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INSIDE ANNA LEWERTH
DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH CPHPOST.DK VOL 21 ISSUE 11 31 August - 13 September 2018
NEWS Offloading the city’s poor residents to the outer-regions
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NEWS
What did the fox say? More of a whine than a snarl, and easy to ignore
INTERNATIONAL BRAND A MISNOMER
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Danes abroad an unused resource NEWS
Survey reveals they will feel increasingly detached
MPs jump on Muslim shakedown opportunity
STEPHEN GADD
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You’re looking at what? What would Lykke-Per say about modern Denmark
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ENMARK may be a small country with a population of about 5.7 million people, but there are actually a quarter of a million Danes (and their immediate descendants) living abroad. However, they feel increasingly detached from their homeland, according to a survey by Danes Worldwide and Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassadors. Unused resource THE SURVEY revealed that 70 percent didn’t think Denmark excelled in using them as a resource. Additionally, 80 percent didn’t think Denmark did enough to retain their con-
nection to their homeland. “Danes abroad have been an ignored resource that we, as a country, owe ourselves to better benefit from,” said Thomas Bustrup, the head of Dansk Industri. “Most are of working age and often specialised employees who help paint a picture of Denmark abroad.” Taskforce ready IN ORDER to tackle the issue, a new taskforce has been launched to strengthen the bonds with Danes living abroad and to better capitalise on their network. “The goal is to get in contact with them to see how they can contribute to promoting Denmark, attracting talent to the country and utilising their knowledge and network,” the taskforce’s chair Flemming Besenbacher told Børsen.
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Digital trailblazers
Obsessed with gadgets
THREE Danes made Apolitical’s list of the 100 most influential people in digital governance: digital ambassador Casper Klynge, the public innovation minister, Sophie Løhde, and Lars Frelle-Petersen, the digital head of Dansk Industri. Meanwhile, Denmark leads the way in the EU for digital payments, according to Danmarks Nationalbank – fewer than 25 percent of transactions now involve cash.
DANES love gadgets that monitor their activity patterns and collect data on their lives. Every third family has bought some kind of device – be it a pedometer, fitness tracker or sleep monitor, reports DR. If used correctly some of the devices can have a beneficial effect on health, but experts fear they are often not.
Unhappiness a thing too
HEALTH workers dominate the most trusted occupation rankings in Denmark according to a survey by Radius, with midwives, nurses and doctors topping the charts, and physiotherapists, dentists and psychologists also making the top ten. At the bottom end of the scale were politicians, car salesmen and journalists.
A NEW HAPPINESS Research Institute study, ‘In the shadow of happiness’, claims that while Denmark might rank highly in in global happiness reports, some 8.1 percent are not thriving. However, the minority was much smaller than in Sweden (14.9), Norway (13.2), Iceland (12.6) and Finland (11.5).
Trusting in health
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ONLINE THIS WEEK NO MORE late-night licences will be issued in the city centre. The municipality’s decision follows a high number of complaints about noise, and the mayor is hopeful that curtailing the number will also help address issues such as rubbish, violence and vandalism. The only way to obtain a late-night licence will be to take over a premises that already has one.
Record Pride attendance A RECORD 40,000 people participated in the Pride Parade on Saturday August 18 – up from 25,000 in 2017. Some 180 floats walked the 3.3 km route from Frederiksberg City Hall to its Copenhagen counterpart. As the crowds increased, so did concerns over toilet facilities and the rubbish, which littered the route a day later, despite Pride paying Copenhagen 130,000 kroner to clean the route.
Massive AGM scheduled
Chiming with TIME THE EXPERIMENTARIUM science centre in Hellerup has been included on TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list. Tivoli and Noma also made the top 100. “It’s like getting three Michelin stars for us,” Kim Gladstone Herlev, the head of Experimentarium, told TV2 News. Editorial offices: International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen Denmark
ONLINE THIS WEEK
Copenhagen the worst culprit, but all big cities are busy relocating public housing residents
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OME 1,694 PUBLIC housing residents have been moved out of Copenhagen in the last three years, according to AE-Rådet, and around 40 percent end up moving to an ‘outer municipality’ – an economically weak area in regions such as Lolland-Falster and west and south Zealand. The trend is mirrored in the country’s other big cities with Aarhus (1,421), Odense (766) and Aalborg (697) relocating significant numbers, as well as several suburbs of Greater Copenhagen – Hvidovre (234), Albertslund (176), LyngbyTaarbæk (145), Gladsaxe (121) and Gentofte (117). The annual relocation rate is increasing, from 1,341 people in 2015 to 1,704 in 2017.
Conking out Lolland-Falster resembles the city harbour, but with less of everything
Passing on welfare burden “THERE is a clear trend with the big cities,” commented Lars Andersen, the head of AE-Rådet, told DR. “It makes good economic sense to them to have a net migration of people on benefits moving away, who are replaced by students and people in work.” Guldborgsund Municipality, which encompasses all of Falster and part of Lolland, has
received 404 over the last three years, while the municipalities of Lolland, Odsherred, Vordingborg, Kalundborg Slagelse, Silkeborg and Holbæk have all received in excess of 200. This accelerates inequality, points out Andersen, and increases the welfare burden of the already poor outer municipalities. Guldborgsund’s bill has accordingly been rising by 20 million kroner a year. (BH)
Roadworks to continue blighting city Original five-year estimation is doubled
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OADWORKS have become a staple of Copenhagen life – partly due to the city’s ongoing infrastructure maintenance that was initially expected to be completed in 2022. However, now it looks like it will continue until 2027, reveals Ninna Hedeager Olsen, the deputy mayor for technical and environmental issues. Bad for traffic “NOT ENOUGH money has been set aside to keep up with the speed required,” she told DR. “If we are to be finished by 2022, there will too many roads that need to be closed simulta-
Sun sets on the West BARELY 18 months after WestMarket opened to much aplomb in Vesterbro, the streetfood market is on its last legs. As of September 1, just one of the market’s 60 potential stalls, Marrakech Street Food, will remain open for business. Four others pulled the plug on August 31.
PIXABAY
COPENHAGEN will host the 2025 annual meeting of the Academy of Management association – the first time the AGM has been held outside North America since it started in 1936. It is believed the Bella Center meeting could generate 150 million kroner in revenue from the 20,000 members who attend.
Offloading the poor to the regions L-BBE
Calling time on licences
31 August - 13 September 2018
IT COULD be over for conkers, as a plague of horse-chestnut leaf miner moths are threatening the future existence of the trees. Planted along the City Lakes and in parks, strollers will have noticed that their leaves have turned brown and dessicated – a sign the moths’ larvae are killing the trees.
Smoking ban favoured A MAJORITY at Copenhagen Municipality are keen to ban students from smoking during school hours. The ban, which would also apply outside school property, has the support of the leadership of several city schools, though they admit that enforcing the ban could prove challenging.
Helsingør’s holding HELSINGØR is one of seven towns in Denmark where there are a disproportionate number of cannabis-related seizures and arrests compared to their populations. The other six are in Jutland. The police concede that most of the towns are located near a prison. Get used to these signs, Boy Racer
neously, and traffic will simply grind to a halt.” Good for fines? IN RELATED news, Copenhagen earned 620 million kroner
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from parking fees in 2017 – a record year. Parking in the capital between 08:00 and 18:00 now costs 36 kroner per hour, and parking fines cost an average 510 kroner. (SG)
Disgruntled youths COPENHAGEN Police has blamed a recent spate of fires in Nørrebro and Nordvest on youths disgruntled with their increased presence in the districts.
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31 August - 13 September 2018
But not as cunning as a fox News channel host Trish Regan demolished by Danish politicians following spurious claims about the country
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OX NEWS host Trish Regan probably thought she’d chosen a safe target when she compared the socialist dystopia of Denmark to Venezuela, claiming the country is uncompetitive as a result. But Kristian Jensen, the finance minister, and Dan Jørgensen, the former Socialdemokratiet minister, were quick to react to the claims made on the country’s most watched news channel – its
Running for Kim
average audience of 2.24 million equates to 0.69 percent of the population.
www.cis.dk
The cupcake challenge “SO DANES don’t want to work? 11 places better than US in OECD statistics! We are working much more than Americans and at the same time ranking as the world’s best in work-life balance,” Jensen wrote on Twitter. Lars Gert Lose, the Danish ambassador to the US, also got in on the act, pouncing on a claim by Regan that most Danish graduates “want to start cupcake cafes” with an invitation to come over and be disappointed. (BH)
ONLINE THIS WEEK Macron in town
COPENHAGEN and 14 other cities across the world held memorial runs in honour of Swedish journalist Kim Wall on August 11 – the anniversary of her murder by Peter Madsen. ‘Run for Kim’ raised money for the Kim Wall Memorial Fund, which supports female journalists.
Swedish solarium ban SWEDEN has banned children from using solariums due to a surge in skin cancer cases, but it is believed similar legislation won’t be adopted in Denmark. In 2014, there was momentum for a similar law in Denmark, but then fewer people started using solariums in general.
More to fight Ebola
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron completed a two-day state visit to Denmark on Wednesday August 29 – the first made by a leader of his country since 1982 – during which he enjoyed a state banquet and attended a business forum event at Industriens Hus. In related news, Jeremy Hunt, the UK’s new foreign secretary, visited Denmark on August 15.
Wild boar fence work can start WORK COULD begin on the 70 km fence along the German-Danish border, recently agreed to prevent wild boar entering the country that might be carrying African swine fever, at the beginning of next year, following the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval.
FOLLOWING a donation in March, Denmark has contributed another 10 million kroner to the World Health Organization’s efforts to slow down the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is fighting to contain its tenth outbreak of the disease in recent times.
US AUTHORITIES have approved the 1 billion kroner sale of up to 50 Standard Missile 2s to the Danish Navy. The missiles will be used by three of the navy’s frigates and enable them to defend the whole country.
Iraq deployment
‘Our’ man in Washington?
THE DANISH government is sending 22 IT and communications specialists from the Armed Forces to Iraq to help build NATO’s communications infrastructure in the country. The specialists will initially be in Iraq for four months.
THE CLOCK is ticking towards Rufus Gifford’s bid to be elected to Congress in Massachusetts’ third district on September 4 and the media is revving its engines in anticipation – or at least the Danish press is. Gifford has nine opponents in his bid to get elected.
Child abuse target
Pipeline approval likely
THE GREENLANDIC government wants to eradicate child abuse, starting with children born in 2022. Its new policy outlines increased guidance and counselling for victims and their families, while the abusers will be offered more ways of getting help. A third of Greenlandic adults were abused as children.
THE ENERGISTYRELSEN Danish energy agency has confirmed it has received an application from the company behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to construct it in waters north of Bornholm. Its approval is expected to be a formality. A pipeline south of the island would have most likely been rejected.
US to sell missiles
Before long, you’ll belong Settling into a new country can be challenging – especially for the nonworking spouse. We know, from studies and from experience, that a successful posting depends on the happiness of the entire family – and our school is home to a very active, warm and welcoming community. Our PTA offers a wide range of opportunities: newcomers network, Spring Fair, Halloween, Yoga, Activities Fair, Wine and Cheese Evening, Dads’ Club and Ladies’ Night Out. Dedicated parents coach our sports teams, run our boy scouts and serve on the school Board. At CIS the whole family finds a place to grow roots and make friends. So to quote one of our parents: “I came for the job, but we stayed for the school.”
