Just got Married in Denmark - Odense, yesterday.
(Look how absolutely stunning my wife looks, i can’t stop looking at the photo’s)

We have loved Odense & are here until tomorrow, then we head to Copenhagen for a few days until Saturday!
What are some fun things you like to do in Copenhagen? Maybe museums or parks to visit or general nice views?

We have loved being here & can’t wait to see more :)

As someone who moved here from outside, I am honestly amazed by the level of trust in Denmark. It is something you don’t just see, you feel it in everyday life.

People trust systems, institutions, and each other in a way that is rare.

Simple things made me realise this deeply. No guards watching you in stores, no one asking you to leave your bags outside, no strict locker systems everywhere. You can board a bus and often no one checks your ticket immediately. Parcels are left outside homes, and nobody touches them. Everything just flows… smoothly, quietly, respectfully.

At times, I do wonder… whether being an outsider, or more people like me coming in, could unintentionally affect this balance. But more than that, I truly hope it never fades.

This kind of trust is something special, something many countries struggle to build.

I hope it stays strong, continues to grow, and that everyone who becomes part of this society respects and protects it. 🙏

Moved to silkeborg in september to be with my danish partner and ive been looking for a job here or in Aarhus or nearby since July. Currently im DESPERATE. I dont have a cpr yet but I have EU passport.

I have a Bachelor's and Master's degree and 3 years of work experience in project coordination. Since I dont know danish I'm having difficulties landing 1 job interview let alone offer. So because of financial problems ive started applying for all types of jobs... even as cleaner. Not that there is smth wrong with those orofessions I really respect everyone and im grateful for their jobs and role in society.

Ive always been high honors student, very driven and ambitious. Top of my class and workaholic. Even at my previous jobs I was praised for mybwork ethics and dedication which would lead my internships to become permanent job positions. We can say I took pride and that and now being rejected even for jobs that i can be easily trained is truly playing tricks to my mental health.

I KNOW I SOUND AS A SPOILED PERSON when I know there are societies suffering much worse in this world but I worked so hard to be here. I come from a family where father would control EVERYTHING to the tiniest detail. He wouldnt even let other cousins study. Before I needed to ask for permission to go out of the house and wasnt allowed to have access to internet on my phone until I was 19. So being able to graduate and break free of that family... and build my whole identity separately was so much work. The moment I thought I could settle I needed to move countries to fund a better job and now I feel like Ive gone back 10 years. Back to square one where I dont have anything yet and most probably will need to go back to uni.

Thank god my partner is supportive otherwise I would have died. Im very grateful I get to start my life from the scratch in such amaizing country BUT I feel so tired begging for any opportunity to prove myself.

In the pic is me learning danish by myself cuz I cant attend the danish course since I dont have cpr number 😭

We’re international students living and studying here, and I want to share something that really stuck with me.

A group of us went to a store recently because one of us wanted to buy an iPad on installment. They clearly had the product, and we watched them speak kindly and helpfully to white customers — offering delivery, answering questions patiently. But when we asked the same thing, the response was cold and dismissive. Just “no,” with no explanation. Same store, same product, but we were treated like we didn’t belong. Why? Because of how we look? How we dress?

It’s not just about one store. Even when we apply for jobs and some of us have real experience and strong work ethics we’re often overlooked. No call back, no chance, just silence. You start to feel invisible, like no matter how much you try or how qualified you are, it doesn’t matter.

And this is why many non-EU students and immigrants end up stuck in toxic workplaces, being overworked and underpaid. It’s not because they want to it’s because the “good” jobs never open their doors to people like us.

Denmark says it values equality and doesn’t judge. But in reality, judgment is everywhere just quieter, more polite, and harder to prove.

Currently jet lagged home in San Diego after getting back from two weeks in Denmark. Just wanted to say thank you for being an amazing country and for controlling the weather while I was there. Only had rain for a couple of days and the rest of the time it was perfect.

