?

If i had an offer of a good job, I'd probably take it still, there are so many things to like about the place, but it wasn't quite what we were looking for despite it ticking lots of the boxes on our list.
(for completeness, we settled in rural tuscany! crap infrasructure, some very outdated views, and no work smile everything we didnt want, but love the warmth from the people, and feel so welcome in the comunity. funny how life goes eh?)
best of luck whatever you choose.

imck

778 posts

106 months

Sunday 15th May 2022
quotequote all
craigthecoupe said:
after my premature midlife meltdown, we sold everything and went for a trip around some of europe in a motorhome in search of a new place to settle. i read the living danishly book, and pinned all hopes on denmark as my new home to be. we went up the west coast to about midway, then over to Aarhus and north to the ferry port at Hirtshals (this is from memory, so apologies if a bit off). we then came back into denmark on our way back down via Malmo, a couple of nights in Copenhagen, then south and back into Germany.

You certainly felt like you were in a different country as soon as you crossed the border into denmark, on the whole, infrastructure is excellent, and a very clean place. the lower west coast was beautiful, as was Aarhus.

The people we met were friendly and polite, and spoke excellent english, you'd not struggle from that point of view.

Copenhagen was a cool city, great by bike, and lots to see and do. i remeber swimming in a pool built into the river right in the city, was good fun.

I dont want to say but, as were all different. What i felt, was that broadly the landscapes were a little dissinteresting, i found it quite flat (previous life uk south coast and mainly southwest). I also had the feeling that outside of the cities, the place was a little dull. I'm not sure how to describe it, but as touched on in the book i read, life seemed a bit predictable and thus a bit......flat?

If i had an offer of a good job, I'd probably take it still, there are so many things to like about the place, but it wasn't quite what we were looking for despite it ticking lots of the boxes on our list.
(for completeness, we settled in rural tuscany! crap infrasructure, some very outdated views, and no work smile everything we didnt want, but love the warmth from the people, and feel so welcome in the comunity. funny how life goes eh?)
best of luck whatever you choose.
Obviously never been to Sky Mountain (Himmelbjerget) !

Danish Partner
I lived in a small Town near Aarhus for 3 Years about 20 Years ago. We visit the Family 1 or 2 times each Year.

Life is probably a bit like the Country. Vaguely undulating and very organised.
There are some lovely places in DK. West and North Coast. Lots of little Villages in Jutland.
We usually have some trips out when visiting. All sorts to see and do.
Some really good Food now compared to 20+ Years ago.

I found Danish quite easy to learn. FiL and some Work Colleagues don't/didn't speak much English.
Pronunciation a bit difficult but structure simple.


interstellar

3,233 posts

145 months

Sunday 15th May 2022
quotequote all
I have worked for a Danish company for over 10 years and been there a lot.

It’s lovely there and not sure any other country feels safer to me than DK.

CPH is a lovely city and the Dane’s are lovely people.

I go to Odense a lot. If my daughter had been a bit older when I got divorced 3 years ago I would have moved there for sure.

It’s a long way from NZ , is the family coming too?

Futureclassic

105 posts

178 months

Monday 16th May 2022
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Traffic said:
Where are you Andy? I
I am based in Stockholm also, we should arrange a Swedish Meet!

MattyD803

1,690 posts

64 months

Monday 16th May 2022
quotequote all
My MIL is Danish and we've been many many times over the last 20 years.....staying with family in a couple of different towns on Zealand (north of Copenhagen).

Can't really add much to what has been said above.....in terms of friendliness, efficiency, cleanliness and safety......even in CPH, crime is really quite low. The Wife's cousin is a police officer in the central district and it sounds very much like child's play compared to London, or in fact, any UK city. Even drugs and the associated/inevitable problems are well managed.

We have visited at probably everything single month in the year over the years and the climate is very much akin to somewhere like Newcastle in all fairness. Despite common misconceptions, CPH certainly isn't a massively cold or snowy place, and our trips over in Summer have often been rainy / cloudy.

It's certainly not for me as a forever home as I genuinely think it is a little 'dull' as a country, but I guess some of that is a consequence of not being a native speaker.....but equally, having driven extensively around the country, the scenery is a little boring really. Really easy to drive and get around though and generally driving standards are excellent compared to here and traffic (even coming into CPH) is minimal in our experience. Huge benefits to cycling around cities and towns wherever possible (dedicated lanes, bike racks, priority over cars etc).