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THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
31 August - 13 September 2018
The artist beating a drum for fair trade in music DOUGLAS WHITBREAD
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Vallejo poses with n’goni player Harouna Samake while recording his album in Bamako, Mali
Earlier this year, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark joined Danish Refugee Council general secretary Christian Friis Bach (left), the former development minister, to greet some of Vallejo’s musicians at UN City, Copenhagen
Vallejo attending a concert for Makadem at Ørestad Gymnasium PAULO DA COSTA
An unlikely meeting WHILE continuing to promote and manage local bands, Vallejo began to exhibit her artwork
An inclusive worldview OVER THE following years, Vallejo grew her business to comprise a wide variety of international acts. Nevertheless, she argues that the success of her brand has been based on disavowing the typology of world music when promoting her performing artists. “I understand, completely, why they invented the term [world music] as they were missing a category to put music in that was not pop, rock or jazz,” contended Vallejo. “But it’s too wide; it’s too big, and somehow it gives a sense that it’s not at the same level as other forms of music.” Vallejo’s determination to change how foreign musicians were being treated won her Celebrate Africa’s ‘Best African Promoter in Denmark’ award in 2011. This, she attests, was given due to the concert invitations she extended to Denmark’s African-
Making it in Mali IN THE past, Vallejo has won awards for her production work on the albums of Guinean artist Sekou Kouyate and Makadem. Furthermore, her music label is set for a landmark year in 2018, with three of its acts – Harouna Samake (Mali), Yuliesky Gonzalez (Cuba) and John Mutombo (Congo) – releasing full-length records. Yet Vallejo’s daily work remains rooted in an immersive, hands-on approach, viewed in her recent decision to record with Samake in his home city of Bamako, Mali. “Though I planned to stay one week, I ended up staying there for two months to produce the full album,” Vallejo coolly remarked. “And luckily, I received support for this album from Statens Kunstfond [the Danish Arts Foundation].” “We worked on the album in his studio in Bamako on the rooftop of the home where he lives,” she continued. “I also later filmed and directed his music videos, took [album] photos and designed his stage clothes.” In 2012, Mali witnessed two violent uprising. Led by various hard-line groups, music was briefly outlawed in the north of the country. A peace accord was struck between the militias in 2015, and Vallejo stresses that her recent travel experience in Mali was entirely incident-free. However, like many musicians, Samake’s newly-released music considers the prevailing social status quo. “Harouna’s music is a mix of styles inspired by groovy jazz and blues,” explained Vallejo. “But the lyrics, sung in his native Bambara with some English and French, are about society, and he talks about issues like immigration, poverty and wealth, respect between men and women, and human rights.”
HASSE FERROLD
A creative education BORN IN Greece, Vallejo relocated to Denmark at the age of three. Spending her youth in Copenhagen, she chose to attend an art school in Barcelona during her 20s. Later returning to the Danish capital to study for a further degree in concept design and development, it was here Vallejo took her first earnest steps into the music industry. “I knew a jazz drummer called Jonas Johansen who was playing with the Danish Radio Big Band,” Vallejo recalled to CPH POST. “He asked me to book concerts for his trio with Steve Swallow and Hans Ulrik.” Subsequently organising tours across Denmark and Spain, her skills in organisation, promotion and art direction were increasingly sought by a range of different musicians. “Since I was interested in the whole thing, I would never just do the booking,” recounted Vallejo. “I would also help to do the album covers, take band photos – essentially handle their whole production.”
expat music fans and her insistence that international performers be properly financially rewarded. “Normally here, so-called ‘world music’ would be cheap – you might pay 50 kroner [for entry to a concert],” Vallejo remonstrated. “But I would put on concerts where the ticket price was 150 kroner because I wanted people to know that this music is really valuable, and funnily enough, we did have sold out venues.”
ALEXANDER BANCK-PETERSEN
HETHER it’s via the increasing airplay of Congolese urban funk or the wide popularity of Afrobeat EDM tracks, regional music created by artists living outside of Europe and USA is finally gaining mainstream recognition. However, their success is a fairly new phenomenon. Back in 1987, a group of British enthusiasts created the genre of ‘world music’ in an attempt to bring greater profits and recognition to performers from across Africa, Asia and South America, but experienced producer Carolina Vallejo contends that the catch-all term has served to limit the commercial viability of performing artists whose music it’s come to characterise.
around the world whilst expanding her production at her workshop and gallery, Aurum. And then a chance encounter with a little known Kenyan musician in 2008 reorientated her career to encompass an even more global focus. “I went to WOMEX [World Music Expo] in 2008 in Seville, Spain, and that’s where I met one of my most successful artists: Makadem,” she remembered. “I made friends with him and his sound engineer, and I was saying that I had never been to Kenya – or Africa for that matter – and he said: ‘Oh, we can make that happen’.” Establishing relations through Makadem with communities in Kenya, Vallejo was granted state support to create a substantial art piece using local methods and materials, which was later featured at the Karen Blixen Museum in Rungstedlund. “I went to the Masai Mara and worked with people there to develop the pieces,” she recalled fondly. “They are exact copies of the Danish crown jewels, but made with pearls and leather using local techniques.” It was here, while travelling in the country, that she met Makadem for a second time, latterly agreeing to manage and produce his music through her newlyformed production company.
CAROLINA VALLEJO
“It’s world-class music – not ‘world music’,” contends Copenhagen producer Carolina Vallejo of the mostly African and Latin American artists she represents
Vallejo with another of the musicians she manages: trumpet player Yuliesky Gonzalez
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31 August - 13 September 2018
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ONLINE THIS WEEK A BUXOM mermaid statue located on Kolding’s Slotssøen can look forward to being reunited with her missing head after a young man responded to an appeal by its sculptor Erik Valter to return it. Valter offered a bottle of Gammel Dansk, but the young man said that he didn’t drink and took one of his figurines instead.
Young addict fears DENMARK has the third highest number of users of internet-based casino games in Europe per capita, according to a Jyllands-Posten analysis of data supplied by H2 Gambling Capital. Numbers have soared by 106 percent over the last four years, and fears are growing that youngsters are developing addiction problems. Some 8 percent of the 12-17 age bracket are thought to be at risk.
Killed by tent peg STRONG winds uprooted a metal tent peg and sent it spiralling into the throat of a 61-year-old camper at the Thy Traef motorbike rally in Jutland on August 12, causing an injury that later led to his death in hospital.
Increase in helmet sales SWEDISH firm Hövding is selling half a million kroner’s worth of its inflatable bicycle helmets every month in Copenhagen. During the second quarter of 2018, it sold 17,000. The 2,000 kroner helmet inflates upon impact.
Make their own lunches CHILDREN should get more involved in making their packed lunches, concur experts, as it will make them more likely to finish them. According to the Arla Fund, only 12 percent help make them, and only 50 percent feel sufficiently fed.
Packed their trunks KNUTHENBORG Safaripark in Lolland could become the new home of three elephants owned by Cirkus Arena. New government legislation has ruled that elephants, sea lions and zebras can no longer be used by circuses as performing animals. Negotiations are ongoing.
Intolerant request or a fair shake? Prospective citizens must greet officials in a respectful Danish fashion, argue right-wing parties
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ANSK FOLKEPARTI and Konservative want to make it mandatory for people to shake hands with mayors of their respective municipalities during citizenship ceremonies. New rules introduced this year stipulate that new citizens must attend the ceremony, provide a signature to confirm that they will respect the founding values of Denmark, and be respectful to any representatives of government present. A hand and an arm too! AS FAR as Martin Henriksen, the DF spokesperson for immigration issues, is concerned, this means shaking their hand. “If you want to be a Danish citizen, you need to be prepared to greet politely and decently with other people,” he told Ekstra Bladet tabloid. “And in Denmark that means shaking hands. That’s just how it is.” Naser Khader, the Konservative spokesperson, didn’t think it would be an issue for new citizens, as most “would give their right arm”. An issue abroad too RECENTLY it emerged that a Muslim couple in Switzerland were denied citizenship after refusing to shake hands of people of the opposite gender during an interview pertaining to their citizenship process. And a recent case in Sweden, which involved an employer terminating a job interview with a Muslim woman because she refused to shake hands, ended up in court where a judge ordered the employer to pay the woman almost 30,000 kroner in damages.
Strict rules FOR THOSE with temporary refugee status, citizenship could be the only way of staying in the country, particularly as a newlydrafted nine-point program from the government and DF aims to send them home should it be deemed safe enough. The proposal has the support of Socialdemokratiet, which agrees that weight should not be placed on any attachment to Denmark built up by refugee children of any age for the first five years of their stay when it comes to deciding whether to revoke their residence permit – unless it would be contrary to the child’s interest or Denmark’s international obligations. The new proposals would also require a refugee to sign a declaration to the effect that they understand the protection offered by living in Denmark is temporary and that they have a duty to return to their homeland when conditions there change. Municipalities would also be relieved of the obligation to find permanent homes for refugees with temporary protection status. Incentives to leave THERE are also financial incentives. The amount payable to people being repatriated to several countries including Syria would be raised by 20,000 kroner to 156,543 kroner for refugees with temporary protection status if they are repatriated within three years and before they seek family reunification. On top of that, if a refugee with temporary protection status gives up his right to family reunification, 1,000 kroner per family member per month would be paid out – with a maximum of two persons per family. Working in eldercare THOSE who do integrate are
ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY
Reunited with head
31 August - 13 September 2018
Madsen on the move PETER Madsen will be allowed to leave Storstrøm Prison, where he was beaten up by an 18-yearold on August 8, once a room at Herstedvester Prison is available. Madsen was not seriously injured. Most of Herstedvester’s 150 inmates are undergoing some form of treatment. Madsen’s appeal against his life sentence is due to start on September 5 at the Østre Landsret eastern high court.
Male-dominated unis
One final test ahead
increasingly finding work in eldercare, as SOSU C, one of the country’s largest colleges training social and health service helpers, reports it is now educating more non-ethnic Danes than ethnic Danes in the field. This is backed up by the number of full-time employees hired in the sector between 2016 and 2017, when 1,050 with non-western backgrounds were taken on compared to 925 ethnic Danes, according to Momentum magazine. The figures show that 13 percent of the people employed in this sector are now non-ethnic Danes. Good cultural fit IN MANY immigrant cultures, looking after the elderly has a higher status than it does in Denmark. “In my culture, it is young people who look after the elderly until they die,” Naima Amrissani, a student from Morocco training to be a social and health service helper, told DR’s TV Avisen. “I said to myself: ‘Why should I not look after them when I can’?” (CPHPOST)
Caught on their hols
Funds for bridges
Gay men can donate
EARLIER in August, 155 people were apprehended at Copenhagen and Aalborg airports, charged with social security fraud, and fined up to 1 million kroner. The spot-checks were financed by 2.2 million kroner set aside in the last budget, and there will be 27 a year until 2021. The checks aim to catch benefit recipients going on holiday without permission and claimants who live abroad.
THE GOVERNMENT looks set to earmark 60 million kroner for the Kattegat connection, a link between Jutland and Zealand, in its 2019 budget. The link could include both road and rail, and the preliminary report will take two to three years. In related news, Aalborg Municipality has offered 600 million kroner to help the state finance another Limfjord Fjord link – about a tenth of the cost.
GAY MEN have been prohibited from donating blood for many years due to fears they might pass on HIV, but new rules will permit them to do so from sometime in 2019 if they have a partner. Single gay men can donate providing they haven’t had sex with a man within a quarantine period of four months. Since 2009, all donor blood has been screened for the likes of HIV and hepatitis B and C.
MORE WOMEN than men may attend Danish universities, but the upper reaches of academia are a male domain, where only two out of ten professors are female. The same is true of public sector leadership positions, of which only 30 percent are filled by women, compared to 38 percent in the private sector. In total, 70 percent of public sector employees are women.
Drone airspace fears DANISH airports are reporting more incidents of drones flying too close for comfort. So far this year, there have been seven registered cases – compared to four in 2015. Drones are prohibited within 5 km of their runways and 8 km of military airbase runways.