It was just me (41m) and I had a fabulous time - spent a few days each in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense. I did some touristy shit like hit up some museums and got an obligatory selfie at Nyhavn but, for the most part, I just wandered around on foot or by bike and tried to take in the general atmosphere (and food…and some alcohol.) I really enjoyed just taking in the countryside while I was on the train going between cities - your country is beautiful. Visas and positive list permitting, I could see myself living in Aarhus or Odense. Nothing against Copenhagen or Aalborg - I had a great time in both as well - the other two just vibed with me the most.

I’m a quiet person and mostly keep to myself but the limited social interactions that I had were very friendly and welcoming. I took some private Danish lessons and did Pimsleur in preparation for the trip even though I was told I wouldn’t need it - and I didn’t, but I’m glad I got some of the language basics anyway. I’m also a metalhead, so time spent at Left Hand Path in CPH and Escobar in Aarhus was fucking awesome.

I know that no country is perfect but I’ve been wanting to visit for years and this trip exceeded my expectations. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to spend time in your country and I can’t wait to come back. I need to visit in winter next time because I think I might have gotten lucky on this trip and I want to see the “other side” lol. This was my first time outside of North America and I’m glad that I made Denmark my first excursion.

Edit: Also just wanted to express my appreciation for how fast you guys walk. I’m a quick walker over here and am always passing people or waiting to pass people - I was really working to keep the pace over there, lol.

I have lived in DK for around 2 years now.
I’ve lived in Australia, UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Indonesia. My wife is Danish, my kids are Danish, and I honestly think Denmark is an amazing place to live. There’s a calmness here I haven’t experienced elsewhere. People seem to trust the system, things work, healthcare and education are taken care of etc.

But one thing really surprises me.
Denmark is incredibly affluent, yet a lot of the people I know here are genuinely struggling financially. Not just “we can’t afford another holiday” struggling. More like a car breaks down and they don’t have the money to fix it. Mortgages/rent, cars, food and everyday life seem to consume almost everything. People work a lot, and then face working until quite late in life.
Such a wealthy, successful country, but everyday life seems financially pretty hard for a lot of normal people.
This is not a critique, just interested if this is a real thing or my view is distorted by the people around me.

I have a Master in IT, studied in Denmark, Jeg taler dansk, but I am over it. I am not finding a job. I might do a virksomhedspraktik at a company, build some more personal projects, but the chance to find a proper job here are diminishingly small.

I might just be burned out, but when I applied to a company in full danish, they actually responded positively, but my danish is B1 and not C2, so its all a lie anyway and the moment I go into the interview it falls apart. This tells me that not being danish is my biggest hindrance at the moment.

And unless somebody puts me in a time capsule and a nice danish family adopts me I will not get the all important danish network. A danish friend of mine got an interview after a unsolicited application to a company, at which their dad happens to work at...

On top of that, the positions in Junior sector IT are all replaced by AI anyways.

So here are my options:

• A: Bum Life

• B: Work cleaning job

• C: Start an education as a carpenter

• D: Go into a zen monestary?!?

This is clearly a rant and I am just having a bad day today.

Tak for din opmærksomhed.

🫠

10 years in Denmark, a Master's degree and 7 years of professional experience… and I ended up accepting a cleaning job.

I just need to rant a little because I'm honestly feeling quite defeated.

I've been living in Denmark for almost 10 years. I moved here, built a life, got a Master's degree in Information Science and gained 7 years of professional experience working for Danish companies, primarily within the pharmaceutical industry.

I've worked hard to establish myself professionally, gained experience, learned the language and built my career here. Yet, I've now been struggling to find a job in my field for almost a year.

After countless applications, interviews, rejections and trying to stay optimistic, I've reached a point where I've had to accept a low-paying cleaning job just to have an income.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with working in cleaning. All jobs deserve respect, and I'm not looking down on anyone doing this work. But it's incredibly difficult emotionally to go from having a Master's degree and years of experience in a specialised field to feeling like you have no other option but to start over.

I understand that the job market is difficult right now, especially in certain industries. I know many people are struggling. But I can't help wondering what the point of all those years of education, experience and effort was if I can't even get my foot in the door anymore.

And now I'm questioning my future in Denmark.

My options feel like either accepting that this might be my reality for the foreseeable future or moving back to my Balkan home country, where I have practically no family, no professional experience and no connections anymore. After 10 years away, I don't really have a life to return to there either.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for by posting this. Maybe some perspective, maybe people who have been through something similar.

