Why Denmark

You have probably heard somewhere that the Danes are the happiest people in the world. And it’s most likely true. Denmark is also famous for its refined design and cyclist culture. We like to think of it as a country with a healthy work-life balance and a perfect place to have a family. 

Basic Facts about Denmark

Denmark has a population of 5.831 million people, its capital is Copenhagen and their currency is the danish krone. It’s integrated for the peninsula of Jutland and numerous islands of 443 to be exact and their climate is temperate, with cold winters and slightly warm summers with about 22º degrees. 

The landscape in Denmark is characterized by flat land with low elevation of about 32 meter over the sea level, sandy coasts and huge forest, it’s so little that you’re close to of all these things to choose the one that most call you.

5 curiosities about Denmark

1. It has the oldest flag in the world: With more than 800 years, it is the oldest flag still used by an independent nation.
2. Denmark has the two oldest amusement parks in the world: Bakken and Tivoli Bakken is 20 minutes outside of Copenhagen and Tivoli is right next to the central station. So it’s the perfect place to have a really fun weekend with these parks.
3. LEGO was invented by a dane: Ole Kirk Christiansen invented LEGO in 1949 and you can visit the original LEGOLAND here.
4. Their harbours water is so clean you can swim in it: Not only the copenhagen harbour has a cristal clear water but also other big cities like Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg.
5. LGBT friendly: Denmark was the first country to legalize same-sex unions in 1989 and same sex marrieage since 2012

Cozy culture in Denmark

Denmark, the progressive country, is worldwide recognized for its values, for being cosmopolitan, well educated and open-minded. It’s the happiest country in the world and equality is very important here, almost all the families belong to the middle class and the poverty percentage is low. Danish love that cosy and warm feeling and even have their own word for that “Hygge”. Denmark has zero mountains, however, they have beautiful landscapes and forests and it’s almost impossible not to see the sea, that makes it a great country for cycling and it’s a popular practice there.

Danish in general have a mindset about equity that means no one is better than the other, this rules many aspects of their life, especially jobs, this means you won’t find a cocky boss in Denmark or a haughty attitude towards others. Not only that, but also, Danish have an excellent English level, even the older ones, this is why it’s easier for expats to find a place here and since danish is such a difficult language it doesn’t become an impediment to have a great experience and spend a happy time living in Denmark, in fact, Denmark is one of the firsts countries ranked in the Working Abroad Index and has been more than 4 years continuously in the first position of relatives index. All of these are because of their culture of work and life balance that attracts so many people around the world but also their treatment which is more human-focused.

Let’s name a few reasons why we think you should relocate to this amazing and relatively small country:

• HYGGE LIFESTYLE
  “Hygge” concept is familiar to most of the people, but in case you didn’t know, it’s the art of getting comfortable and cozy. Danes really care about their homes and decor so everything needs to be according to hygge rules – pretty, cosy and nice. This includes lots of candles, nice furniture, books and social activities such as hanging out together while watching TV, playing board games or just drinking wine and dining (and sing, they looove to sing, a lot). 
• LOVE FOR CYCLING
  Danes love to cycle in all weather conditions. That keeps them in shape, healthy and looking good and also saves them money on unnecessary transport. So if you’re a lover of a good stretch before work and fancy a fresh air, Denmark is the right place for you!

The Danish Cuisine

Danish food is varied and has a wide range of fresh products, cereals and meats but almost always have a lot of porkmeat and boiled potatoes. But younger generations opt for a healthier diet. Even though Danes still consume a lot of meat it has become more and more normal for danish families to have “meat-free-meals” every week for climate concerns. Danish lunch is a traditional open-face sandwich called smorrebrod. Cereals such as wheat, barley and rye have been grown in Denmark for at least 1,000 years. Porridge were eaten as staples in most of Denmark, with bread as a luxury. Barley grits were a common evening meal and eaten with brown sugar or butter. Breakfast is an important meal for most danes. Most eat ryebread or oatmeal – and of course drink coffee.

There are two traditions of open-faced sandwiches in Denmark, smørrebrød and koldt bord. The German word “smorrebrot” is Danish for “buttered bread”—the bread is actually toasted or grilled. Slices of rye bread are covered with cured fish, meat or cheese, or a combination of all three, along with raw onion and pickles. 

Danish also love potatoes on their plates, so if you’re looking for tasty balanced food then Denmark may be the best suit for you.

Work in Denmark

Denmark is a highly looked place to work because of their world famous work-life balance, since it’s part of their culture to have a meaningful working time in order to enjoy life, this means that they take into consideration the human side and actually it is proven that happier workers and flexible job normatives result into higher productivity, so here we have some reasons why Denmark is the perfect place to work abroad.