Scooter ban proposed A LOCAL politician in Aarhus is arguing that petrol-driven scooters are major polluters that ought to be banned outright from the city centre. Eva Borchorst Meinertz from Radikale claims they are seven times more polluting than regular cars.
Intolerant of infidelity SOME 41 percent of Danes aged 18-34 would leave their partners if they were cheated on, compared to 23 percent of Danes aged over 56, according to an Epinion survey. According to experts, middle-aged Danes are more understanding and have more to lose by splitting up.
Record visitor numbers THE FIRST half of 2018 set a new record for overnight stays. Some 9.8 of the 20.6 million nights were made by foreign visitors – a 4.5 percent rise.
31 August - 13 September 2018
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ONLINE THIS WEEK RECENT research carried out by the University of Copenhagen and the Zealand Research Hospital in Roskilde has revealed that the anti-bacterial properties of Danish honey are superior to those in the medicinal honey from New Zealand currently used by the health service, DR reports. The best honey tested was from Stenlille in mid-Zealand and was made from lime tree blossom.
More costal aid THE COAST is rundown and ragged in a number of areas and tens of thousands of houses are in danger of being flooded or simply slipping into the sea. As part of its forthcoming 2019 budget proposal, the government hopes to double funding to alleviate some of the pressure. Some 184.6 million kroner annually from 2019-2024 will help better secure the vulnerable coast.
Revamping the hospitals THE REGIONAL authority of the capital region, Region Hovedstaden, intends to set aside 7 billion kroner over the next decade to revamp some of the ageing hospitals in the Copenhagen area. A number of hospitals in the Copenhagen area were built back in the 1970s and are beginning to show their age – most notably Hvidovre, Herlev and Rigshospitalet.
Solar’s potential DESPITE record amounts of sunshine and record sales of solar panels this year, solar power only contributes around 2 percent of electricity to the Danish national grid. According to experts at the Technical University of Denmark, this could be increased to 70 percent. “We’re just not utilising the full potential of the sun’s rays,” they told DR.
More likely to drink CHILDREN are more likely to have an above-average alcohol consumption if their parents took higher education, according to a survey of 70,000 uppersecondary students carried out by the Sundhedsstyrelsen health board. Wealth is also a strong influence, partly because richer parents spend more on alcohol and tend to be less restrictive.
Handouts to fight off the Grim Reaper
ONLINE THIS WEEK IMB – LIDIA CHITIMIA-DOBLER
Danish honey superior
31 August - 13 September 2018
But how good will a cash incentive be at avoiding wolves, influenza, measles and monster ticks? BEN HAMILTON
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ROM MONSTER ticks and wolves, to measles and lethal influenza, the country has never been so hazardous, apparently. Heart of the matter THERE’S no disputing the biggest cause of premature death: heart disease. Some 16.8 percent of the population were overweight in 2017, compared to 5.5 percent in 1987, according to Idrættens Analyseinstitut. However, conversely perhaps, the proportion of the population who claim they exercise regularly has risen from 42 to 61 percent during the same time period, and most Danes have never been healthier or had longer life expectancies. Morten Grønbæk, the head of the Statens Institut for Folkesundhed health body, blames the huge polarisation in society between the well-off and the economically disadvantaged. Poor people in Denmark, he says, are more likely to smoke, be obese and have an inferior standard of living to Danes living in the 1980s. They are also more susceptible to embracing the Americanisation of Danish food culture.
Checking Lars for ticks ... sorry, checking the tick for Lars
tion present should they not be overweight at the time of the ceremony, the pair suggest. The scheme would cost 1 billion kroner a year and help young people who “need a loving push”. Bertel Haarder, the former Venstre minister, has been approached about fine-tuning the proposal, which also suggests repeating the incentive for the youngsters’ 18th and 25th birthdays should they be initially ineligible. Not only are Danes currently spending 100 million kroner a day on diabetes treatment, argues Lægaard, but there would be massive savings across the health system – from treating other weight-associated diseases to eliminating the need for extrasized operating tables and beds.
A loving push IN A BID to address the problem in Denmark, Venstre regional councillor Jørgen Winther and his partner Ulla Lægaard, a specialist doctor in child and adolescent psychiatry, have come up with an audacious proposal. Children should be given 22,000 kroner as a confirma-
Taking the vulnerable BUT IF heart disease doesn’t get you, maybe the monster tick, Hyalomma marginatum, will give you some Borrelia bacteria, which causes Lyme disease. Found in Germany recently, the tick is five times larger than ones normally found in Denmark – a positive as they can be hard to spot after a day in the wood. Or God forbid, it might be a wolf. To keep tabs on them, a new project at Aarhus University aims to more accurately monitor the wolves via a catch-
and-release program involving GPS trackers, which will run until March 2020. More likely it will be the flu. Around 1,600 mostly elderly people died during the last season, which might explain why the government has secured 100,000 new vaccines that will protect recipients from four strains. Those in the risk group can be vaccinated for free from October 1. Watch out for measles, though – particularly if you’re travelling abroad as there have been 41,000 cases reported across the EU (of which 23,000 are in Ukraine) – almost double the number in 2017. So far, there have been 37 fatalities. There could be something in the water – particularly if pesticides have been used close to an area used for drilling for drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency has called for a ban. And finally, never under-estimate the damage a head injury could inflict on your mental health. A study of 7 million Danes carried out by Psykiatrisk Center København concludes that a head injury that requires hospitalisation will make you twice as likely to commit suicide, and a skull fracture three times more.
More welly on the lines
Quids in for quinoa
Stands up to scrutiny
A NEW STUDY by the Technical University of Denmark has shown that there has been a significant increase in the numbers of large fish in the North Sea in recent years. The research revealed that the biomass of 25 species of large fish in the North Sea has doubled since 2000. In some cases, as with the cod, flounder and hake, the increase has even tripled and quadrupled.
WHILE thousands of farmers have struggled during the unseasonably hot summer, there are those who are benefiting. Some 19 farmers on Lolland and Falster who have recently started growing quinoa have reported the sturdy crop seems to be coping well – even during the drought-like conditions. In related news, hummingbird moths have also been thriving.
INITIATOR Pharma, the producer of an erectile dysfunction drug for people with diabetes, now has a stock market value of around 65 million kroner. Started in 2016 by researchers at Aarhus University, its product drug is an alternative to Viagra, which is not effective in 30-40 percent of cases involving diabetics. Previously the only other solution for diabetics was an injection into the penis.
Sequencing the sea A NEW THREE-YEAR project entitled ‘Coast sequencing – environmental DNA’ sponsored by the Velux Fund to the tune of 7.5 million kroner aims to map all maritime life swimming round the 8,000 km Danish coastline, reports Videnskab.dk. The project, which will start in October, aims to register everything from microscopic bacteria to whales.
Kings of ivory GREENLANDIC Vikings controlled 80 percent of the ivory trade in Europe in the period spanning the 12th to the 15th centuries, according to a DNA study carried out by Cambridge University that deduces most of it came from walruses and narwhales. It was the Nordboerne’s livelihood from the moment they started settling in Greenland at the end of the 10th century.
New cancer test A UNIVERSITY of Copenhagen study suggests a blood test could establish if somebody has cancer. Researchers used a malaria protein to extract all types of cancer cells from a blood sample, and the method has already proved to be successful at a London hospital, where it was used to assess 50 patients. More trials are scheduled and the test could be approved by 2020.
Emission concerns SOME 80 tonnes of fish died in Lake Filsø in Jutland in July after a sudden release of nitrogen emissions from neighbouring fields. Socialdemokratiet wants planned emission reductions in 2021 to be brought forward, and for the offending farmland not to be used in the meantime. The Environment and Food Ministry has said it needs more time to make a decision.
Too many mistakes FEWER errors are being made during tests to assess the energy effectiveness of homes, but it is not enough. In response to complaints from householders, estate agents and potential buyers, the Energistyrelsen energy agency is stepping in to improve a system responsible for mistakes in every fifth test. In 2016, errors were made in every third test.
NEWS
31 August - 13 September 2018
ONLINE THIS WEEK
CAROLINE Wozniacki is the second highest-earning female athlete in the world, according to a Forbes list (June 2017 to June 2018) dominated by tennis players, which is topped by Serena Williams. Wozniacki earned 13 million dollars – 6 million in prize money and 7 million in endorsements – but it was not enough to make the men’s top 100. And she will be looking to add to that at the ongoing US Open, although her participation was in doubt after she sustained a knee injury at the Cincinnati Open on August 15.
Danny would blush A NEW DANISH film, ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’, couldn’t be more different in tone than the Danny Kaye song. Its protagonist is a Polish woman tricked into a life of prostitution in the red light district of Vesterbro. In other film news, a Hollywood remake of Susanne Bier’s 2006 movie ‘After the Wedding’, which stars Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams, is now in post-production
Fancy a ‘Danish’ ‘THE GREAT British Bake Off’, the UK show that spawned the Danish series ‘Den store bagedyst’, will have a Danish theme week this year. The choice was made by Danish co-host Sandi Toksvig, who is best known for succeeding Stephen Fry as the host of ‘QI’.
New XR cinema MAKROPOL is opening the world’s first XR (VR, augmented reality and mixed reality) cinema in Copenhagen’s Kødbyen next year, providing it can raise 500,000 euros in funding. The 960-seat cinema will offer an immersive experience combining VR, film and live performance.
Second in Europe NIELS Jansen, the first ever transgender winner of Mr Gay Denmark, finished runner-up in Mr Gay Europe in Poland earlier this month. As part of the event, the 44-year-old took part in a Pride parade in Poznan, where competitors were subjected to threats by anti-LGBT protestors
When too much authenticity can be a bad thing BEN HAMILTON
S
OME 101 YEARS ago, the novelist Henrik Pontoppidan shared the Nobel Prize for Literature with a fellow Dane, Karl Gjellerup, for “his authentic descriptions of present-day life in Denmark”. And few can dispute the authenticity of the work of ‘Pelle Erobreren’ (‘Pelle the Conqueror’) director Bille August, still going strong approaching his 70th birthday in November, who on Thursday is releasing ‘Lykke-Per’, an adaptation of Pontoppidan’s 1898-1904 series of novels. It makes you wonder how Pontoppidan would portray present-day life today. For example, what would he think of a song broadcast on DR from Smukfest this month, which hinges on one line, repeated again and again: “All you motherfuckers keep staring at my dick, staring at my dick, staring at my dick”? Well, we know August despairs of Danish youth. He recently lamented they were obsessed with selfies, self-determination and the pursuit of self-esteem – so as long as their ‘art’ opens doors, they go with the flow like Smukfest darlings Ravi Kumar. August urges more restraint. “Those people [on social media]
ONLINE THIS WEEK HENRIK PONTOPPIDAN - LYKKE-PER
Woz second richest
Is ‘Lykke-Per’ staring ... he should be so lucky
Per is chancing his luck a little, you would say
who constantly feel the need to perform and feel they must compare themselves to others – they don’t get the time to reflect,” he told TV2 News. Patience is over-rated MICH VRAA is a novelist who isn’t going to waste his time on authenticity. He’s just released the third of his series of novels based in the Danish West Indies, but confesses he doesn’t research old archives to source his background material, as he’d rather do it all online. “I don’t have the patience,” he told DR ahead of the release of ‘Faith’, which is set on the island of St Thomas, which in 1918 (thanks internet!) was sold by
Denmark to the US. “You can find the most incredible things on the internet. And besides, the entire West Indies archive is digitalised. I’m good at looking at pictures and dreaming into this world. It would be a waste of my time to sit and review old papers.” If it’s pictures he likes, maybe Vraa should go along to the Golden Days event at Kunsthal Charlottenborg on September 22 (from 15:00) where the public will have the chance to view some of the vintage pornographic films recently uncovered by DR. They’re not digitalised yet, but that doesn’t have to stop him dreaming.