Comparatively quite expensive (when viewed by a Brit tourist), but as said, their wages are much higher......but to be fair, as is their income tax, so not sure how that balances in the end? I know used cars for example are VERY expensive.....iirc driving past a forecourt, at least twice the cost of a UK vehicle, possibly more. Train tickets also quite pricy from memory and if I remember correctly, things like prescription glasses and furniture are also hideously expensive. Food from supermarkets however on a par with here, but restaurants / beer is expensive.

However, healthcare & childcare is free and is to really high standard and if I remember correctly, you actually get paid around £500 a month to attend college/uni......? Or at least you used to a few years back - you really can't knock that.




Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 16th May 09:32

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Monday 16th May 2022
quotequote all
Interesting. I've not been to Denmark, although I have worked with a few Danes and got on well with them. They spoke excellent English and some of them had similar interests to me.

To what degree is a country "dull", though?

Landscape apart, surely it is about how much you take part in activities and your community?

Many British people do very little.


MattyD803

1,690 posts

64 months

Monday 16th May 2022
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
Interesting. I've not been to Denmark, although I have worked with a few Danes and got on well with them. They spoke excellent English and some of them had similar interests to me.

To what degree is a country "dull", though?

Landscape apart, surely it is about how much you take part in activities and your community?

Many British people do very little.
Your absolutely right......many Brit's do sod all....and I guess there are also many boring/dull parts of the UK.....community is indeed a real big part of life there, which is great, but compared to where I live in the South East (which I feel is quite vibrant and multicultural), it's just the gut feel I take away from the place. It is very much a personal observation against my own life / preferences.

Taking the country as a whole (in terms of day trips and domestic hols) and being very subjective here, there are no mountains, rolling dales, historic canal networks, (many) family friendly seaside towns - sure they are silly things, but many things we take for granted, especially with a young family. I know they have plenty of other sights and history, trust me I have done most of the museums, but it can be quite few and far between, despite being what is quite a small country in terms of landmass.

Central CPH has a great nightlife, but in the smaller cities and towns where I have stayed, eateries and drinking holes are limited and always feel like they close early, with limited live music etc. Decent beer....generally speaking, you can forget it. You'll also not commonly stumble across many restaurants of alternative culture (thai, indian, spanish, turkish etc) and 'traditional home cooked cuisine' is often fairly bland. (IMO) - and I have eaten at some quite expensive places in CPH.

I'm trying my hardest NOT to poo-poo the place. I genuine do like the country as a whole, it's values, standard and really enjoy our short breaks that we take there, but I just couldn't live there. The MIL originally came over as an Au Pair in the 80's with around 8 or 9 others.....they ALL still live in the UK and wouldn't go back.....I think that says a lot personally, and that's a one generation older than me.

(As for their language - yes, English is compulsory at school from a young age and they absolutely speak better English than many English!!)




Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 16th May 16:39

craigthecoupe

685 posts

203 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
from out short time there, that sums up the feeling i took away. on paper everything is excellent, and equally i wouldnt talk the place down, it just feels like it's lacking a bit of something. maybe a bit of fun or charisma? as mentioned, being part of the society might unlock that, but it wasn't the feeling i got.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
craigthecoupe said:
from out short time there, that sums up the feeling i took away. on paper everything is excellent, and equally i wouldnt talk the place down, it just feels like it's lacking a bit of something. maybe a bit of fun or charisma? as mentioned, being part of the society might unlock that, but it wasn't the feeling i got.
Off-topic, but which countries would people regard as being "fun" or "having charisma"?

The UK, for example, has 60+ million people. Some live in (very large) cities, some live in small villages in the hills, some live on remote islands in the North Atlantic. There is a wide range of community engagement and activity/enthusiasm and there is a national tendency towards placing a value on status symbols.

From experience, Dutch people, Germans and "Scandinavians" (work colleagues and meeting socially) have been most easy to immediately get on with, with few "cultural" differences that would make difference.

MattyD803

1,690 posts

64 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
Off-topic, but which countries would people regard as being "fun" or "having charisma"?

