CPH Post Newspaper: 24 November - 8 December 2022

PRAISED FOR OUR LGBTQ+ FRIENDLINESS

Copenhagen ranked highly in new report

COPENHAGEN has been steadily establishing itself as one of the LGBTQ+ capitals of the world, and it was no surprise when World Pride chose the city as the host of its event in 2021.

In fact, Copenhagen and neighbour Malmö won the right to also host EuroGames at the same time, but the restrictions prevented ‘Copenhagen 2021’ from being one of the biggest events these parts have ever seen.

Still, Pride this year was the biggest ever, and now Copenhagen has another accolade to celebrate: Big 7 Travel has just named it as the 14th ‘Most LGBTQ+ Friendly City in the World’.

Toronto #1

THE REPORT detailed how Denmark scored a 10 on the Gay Index, an 86 on the Equality Index, and it was the world’s rst country to recognise same-sex partnerships in 1989.

It praised “its vibrant Pride celebration, mix of political rallies, educational events, lms, concerts, and parties”, with

venues such as Bøssehuset, and events like the Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Copenhagen Winter Pride Week and Pride Christmas.

This year’s top ten are Toronto, Berlin, San Francisco, Melbourne, Brighton, Madrid, Amsterdam, London, New York City and Montevideo. (BH)

IRISH ACCENT CONTEST ON ELMEGADE

Convince the owner of Molecule Clothing you’re Irish and he’ll give you a 20 percent discount

FEW WOULD disagree that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were 'Far and Away' the least convincing Irish-speaking couple in Hollywood history, but how easy is it to nail the accent?

One Copenhagen shopkeeper, himself from the Emerald Isle, is challenging punters to enter his premises on Saturday November 26 between 10:00 and 18:00 and prove they can pass muster as an Irishman.

Convince Phelim McCabe, the owner of Molecule Clothing on Elmegade in Nørrebro, that you're Irish and he'll give you a 20 percent discount on anything you purchase!

Scent of whiskey

TO BE FAIR, accents aren't the only giveaway you're not Irish, so make sure you look the part.

While a brownish-red wig and freckles might be overdoing it, the least you can

do is wear a bit of green. And a little scent of Guinness or whiskey can help too.

Talking of which, whether they

convince McCabe or not, all visitors to the shop on that Saturday will be entered into a prize draw for a bottle of whiskey. (BH)

Saunas closed

SINCE November 7, all saunas at Copenhagen's city swimming pools have been closed due to energy concerns. Lighting on arti cial turf pitches has also been dimmed. City Hall will monitor developments to ensure that the measures are not in place for longer than necessary.

Outperforming their peers

WHEN 9TH graders in Copenhagen – children aged 15 to 16 – nish public school, they tend to outperform their peers from the rest of the country – particularly in Danish and English. And the 2022 results reveal they maintained or improved their performance from the previous year, but the rest of the country su ered a slight drop.

Queen gets her big day

FOLLOWING a postponement due to the death of British Queen Elizabeth II, the City Hall celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen were nally held on November 12. Prior to the event, the Queen toured Copenhagen by carriage accompanied by the Cavalry Squadron of Gardehusarregimentet.

Field’s

Recognition in Roskilde

ROSKILDE'S Musicon district

won an international award for integrating music into urban planning – mainly for its organisation of the Roskilde Festival and Ragnarock, a local museum dedicated to music.

Øresund commuting is key COMMUTING across the Øresund needs to be encouraged, according to a Øresunds Instituttet report, as it will increase the employment prospects of many people – particularly under-25s, women and those in low-income occupations. Industries such as transport, trade, health and social care, ICT and life sciences would also bene t.

No support for squirrels

DURING the pandemic, local people took an interest in the welfare of squirrels in Fælledparken. Feeding stations were built without permission, and pathways linking trees were established in Egernskoven. However, despite the support of 7,600 signatures, politicians have decided to rip down the structures – partly due to concerns they attract rats.

Toilets relatively clean

COPENHAGEN has the 11th most hygienic toilets among all the capital cities in Europe, according to UK bathroom supplier Showers to You. Helsinki topped the list, followed by Luxembourg, Vaduz, Dublin and Ljubljana. The bottom ve, in ascending order, were Berlin, London, Athens, Tallinn and Lisbon.

Diesel vehicle ban

charges likely soon

MORE DETAILS relating to the shooting at the Field’s shopping centre, in which three people were killed last summer by a 22-year-old man, will soon be released. The man remains in custody, but has not been charged yet.

SUBJECT to necessary clearance from the authorities, diesel-powered vehicles without particulate lters will be barred from entering the centre of Copenhagen from October 2023 onwards. The environmental zone could then be extended to the part of Amager located in Copenhagen Municipality by mid-2024.

has

Rainbow ags are as commonplace as the Dannebrog

Ben Hamilton EDITOR

Christian Wenande NEWS/LAYOUT EDITOR

Ejvind Sandal CO-OWNER

Hans Hermansen CEO

Hasse Ferrold PHOTOGRAPHER

Barbara Mensah SOCIAL MEDIA

And a good place to pick up this issue too!

AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT!

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Long wait for MitID

BOTH PRIVATE and public entities have had to wait for 16 days to set up a MitID account after failing to switch over from NemID by No vember 1. Despite postponements, thousands did not do it and are now clogging up the arteries of munici palities up and down the country.

Ex-journo a predator

A FORMER Ekstra Bladet journalist found guilty of 100 sexual offences against children aged 4-14 – some of which were playmates of his own kids – has been sentenced to three and a half years. The court heard how the 47-year-old man is a “predator with narcissistic traits” who does not think he has done anything wrong.

Deadly listeria outbreak

Huge cocaine seizure

CUSTOMS agents in Aarhus Port found 36 kilos of cocaine in a refrigerated container in mid-Sep tember. However, the Toldstyrelsen customs agency did not report the find until early November.

Crazily warm weather

THE AVERAGE temperature over the first half of November was a record 10.7 degrees – 1.3 degrees warmer than October, which was the fourth warmest in history. November 1 (16.7 degrees) was the fifth warmest November day ever, and November 12 the warm est ever night. By November 15, many birds had not yet migrated and flowers were blooming again.

Best for antique lovers

Moderaterne, Venstre, Konservative, Liberal Alliance, Radikale, SF and Dansk Folkeparti all still in contention to join Socialdemokratiet in the government

BEN HAMILTON

PM METTE Frederiksen on Wednes day afternoon informed the nation that a new government won’t be in place for another couple of weeks, at least.

However, she did confirm that it is not a matter of who will be involved in forming a majority, but more about who won’t be.