Burqa runway show
TV2 is buzzing
‘X Factor’ picks judges
A MUF10 runway show by Iranian-born Danish designer Reza Etamadi at Copenhagen Fashion Week on August 8 drew the attention of the international media (one suspects they were tipped off) by using models dressed in burqas and niqabs – a commentary on the recently introduced ‘Burqa Ban’ – as well as some dressed as police officers
THANKS primarily to its rights to broadcast the 2018 World Cup (shared with DR1) and the Tour de France, TV2’s main channel enjoyed a 40.7 percent market share between June 1 and August 5. The average Danish viewer spent 20 hours watching WC football on TV2 and DR1 – a collective 110 million hours and 32 percent of their total viewing over the two months.
FOLLOWING its switchover from DR1 to TV2, ‘X Factor’ has confirmed its judges for the 2019 series will be long-time servant Thomas Blachman, who has appeared on ten of the eleven seasons thus far, singer Oh Land, a judge previously on ‘The Voice Junior’, and music producer Ankerstjerne, who is best known for his work with Rasmus Seebach.
Girls at last
Hats off to Jonas
Big group effort
FOR THE first time in its 142-year-old history, Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, the oldest football club in Europe outside the UK, is starting a girls’ team. Meanwhile, in other football news, Serie A giant Juventus is lining up a 15 million kroner bid for FC Nordsjælland’s 18-year-old striker Nikolai Baden Frederiksen, reports Tipsbladet.dk.
DANISH video game ‘A Hat in Time’ has now sold over half a million copies worldwide. Released in October 2017, gamers take on the role of an astronaut acquiring fuel for their broken-down spacecraft. The director, designer, programmer and author of the game, Jonas Kærlev, was inspired by Super Mario Bros. His company now employs 20 people.
DANISH teams defied the odds in the first leg of the final Europa League qualification round, with both FC Copenhagen and FC Midtjylland earning fine away results. While FCK drew 0-0 at Serie A side Atalanta, FCM fought back from 0-2 down at Malmö FF. Brøndby, though, lost 2-5 at Belgian side Genk. The return legs are on Thursday, with the winners advancing to the group stage.
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Macca to his friends CONSPIRACY theorists maintain Paul McCartney died in 1966 two years after the Beatles (without Ringo, who was in hospital) played at KB Hallen in June 1964, their only concert in Denmark. But if it is him, he’s playing at Royal Arena on November 30. Tickets start at 650 kroner. Also returning to the capital are The Orb (DR Koncerthuset Studie 2; Dec 1; 240kr), Boy George and Culture Club (Forum Black Box; Dec 7; 495kr) and spectacular touring event ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ (Royal Arena; May 10-12; 270kr).
Bad timing at museum DESPITE making extensive cuts in recent years, Karen Blixen Museet has conceded it will probably need to close down in two years’ time. It no longer has any of the funds bequeathed in the author’s will, and governmental funding remains its final hope. The news comes at a time when interest is expected to soar due to a new miniseries being made about Blixen’s life by Susanne Bier.
People’s poet dies BENNY Andersen, poet of the people, died on August 16. He was 88 years old. Acclaimed for both his poetry and lyrics, Andersen was also an accomplished artist, pianist and writer of short stories. His best-known works, about a creature called Snøvsen, were aimed at children.
Denmark in top ten AN 18-MATCH undefeated run that culminated with a run to the last-16 of the World Cup has propelled Denmark to ninth in the FIFA World Rankings – their first top ten placing for 21 years. Denmark’s highest-ever ranking on the list was sixth – in 1993 and 1996.
Cyclists leave Astana DANISH cyclists Michael Valgren and Jesper Hansen are leaving Kazakh cycling team Astana at the end of the season. Valgren is joining South African outfit Team Dimension Data, and Hansen has signed for French team Cofodis.
10 BUSINESS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ONLINE THIS WEEK Whiskey galore beckons DIAGEO, the world’s largest spirits producer, is investing 100 million kroner into Stauning Whisky, a Danish micro-distillery that began with nine friends and a 15-litre saucepan. Part of the funds will be spent on a 5,000 sqm malt house complete with ovens, a bottling plant and 24 copper brew kettles.
31 August - 13 September 2018
Is God looking out for Carlsberg? Probably! The brewer cuts its ties with football, and the sport serves them a feast
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HE BEST World Cup of the century and the hottest summer – it’s no surprise to note that Carlsberg has adjusted its earnings expectations for 2018, which will probably end up going down as one of its best ever years. The news of its healthy interim figures, which revealed a turnover of 31 billion kroner and a profit of almost 3 billion kroner, saw its share price reach an all-time high, giving the company a stock market valuation of 120 billion kroner.
the brewery continues to struggle in the UK. Carlsberg revealed that the company grew by 4 percent globally over the first half of 2018 – a figure that could have doubled had it not been for a poor showing in the UK.
CIGARETTE sales at Netto have fallen by 5 percent following its decision to hide them behind checkout counters.
Strong in India THE POTENT result has been particularly buoyed by sterling success in the Asian market, where Carlsberg sold more beer – particularly more expensive varieties than before. India – where Carlsberg has 1,100 employees, eight breweries, a 17 percent market share, and an especially tailored elephant in its branding – is emerging as an important market and among its middle classes have embraced the Tuborg brand. But it wasn’t all good news, as
Maersk to trial new trail MAERSK also has the weather to thank for a potential new route through the Northeast Passage. Maersk Line has confirmed it intends to try it out when the 3,600-container Venta Maersk sails from Vladivostok to St Petersburg – thus reducing the normal journey time by 40 percent. But financially it has not fared as well as Carlsberg, although analysts agreed it could have been worse. It recently declared Q2 revenue of 9.5 billion kroner and an operating profit of 900 million, and it has accordingly lowered its 2018 expectations by around 500 million. Vestas is also lowering its expectations by the same amount, but overall the market is optimistic that a massive increase in its order book bodes well for the future. Earlier this month, it enjoyed a 9 percent surge in its share price – its largest for two years.
The graduate getaway
Too good to be wasted?
Hiring challenges abate
Let 2019 be better RECENT rainfall has enabled farmers to start preparing for next year. While most of 2018 has been written off, with total losses approaching 6.4 billion kroner, there had been fears the drought would have a knock-on effect on 2019 had it continued much longer.
Even more owed in taxes DANISH citizens and companies operating in the public sector now owe 111.8 billion kroner to the SKAT tax authority – a more than 10 percent rise on last year.
Netto selling fewer fags
ONLINE THIS WEEK
Exceeding expectations is hearing aid equipment manufacturer William Demant Holding. An interim pre-tax profit of 1.154 billion kroner for the first six months of 2018 represented an improvement of around 150 million on last year. Significant lay-offs ELSEWHERE, three Danish companies have announced significant redundancies, although not all of the job losses will take place at home. Multinational company Intel Group intends to close its office in Aalborg at the expense of 200 jobs by the end of the year. Most of the employees are engineers or work in IT. Jewellery company Pandora, which has lost a third of its stock market value this year, is laying off 397 employees. However, just 15 people will lose their jobs in Denmark, with 218 of the redundancies taking place in Thailand. Tech company Haldor Topsøe is cutting around 200 employees – mainly due to the US sanctions against Iran and the threat to stop doing business with anyone who trades with the Middle Eastern country. It is unclear whether any of them will be Danes.
Bad hair day on the way
Passenger explosion COPENHAGEN Airport had its busiest ever July with a total of 3,147,711 passengers – a 4.5 percent increase on July 2017. Spain was the most popular destination, followed by the UK. Meanwhile, SAS has confirmed record passenger numbers of 2.6 million for July – a 2 percent rise on last year.
Lawsuits against Brits SKAT FILED 71 lawsuits at the High Court in London in late July in a bid to recover some of the 12 billion kroner defrauded from the tax authority in reimbursements, reports judicial news site Law 360.
Pellet feeding frenzy THE 2.5 MILLION tonnes of wood pellets annually imported by Denmark corresponds to the production of a forest area of around one million hectares, a report by Hededanmark for Ingeniøren reveals.
Top badass startup CLOUD-BASED tech company Tradeshift has topped Valuer’s list of the top 25 companies on ‘Denmark’s Badass Startup Scene’.
The dark art of hacking PIXABAY
PXHERE
PIXABAY
TOO GOOD TO GO
PIXABAY
Pin in map: anywhere but here
No looking like a cheapskate
Writing’s on the wall, almost
No nits, but the odd nick
Masks are obligatory
THERE is no doubt that international students are a good piece of business for Denmark – but only when they stay in the country and work after graduation. But a new survey has revealed that about 42 percent of English-language students leave Denmark within two years of graduation from a Danish university and only about a third have a job in Denmark at that time. The Education Ministry contends Denmark can’t afford to pay for the education of other countries’ students. (CW)
THE ‘TOO Good To Go’ Copenhagen-based food sharing app allows consumers to buy food from restaurants, cafes and shops at a discounted rate at the end of the day. Now in eight European countries and looking to expand into more, one of its founders, Klaus Pedersen, spoke to CPH POST about how his motivation to make a difference started whilst working at a restaurant. “I often asked if I could take home food, but they thought we might hide good food for ourselves,” he recalled. (TW)
ACCORDING to a survey conducted by industry confederation, Dansk Industri (DI), 60 percent of Danish companies needing new staff find it challenging to find them locally. The survey, which included responses from 465 companies in Denmark, showed that the issue was particularly problematic with companies employing in excess of 100 people. In particular, the high minimum salary impacts recently graduated foreign talent and DI wants it lowered to 325,000 kroner. (CW)
NEXT TIME you’re at the barber contemplating a short back and sides or a Number 1, you should consider asking to see their barber’s diploma. According to figures released by statistics keeper Danmarks Statistik, more than every fourth hairdresser or barber has no formal training, DR reports. At present, out of the 12,353 people working in the hairdressing field in Denmark some 3,300 are untrained or are undergoing training – an increase of 28 percent since 2012. (SG)
THE TECHNICAL University of Denmark has opened a new lab so that students can learn the dark art of hacking. However, it is all in the cause of improving cyber security. To mount an effective defence against cybercrime you have to think like a hacker, the university says. “Hackers often think obliquely and a bit out of the box when it comes to finding holes in security systems,” said associate professor Christian Damgaard Jensen, who is responsible for the new course. (SG)
READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK
BUSINESS OPINION
31 August - 13 September 2018
CARLOS MONTEIRO GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE Carlos (cm@biassa.com), a Brazilian resident of Odense, started his business from a blog known as denmarkbrazil.com. It later became Biassa, a business development company, which under the motto ‘Bringing forth results, not reports’ is focused on supporting Nordic businesses that want to tap into and thrive in the Brazilian market
Getting proactive IT ALL began when I started sharing content from my blog on LinkedIn, and a few companies approached me to ask how much I knew about the Brazilian business environment. It was then that I realised I could start ‘selling’ my consulting services – a much better option than waiting for the ‘perfect job’ to appear. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been interesting, as I enjoy talking to all sorts of people from all walks of life. They energise me, give me a different perspective and at times help me with my blind spots. Getting practical I GET CONTACTED by many
STEEN VIVE UNION VIEWS Steen is senior advisor at Djøf, the Danish Association of Lawyers and Economists. He is a blogger and manager of various projects aimed at generating jobs in the private sector. In this column he writes about trends and tendencies in the labour market. Follow him on Twitter @SteenVive NEXT ISSUE
Google yourself RECRUITERS google your name. In fact, a recent JobHunt.org survey found that 40.6 percent of recruiters look through the entire first page of Google results when researching candidates. Of course, you need to google yourself. Does the search deliver the results you want? If not, you’d better revisit your accounts. SoMe platforms are Google’s best friend and appear at the top of the search results. Fortunately, on these platforms you describe yourself in your own words, which you can edit as much as you like.