The UK, for example, has 60+ million people. Some live in (very large) cities, some live in small villages in the hills, some live on remote islands in the North Atlantic. There is a wide range of community engagement and activity/enthusiasm and there is a national tendency towards placing a value on status symbols.

From experience, Dutch people, Germans and "Scandinavians" (work colleagues and meeting socially) have been most easy to immediately get on with, with few "cultural" differences that would make difference.
I think your asking a question that is nigh on impossible for anyone to fully answer - i.e. "why do you have said gut feel". I personally don't know, I just do, but from the 30 odd times I have visited, I feel it is pretty well founded now. Take a trip there and see what you think, you might well have a completely different feeling.

If I compare it to say Ireland, Spain, Greece or even Italy....it just lacks something. Not sure if its the food, the approach to life, the geography, the weather - I don't know. Just a combination of those things. I guess it's a bit like Germany....just less interesting.

I wonder if it's like the country equivalent of the VW Golf R. It's well built, looks good, quite efficient, safe and offers good performance.....yet, it's just not a driver's car and I wouldn't want to own one forever. 2 year lease is plenty laugh

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
fourstardan said:
Yes maybe I am wrong and Denmark is full of tossers like you then?
rofl

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
MattyD803 said:
MC Bodge said:
Off-topic, but which countries would people regard as being "fun" or "having charisma"?

The UK, for example, has 60+ million people. Some live in (very large) cities, some live in small villages in the hills, some live on remote islands in the North Atlantic. There is a wide range of community engagement and activity/enthusiasm and there is a national tendency towards placing a value on status symbols.

From experience, Dutch people, Germans and "Scandinavians" (work colleagues and meeting socially) have been most easy to immediately get on with, with few "cultural" differences that would make difference.
I think your asking a question that is nigh on impossible for anyone to fully answer - i.e. "why do you have said gut feel". I personally don't know, I just do, but from the 30 odd times I have visited, I feel it is pretty well founded now. Take a trip there and see what you think, you might well have a completely different feeling.

If I compare it to say Ireland, Spain, Greece or even Italy....it just lacks something. Not sure if its the food, the approach to life, the geography, the weather - I don't know. Just a combination of those things. I guess it's a bit like Germany....just less interesting.

I wonder if it's like the country equivalent of the VW Golf R. It's well built, looks good, quite efficient, safe and offers good performance.....yet, it's just not a driver's car and I wouldn't want to own one forever. 2 year lease is plenty laugh
Cheers. It was more of a general question. People are often not that different from one country to the next, and finding your crowd could make a big difference.

You have obviously been to Denmark many times, though, and I have not. Is it much different to the UK?

Geography-wise, I like mountains and rugged coastlines. Flat countries don't appeal to me as much as mountainous ones. Much of the UK is actually very flat, even if some of it is quite lumpy.

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

5,072 posts

54 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
Awful place. It'll ruin your self esteem as within 10 mins of entering the city you'll feel short, fat and ugly laugh

Fortunately being 6' 5" I just felt fat and ugly.


fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
I know a Brit who works remotely from Copenhagen - so obviously for them it's nicer to live there than in London/UK. In my short time there it seems like the UK but with a much higher minimum wage, no poverty, less or no visible crime and anti-social problems. And the cyclists were easier on the eye and didn't try to run me over.

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
MattyD803 said:
MC Bodge said:
Off-topic, but which countries would people regard as being "fun" or "having charisma"?

The UK, for example, has 60+ million people. Some live in (very large) cities, some live in small villages in the hills, some live on remote islands in the North Atlantic. There is a wide range of community engagement and activity/enthusiasm and there is a national tendency towards placing a value on status symbols.

From experience, Dutch people, Germans and "Scandinavians" (work colleagues and meeting socially) have been most easy to immediately get on with, with few "cultural" differences that would make difference.
I think your asking a question that is nigh on impossible for anyone to fully answer - i.e. "why do you have said gut feel". I personally don't know, I just do, but from the 30 odd times I have visited, I feel it is pretty well founded now. Take a trip there and see what you think, you might well have a completely different feeling.

If I compare it to say Ireland, Spain, Greece or even Italy....it just lacks something. Not sure if its the food, the approach to life, the geography, the weather - I don't know. Just a combination of those things. I guess it's a bit like Germany....just less interesting.