Worrying rise

SOME 21.1 percent of all children and young people placed into psychiatry during the last two years have been subjected to force, according to a Sundhedsstyrelsen report. Examples of force include being forced to eat or take medication or being restrained. Between 2011 and 2013, it was just 15.3 percent.

Brit pays price for lateness

A BRITISH national has been ordered to leave the country by December 6 after being four days late with his application for continued residency – a fallout of Brexit. Philip Russell, a 47-year-old finan cial services administrator, has been a resident of Denmark for two years. Some 290 Brits missed the 31 December 2021 deadline.

Electricity prices drop

BETWEEN August and October, the price of electricity fell by two-thirds on Nord Pool, the largest Nordic electric ity exchange. This meant the average household’s bill for October was less than half that of August – falling from 1,900 to 900 kroner – the lowest the cost has been since May. However, a bad winter will still impact us all, warn analysts.

As things stand, eight parties are still at the negotiating table to be involved: Frederiksen’s own party Socialdemokrati et, along with Moderaterne, Venstre, Konservative, Liberal Alliance, Radikale, SF and Dansk Folkeparti.

The first party to withdraw was Dan marksdemokraterne followed by Nye Borgelige. And then, on Wednesday November 23, Enhedslisten and Alter nativet pulled out.

Two more weeks FREDERIKSEN’S confirmation followed three weeks of negotiations – and means Denmark still doesn’t have a

Grisly murder

AN AFGHANI man and woman, aged 24 and 33, have been charged with stab bing a 37-year-old Afghani woman to death in Holbæk in north Zealand on November 3 – a grisly crime that per plexed the nation, as the victim was seven months pregnant. Her unborn child initially survived but died a few days later in hospital.

Stampede for Xmas aid

WITH LESS than a week to go before the November 24 application deadline, a record 9,700 families had applied for Christmas aid from Blå Kors Danmark – nearly 1,100 more than last year. The capital region saw 2,256 claims – up from a record 1,993 in 2021. The selected families will get 700 kroner in gift cards.

government in place 22 days after the General Election.

In total, there have already been 49 meetings between Frederiksen and the heads of the parties – as well as two meetings involving all the parties.

Should all eight parties remain in volved, it will give the majority (once the North Atlantic mandates are factored in) 143 of the 179 seats in Parliament.

“It will be a process in which the parties can either see themselves in a broad government or in a binding col laboration with a broad government,” explained Frederiksen.

A LISTERIA outbreak related to Jeka Fish frikadeller has killed one per son in Denmark, confirms Statens Serum Institut. Several others are reported to have been sick. Elderly people are most vulnerable to the bacteria – the victim was a 70-yearold. Anyone with fish frikadeller in their fridge is advised to check the manufacturer.

Inattention at the wheel

COPENHAGEN is the best metrop olis for antique lovers in Europe, according to a Confused.com study that assessed 51 cities. It has 1.2 antique stores for every 100,000 people – the sixth-highest amount – and the eighth-highest rating for the quality of its stores.

Migration numbers rising

Nye Borgerlige loses seat

NYE BORGERLIGE has already lost one of its MPs. Rather than risk being ex pelled from the party after her partner hit somebody on election night, Mette Thiesen has become an independent –leaving the party with just five mandates. The victim of the assault was Thiesen’s ex, and he ended up needing hospital treatment. The loss of the mandate is the quickest in Danish history.

12 years in prison

A FORMER Afghani interpreter has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for murdering his wife earlier this year. Said Bahram Sherzad, 33, who goes by the name 'Hector', worked for the Danish forces in Afghanistan and appeared on Danish media following the evacuation of Kabul last year, which he fled with four children.

Ministerial failings

THE TIME it takes ministries to process access to document requests varies significantly, according to Journalisten. According to law, ministries must not take longer than seven working days to process requests, but only eleven of 19 ministries adhered to the deadline. The Food, Agriculture & Fishery Ministry took 64 days and three others more than 35.

Among the top driving nations

DENMARK is the fourth best country in Europe to drive in, according to the International Drivers Association, trail ing Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium, with Germany fifth. Denmark scored well for safe roads (three traffic deaths per 100,000 people), car density (540 per 1,000 people) and road qual ity. However, of the top ten, it had the dearest petrol: 2.02 euros/litre.

DURING Week 46, the police con ducted a campaign focusing on inattention – namely the growing tendency of motorists to use their mobile phones while driving. Al ready by the end of October, 18,967 had lost points on their licences after being caught with some kind of hand-held device at the wheel.

Sperm citizenship rejected

CHILDREN conceived using a Danish sperm donor do not have the right to Danish citizenship, the High Court has ruled. The case re volved around a foreign woman who gave birth to a child using Danish sperm in 2018. Her claim was initially rejected by the Immi gration Ministry.

Pandemic-friendly Xmas

STATENS Serum Institut predicts that the number of corona patient hospital admissions will remain sta ble this winter. The mix of jabs and previous infections has provided a good immunity for those aged 20 to 59, it explained. However, its projection is based on there being new virus variants over the season.

Historic press to close

BERLINGSKE’S printing press unit

Trykkompagniet, which has been in operation since 1749, will close at the end of the year because it was no longer deemed financially sustainable. Some 23 employees will lose their jobs.

OVER THE first nine months of 2022, more people immigrated to Denmark than in the entire five years up until 2021, according to Danmarks Statistik data. In total, 36,264 people immigrated to Den mark in the three months ending September 30. Emigration num bers also rose in the third quarter: up 29 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

MPs getting younger

UNLIKE society in Denmark in gen eral, Parliament is getting younger in the wake of the 2022 General Election. Before the election, 24 of Parliament’s 179 members were 60 or over, but this figure has dropped to 16 following the election. Dansk Folkeparti stalwart Pia Kjærsgaard is now the oldest MP at 75.

Party head steps down

MARIANNE Karlsmose has stepped down as head of Kristen demokraterne following its failure to win any mandates in Parliament with a 0.5 percent share of the vote. In her resignation speech, she urged the party to avoid running in the next general election and to focus instead on local elections.

Transport prices to rise

PUBLIC transport prices will rise by an average of 4.9 percent from January 15 – the biggest increase in 14 years. Rising fuel and electricity prices are mostly to blame. How ever, some ticket prices will fall in the capital region next year in line with incentive strategies.

When she said a broad majority, she wasn't kidding!

Chinese supply of raw materials to realise the green tradition will be critical until the 2030s, warns expert

TOO MUCH dependency on one country can be perilous, the War in Ukraine has shown us, but Den mark is in danger of shifting all of its eggs into another basket, warns expert Henry Sanderson.

Sanderson’s new book ‘Volt Rush’ details the fight for the important raw

materials needed to realise the green transition, and most supply links lead from China, he tells TV2.