Getting pragmatic MAYBE I’m being too pragmatic or even conservative, but I’m not sure having a master’s degree means a whole lot nowadays. Cleaning up CONSIDER these pointers for the major platforms: Instagram – are all your photos appropriate for the eyes of a future boss? If not, delete them. Twitter – do you remember all your tweets? If not, doublecheck your content and make sure it shows you in a good light. Clean up your account and write a serious bio. Facebook – this SoMe platform is where you’ve probably been the most active. The rule of thumb is simple: keep it clean or keep it private. LinkedIn – your online resumé is key. Have you updated the details of your experience? And your profile picture, headline, summary and skills? Get smart ACROSS platforms, retweets and comments (including private ones) are searchable.
IN 2 ISSUES
Torn between work and his LinkedIn account
We live in a glorious era in which middlemen are vanishing across the globe. For example, have you seen the number of CPG brands that are heading directly to the consumer? Soon we will no longer have a need for headhunters. This year alone, I’ve received three job offers – in Denmark from Danish companies; no middlemen!
Forget perfect WE LIVE in an age in which we can all be visible. And more importantly, we can be heard. Remember: the internet is indeed a miracle, but the only way to explore and take advantage of it is by taking action. So, are you prepared to roll up your sleeves, get practical and start to work, or are you just going to carry on waiting for the ‘perfect job’ to turn up? PIXABAY
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RE YOU job hunting? Have you checked your digital footprint? Social media (SoMe) platforms are here to stay – so are you making the most of them?
foreign students who are either looking for advice or a job. Invariably they’ve just finished their master’s and have spent their time doing a few voluntary jobs and unpaid internships. I tell them to get practical – to ask themselves: What are you good at? What would you like to accomplish? What is your dream? And then I ask them whether they have a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn can be crucial, from sharing short-form posts to articles. Many users, for example, are unaware it has a whole section where you can share slides. Starting a blog is a good option. That way, when you share content you’ll direct people back there so they can develop a better idea about you.
PIXABAY
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HEN I STARTED my company Biassa three years ago, like many foreigners who settle in Denmark, I was struggling to find my feet here.
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Keep your social media persona in your backpocket
Consider what you write and understand the privacy settings on your various SoMe accounts. Once you’ve updated your profiles, have a friend look through them – ideally, one who will give you honest feedback. Then consider whether there are companies and individuals you want to follow on their
SoMe accounts. Doing so will give you insights and information about the company. If you decide to follow other accounts, be sure to set your preferences to show that you’ve done this. If you’re lucky, the targets will return the favour, and you can start a dialogue before you’ve even applied for a job.
IN 3 ISSUES
IN 4 ISSUES
Startup Community
Danish Capital in 2016
Mind over Managing
Living in an Expat World
Economics Explained
All of your Business
21st Century Alchemy
The Valley of Life
12 OPINION
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
31 August - 13 September 2018
The bait’s on the hook
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A softer line on foreigners ON THE other hand we have Radikale. They are the only old party demanding a policy with a more lenient attitude towards foreigners. Exactly how lenient we don’t know, but already people are joining the party as new members – especially if they have experienced the bureaucratic and hostile procedures for obtaining residence and work permits for spouses. Also, the citizenship test that has to be passed has reached such a level of complexity that an increasing number of Danes are unable to pass it. Radikale leader Morten Østergaard has demanded a written guarantee of more leniency towards foreigners from Socialdemokratiet leader Mette Frederiksen. As you cannot take a broken political promise to court it is a provocation – and of course has been rejected. But it remains to be seen if Radikale would bring down a red government as any tightening-up, if it only pertains to Muslims shaking hands or not, will probably have a broad majority behind it.
Desperation setting in THE RED parties are beginning to sound desperate – and with good reason. Alternativet leader Uffe Elbæk, who surprised everybody at the last election, has put himself forward as a candidate to become PM. So has Pernille Skipper from the left-wing Enhedslisten party, but she will support Mette Frederiksen as an alternative. Even Socialistisk Folkeparti has an ultimatum. The maximum social support level, kontanthjælpen, must be removed or else! The blue parties have started a goodwill campaign – 400 million kroner to disadvantaged children to mention one initiative from last week. The polls are now predicting a tie, but that is good news for the PM, who will start the budget negotiations from the high ground and with money in the coffers. Liberal Alliance and Konservative dare not go their own way this time. Once again, everything depends on Dansk Folkeparti. Left or right? Who is offering the best bait? For that, read seats in government. The migrant headache WHEN WE turn the page we have to bear in mind that we will also soon elect members to the European Parliament, and this time with an extra member for Denmark following Brexit. With the financial crises behind us and even Greece back in business, the coming years will present us with a colossal task in establishing a migrant policy to deal with the inflow of desperate people from Africa. Hopefully, many of the Syrians can return home, but with Bashar al-Assad at the helm, many will prefer to stay in Europe. The EU leaders will be very busy. If they don’t find tempting bait for their hooks that attracts the electorate, like Sisyphus, they will have to roll the stone up the hill again. (ES)
Mishra’s Mishmash As a regular contributor to the Times of India, the country’s largest newspaper, Mishra is often soughtafter by Danish media and academia to provide expertise on Asian-related matters, human rights issues and democratisation. He has spent half his life in India and the other half in Denmark and Sweden. VTTN
LECTION alarms are ringing as we are getting closer to the opening of Parliament on the first Tuesday of October. Whether the PM will take this opportunity to specify the date of the general election remains to be seen – he still has until next spring – but the political world is acting as if it could be anytime soon. The late summer has seen MPs gathering and issuing claims and promises. The major issue is still austerity on the immigration front. According to the polls, the new girl in class, Pernille Vermund from the Nye Borgerlige extreme right party, will end up with four to eight seats. She demands a categorical end to asylum as one of her conditions to support any government. That cannot be, so she is out of the equation – or what?
MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA
Will ‘Clean Chennai’ dislodge ‘Contaminated Copenhagen’ as one of the most liveable cities in the world?
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HENNAI is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and its government has recently announced that it will ban single-use plastics from 1 January 2019. Challenge concerns us all JUST LAST week I returned from a trip to Tamil Nadu with a group of journalists from Denmark, Sweden and Finland. And the Danish delegation members were especially impressed by the announcement of the law, which in their words brought Tamil Nadu a leap ahead of Denmark. Denmark ought to be ahead and set an example, but Copenhagen can learn a bit from Chennai, said a few of the Danish delegation members, looking surprised to read about the ban in the newspaper while we toured several cities in the state. Nordic countries, of course, have experienced an unprecedented level of heatwaves and forest fires this summer, forcing people to think of even more new alternative and eco-friendly ways of living. It was clear on the trip that there is a growing realisation that the challenge concerns us all. Problems of plastic AS FAR as the government of
Tamil Nadu is concerned it is impossible to get rid of the plastic once it is out there in the market, so the best policy is to ban it. Plastic wastage in India is responsible for impeding the water flow, thereby causing stagnation in the sewage system. It prevents the percolation of rainwater into the soil and causes flooding in the drainage system, resulting in the breeding of dengue and malaria-causing mosquitoes. Plastics are also blamed for causing flooding in streets, and it has begun to affect the quality of the soil as well. Cattle feed swept up together with plastic waste on the roadside remains uncollected, and when people burn the plastics lying on the roads, it causes air pollution. The ban includes the production, sale, storage and usage of items such as plastic cups, plastic paper, plastic straws and plastic bags, which are often used when you buy takeaway food for lunch or dinner. Size is irrelevant in the sense that even micro-size plastic bags are to be banned, eliminating all possible use of plastic. Think outside the box AS A RESULT of this stringent law, the hotel and restaurant sec-
tor has taken the initiative to motivate people to use alternatives to plastic bags. Last week, while we were in the state of Tamil Nadu, the Hotels Association announced that customers could get a 5 percent discount on the bill if they brought their own utensils and doggy bags. Those who have seen the award-winning film ‘The Lunchbox’ from 2013, which was shot in India, know of the extent to which tiffin boxes (solid lunch boxes) can be used, washed and reused. And now Indians are reverting to their traditional way of eating food, with limited cutlery or crockery, in order to tackle climate change. Election initiative needed SO AHEAD of the Swedish elections in a couple of weeks, and the Danish ones next year, who will have the courage to propose a plastic ban like the one in India? Earlier this month, Copenhagen was listed as one of the most liveable cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit, so surely it won’t want to be outshone on eco-friendly measures by the likes of Tamil Nadu? This time next year, it might end up losing its place to Chennai.
OPINION
31 August - 13 September 2018
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NEXT ISSUE
JESSICA ALEXANDER
The Road Less Taken Jessica is a bestselling US author, Danish parenting expert, columnist, speaker, and cultural researcher. Her work has been featured in TIME, Huffington Post, The Atlantic and The NY Times, among others. She graduated with a BS in psychology and speaks four languages. She currently lives in Italy with her Danish husband and two children.
Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE
Early Rejser ADAM WELLS
PIXABAY
IN 2 ISSUES
Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU
A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN IN 3 ISSUES
Mackindergarten ADRIAN MACKINDER Fluid play: he laughed at Daddy’s toy car collection and then he played Mario Kart
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RECENTLY contributed to the LEGO Play Well Report, a study of 13,000 people in nine countries, which found that families who play for five or more hours together a week were happier than those who played for less. I concur that Denmark’s belief in the importance of play is one of the main reasons why it has been voted among the happiest countries in the world for over 40 years in a row. Seamless, shared, savvy WHAT I found most interesting about the report was a new kind of play that could change the way we view technology. ‘Fluid play’ consists of overlapping experiences that bring the real world, imaginary play and digital experiences together as one. Essentially, it is the child’s ability to move between the digital play space and physical play spaces seamlessly. The report reveals that the increasing integration of digital layers doesn’t come at the expense of more traditional shared play as many have feared. In fact, learning skills like problem solving, creativity, communication and collaboration are still at play
in digital spaces – we just need to be a bit more aware of what is happening in these worlds. Since more than half of the children in the report still prefer playing with their parents, the takeaway is: let’s be informed, not afraid of fluid play. Turn on, tune in “KIDS TODAY see the digital and real worlds as part of one interconnected play space,” contends Dr Elena Hoicka, a senior psychology in education lecturer at the University of Bristol. “To make the most of their time playing together, parents need to adopt this fluid mindset too.” The fear that most parents experience is often driven by their lack of experience in the digital world and their inability to join in with children when they are using technology in play. Be a part, not apart MOST OF us didn’t grow up with digital play. Therefore, we often worry that technology makes play a passive experience for our kids. We think it stifles creativity and imagination and isolates them from families and friends. While these may be
legitimate concerns, to a child the digital space is seen as just another play space. Parents need to understand the different types of play that are out there and learn how to trigger more fluid play together. Playing online games together and using the many apps designed to help parents and children engage in fluid play is a good start. These are examples of how, as parents, we can be a part of their digital lives, not apart from them. Strike with app-titude SO, THE next time you see your child playing on a device and your first reaction is to feel concerned, sit down and get interested. Observe what they like and see if you can suggest some games or apps you can be a part of too. Just because these aren’t things we are familiar with doesn’t mean we can’t learn. Remember – the happiness benefits for families playing together are still there, whether it’s online or offline. Follow the advice of play advocate Cliff Jones, a lecturer at the University of Sussex: “Don’t say ‘No’; just say ‘Know’.”