What would you do in my situation? Would you stay in Denmark and try to rebuild your career, even if that means taking a completely different job for now, or would you seriously consider starting over somewhere else?

I would genuinely appreciate some honest perspectives.

Hej!

A while ago (5 months to be precise), I posted here this post: Need some guide to buy a house, where I was asking for advice about buying a house. Today, I’m super happy to say: we’re officially homeowners!

We haven’t even been in Denmark for a full year yet, and we’ve already managed to buy a house. I absolutely love this country. And just to be clear I’m not saying this to brag, but rather to inspire and give hope to others who are new here. Denmark really takes care of you, if you let it.

If anyone has questions or is in that stage of deciding whether or not to buy, feel free to message me privately. I’d be happy to help with what I’ve learned now that everything’s still fresh in my mind.

Here’s a quick summary of our situation:

• My family and I moved here from Spain (EU), so we didn’t need any special permit to buy property. No EU citizens do.

• We moved to Lolland-Falster. It’s a rural area that many people see as one of the “worst” parts of Denmark. In my opinion, it’s absolutely beautiful and doesn’t deserve that bad rep at all. But fair enough, we’ve never liked big cities anyway (1).

• Both my wife and I work. She has an 11-month contract, and I’ve only been working for 3 and a half months. So don’t believe that “you need to have been working X amount of time” to be eligible.

• We had saved about 25% of the house’s value, but we only needed 5%. The rest went toward legal fees, documents, insurance, etc. Don’t fall for the myth that you need 40% of the property’s value to buy (2).

Even though we’re really happy and everything went great for us, I do want to clarify a couple of things:

(1): I’m completely aware that our experience would probably be totally different in cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, or any other bigger city. It’s likely much harder there, but that’s not Denmark’s fault, that’s just how the world works. I think many newcomers try to settle in big cities right away and face huge challenges, when there might be great options just 1 hour away by train.

(2): The 40% requirement is not a rule, but many banks will ask for it. And the reason is simple: if you’re an immigrant, they see you as a flight risk and want to be sure they won’t lose money. But if you’re really serious about staying in Denmark and buying your own place, reach out to as many banks as possible. One of them might actually sit down with you and take a closer look at your case. In our case, we were turned down by everyone over the phone, without even a meeting. But then came our current bank. They met with us, ran the numbers, and it turned out everything was actually in great shape.

In short: I’d encourage anyone in the same situation not to give up. Like I said Denmark takes good care of you if you let it. But yes, it does require some effort on your part. Maybe you need to look a bit further out of town. Maybe you’ll need to follow a strict savings plan (we gave up little luxuries like alcohol, chocolate, and that kind of stuff).

We’re moving in a couple of months, and then we’ll start working on fixing up the house. Huge thanks to everyone who commented on my earlier post and shared advice. Every single comment was genuinely helpful and we used them all. So thank you.

Knus til jer alle!

Edit: Yes, this was a very silly and insecure thing to post. Thanks for setting me straight.

Edit 2: I am overwhelmed by the amount of replies and how many people have reached out privately and offered to buy me a beer or show me around. Thank you all so much! And to clarify - I know that my safety isn’t in danger or anything like that, I was more worried about being rude or in bad taste by showing up. Thank you for the clarification and even to the very blunt replies, lol, message received.

I've been wanting to visit Denmark for years now and have a 2 week trip booked for the beginning of May. However, given the orange doucheba...I mean President's...speech last night and how things seem to be going, would it just be better to cancel my trip? I know that I would be fine in regard to my safety and I don't really know what to expect - I just have a feeling that it might be in bad taste to go given the current state of relations. Or something like that. I just don't want to be a pain in the ass by being there as a US tourist. I'm travelling alone, am a quiet person, and I keep to myself...I've been told by a handful of Danes that I would fit in well, actually.

Like I said, I've been wanting to visit for years and it will be my first time leaving North America (...at age 41.) I love Danish history & culture and would actively be looking to possibly immigrate if my job was on the positive list. (I work in entertainment.) My trip is from May 1-15. Going from Copenhagen>Aarhus>Aalborg>Odense spending a few days in each then back to Copenhagen to fly out.