For example, the key components used to make batteries for electric cars stem from China, as does 80 percent of the world’s solar panel production, over half of its offshore wind turbines, and most of the planet’s rare earths.

Next 15 years

SO, AS DENMARK weans itself off one

dependency, it could soon find itself in another.

“It will take at least 15 years before Europe can become independent of China in the green transition,” warned Sanderson.

“By then you will be able to get the raw materials from Africa, Australia and Canada, and there will be more recycling from 2035, and that will also help." (BH)

Support for Republicans

A STATESIDE visit paid by members of Konservativ Ungdom to help prominent Republican candidates win re-election in the US Midterm Elections was greeted with ire by many Danes. One of them, Chris tian Holst Vigilius, said he had been called a fascist and wished dead since putting up a Facebook post detailing the trip to Miami to help Marco Rubio and Ron DeSantis.

Strong NATO backing

THE ACTING foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod, was quick to say NATO would back Poland after a stray missile killed two of its people, but it was later confirmed the Ukrainians were responsible, not Russia. Neverthe less, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg concluded: “Russia bears ultimate responsibility as it continues its il legal war against Ukraine."

Helping Indonesia

DENMARK has joined a coalition of countries that will help Indonesia smoothly speed up its green transi tion with measures such as closing down coal plants and increasing its reliance on renewable energy. The US, Japan, and Indonesia will lead the 143 billion kroner project.

Body returned to Denmark

THE BODY of Sasia Amalie Morsø, the 30-year-old Danish murder vic tim found in a French fridge nearly two months ago, is being returned home for her funeral in Aarhus. Her Danish boyfriend has been charged in France with her murder.

Fired for homophobia

JENIS av Rana, the chair of the Christian party Miðflokkurin on the Faroes, has been fired for refusing to implement a policy that requires the children of same-sex couples to take the surname of both parents.

8 billion no biggie

THE WORLD has reached a human population of 8 billion, but Ilya Kash nitsky, an academic at the University of Southern Denmark, has played down the need to panic. "What is alarming is how we consume more than the planet can sustain," he told TV2.

Big presence at COP27

DENMARK took its largest contin gent to COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. Accompanying the 30 companies and organisations present in Egypt was the acting climate minister, Dan Jørgensen.

TAK HACKMAN FROM COUGHING CITY!

IT’S A COMMON complaint in these parts that a colleague has flu, when in reality it’s just a heavy cold. Neverthe less, napping and Netflix are prescribed and you don’t see them until next Monday … sometimes with an unexplained tan.

But is it a deserved reputation? A study carried out by smallbusinessprices. co.uk in March revealed that Denmark had the third lowest number of sick days in Europe: an average of 8.7 days due to illness every year.

And now a new report by the Sund hedsstyrelsen health authority and Statens Serum Institut confirms that half the country are prone to coming into the office when they are ill.

Denmark is a nation of little warriors!

Up to half stay home

SOME 41 percent of those questioned for the report in September said they would still come into work with fatigue and aches, 50 percent with a sore throat, and 36 percent with a runny nose.

Pre-corona, it might have been high lighted that 64 percent would stay at home with a runny nose, but according

to Sundhedsstyrelsen, the message is clear: “Stay home when you are sick.”

“This is one of the most important pieces of advice the corona epidemic has taught us. It prevents us from infecting each other and putting extra pressure on our healthcare system ," it advised.

All hail the superheroes!

OF THOSE who do go to work unwell, 50 percent said they were confident they could still work without infecting

colleagues, or that their symptoms really couldn’t justify them staying at home.

Around a half said their colleagues were 'good 'at staying home, 18 percent said they felt unsafe due to a sniffing co-worker, and 50 percent feel the guidelines at work were inadequate –compared to 39 percent in 2021.

According to Sundhedsstyrelsen, it is time to applaud the ‘Superhelte’ (su perheroes) who choose to stay home to fight infection.

HOW FEMALE MPS ARE SABOTAGED

Top for engineering

FOR THE sixth year in a row, US News and World Report has named Aalborg University the best engi neering school in Europe in its 'Best Global Universities' rankings, mak ing it the 11th best worldwide. The assessment considers indicators such as academic research results, international co-operation, and reputation home and abroad.

Helping Ghana

RESEARCHERS at Roskilde Univer sity are involved in a three-year project to create better wastewa ter solutions in Ghana. They will work closely in the city of Tema with public and private entities to better understand the country’s social and political landscape. Should the research be successful, the solutions will be implemented in cities across Ghana.

Robot surgery a success

SURGEONS at Rigshospitalet have successfully completed three kidney transplants with a robot-controlled joystick. However, Andreas Røder, the head doctor at Rigshospitalet, emphasised more studies must be done to justify the value of the practice. Robotic surgeries tend to result in less bleeding.

Tech can transform CO2

Eliminating bias

TO COMBAT bias and make the hiring process fairer, DTU is trialing a new tool that seeks to anonymise the recruitment process. Using the ‘Shortlisting’ tool, the hiring manager is told nothing about the applicant's name, age or ap pearance, leaving them to focus on how well they match the specific job criteria.

Whipped cream from beer

WHIPPED cream is unhealthy for humans and the environment – it is 38 percent milk fat. But in the future, University of Copenhagen researchers have demonstrated how it could be made of bacteria and beer waste.

Second most sustainable

THE SUSTAINABLE Development Report has ranked Denmark as the second most sustainable country in Europe behind Finland. The re port highlighted how more than half (53.9 percent) of Denmark's waste was recycled in 2020, and how its consumption footprint was reduced by 14.26 percent between 2010 and 2020. Textile waste was also comparatively low.

Top tech country

"Sometimes the saboteurs aren't men, right Sofie ..."

penhagen study that claims prejudice flourishes online.

Overall it used statistical algorithms to assess 10 million comments about male and female politicians across 312 different countries.

SOME 44 PERCENT of the country’s elected MPs are women – the first time the share has exceeded two in five. However, this is probably the result of women's sheer force of will in a society that continues to stack the deck against them, according to a University of Co

Undermines their seriousness

ALONGSIDE blatant sexism and hate speech online, the researchers noted differences in the ways male and female candidates are referred to, which under mine the seriousness of female candidates.

For example, women are often referred to by their christian name, but men by their surname – often with superficial attributes unrelated to their political qual ifications, such as their body, clothes or family relationships, according to head researcher Isabelle Augenstein.

"Prejudices and stereotypical percep tions of men and women that shape the way we evaluate both genders pervade the internet and shape the information our voters are presented with,” noted Augenstein.