Straight, No Chaser STEPHEN GADD IN 4 ISSUES
An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS
Living Faith REVD SMITHA PRASADAM
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14 COMMUNITY
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ABOUT TOWN
31 August - 13 September 2018
PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD
Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said was the proud host of a celebration of his country’s national day at his residence in Charlottenlund on August 17 – the 73rd anniversary of the country’s independence. Among his guests were Russian ambassador Mikhail Vanin
PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen was among a great many dignitaries taking part in the Pride Parade this year. The August 18 event attracted a crowd of 40,000 – a 60 percent increase on last year. Pictured with him are Eva Kjer Hansen (eft), the minister for equality, fisheries and Nordic co-operation, and former minister Karen Ellemann (right)
Actress Vivienne McKee (eft) was among Indian ambassador Ajit Gupte’s guests at his country’s national day celebration on August 15 at his residence in Hellerup. The occasion included dance performances and food
Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi (centre) was among the guests at the Danish African Society’s summer festival at Asia House on August 24 where she mingled with other dignitaries, including the society’s chairperson Carsten Dencker (not pictured)
US ambassador Carla Sands and her deputy Laura Lochman were among the guests at the opening night of the New York City Ballet’s appearance at Tivoli on August 15
Georgian ambassador Gigi Gigiadze was the proud host of a reception on August 10 at his embassy to mark the birthday of famous Georgian composer Giya Kancheli
31 August - 13 September 2018
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15
The South Korean National Day celebration at the residence of ambassador Jai-chul Choi in Charlottenlund included a cooking demo. Among those in attendance were (left-right) US ambassador Carla Sands, Danish Trade Council head Susanne Hyldelund, Jai-chul and Chinese ambassador Deng Ying
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted by the queen on August 28 at the start of their two-day official state visit, which included a state banquet that evening followed by an appearance at a French-Danish Business Forum at Industriens Hus on August 29
Prince Joachim was the guest of honour at the national finals of the Creative Business Cup startup event at Børsen, the old stock exchange building, which also hosted the Stay Conference and a Chinese design exhibition. Also present was Chinese ambassador Deng Ying (left)
Princess Marie was the guest of honour at the opening event of the Copenhagen Cooking food festival at Industriens Hus on August 23. The festival, which continues until September 2, attracts 80,000 to more than 100 events over 10 days. Its epicentre is at Israels Plads in the city centre
Not to be outdone by other festivals across the country, Copenhagen Zoo had its own sand sculpture event this year. Scientific director Bengt Holst was at hand to ensure no sculptures were too genetically similar
Kiin-Kiin, which remains the only Thai restaurant outside Thailand with a Michelin star, was among the participants in a street food festival at the City Lakes from August 10-12
16 COMMUNITY
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
OUT AND ABOUT
ALL PHOTOS:EIMIS EIMUTIS
L
ITHUANIA isn’t particularly well known for its football – basketball maybe, and for giving Charles Bronson and Hannibal Lecter to America of course – but try telling that to LG United,
31 August - 13 September 2018
tournament has really found its feet under the direction of organisers Jon Treacher (right: left) and Chris Pilbeam, and once again 12 teams showed up, representing organisations (the UN had a team), pubs
(including The Globe and The Dubliner) and the various nationalities who make up Celtic, a club based in Valby that operates three 11-a-side teams and five sevens outfits, encompassing an age range
that includes several players in their 60s. In the end, LG were too strong for ‘Denmark’ in the final, with Tomas Butkus and Eimis Eimutis in imperious form for the victors. BEN HAMILTON
co-founder Russell Collins (left: left) proudly looking on. The finale to a year’s work that started in August 2017 was a special one for Collins as it marked the end of the school’s tenth anniversary year, and for
the drama on stage that day he chose to merge some of the theatre’s best loved performances. The result was ‘Alice in SceneKunst Land’, a play that climaxed with the gangsters from ‘Guys and Dolls’ playing
dice with Dracula under the watchful eye of Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts. The students of the school congregate weekly to study singing, dancing and acting (one hour weekly) at locations spread
across the region, including Hellerup, Lyngby and Roskilde. SceneKunst is holding another free trial day on September 1 – visit scenekunstskoler.dk to find out more. DAVE SMITH
PHOTOS: SCENEKUNST
an all-star squad from the Baltic state who swept aside the opposition to win this year’s Copenhagen Celtic Summer Party at the Kløvermarken playing fields on August 4. Now in its 15th year, the
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HERE’S NO doubting the team effort at SceneKunst’s end-of-year performances at MusikTeatret Albertslund in June where the theatre school’s teachers were handed bouquets by the grateful students with
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Copenhagen World Music Festival is back with a stellar line-up of world music at locations all over the city (Sep 5-9; multiple locations; tickets available from locations; cphworld.dk)
Copenhagen English Comedy Night is back for another season. Compere Adrian Mackinder’s September line-up includes Irish stand-up Eleanor Tiernan, who is in fact Tommy Tiernan’s cousin, and Canadian comic Chris Betts (Sep 6, 20:00; Dubliner Downtown, Ny Østergade 14, Cph K; 110kr)
Several of the directors whose works are being shown at the Syrian Documentary Film Days will be appearing to give an introduction and take part in a Q&A (Sep 7-8; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; dfi.dk)
Writer and radio broadcaster Claudia Hammond is speaking (in English) about the psychological downside of money as part of Golden Days (Sep 6, 17:00-18:00; Medical Museion, Bredgade 62, Cph K)
The retro markets are coming! Retroguld specialises in recycled goods, while Hello Vintage’s goods cost 200 kroner a kilo (Sep 1-2, 10:00-16:00; Øksnehallen, Halmtorvet 11, Cph V; 40kr; retroguld.dk, hellovintage.dk)
EVENT PHOTO
Join the audience in an episode of ‘BBC World Questions’, the BBC World Service debate program that is being recorded in Copenhagen. Guests include MPs Martin Henriksen and Pernille Skipper and the host is Jonathan Dimbleby (Sep 4; National Museum, Ny Vestergade 10, Cph K; britishcouncil.org.dk)
More than 4,000 entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders are gathering for TechBBQ, the largest tech-startup summit in Scandinavia. Take part in workshops, roundtables and other networking activities. Keynote speakers include new minister Tommy Ahlers (Sep 24-25; Øksnehallen, Cph V)
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COMING UP SOON
This Food Crawl (which visits Bistro Royal, Bazaar and Madklubben) will break the boundaries of a classic dining experience. Jump from restaurant to restaurant and out of the box! (Sep 2, from 17:30; Cph K; 225kr)
Often referred to as Denmark’s ‘most hyggelig event’, the Copenhagen Songwriters Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary (Aug 29-Sep 2; Onkel Dannys Plads, Cph V; csf.dk) DAVE SMITH
HISTORY
31 August - 13 September 2018
17
Denmark’s world heavyweight champ – but not the sport you might imagine
CPH POST
B
RIAN NIELSEN, Mikkel Kessler, the Bredahl brothers, no so much the Nielsen brothers – Denmark has had its fair share of high-profile boxers, but few can dispute that its first star of the ring, Magnus Bech-Olsen, was probably its finest ever fighter. When the former stonemason triumphed in a title fight in Copenhagen in 1897, Denmark had its first and only, despite the aforementioned Nielsen’s best efforts, world heavyweight champion. But the sport wasn’t boxing, it was wrestling. Copenhagen clobberer BORN IN Copenhagen in 1866, Bech-Olsen came to prominence in the 1890s when boxing was still in its infancy and playing second fiddle to wrestling. After all, ‘the’ Marquess of Queensberry (18441900) was a contemporary of Oscar Wilde who the playwright and author unsuccessfully sued for libel after he called him a Sodomite. Bearing little similarity to the kind of sanitised wrestling we see today, the phrase ‘no holds barred’ meant exactly that in the sport during the latter half of the 19th century. In order to win a fight a wrestler had to force both the shoulders of his opponent to the floor. Often little more than street fighting, unlicensed
public wrestling had been outlawed in Copenhagen some years previously after one combatant seriously injured his opponent with an illegal head-butt. Among the many colourful characters fighting during the 1890s was a Copenhagen baker, Søren ‘Iron Man’ Saft. The bulky Saft was a journeyman who travelled with his entourage through provincial towns and villages, challenging local tough guys to do battle. Despite offering a princely sum to anyone who could beat him, reputation has it that Saft never lost a fight. However, it was Bech-Olsen who caught the imagination of the public. Last orders for the Turk THE FIGHT that made BechOlsen’s name was a high-profile match in 1896 against an unbeaten Turkish fighter, Memisch Effendi, who was the favoured champion of the Sultan of Constantinople. The highly-publicised fight look place at the old St Thomas public auditorium on Frederiksberg Alle, and the hype surrounding the contest would rival that created by today’s boxing promoters. On the afternoon of the event the queue for tickets stretched well down Vesterbrogade towards the city centre. At the time, a sports reporter wrote an article describing the event (see text box). Wrestling in those days was lucrative, and with the proceeds of his wins Bech-Olsen, in true sportsman’s tradition, bought a pub, the since closed Cafe Bræddehytten on Helgolandsgade. His continued popularity en-
DANISH FILM INSTITUTE
Moustache grabbing was strictly prohibited, but tolerated in the weigh-in
MUSEUM OF COPENHAGEN
Long before the likes of Nielsen and Kessler laid claim to being Denmark’s greatest ever fighter, a ringmaster of many talents held sway
sured that customers flocked to be served beer by the vanquisher of the ‘Terrible Turk’. Greeks bearing gifts ALTHOUGH he could have happily retired for the rest of his days, Bech-Olsen’s greatest day was yet to come. On 26 August 1897, Bech-Olsen met the Greek world champion Antonio Pierri in front of a massive crowd at the Ordrup cycling track. Although Pierri was a strong favourite to win the match, his Danish challenger upset the odds with a win that was, if anything, a little easier than his bout against Effendi. In true wrestling tradition Bech-Olsen offered his defeated opponent a rematch, which took place the following weekend. Again the crowds flocked to the stadium, but the Greek wrestler fared little better. To the adulation of the crowd, the defeated champion handed over his coveted belt to the victor. Denmark had a new world champion. New kind of ringmaster MORE TITLE defences and a tour to the USA followed, before Bech-Olsen eventually retired in 1903, but five years later he was back in the limelight, or spotlight if you like, as the owner of his own circus. For nearly a decade until 1919, he made Åboulevarden in Frederiksberg his home at a venue that could pack in 2,000 spectators a night. The circus was still going strong when Bech-Olsen died in 1932, but two years was all his son Manne needed to run the operation into the ground.
If his face looks familiar, you might have seen it on a matchbox
THE COMMENTARY “AS FOUR o’clock approached and both fighters took to the stage, Bech-Olsen appeared a lot more nervous than usual, and through the public announcer he asked his fans for a favour: they were to cheer his Turkish opponent just as much as he himself was to be applauded. After this elegant introduction, the fight commenced. Right from the start Bech-Olsen let his Turkish adversary make the running, with the Dane hoping to tire out his opponent with his side-stepping tactics. Later the fighters changed roles, but the first 30 minutes of action still gave no conclusive result. After a ten-minute break the fighters set about each other again with unbelievable energy. A sigh went through the assembled crowd as the Turk almost succeeded in pushing one of BechOlsen’s shoulders to the floor. The home fighter, however, with an amazing show of agility, managed to wrench himself up from the floor and switch positions. Slowly, centimetre by centimetre, Bech-Olsen forced both the Turk’s shoulders onto the ground. The fight was over. For the first time in his life, the Sultan’s Champion was forced to bite the dust.”