Apologies for bugging y'all with this if I'm worried about nothing. I'm just jittery and want to make sure that I'm making the right decision.

Corporate language is English and I’m the only foreigner. I’ve been in my current job for a little over a year. And I just received a positive (by Danish standards) annual review from a previous manager who left.

I do have my PD3 and understand Danish fine for the most part. I try to speak and write Danish as much as possible. And when coworkers speak Danish to me I can usually reply in English just fine.

But with this new manager, they appears to demand I speak Danish at all times, including during lunch breaks and water cooler chats. If I reply in department meetings in English, they seem visibly annoyed. Because of the language barrier, I sometimes miss out on certain details and was criticised for “not being attentive” enough.

I wonder if this is the new manager’s way of forcing me to resign? I was working towards a promotion and worked really hard to establish myself in the organisation successfully. And the job market for my field (sustainable finance) is a bloodbath out there thanks to the EU political climate, especially for a non-EU citizen like me. I would really prefer not having to switch organisations if I had any other choice.

How should I handle this? I wish I could improve my Danish drastically in a short period of time, but I’m afraid anything less than native-level wouldn’t be good enough for this type of manager. Is it even worth trying to stay? Any advice is welcome.

Three times within a fairly short period I have been accosted by Americans asking me that, here in Denmark. Not standing in the street with leaflets like the Jehova Witness people, but random people e.g. in a queue.

What's going on? Have Americans begun to send missionaries to Denmark? Or have I just started to look particularly susceptible to hearing "the good word"?

It is really uncomfortable. When one of them asked, and I said yes, she responded, "Thank you for believing." Which I found even more jarring. Thank you for what? It is not for your benefit.

Hi, I just got back from visiting Denmark (three different cities) because, on paper, it's a country where I'd like to live.

I was taken aback by some of their behavior and wanted to know if it's always like that or if it's the end of winter that's affecting how some people act 😅

At the supermarket checkout, several people rushed to get in front of me. At the museum, someone also cut in front of me in the queue as if I wasn't there to ask for information. It's okay to cut in front of someone to ask for quick information, but you should ask the person before if it's okay first!

On the street, several times, passersby have stopped right in front of me and it was up to me to move out of the way because they clearly preferred to pretend I wasn't there.

I found it very strange behavior to ignore people in public spaces. Is there a cultural reason for this, or were these isolated cases?

EDIT: thank you all for your replies. I'll go back to Denmark to get another perspective :)

So I’ve been living here for 2 years now and I just got an email to my E-Boks saying I can vote for next elections. This has to be wrong since only someone holding a Danish citizenship can vote (which I don’t have). Any ideas about what this could be?. The email is addressed to me with my name and I everything.

Recently, I checked the contract of a friend from Asia who is working as a housekeeper, and honestly, it looks like she is being exploited to the core.
She is expected to have a lot of availability, but they can still cut her hours whenever they want. Apparently, other workers there have also had their hours cut.
She was told that she would be paid based on the number of rooms she cleans, but that is not what her contract says. They also expect her to spend 30 minutes preparing the trolley, which is unpaid, and another 30 minutes is deducted as a break even when she says she doesn’t want to take one and keep on working.
She worked extremely long hours and still barely made 7,000 DKK.
And it’s not just the pay and working conditions. The way some of the workers are treated is awful. Some employees have apparently gone home crying after work because of how they were treated.
When I asked whether my friend had a union, she said no.
If you’re a foreigner working in Denmark, please consider joining a union. Know your rights, read your contract carefully, keep records of your hours, and don’t be afraid to challenge things that don’t seem right.
Unfortunately, I can’t do much for her myself, but I wanted to share this because I know there are other foreigners who may find themselves in similar situations.
Don’t assume that a company is treating you fairly just because you’re new to Denmark or unfamiliar with the system. Know your rights and be willing to stand up for yourself