AMID AN energy crisis and on the brink of climate disaster, research ers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed tech nology that can transform CO2 into green gas. A large-scale demo in volving one of Denmark’s biggest polluters, Aalborg Portland, is set to be implemented before the end of the year. AP emits 2.3 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

Drone breakthrough

RESEARCHERS at SDU have suc cessfully created drones able to transport blood samples across distances, without risk of collision with manned crafts in their shared air space. It is the first time this has been accomplished in Europe.

DENMARK is the sixth most tech-enabled country in the world, according to the 2022 Network Readiness Index, ranking behind the US, Singapore, Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Den mark ranked well for Governance (2), Impact (7), People (7) and Tech nology (11). It slipped a place due to Singapore’s rise from seventh to second.

Conservation better

A STUDY involving researchers in Aarhus, Gentofte and Naples compared the survival rate of 1.3 million patients undergoing breast removal and conservation since 2010, concluding that those undergoing the latter had a 33 percent better chance of not dying.

People who stay home with a sniff are superheroes, says health authority

BEN HAMILTON

PIXABAY

Ditlev hit his deadline with dysentery, but it's 'Horlicks Helle' we should hail

Women face an uphill battle to be taken seriously in politics, claims a University of Copenhagen study

SAM CLEM-WHITING

HASSE

FERROLD

Christian Eriksen and company had their chances, but ultimately were unable to break down a spirited Tunisia side

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

DENMARK are off the mark at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar … though their opening Group D game performance was far from im pressive.

A tenacious Tunisian side gave the Danes fits and deservedly ended up with half the spoils in a 0-0 draw at the Educa tion City Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

The first half in particular was dour for the Danes, who seemed to come out with a pedestrian look, failing to create much against a Tunisian team with fire in their eyes … and tackles.

It wasn’t until the second half that the Danes showed some teeth and had an Andreas Skov Olsen goal cor rectly ruled offside ten minutes after the break.

Christian Eriksen then had a longrange effort expertly saved, before substitute Andreas Cornelius really should have scored – bundling the ball off the post when it seemed easier to find the net.

Chance that VARnished INTO STOPPAGE time and Denmark's fans rose to their feet as the ref was VAR-summoned to check a possibe handball offence in the Tunisian box.

However, the ref again correctly assessed that a Tunisian defender had been fouled before the handball oc curred. Emotions were on a rollercoaster as it went from a potential penalty for Denmark to a freekick to the north Af ricans.

France sit top of Group D following a comfortable 4-1 win over Australia.

The French will be Denmark’s next opponents on November 26 in a match that will shed light on what Denmark will need to do in the final game against the Aussies to progress to the last-16.

Controversy reigns

IN OTHER WC news related to Denmark, it has been confirmed that no member of the Danish Royal Family will attend the games. The closest Denmark has to official representation is former PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who has been visibly wearing the rainbow armband the Danish team decided not to wear in case they risk a booking.

DRAW

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Portuguese pop-up

VISTAS Rui Silvestre, a Portuguese Michelin-star restaurant, has moved into the Japanese Tower at Tivoli, where it will be until De cember 31. Headed by star chef Rui Silvestre, who draws on both his Indian and Mozambican roots for inspiration, the Algarve pop-up will serve Portuguese dishes with a hint of Christmas.

Big splash in Malmö

Globe 25 years old

THE GLOBE Irish Pub celebrated its 25th birthday on November 6 with a party attended by former staff and past and present friends. Landlord Brian McKenna and his wife Nikki chose the 1990s as the fancy dress theme and a surprise guest stole the show with a trib ute to 1994 film ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’.

Brøndby fires coach

This decision followed one by the DBU to not present a shirt bearing the words "Human Rights for All". Neverthe less, the national side has been wearing its muted-down shirts in protest at the human rights record of hosts Qatar. The black one has set sales records overseas, topping the charts in both Germany and Austria.

Just days before the tournament started, a TV2 crew were accosted by Qatari officials filming in a public place. The footage of the incident, in which the officials appeared to break a cam era, quickly went globally viral.

Focusing on the football THERE were no real surprises in the selection of coach Kasper Hjulmand, although Yussuf Poulsen of RB Leipzig, a starter at the last two major tourna ments, only managed to squeeze into the final five named.

Stats provided by SportingPedia re veal that the Superliga is the 23rd best represented league in the world – its #13 ranking is four places higher than its UEFA coefficient.

In total, six foreigners who play in Denmark will take part, compared to zero in both Sweden and Norway.

BRØNDBY’S US owners are looking for a new coach after firing Niels Frederiksen, the man who in 2021 guided the club to their first Super liga title in 16 years. Brøndby lie 10th, but only six points separate third from tenth. Meanwhile, Jes per Fredberg, the sporting director of second-placed Viborg FF, who trail leaders FCN by three points, has resigned to join Belgian club Anderlecht.

Decent handball effort

DENMARK finished runners-up in the European Women’s Hand ball Championship after losing to Norway in the final by a score of 25-27. The Danes started hot, taking a three-goal lead into half time, but were unable to curb a furious Norwegian rally in the second half.

Living in fear

NIKOLAJ Hübbe, the artistic direc tor of the Royal Danish Ballet, has been “looking over his shoulder” in fear following the vitriolic nature of the outcry at the alleged rac ism that caused his production of ‘Othello’, scheduled to premiere on November 5, to be cancelled. Some dancers protested at choreogra phy that required them to hit their heads and make monkey sounds.

Roskilde wants diversity

DANISH-BASED group HIT Inter national Theatre Arts staged an acclaimed run of Danish author Arne Nielsen’s debut play ‘Vod ka Talks’ at Bastionen Theatre in Malmö over the weekend of No vember 11-13. Copenhageners will be able to watch the play at Teatert ved Sorte Hest from April 20-22.

Cycling award contention

JONAS Vingegaard and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig have been nomi nated for the respective Vélo d'Or men’s and women’s cycling awards. While Vingegaard is the favourite to win, Ludwig has little chance of upsetting Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten to win the inaugural award.

Didn’t really help

MARATHON runner Abdi Ulad has been caught using the banned substance trimetazidine, although it hasn’t exactly been perfor mance-enhancing. He competed in the marathons at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, and his best fin ishing position was 23rd in Tokyo.

More museum closures

MORE DANISH museums are closing this winter due to their en ergy bills: Museum Sønderjylland, which has laid off 11 employees, Skive Museum, Bornholm Museum and Naturkraft in Ringkøbing. Dan ske Museer head Nils M Jensen has appealed for an urgent aid package, predicting more shut downs and layoffs should nothing change.

No longer unbeatable

See him in your eyes

FORMER Genesis star Peter Gabriel will be performing at Royal Arena on May 30. Tickets start at 495 kroner. Also confirmed, US rapper Macklemore is per forming at Store Vega on May 7, British singer Zak Abel at Pumpehuset on May 3 and former footballer Paul Gascoigne at Tivoli’s Glassalen on January 21. VIP tickets will enable you to meet him be fore the show.