18 FOOD & DRINK Time to stop asking: Dude, where’s my favourite bar? THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
31 August - 13 September 2018
ALL PHOTOS: TESS WESTBROOK
DUDES
Vesterbrogade 55A, Cph V; open Mon-Thu 15:00-00:00, Fri 15:00-02:00, Sat 12:00-02:00, Sun 12:00-00:00; special offer: 30 percent off weekend beer & pizza before 16:00; dudes.bar TESS WESTBROOK
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ANY PLACES in Copenhagen do good pizza. And many places in Copenhagen do good beer. Dudes, which opened six month ago in the heart of Vesterbro, set out to offer both. Prime location OUR FIRST impression is that Dudes has it all worked out. The exterior is clean and modern, with huge, open windows overlooking outdoor seating in Vesterbro Torv. A second outdoor area in the centre of the square offers a vantage point to watch people walking to and from the Meatpacking District. But with Dudes now sneaking onto the radar, people might begin stopping here instead of Mother (pizza) or Warpigs (beer). And I would recommend you do so. International and local THE FIRST thing that stands out is the staff. Huge smiles and a warm welcome greet us, before they jump right in with helping us pick out a pint from the impressive 24 beers on tap they offer. Despite the international feel of the bar, all of them are from Danish breweries and they rotate every week – it’s clearly important to Dudes to work hard to promote local brews and interesting new pints. The staff ’s diversity really stands out when a Spanishspeaking family arrives for lunch. Sebastian the bar supervisor was able to guide them through the menu in Spanish so they could order comfortably and enjoy the meal. It was a little touch that made all the difference. Meanwhile, Mick, one of the bar’s three co-owners, has a warmth that radiates through the establishment, and his passion is clearly visible in the food and drinks that it serves. Through his experience working alongside breweries, as well as at several city bars, he learned that if you use quality ingredients, you’ll attract customers, whether
it’s families, after-work crowds, tourists or locals. Delicious dips WITH OUR beers chosen – one citrus IPA from Brus and one pilsner from Hancock – our attention turns to what wood-fired pizza we’re going to choose. Having only six options does not make the choice easier. With many of the ingredients shipped in from Italy and the crust made using beer – plus the chefs being the crème de la crème of pizza chefs – the temptation to have one of each is huge. The options range from classics like prosciutto and arugula to unique creations such as the pickled apple with smoked cheese and pork. Don’t, whatever you do, miss out on the dips accompanying the pizzas. As far as Dudes is concerned, the base is as important as the topping, and it offers four custom-made dips to accompany your crust. We had two: the truffle, and the thyme and balsamic. I was held back from licking out the containers at the end, they were that good. Meanwhile, the pizzas were uncomplicated and delicious. What Mick said EVER INTERESTED in promoting their local produce, Dudes have begun rolling out
a ‘Tap Takeover’, which allows a different brewery to come in and take over all 24 taps with their brews. This has proved a huge hit, meaning people can interact directly with a brewery in the comfort of Dudes. This place is not fussy. You order at the bar and pick up your food when it is ready. Most major sports games are shown inside on one of the big screens, and there is live music two nights a week. Rock star memorabilia serves as decoration. As Mick says, why have fussy when you can have a small menu and do it really well? I wholeheartedly agree.
19 Worth knocking down walls for FOOD AND DRINK
31 August - 13 September 2018
ANNA JUUL
CAFE EUROPA 1989
W W W. S C E N E K U N S T S K O L E R . D K
Amagertorv 1, Cph K; open Mon-Sat 07:45-23:00, Sun 09:0022:00; brunch menu 169-269kr, open sandwiches 89-129kr, mains 149-229kr; europa1989.dk ANNA JUUL
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HERE IS no shortage of cafes in Copenhagen, but Europa 1989 easily rises above the fray, distinguishing itself as one of the best places in Denmark to start your day. Located in Amagertorv, the bustling central square of Strøget, the café is surrounded by high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes, giving the location an air of luxury. The many mild summer mornings in Denmark allow café-goers to sit outside where they can sip on their coffee and admire the pedestrian heartbeat of Copenhagen. Coffee and champagne THE COFFEE is, on its own, enough to distinguish the café. The cappuccino is not only nice to look at, with its flowered foam top, but it is also impossibly rich, striking the perfect balance between bitter and creamy. The cappuccino is joined in its excellence by the café’s Americano – both are works of coffee art. If you do not subscribe to coffee culture, there are a number of different options to turn to. Four different types of champagne are available, as well as mimosas and ‘Bloody Marys’. The Danes don’t hesitate to begin drinking early and often, but if you find yourself averse to a midday hangover or hair of the dog, the café also offers orange and apple juice.
A brunch to remember AMONG the highlights on the breakfast menu are an eggs Benedict and muesli with yoghurt, berries and almonds. However, if one wants a really hearty breakfast, it is best to turn to the brunch menu. On my last visit to Europe 1989, I tried the brunch spread. It included skyr with fresh berries and maple syrup, cheese and quince marmalade, a mini omelette with bacon, Karl Johan mushrooms and lingonberries, a Nordic hotdog with mustard and glazed onions, smoked salmon with smoked cheese cream and rye crackers, and fresh fruit. The length of that sentence is reflective of the true strength of the brunch spread. Big enough to share between two, the spread offers a variety of tastes and textures that pay a fitting homage to a true Danish breakfast.
Salty and sweet THE SKYR with berries and maple syrup is sweet and simple – nothing unusual, but enjoyable nonetheless. The true adventures are found in the mini omelette and Nordic hotdog. The omelette combines bacon and cranberries – a truly unique combination that changed the way I want to make omelettes at home. Similarly, the Nordic hotdog is spectacular and innovative. Normally I would shrink from having a hotdog first thing in the morning, but this particular sausage made me reconsider my traditional brunch standards. Finally, I recommend finishing the meal with the fresh fruit—the sweetness of the bowl offers the perfect conclusion to a meal that was bursting with savoury richness. US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE
EUROPA
20 INOUT: EVENTS THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
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FESTIVAL
31 August - 13 September 2018 FESTIVAL
Zulu Comedy Gala ongoing, ends Sep 9; multiple locations; ticketmaster.dk Now in its ninth year, Copenhagen’s funniest week is back with more shows than ever. Choose your favourite comedian or go with a ‘comedy surprise’ – either way you’ll be laughing. (TW)
Arla Food Fest Sep 1-2, 10:00-18:00; Islands Brygge 22, Cph S Arla Food Fest is packed with surprising food experiences aimed at challenging and expanding the palettes of children, as well as their parents. In addition to the many food stalls, popular musical artists fill the park with joy. (AJ)
BLAM! Aug 30-Sep 3, times vary; Refshalevej 167, Cph K; 340kr The internationally successful performance BLAM! is back in Copenhagen for the first time in six years. Don’t miss this comedic tale of four office workers transforming themselves into action heroes. (AJ)
Golden Days Sep 8-23; multiple venues in Cph; goldendays.dk Golden Days likes nothing better than looking at history’s forgotten oddities. Aptly this year’s focus is history’s ‘B-sides’, which it will examine through music, film, literature, theatre and architecture, among other things. (OR)
Copenhagen Cooking ongoing, ends Sep 2; multiple venues; copenhagencooking.dk Definitely one for the foodies, this festival includes hundreds of events, classes and tours – you could say it has an emphasis on learning as you eat. Many of the events are already sold out, so book your tickets now. (TW)
Arabian Nights Festival ongoing, ends Sep 10; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 80kr; dfi.dk For the fourth consecutive year, this festival will be celebrating good storytelling, acting and scenery through the medium of film. Alongside the viewings, there will be lectures, debates, music and more! (TW)
Bite Copenhagen Aug 30-31; Bella Center, Center Blvd 5, Cph S; bitecopenhagen.dk The food exhibition Bite Copenhagen proudly shows off sustainable initiatives from an allstar line-up of international chefs. No company is too big nor too small to show at Bite, so visiting foodies are in for a wide array of kitchens products. (AJ)
The Wave Sep 1; Kalvebod Bølge, Cph V; free adm This pop-up party on he waterfront showcases music from both Danish and international DJs. Enjoy wine, beer and rum while relaxing in lounge chairs, admiring the architecture, or showing your best dance moves to the electronic beat. (AJ)
Nordic Race: Refshaleøen 2018 Sep 1; Refshalevej 177, Cph K; 495800kr; nordicrace.dk Push your mental and physical strengths to their limits. This obstacle course race includes a tyre run, cliffhanger, barbed wire, monkey bars and hurdles – all of which make both spectating and participating a thrilling event. (AJ)
Cocktails and Cakes ongoing, ends Sep 9, 13:0017:00; Skt Petri, Krystalgade 22, Cph K; 150kr Enjoy organic cocktails paired with Danish petit fours during the Copenhagen Cooking festival. Danish berries, chocolates and pies are unmissable – especially when paired with artfully crafted cocktails. (AJ)
Copenhagen Soul Weekender Aug 30-Sep 2; various locations; for tickets email cphsoul@gmail.com This year marks the second ever Copenhagen Soul Weekender. Spread over four days at four different venues, Copenhagen is treated to an international line-up of gifted DJs playing music late into the night. (AJ)
Spirikum Festival Sep 1; Israels Plads; copenhagencooking.com; 150kr Spirikum Festival hosts producers of schnapps and aquavit, creating a tasting to be remembered. From cocktail bars to Michelin restaurants, people all over the world are discovering the wonders of Nordic gin. (AJ)
Trodheim Soloists Sep 4, 20:00; Black Diamond, Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Cph K; kb.dk Alisa Weilerstein, an awardwinning cellist backed by an orchesta, will play music by Haydn and Schønberg. Given the setting, this one will be hard to resist. (TW)
Tapas and biodynamic wines ongoing, ends Sep 2; Kulturtårnet Knippelsbro, Cph K; copenhagencooking.com; 600kr Enjoy an unforgettable evening in one of the towers on Knippelsbro. Waiting for you is an intimate and personal gastronomic tapas experience with a spectacular view. (AJ)
Copenhagen Tweed Ride Sep 8; 09:00; Badstuestræde 12, Cph K The annual Tweed Ride returns this year, and it’s just as stylish as past years. With all proceeds going to the Red Cross, who wouldn’t want to join in on the most stylish group bike ride of the year? (AJ)
Friday Night Skate Sep 7 & 21, 20:00-22:15; starts at Solbjerg Plads, Frederiksberg; free adm; fns-cph.dk A fun way to experience the city on a summer evening, Friday Night Skate through 20km of Copenhagen is a great way to hang out with friends.
Love Story ongoing, ends Sep 9; arken.dk Candice Breitz’s latest video installation looks at the relationship between storytelling and empathy and how we as listeners interact with both a story and the person telling it. (OR)
Day at the Races Sep 2 & 15, 12:00; Klampenborg Galopbane, Klampenborgvej 52; 60kr; galopbane.dk Enjoy the fun and competitive spirit of Klampenborg Racetrack. Enjoy a flutter or two, listen to music and enjoy some great food and racing at the track. (MA)
Giselle Aug 31-Nov 11; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 100-625kr; kglteater.dk First performed in Paris in 1841, this romantic ballet has everything audiences could ask for: mystery, adventure and a love story. (AJ)
Make your own schnapps Aug 30-31, 16:30-17:30; Torvehallerne, Frederiksborggade 21, Cph K; 250kr Learn how to make your own schnapps while exploring Danish history. From this event, you will take home your own handmade bottle of seasoned schnapps. (AJ)
21
Special Offers
31 August - 13 September 2018
from Small Danish Hotels Ans
Flensborg Fjord
Price in DKK per perso n
Price in DKK per perso n
999,-
899,-
SAVE 44%
SAVE 59%
Three amazing days beside the Gudenå
Mini-break at spot rate
KONGENSBRO KRO
BENNIKSGAARD HOTEL
Kongensbro Inn dates from 1663 and is a bargee’s stopping-off place on the Gudenå river. It was granted the Royal Warrant as an inn and for more than 50 years has been run by the Andersen family – now by the third generation. The inn offers a cosy atmosphere north of Silkeborg in a contemporary but carefully restored building, a beautiful garden that stretches right down to the Gudenå and a renowned kitchen. ‘Inn food is good food’ is the title of a cookery book written by Else Andersen, the grandmother of the current owner, and the superlative cooking traditions are still very much in evidence at Kongensbro Kro. A visit to the inn is an experience of historic dimensions and whatever time of year you choose, the landscape around the inn provides an unforgettable experience.