I wonder if it's like the country equivalent of the VW Golf R. It's well built, looks good, quite efficient, safe and offers good performance.....yet, it's just not a driver's car and I wouldn't want to own one forever. 2 year lease is plenty laugh
Cheers. It was more of a general question. People are often not that different from one country to the next, and finding your crowd could make a big difference.

You have obviously been to Denmark many times, though, and I have not. Is it much different to the UK?

Geography-wise, I like mountains and rugged coastlines. Flat countries don't appeal to me as much as mountainous ones. Much of the UK is actually very flat, even if some of it is quite lumpy.
In my experience of Denmark, it's very flat.

I've spent a lot of time in Jutland and it reminds me a lot of Norfolk - farm > field > factory > farm > field > factory and repeat smile

Copenhagen is nice....like a lot of capital cities. It's not cheap, but then Scandinavia generally isn't.

It's not what I'd describe as a beautiful country in general but it is not ugly. It's clean, safe, the people are generally pleasant.

One thing to note for the OP is that the Danes are generally not very ostentatious as a race, in my experience.

Expensive, show-y material possessions like expensive cars, flamboyant clothing and sumptuous furniture is.....frowned upon is the wrong term, but it's not really their taste.

Design in general there is quite clean & functional.....minimalist even.

I guess they are the epitome of the term "wealth whispers" hehe

craigthecoupe

685 posts

203 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
craigthecoupe said:
from out short time there, that sums up the feeling i took away. on paper everything is excellent, and equally i wouldnt talk the place down, it just feels like it's lacking a bit of something. maybe a bit of fun or charisma? as mentioned, being part of the society might unlock that, but it wasn't the feeling i got.
Off-topic, but which countries would people regard as being "fun" or "having charisma"?

The UK, for example, has 60+ million people. Some live in (very large) cities, some live in small villages in the hills, some live on remote islands in the North Atlantic. There is a wide range of community engagement and activity/enthusiasm and there is a national tendency towards placing a value on status symbols.

From experience, Dutch people, Germans and "Scandinavians" (work colleagues and meeting socially) have been most easy to immediately get on with, with few "cultural" differences that would make difference.
with fun being such a subjective thing, its impossible to give a one size fits all answer, but i feel generally places that feel more spontaneous can be percieved as being more fun. i also think variety can give en extra element of depth bi it terrain, cuisine, music, climate, etc.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
craigthecoupe said:
with fun being such a subjective thing, its impossible to give a one size fits all answer, but i feel generally places that feel more spontaneous can be percieved as being more fun. i also think variety can give en extra element of depth bi it terrain, cuisine, music, climate, etc.
OK, but aside from the terrain climate, which is fixed,

does the typical Dane do the rest of it less than the typical Brit?


craigthecoupe

685 posts

203 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
craigthecoupe said:
with fun being such a subjective thing, its impossible to give a one size fits all answer, but i feel generally places that feel more spontaneous can be percieved as being more fun. i also think variety can give en extra element of depth bi it terrain, cuisine, music, climate, etc.
OK, but aside from the terrain climate, which is fixed,

does the typical Dane do the rest of it less than the typical Brit?

i've no idea.

Matt p

1,036 posts

207 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
quotequote all
I’d go in a heartbeat. Spent a couple of bank holidays in Billund with my son. Great great place.

An old friend moved there with her Husband and she’s Brazilian. We’ve lost touch now, at the time of moving she was looking forward to it.

Worked alongside a few Danes and Swedes in my company and all have been great people.

67Firebird

11 posts

121 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
quotequote all
As a native Dane it's quite funny to read the discussion in this thread smile Come visit us and see if it might be a place for you. Spending a weekend/week will be fun for everyone - except if you have a dying need to climb mountains...
As mentioned most things are expensive especially cars, housing and restaurants. Childcare is not free, but school, high school and universities are. And yes you do get paid to go to school if you are 18+

Copenhagen doesn't really describe "Denmark". Most towns are a lot smaller and more "dull". I'm not that familiar with the normal life in other countries, but I guess it's not that uncommon from ours? We work 37 hours a week, pay around 50 percent in taxes and 16 danish kroner for one liter of petrol..... Vpower is 1.20 extra..

Fell free PM/write if you need anymore info or help regarding something special.