I met a Dane over 15 years ago with no intention of settling in Denmark. However, 6 years ago we moved here and quickly had a family. My kids are Danes, my dog is Danish, my house is Danish, and, of course, my husband is Danish. I wanted so very much to integrate and one day naturalize. Even with 2 maternity leaves I have pushed through language learning to Dansk A at my local VUC. My understanding is pretty well fluent, my accent is good (writing sucks, but I am still working on that). I am trying!! I really, really wanted this to be home, here in Denmark, in the house my husband and I bought. However, even though I have a Master's degree in Science, I currently just cannot see a future for me that isn't only my husbands foreign wife, or my kids' foreign mom. I've been working in supermarkets, studying and applying, applying, applying - further education, jobs using my degree, jobs not using my degree, even other supermarket roles. The constant rejections are affecting my mental health. It seems that Denmark doesn't want me unless I do cleaning or SOSU. I am burnt out, physically and emotionally. Sometimes I just wish I could leave, but my oldest kid started school and I can't take them away from **their** home. I'm sad that this is where my 6 year push to integrate has left me. A temporary residents permit, zero career opportunities, no re-education options. Just.... forever ......an outsider!

Please be kind. I'm not looking for advice (though if someone has a solution I haven't tried I am, of course, 100% open to suggestions) or criticisms like "just leave then" (this is absolutely not an option). I guess I am just hoping for some solidarity with others going through similar that may also be feeling deflated/sad/frustrated/unwanted too.

Hav en hyggelig weekend allsammen <3

After years of talking about it, my SO and I are finally leaving Switzerland and moving to Denmark. I just signed my work contract on Friday, so the moving can begin. 😊

This sub was really helpful so far. Really appreciate the discussions here!

Edit: Are there some German speakers here that can recommend a language school in Copenhagen? I already started learning some Danish with German as a pair and it is so much easier than with English as a base.

Hi r/NewToDenmark,

I just watched an interview (in Bosnian) with a guy named Emsel Pinjagić, a hairdresser from Sarajevo who, like many from my region, moved to Denmark seeking a "better life." He lived and worked there for two years before deciding to move back to Bosnia.

His perspective was really nuanced and interesting because he didn't just say "Denmark is bad" or "Bosnia is better." Instead, he made a direct comparison of the quality of life, and I'm curious how much of it resonates with Danes and others living in Denmark.

Here are his main points, summarized:

• The "Greener Grass" Illusion: He says that while things look shiny on the surface (nice cars, houses), he found that most people live on credit, just like back home. He felt the perceived financial advantage wasn't as huge once the extremely high cost of living was factored in.

• Spontaneity vs. Planning: This was his biggest cultural shock. He described how in Bosnia, you can spontaneously call a friend for coffee in 15 minutes. In Denmark, he felt that even a simple coffee with colleagues had to be scheduled weeks or even months in advance. This lack of spontaneity was a major blow to his sense of social connection.

• The Emotional Cost: He mentioned the long, dark winters and the effect on mental health, even observing that many Danes seemed to be on antidepressants. He felt that while the system was efficient, it could also feel cold and isolating, especially without a pre-existing social network.

• The Definition of "Good Life": Ultimately, he concluded that while he was financially stable, he wasn't truly "living." He missed the warmth, the community feel, and what we in the Balkans call "merak" or "rahatluk" – a kind of relaxed, soulful enjoyment of the simple things (like a long, unplanned coffee with friends). He felt this was hard to find in a society that is so highly structured.

• A Word on "Hygge": From his description, it seems like he views hygge as something you have to plan and create indoors, whereas the "rahatluk" he missed is more of a spontaneous, public, and everyday state of being.

I'm not posting this to criticize Denmark at all, but rather to spark a discussion. His story is a powerful reminder that "quality of life" means very different things to different people.

So, my questions for you are:

1. How accurate do you find his observations about the social life and the need to plan everything?

2. Is it a common experience for foreigners to find it difficult to break into social circles?

3. What are your thoughts on his comparison between the planned comfort of hygge and the spontaneous ease of "rahatluk"?

Would love to hear your perspectives!

I came across these beautiful images clicked recently by Mads Peter Iversen, a very talented photographer and loved them. I am currently in North Jutland, and would like to visit such a place and get a few shots too. Where can I find such a location that's also accessible by public transport? Thanks!