Right in the middle of the hilly countryside of southern Jutland with a view across Flensborg Fjord and only 5 km from Gråsten where the Danish Royal Family have their summer residence, is the cosy Benniksgaard Hotel, surrounded by a rural idyll and with a completely relaxed atmosphere. Previously, Benniksgaard Hotel was a typical Danish farmhouse but in the summer of 2000 the transformation started. Since then, all the buildings have undergone a total renovation. Today, the rooms are concentrated in the main house and old stables. The area can boast rich natural and cultural experiences, and a shopping trip to Flensborg would be an obvious day out.
The offer includes: • 2 x overnight stays • 2 x breakfast buffets • 1 x coffee/tea and home-made cakes, first day • 1 x 2-course inn menu, first day • 1 x 4-course gourmet menu, second day
The offer includes: • 2 x overnight stays • 2 x breakfast buffets • 2 x 2-course menu/buffet put together by the chef • 1 x waterbed massage
A supplement of 150 kr per person per night is payable on Fridays and Saturdays. Arrival is possible Sunday to Thursday during the whole of 2018.
Arrival is possible every day in 2018.
Price-code: L30b
Price-code: L62a
Discount code: 4441
Discount code: 4441
Can only be booked through Small Danish Hotels via www.smalldanishhotels.dk/cphpost or at +45 7080 6506. Should you prefer to book by telephone, you are asked to please use the discount code 4441
22 INOUT: MUSEUMS CORNER THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
31 August - 13 September 2018
The country’s undisputed cultural and historical epicentre KATHRINE MARIA AMANN, EDITOR AT COPENHAGEN MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS
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Just stepped over BUT SOMETIMES, particularly in the capital Copenhagen, you can happily traipse along a road or a path and suddenly find yourself completely surrounded by water. One such example is Slotsholmen, the home of Parliament and the Copenhagen cultural district.
Great for family trips THE HISTORICAL epicentre of the city is home to some of the best and most-visited museums and attractions in Denmark, as well as charming canals and urban hangouts. The political and royal history of the district makes it an exciting place to visit for the entire family.
DADEROT
HE BEAUTY of Denmark is that you’re invariably standing on an island without even knowing it. Sure Zealand is one, as is Vendsyssel-Thy in north Jutland, along with the likes of Funen, Lolland and Falster, but they’re too big to merit the description that you’re actually standing ‘on’ them, as opposed to merely being ‘in’ them.
DENMARK’S OLDEST MUSEUM Thorvaldsens Museum, Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, Cph K; open daily 10:00-17:00, closed Mon; 70kr, under-18s: free adm; thorvaldsensmuseum.dk
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HORVALDSENS Museum was built as a framework for a single art-
ist’s oeuvre, the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844). The museum is an architectural gem of bright colours, breathtaking corridors and stunning statues. In 1838, Thorvaldsen bequeathed his own work and art collections to his hometown of Copenhagen. The city in turn
dedicated an entire building to his work. Thorvaldsens Museum opened in 1848 as the country’s first public museum. The building and the exhibited sculptures within it play beautifully together – the richly decorated rooms being a very special experience in their own right.
Theatre Museum in the Court Theatre, Christiansborg Ridebane 18, Cph K; open daily 12:00-16:00, closed Mon; 40kr, under-18s: free adm; teatermuseet.dk
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MMEDIATELY next to Thorvaldsen’s Museum you will find Christiansborg Castle, home to the Danish Parliament. Until 1794 the castle was the principal residence of the Danish monarchy, and
in 1767 King Christian VII opened a court theatre. Similar to other European court theatres, the auditorium, designed by the French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin, was done in a neoclassical style, decorated in pearl-grey and gold, with a balcony supported by 22 pillars. Since 1922 the theatre has been open to the public and home to the Theatre Museum. The collection has increased significantly over the years, and the museum collects
and records everything that demonstrates professional theatre in Denmark. The hallways and lobby present a selection of drawings, paintings, costumes, set design models, programs, posters and objects that in unison tell the history of Danish theatre since Ludvig Holberg’s time in the first half of the 18th century. This is a must-see for fans of the performing arts.
Copenhagen Architecture Center, Bryghusgade 10, Cph K; open 10:00-18:00, until 21:00 on Tue; 110kr, under18s: free adm; dac.dk
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OPENHAGEN Architecture Center (DAC) is beautifully located on the harbour front
in the new BLOX building. DAC shows exhibitions on city development and Danish architectural history, as well as hosting lectures, talks and guided city walks. The exhibitions change every two to three months and typically have either an overarching theme or a special focus on a Danish or in-
DAC
ARCHITECTURE FOR ALL ternational architect. DAC also offers a variety of workshops for children of all ages and educational programs for primary and secondary schools. Architecture tours of Copenhagen run during the summer. Join a guided Sunday walk at 14:00 and discover the city’s exciting architectural development.
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HOP AND a skip along the harbour from BLOX, the Royal Danish Library resides with an impressive view over the canal and Christianshavn. The iconic new part of the library, the Black Diamond, is designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen and is itself worth a visit
particularly to view its 230 sqm façade of black glass and granite. The collection holds original manuscripts by Søren Kierkegaard and HC Andersen, as well as the letters of Karen Blixen.
FOR MORE INSPIRATION FROM THE MUSEUMS, VISIT COPENHAGEN MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS AT CPHMUSEUMS.COM
JULIAN HERZOG
TREASURE CHEST FOR BOOKWORMS Royal Danish Library, Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Cph K; open 08:00-19:00, Sat 09:00-17:00, closed Sun; Mon 15:00 library tour: 60kr, under-18s: free adm; kb.dk
TEATERMUSEET.DK
ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE
ON SCREENS
31 August - 13 September 2018
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Steering clear of the ‘What happened to their talent?’ club BEN HAMILTON
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OT EVERY breakout, genre-redefining film (think Reservoir Dogs, Shallow Grave) is necessarily followed by continued brilliance in the director’s next offering (Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting). Some simply can’t rediscover the magic (Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko; Michael Lehmann, Heathers), others come unstuck in another language (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The Lives of Others). Paul Brickman (Risky Business) simply didn’t want the huge fame and, as Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (or even Brian Clough and Peter Taylor) will agree, double acts often struggle to produce the goods when they go solo (Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund, City of God; Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, The Blair Witch Project). Some of their later films you would have heard of – Kelly went on to make the lamentable The Box, and Lehmann the deeply unfunny Hudson Hawk, while Von Donnersmarck went one worse, or maybe two, with The Tourist – others are just too obscure. But none of them ever came close to matching the heights of their magnum opus. Carrey on containing DESPERATELY hoping he won’t join their esteemed company is Michel Gondry, the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. While the industry prefers to label the 2004 film as a work by Charlie Kaufman, Gondry was the driving force behind the film, firstly developing the story with a friend before Kaufman
got involved, and then railroading the celebrated screenwriter into completing the script after he got worried the premise was too similar to that of Memento. If you don’t include pop videos, Gondry hasn’t made much of note since. The Science of Sleep had its moments but was mostly pretentious twaddle that induced snoring, while The Green Hornet’s sting in its tale was that it was mostly atrocious. But now, teaming up with Jim Carrey, his favourite leading man, he is launching a small screen comeback with Kidding (HBO Nordic, Sep 10), a dramedy about a children’s TV host whose life starts to unravel. Co-starring the always dependable Catherine Keener and Frank Langella, it is Gondry’s involvement that is the most exciting. Firstly, he is the director of all ten episodes of the first season – thus ensuring the quality is maintained throughout – and secondly, he has already proven his ability to rein in the excesses of Carrey’s over-indulgent comic brain. Mile ‘high’ issues KEENER is also involved in Incredibles 2 (80 on Metacritic; released on Aug 30), which is being released in Denmark over two months after its US premiere. Apparently, Denmark is low priority for Disney, and for this film it was given a pitiful category 5 territory – the Pixar film Coco was similarly delayed – meaning it is coming out four weeks later than the Baltic states, and two months after most of South America. According to Disney, it chooses the most advantageous release dates based on “family-specific
First rule of movieworld: never pose on broken ice for a promo, even if you’re sure the film’s going to be a hit
seasonal habits”. Perhaps it had prior word on the current Venezuelan migrant crisis. Also among the cast are Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, the main stars of the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul in which some of the actors are beginning to look more like their BB selves’ fathers. Marky Mark’s dad Mark Wahlberg has another star vehicle, Mile 22 (40; Aug 30), in which a combat team with a valuable asset must traverse a US city hunted down by a crack team of Indonesians (like inspired by The Act of Killing?), a stoner selection right up there with the South Africans in Lethal Weapon 2. Among the ‘good guys’ is mixed martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey, who has now made four movies since her debut in The Expendables 3 in 2014. Four, pah! Mile 22 director Peter Berg’s last five films
– Lone Survivor, Patriots Day, Deepwater Horizon and the forthcoming Wonderland – all star, you guessed it, Mark Wahlberg. Berg is clearly a capable filmmaker (as his debut Friday Night Lights suggested), but he and Waldo are quickly becoming the worst big action double-act since Michael Bay and Ben Affleck. Creepy Catholics ELSEWHERE this coming fortnight, nearly an entire year after its UK release, On Chesil Beach (62; Sep 6) follows the aftermath of a fateful wedding night in 1962 that casts a cloud over a young couple’s relationship. Talk about a 20th century girl. Following her turns in The Seagull (1900s), The Grand Budapest Hotel (1930s), The Way Back (40s) and Brooklyn (50s), Saoirse Ronan is slowly working her way through every decade. With Atonement (most decades),
this is also her second Ian McEwan adaptation. The Nun (Not Released Worldwide; Sep 6) is the fifth film set in the universe of The Conjuring, a realm in which no member of the Catholic clergy is safe, but given the endless abuse scandals involving the church, is it really a domain that we want to milk for cheap thrills? And Whitney (75; Sep 6) is the latest documentary to chart the life of the spectacular downfall of one of music’s greatest divas. Meanwhile, back on the small screen, we’ve got keenly anticipated season twos of acclaimed 2017 debutant series Atypical (Netflix, Sep 7) and The Deuce (HBO Nordic, Sep 10). Will Kidding make any best of 2018 lists? As long as the director keeps a lid on Carrey’s ego and collection of Aretha Franklin paintings, we should be okay.
IN THE AISLES film OF THE moNTH September 6th–15th. “’In the Aisles’ is a poignant and richly sympathetic film” said The Guardian of this Month’s feature film, starring ‘Toni Erdmann’’s Sandra Hüller. We present some 50 films with English dialogue or subtitles every month. See what’s on at cinemateket.dk or visit us in Gothersgade 55
WELCOME HOME
Since 2004, we’ve worked to cherish that special feeling of ‘home’. Without boasting too much, we can say we’ve succeeded rather well. Today, we are Denmark’s largest housing agency. We rent everything from the small, one-room flats in town to the 500 sq metre villa on the coast. Furnished or unfurnished. On a monthly or yearly basis. We know for sure that a new existence away from familiar surroundings requires tranquillity on the home front. That applies whether you are the landlord, who is moving on – or the tenant who just wants to settle in comfortably. It’s all about making you feel right when you step inside the door.
Welcome Home to Denmark’s largest housing agency housingdenmark.com
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