Mags scores first F1 pole

KEVIN Magnussen secured the first pole position of his career in São Paulo – and the first ever by a Dane in Formula 1 – for the sprint race contested before the Brazilian GP on November 13. The Haas driver finished eighth in the sprint, earning a point, but crashed out of the main race on the first lap. The sprint races are a new initiative this season included at four selected GPs.

Multiple award noms

DANISH-PRODUCED Iranian-language film 'Holy Spider' could win four Europe an Film Awards: Film, Screenplay, Actress and Director. Danish-based Croatian ac tor Zlatko Buric and Danish-American actor Elliott Crosset Hove have been nominated for Best Actor for ‘Triangle of Sadness’ and ‘Godland’, and Danish-pro duced 'A House Made of Splinters' for Best Documentary.

AFTER naming its first 16 acts for its 2023 edition, the Roskilde Festival has confirmed it is embracing a more diverse future. The acts in clude Ghanian gospel star Florence Adooni, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, and alternative K-Pop group LEENALCHI. Festival passes cost 2,400 kroner and one-day tickets 1,200 kroner. The festival will run from June 24 to July 1.

DANISH MMA fighter Mark O Mad sen is no longer undefeated after losing to American scrapper Grant Dawson. The former wrestler – who won silver at the 2016 Olympics –had previously won 12 consecutive fights.

Parken piling them in

THE 17 BEST-ATTENDED matches in Denmark this year have been FC Copenhagen home games. At #1, FCK vs AaB in May drew 35,463. At #18 was yet another Parken game: the Danish Cup Final between OB and FC Midtjylland.

Identity line-up: all guilty in bore draw

While women rate the work-life balance as the most important determinant, man say a competitive base salary is their top priority

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

LEGO GROUP and Novo Nordisk are the most desirable firms to work for in Denmark, according to a sur vey of 8,100 professionals carried out by Universum.

Lego topped the business sector for the third time in four years, with Novo second, and they traded positions in the ranking of

engineering/natural sciences companies – Novo’s fourth #1 spot in a row.

And Lego also ranked first for IT jobs for the second year in succession.

Dominating the rankings IN BUSINESS, the pair were followed by Carlsberg, Maersk, Google, Vestas, Ørsted, Microsoft, IKEA and Deloitte.

For a career in engineering/natural sciences, the pair were followed by No vozymes, COWI, Rambøll, Ørsted, Chr Hansen, Vestas, Leo Pharma and Lundbeck.

For IT jobs, Lego Group was ranked ahead of Google, Microsoft, Novo Nor

disk, Apple, Ørsted, Maersk, Vestas, Netcompany and Danske Bank.

Stark gender differences

FEMALE respondents said encouraging the work-life balance was the most im portant quality, followed by a friendly work environment, leaders who support their development, flexible working con ditions, and a competitive base salary.

Male respondents had a competitive base salary as their top priority, followed by leaders who will support their develop ment, high future earnings, a friendly work environment, and the work-life balance.

FOUR-DAY

TRIAL A SUCCESS

Most bankruptcies since 2016

BANKRUPTCIES have reached their highest level since 2016. Some 274 companies went bankrupt in October, according to Danmarks Statistik – 6.1 percent more than in September. The bankruptcies re sulted in the loss of 1,505 full-time jobs – 21.2 percent more than in September. The construction and restaurant sectors are the worst affected.

Exports in decline

EXPORTS fell by 3.5 percent in Sep tember, according to Danmarks Statistik. Goods exports fell by 3.9 percent, and the sale of services by 3.0 percent. Despite the drop, figures have risen by 6.8 percent since July. The exports surplus for 2022 represents 277.4 billion kro ner so far.

A fifth of work undeclared

SOME 19.8 percent of all work in Denmark is undeclared to the tax authorities, according to a new study by the Rockwool Foundation's Research Unit that questioned almost 2,400 people. Danes tend to overestimate how much work. Asked to guess, those who don't declare all of their in come said 40.4 percent, while those who declare everything said 29.0 percent.

On course to be net-zero

THE GLOBAL biotechnology giant Novozymes and the pump manu facturer Grundfos have had their 2050 net-zero target validated by climate organisation Science Based Targets Initiative. According to the agenda, they will widely reduce their gas emissions leading up until 2030, reaching net-zero in 2050.

One

tions such as the Swedish company Atol Medical. Coloplast chief ex ecutive Kristian Villumsen expects revenue to grow between 11 and 12 percent over the next fiscal year.

Online sales boost at Matas

DANISH pharmacy chain Matas has reported a 1.6 percent increase in profits for the second quarter of its 2022-23 financial year compared to the same period in 2021. Online sales rose by 9.9 percent and sales at physical stores by 0.7 percent.

Matas is expecting to declare total revenue of between 4.4 and 4.5 billion kroner for the fiscal year.

Airport bouncing back

COPENHAGEN Airports has de clared a pre-tax profit of 234 million kroner off revenue of 1.071 billion for the third quarter of 2022. The result soaked up the losses of the previous quarters to enable a 221 million profit for the first nine months of 2022. Some 16.4 mil lion passengers used the airport – 70 percent of the 23.3 million who used it during the first nine months of 2019.

Lay-offs at Velux

VELUX is expecting to lay off 430 employees following a decline in the sale of its roof windows. It is ex pected that the layoffs will impact factories in Denmark, Germany, Slo vakia, Hungary and Poland.

High inflation continues

DESPITE falling energy prices, there is no end in sight to the high infla tion, which continues to be above 10 percent, according to the latest Danmarks Statistik figures. Analysts predict the high inflation will con tinue into the first few months of 2023, although Dansk Erhverv is confident it will return to 2 percent later in the year.

Steep fall in housing prices

ATWO-YEAR trial at Esbjerg Munic ipality – in which 520 of the local job centre's employees worked four days a week instead of five – has been a great success.

According to the arrangement, the employees worked the same number

of hours, but on fewer days. And it was quickly established that enjoying a three-day weekend made people happier and improved their working environment.

"It's absolutely fantastic. This has meant that my family has a much hap pier mother and wife because I also have time for myself. It has given me much more peace and balance – both physically and mentally,” one of the em ployees, Lea Christensen, told DR.

Majority satisfied

APPROXIMATELY 90 percent of the workers accepted the new timetables, and a large majority said they were sat isfied – 97 percent of them, according to a VIVE evaluation.

The municipality is pretty happy with the preliminary results.