• WORK BENEFITS
  Yes, the salaries here are higher here then in the rest of the EU countries but it’s not just that. According to the Danish law you also get a minimum 25 days of holidays and in some companies it can be up to 30 days plus national holiday. It’s not unusual that most companies have their catered lunch or canteens and they got you covered. Not to forget the famous Friday bar – something that Danes literally worship. Friday bar is the opportunity to connect with your colleagues and relax after the “long” working week and slide into the weekend. 
• WORK-LIFE BALANCE
  Family is very important to Danes and therefore balancing work and domestic life is not too complex. A normal working week is from Monday to Friday and office hours are usually between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Women work an average of 35 hours a week compared to 41 hours a week for men but generally it’s 37 hours per week. As the family life of employees is generally respected by Danish employers, it is not uncommon for many Danish workplaces to give you the opportunity to adjust your working hours based on your family’s needs. It is quite usual for Danes to live relatively close to their place of work which means that less time is spent on commuting.
• FREE STUDIES AND HEALTHCARE
  It’s not a mystery that expats love Denmark because of its free study programmes and free healthcare. Denmark has a state-run health system. Financing, planning and management are the responsibility of the authorities. The services are financed through income tax and there is only one legal state-run health insurance. If you are domiciled in Denmark and you are paying taxes, you will also be insured in Denmark. No separate health insurance fees have to be paid. The public health insurance covers hospitalization and medical consultations and also subsidizes medicines and a range of treatments. 

Denmark is one of the most popular international study locations in Europe thanks to its low study costs, high-quality English-taught degree courses and innovative teaching methods. Higher education in Denmark is free for all Bachelor’s and Master’s students coming from the EU/EEA area and for students participating in an exchange programme in Denmark.

Taxes in Denmark 

Once you get a job in Denmark, it’s important to get your danish tax card and personal tax number, you can visit this site for further information about what document you will need and the correct time to do it. The taxes in Denmark are considerably higher than the rest of europe, but also it’s the country with the highest acceptance rate to tax increases since their people consider they see the results of their contributions in they day-to-day. 

The percentage of income taxes in Denmark go up to 52.06% (55.89% including AM tax, which is also income tax for DTT purposes) in 2021. However, you won’t end up paying this much since a number of deductions are applicable; therefore the rate is lower.

Renting in Denmark

Finding accommodation in Denmark is quite difficult if you’re thinking in the big cities like Copenhagen or Arhaus. So you may find different options between furnished and unfurnished apartments but we recommend you to be open to share flats since it’s more possible to happen. In Denmark, it is common that the tenant pays a security deposit of 1-2 months rent. This deposit is refunded at the end of the lease. It is common practice to put the deposit in the form of a bank guarantee, which is the easiest way to ensure the security deposit is returned. However, it is not necessary to put the deposit in the form of a bank guarantee.

Tips to find accommodation in Denmark:

1. Get all your documents ready: Your Passport and work contract are a must.
2. Network: Try to tell your coworkers about your searching in case they know about some opportunity
3. Explore in Facebook groups: we recommend you consider flatsharing if you choose to live in Copenhagen, and in Facebook you can find several groups of renting and sharing apartments.
4. Visit the website lejebolig: This website is the best one to find accommodation in Denmark in case you weren’t lucky with facebook groups.
5. Register your CPR number: Make sure your landlord allows you to register your CPR number in order to be able to get healthcare insurance

However, the Danish government is very interested in securing a smooth stay in their country, that’s why they launched this website to help all those expats to get used to the lifestyle there.

Living cost in Denmark.

Many expats choose Denmark because of their work-life balance and benefits, and you can see this yourself by just studying their cost of living and compare them to their wages. In denmark there is not a minimum wage, however depending on the city you’re working the minimum payment rounds around DKK 17.000 (EUR 2.280) and DKK 21.280 (EUR 2.861), then you can subtract the costs of accommodation, leisure, transportation, phone expenses, services, socializing and food which rounds around DKK 13.400 (EUR 1.800) and you can see there is a general profit even considering the minimum wage. If you want to know more about the livingcost in Copenhagen you can visit our article to have a better understanding of the general expenses in one of the busiest cities in Denmark.

Expats in Denmark

Live in Denmark is a great experience considering so many beneficial aspects that are part of their life style, and it’s even proven by many worldwide studies like an study conducted by Expat Insider and published in the Expat Insider 2016 Annual Report, that shows that expats in Denmark are generally satisfied with their lives here, with 9 out of 10 expats saying they are happy or very happy with their life in Denmark. So you can see that living in Denmark as an expat is most of all comforting.

However, if you want to be part of this, you can look in social media for expats living in Denmark and join groups and meetings, that way you can hear all the tips and recommendations people have and also you expand your network, which will be useful to find better opportunities.

Language in Denmark

Learning danish will allow you to have a better understanding of the country and it’s useful for reunions and social events, but also it brings extra points during your work search. However, it is not necessary if you don’t expect to live in Denmark for too long. In the other hand if you plan to stay in Denmark, there are several ways to learn danish for free, with public and private organizations to offer this service around the country, but also there’s a way to learning online like Danish Online studies at IA Sprog, Learn Danish online with the Copenhagen Language Center, and Vestegnens Sprog & Kompetencecenter that all offer courses as online long distance learning.

Why Here

As you can see, Denmark is a dream destination for those who seek balance, comfort, and organization but also having the opportunity to explore different cultures and landscapes in just one region. Working abroad will give you the opportunity to gain experience, learning a new language and new customs that will surely forge your personality in a different way than just following the standar life-path of your community, and doing it in Denmark will give that open mindset necessary to face all the challenges in your life and to think out of the box. If you want some help finding job opportunities in Denmark just look at our offers in Aalborg, Copenhagen and Arhaus

What are you waiting for?

Contact us and we’ll try to get you on board for your perfect start in this dreamland called Denmark: ljs@jobsqd.com