As for now, the trial will last until 2024, when the final evaluation will decide if Esbjerg continues with the format or not.

in two to go abroad

SOME 47 percent of Danes plan to travel abroad next summer, accord ing to a Dansk Erhverv survey. In 2022, the total was only 36 percent and in 2019, before the pandemic, 41 percent.

Steady result at Coloplast

THE MEDICAL device company Coloplast has confirmed a 16 per cent increase in revenue for its 2021-22 financial year 2021/2022, but limited profits due to acquisi

HOUSING prices are plummeting at the same pace they rose during the Corona Crisis – the steepest downturn since 2011. House prices fell by a whopping 1.6 percent in October and apartment prices by 2 percent to the extent that housing is already cheaper than it was this time last year. At this rate, prices will soon fall to pre-pandemic levels.

Carlsberg ditches Twitter

CARLSBERG has said it will not be advertising anymore on Twitter. "We have asked our marketing team to stop advertising activ ities and we are monitoring the situation closely," a spokesperson confirmed. The decision follows Elon Musk’s acquisition of the social media platform. General Motors, Volkswagen and General Mills have also stopped advertising.

Not

Esbjerg Municipality reports a much improved working environment

LOIC PADOVANI

PIXABAY

GET YOUR BIERING’S

DAWN. SLIPSTREAMING across the Øresund strait.

‘The Bridge’ shaking hands with Sweden. I peer down at the wind turbines, harvesting the elements and fuelling our futures.

The wind and the waves. For millennia the Danes have harnessed them. What is it with me and Denmark? Half-Scottish and a hundred percent European. There’s probably a bit of 8th century Danish DNA mixed in there too.

A side-wind slams into the fuselage shaking me out of my nostalgia. My red eyes from the Helsinki red-eye uttering as the Finnair pilot compensates and drops the gear like Thor’s hammer.

Careering through CPH WE ARE down in Denmark. Trader nation. The pace picks up outside of Kastrup. A three-day bolt across the Danish islands, discussing applying advanced tech in real-world scenarios, and building sustainable partnerships is on the agenda.

EVERYONE knows it. Danes live and work in surprisingly tightknit social and professional bubbles, and that is a challenge for internationals.

Among family friends

WHY ARE Danes like that? Because they grow up and go to kindergarten, school and university in the same place and with the same people, whilst observing long-standing traditions: Christmas lunch, Friday outings, cycling in lycra, football etc.

This group is termed ‘family friends’ and is drawn on for all things, both work-related and personal. Trust is high, and so is unfortunately the division along gender lines – not to mention the barrier to enter for outsiders.

The circle of trust

AN INTERESTING thing is that we Danes would never hire anyone from this group – or even recommend them for a job. And we wouldn’t consider giving them, say, a contract to supply furniture

Copenhagen is humming. Global hub. Corporates, SMEs, startups, universities and research thrive, wired into each other, and the rest of the world through their respective arteries.

It’s a rush back and forward across town. Hunger starts to take its toll and the Palæ Bar calls out for a smørrebrød pitstop. This place is so cool it found its way into my second novel.

Belting around Fyn

NOW I’M westbound, aiming the car towards Fyn. The ‘Garden of Denmark’ beckons.

The great bridge over the Storebælt comes into view from kilometres away, reaching into the sky. I oor it but it takes an age to get there. A construction masterpiece spanning the great channel. Yeah, the Danes are engineering masters too. Apparently they are building energy islands far out to sea.

I’m on Fyn, hurtling towards Odense. Robot central. Land, sea or air. If you can think of it, then

for our company.

This would be considered self-serving nepotism. As well as risky – as you could rightly be blamed if the friend turns out to be incompetent. And in public service, you would lose your job and risk prosecution.

But you would always turn to the ‘family friends’ for advice on who to employ or who to buy furniture from. And when starting a new job, you would instantly connect with any colleague who is a friend of a friend. They are certainly trustworthy!

Hiring from within THE EFFECT of this way of building trust is that 70 percent of all jobs in Denmark are never advertised. They are lled with people ‘in the network’. This is – again –not considered to be nepotism as the people chosen for the jobs are (considered) competent.

It doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to see that from a diversity perspective this is a bit of a challenge. So, what to do? Well, up

they can probably build it here. A full day on Fyn requires a full course meal, and there’s no better place than Kok & Vin to hygge down after a day of high concept.

Robot rotation

I WAKE up at the Frederik VI hotel in Korup, which is an old haunt of mine, and head further west, leaping the Lillebælt. I hit Jylland and head to the farm of the

chair of DLG Group for two days of lming and interviews. Robots everywhere. I learn a fraction of the importance of partnerships across agricultural food chains.

The agenda is tight. The Finnair ight won’t wait. It’s a four-hour sprint eastwards. I make the last call. Phew, three days that read like a screenplay.

Denmark. Can’t wait to get back.

to you, quite literally. You have to enter the professional network of Danes by pushing yourself in there. You will seldom get invited.

But if you hang around a lot, people feel comfortable with you – and then they will listen when you tell them what you bring to the table.

Cracking the code ONCE YOU are in, you are in. You

may even be invited for Christmas lunch.

So, hang around. The tennis club, football, book club, and on LinkedIn, Insta, TikTok. Show what you have to o er – whether it’s insight, humour or new angles. Show stamina and ask for advice on who to meet or ask for friendship. Danes may be very reluctant to o er you friendship – but if you ask nicely, they seldom say no!

SIGNE BIERING NIELSEN

After 20 years in the Danish diplomatic service, including stints in India, China and Israel as deputy ambassador, Signe Biering Nielsen is turning her diplomatic binoculars onto the (in her view) intriguing Danes. She is an executive advisor and coach with a focus on internationals in Denmark. See LinkedIn and Instagram for more details.

Once you're in, you're in!

PATRICK HALFORD OUTSIDE INNOVATION

Pat Halford is VP of Digital Industries at Spinverse building EU consortia across electronics, healthtech and smart cities. He’s on advisory boards at Nordic Drone and AR startups, and an advisor at a Nordic space VC. He’s also the author of the new Danish thriller ‘Tilda & Lærke’ and the Icelandic thriller ‘North to Akureyri’. He’s half-Scottish and 100 percent European.

Racing across the region

BUSAN

A BUSTLING GLOBAL HUB IN KOREA WHERE THE FUTURE’S ALL AROUND

By Sam Clem-Whiting

For over 170 years, World Expos have been o ering the planet a glimpse into its future. From the first world fair in London in 1851, where visitors were introduced to notions such as sending faxes and paying to use the toilet (it’s where we get the expression ‘spending a penny’), to the unveiling of the Ei el Tower at the 1889 edition, the first live TV broadcast in 1939, and the recent 2021-22 installment in the UAE, which sought to enlighten with the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ – the Expos are always thick with prescience.

So where better to stage an Expo than a city of the future like Busan in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), which

FORMATIVE YEARS

Busan came into its own during the Korean War. Pre-World War II, its population was a mere 400,000, but it quickly grew to a million during the conflict – a time that would lay the foundation for all that was to come.

Busan sustained Korean politics, business and culture during the war. Politicians, business leaders, and creatives from all over Korea migrated as far south as they could to Busan. The city would become one of the last strongholds for democracy against communism.

Refugees arrived via the Nakdong river, bringing with them their own distinct cultural identities. Among them were artists and writers who came to Busan fleeing not only war, but also the chilling e ect that a communist regime might have on their work. The Danish hospital ship Jutlandia was stationed at the port of Busan where it provided medical treatments and surgeries to thousands of local people and UN forces.

All of this combined to transform Busan into a city of great importance and a cultural hub – a melting pot of people, values and ideas that has helped to build the city we know today.

Today, it is central to the ‘Southeast Economic Zone’, the country’s largest industrial area.

STUNNING LOCATION

Given its location in southernmost Korea, Busan is a critical city in the global supply chain.

Its ports and piers, lined with cargo and containers, import goods from every

has submitted an o cial bid to host the World’s Fair in 2030 – one of four bids received by Bureau International des Expositions along with Rome, Riyadh and Odesa.

As the second largest metropolis in Korea, home to 3.6 million people (and close to 8 million across the entire urban area), it boasts futuristic high-rises that wouldn’t be out of place in a sci-fi film, while its famous rainbow-coloured villages reflect the city's highly creative and individualist spirits.

A historic and forward-looking city like Busan is the perfect stage for just such an event.

corner of the globe and export others just as far. A great deal of Korea’s supply is shipped through Busan – 57 percent of the country's total imports and exports – making it the sixth busiest port and second largest trans-shipment port in the world.

Drawn to using one of the key transshipment hubs in Asia, Maersk has an o ce in Busan. The Danish shipping company received a plaque of appreciation from Busan Port in February 2022 in recognition of its contribution to the 6.3 percent increase in the import and export volume of Busan Port. In total, Maersk handled 1.13 million twenty-foot equivalent units – the largest import/ export cargo of all shipping carriers in Busan Port.

Beyond the bustling metropolis and the glittering sea, which includes the country’s most noteworthy beaches, Busan o ers views of some glorious natural landscapes, including seaviews, mountains, rivers and forests.

In English, Busan (부산, 釜山.) translates as cauldron mountain. It’s a name that in the wake of the great coming together seems particularly apt: a melting pot contained only by mountains with abundant resources of sea.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Much of Busan’s success in landing the right to host World Expo 2030 will rest on its choice of theme – although having the support of world cultural icons like BTS and ‘Squid Game’ star Lee Jung-Jae will probably help matters somewhat! In fact, BTS performed a thrilling live concert in Busan on October 15, expressing their

Concept Picture of World Expo 2030 Busan

Gwangandaegyo Bridge

Busan Portwish that World Expo 2030 is hosted in Busan.

The Expo brings together nations all over the world to seek solutions for some of the greatest challenges of the day under the guidance of a universal theme that informs engaging exhibits and spectacular innovation. It is geared to advance human knowledge, improve social ideals and place an emphasis on technological and economic progress.

Busan has chosen a theme for its World Expo 2030 that is perfectly suited to the city’s strengths and heritage: ‘Transforming Our World, Navigating toward a Better Future.’

The event will place a special emphasis on “Sustainable Living with Nature (Greener Life)”, “Technology for Humanity (Technological Innovation)” and “Platform for Caring and Sharing (Inclusive Society)” – something their history has more than prepared them for.

TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW

Another focus of the 2030 Expo is technological advancement, and as a leader in the 4th industrial revolution, few are better equipped than Busan.

As a regulation-free zone for blockchain companies, Busan is already a primordial soup for innovative tech-related business and innovation.

Whether it's next-generation displays and semiconductors or advanced AI and robots, Busan already has so much to showcase to the world.

ON THE GREEN TRAIL

Like Denmark, Korea is a country at the forefront of climate-orientated research and innovation, with Busan leading the charge.

As the home of the APEC Climate Center (APCC). Busan is striving toward a greener

city and carbon neutrality with measures like the Green Action 2030 Campaign in Life.

As part of the green transition, Korea is investing in o shore wind power and working closely with Danish companies in the transition.

Busan’s commitment to green energy and sustainability makes it the perfect place for the Expo to positively impact the world by developing and showcasing green solutions.

MORE THAN JUST THE CITY

Korea has certainly earned its stripes as a country that knows how to transform and reinvent itself to create a more prosperous future.

In less than half a century it went from being a recipient country to a donor country. Busan, which handles 57 percent of the country's total imports and exports, deserves a great deal of credit.

A critical hub port connecting Asia to the Pacific, Busan is perfectly situated to help transform Korea and itself in the process.

With business booming, Busan has been able to invest in a stunning metropolis and world-class transportation infrastructure, thus improving its candidacy for the Expo in the process.

CULTURALLY IN TUNE

Busan’s government has always made an e ort to use festivals as a means for cultural and economic development.

The result is that many take place, large and small, almost constantly. One of the larger festivals is the Busan International Film Festival. In 2019 it featured 299 works screened from 85 countries across 37 screens. The festival, now arguably the biggest of its kind in Asia, has given Busan the nickname ‘City of Film.’

While the Busan Biennale, held in evennumbered years, is a contemporary art festival that attracts talent from all over the world – including Denmark.

AND GOOD COFFEE TOO!

In 2018, Lonely Planet ranked Busan the number one destination on its Best in Asia list.

“A stunning confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine, Busan packs an eclectic o ering of activities to suit all travellers: hike hills to Buddhist temples, settle into sizzling hot springs and feast on seafood at the country’s largest fish market,” it noted.

Not only is the seafood exceptional in Busan, but so is the co ee, which is highly regarded for the freshness, quality and variety of its beans.

With its majestic scenery, awe-inspiring innovation and rich and diverse culture, Busan is the perfect place to visit whether you're a tourist or an enormous exposition.

Haeundae Beach

Jukseong Church

Panorama of Busan

Busan International Film Festival

Beomeo-sa Temple

Busan Port

IT’S REALLY sad when the leaders of this world are lying in clear daylight. Putin does it, Trump did it, and their kinsmen and lieutenants do it. They cannot be trusted – as simple as that.

Fact deniers, lie perpetrators

SØREN Kjær, a Danish parliamentarian in the 19th century, became famous when in a debate his opponent said that what he was actually saying was a fact. “If that is a fact then I deny facts,” he replied.

Goebbels said that if you repeat a lie a thousand times it becomes the truth. Let’s hope the aforementioned gentlemen do not live to repeat their lies a thousand times.

Some 16 parties elected IN DENMARK democracy was at its best when the general election catapulted 16 political parties – if you count the North Atlantic members as representatives of the parties that chose them – into Christiansborg.

Already one of the elected members, Mette Thiesen from Nye Borgerlige, has left her party to become an independent. Sad to note, given that nearly 5,000 people personally voted for her, that her decision had nothing to do with political disagreement.

But overall, this multitude of representations are now looking to be part of a coalition with a governmental majority behind it – or at least not against it.

Still waiting for new order

THE MAKE-UP of this coalition is still in the balance and, in the meantime, life is returning to normal. Gas prices have fallen, although many of us have got used to saving electricity by using the dishwasher in the middle of the night when the prices are at their lowest.

In ation is taking the top o our savings and pro ts, so

more people are being laid o , although the pressure on the labour market is easing. Meanwhile,immigration politics is very low on the agenda.

And everybody agrees that the health sector should have an overhaul – but how? The health sector unions have positioned themselves really well. It nally looks like the pandemic heroes will be properly rewarded.

Løkke will tell you no lies

FOR MOST of Election Night, no majority looked likely for either the red or the blue bloc. Former PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen got within a hair’s breadth of being the kingmaker, and he would have done had the Konservative leader not imploded.

But by the end of the count, it was clear PM Mette Frederiksen will continue. There’s no doubt about that, but she can nd new playmates.

And so, we are left with the important question: trust. The building of mutual trust, not politics, will be the decisive factor when a new government is formed.

And while Løkke may be many things, we’ve never heard him lie. Silence on occasion, but never lies!

THIS MORNING I was perched on my therapist’s couch. He has been a kind and capable con dant of mine for a few years now, and he sees a lot of expats.

The truth, Therapist!

“I’M WONDERING about the price we pay when we choose to leave our countries of origin,” I say.

Studying his face, I notice he has that look that therapists get when they recognise some mess inside your head and are about to ask you a series of carefully-worded questions to get you to recognise it too.

I want to know what he thinks, so I short circuit the process and ask: “Do we damage ourselves?”

He says some positive things in reply, but overall he’s clear that exile, expatriation, whatever you want to call it, takes its toll.

Piss- aps no less a hero PEOPLE talk about living abroad with misty eyes, as though it’s some kind of heroic act. Hardly anyone ever talks about the life-price.

EXPATRIA

After living in Copenhagen for more than ten years working for an international organisation, Expatria doesn’t have a bestselling book or a career on the stage. Her house is messy, she looks her (middle) age and half the time her life is in chaos. Like most of you, dear readers, she doesn’t conquer, rock or manifest anything, but instead muddles through, leaning heavily on her sense of humour and engaging personality.

Over-excited, recently-arrived social media darlings scamper through our feeds, gushing about how they sold everything and just moved – oh the courage of the wanderer!

No-one ever praises those who stay –doesn’t it also take guts to grow in your home country, where people remember what a plonker you were as a teenager? No-one ever touches on the fact that maybe some expats have been running away all these years and are simply not brave enough to go home.

Told in net friends totals I’M NOT talking about a year abroad from university or a summer spent working here or there – that’s just a form of extended tourism – I’m talking about long-haul expats doing life without parole. As ‘Expat Instagram’ blasts hygge, minimalism, and Scandi-this and Scandi-that, cynical feelings twist like knives in the gut.

It’s hard to hold onto a genuine attachment to more than a small number of friends long-distance and di cult to remain part of their lives. Although you might still get invited to the really big things, the ow of invitations to smaller events – the

birthday parties, the new year brunch –dries up before you can say easyJet.

The friendship group back home sees no new additions, only losses. The Copenhagen circle of friends is overwhelmingly international and regularly pruned back as people move on.

Home is where the … WHERE it hurts most is with the very old and the very young. Little ones have short memories and change so very fast. With my older relatives, I can’t stop myself from doing the heartbreaking calculation of how many years they will likely live multiplied by how many times per year I visit. That is the number of times I will see them again.

Visits back are increasingly alienating. Things have moved on, and so have I –the gap widening each year. Sti ing as it might have been on occasion, home is now so far from my grasp that I can barely remember what that kind of comfort and belonging felt like.

Denmark, no matter how settled I become, can’t give me that feeling. I don’t think I knew when I made the move all those years ago that home was the price I would pay.

glances at the sea and what's beyond: the country they left behind

Wistful

Ejvind Sandal

Mackindergarten

British writer and performer Adrian Mackinder (adrianmackinder.co.uk) and his pregnant Danish wife moved from London to Copenhagen in September 2015. He now spends all his time wrestling with fatherhood, the unexpected culture clash and being an Englishman abroad

HERE’S A thing. We’ve just been told that, despite our six-year-old son being born and raised in Denmark, he is not bilingual. He’s English.

Even watches Ramasjang

IT ALL started about a year ago when my wife raised concerns that he was not pronouncing his Danish words as precisely as a kid of his age ‘should’ – and that his sentence structure seems a little o . He mentally translates his words from English into Danish. So we investigated further.

Before he started school this year, børnehave helpfully arranged for him to see a children’s speech therapist. We were given several assessments before and after he started school. That’s when the therapist dropped the bombshell: he has the Danish skills of a kid two years younger than he is.

We were confused. He went to a Danish vuggestue and børnehave. His mother and his Danish family have been speaking Danish to him since he was born. He watches Ramasjang. He understands everything. So how did this happen?

His emotional language

WELL, years ago we were told by a linguist that if you truly want to raise bilingual kids, one parent must only speak in their language, while the other only speak in theirs. But the reality is that’s not the reality. I don’t speak Danish, so at home my wife and I speak English.

We watch a lot of TV and lms in English and my son has naturally gravitated towards these cartoons and lms.

Long story short, nearly seven years later, English is the dominant language in our house. He tells us he much prefers speaking in English. It’s his emotional language. It’s how he truly expresses himself. It’s who he is.

Hard to cast blame, surely IS THIS my fault? Well, as I’ve written before, I have my reasons for speaking in English – one of which being so my kids can speak it. It’s half of their cultural identity and it’s a damn useful skill, globally-speaking. But it looks like we accidentally overcorrected.

Then again, my daughter doesn’t have the same issue; she switches between the two at the right level for her age. So you can’t tell a child which language to prefer. This happened organically and

might be just how my son’s developing brain operates.

Is my wife at fault? Of course not. As any parent of young kids will attest, you do whatever works to get through the day. We communicate in the easiest way to understand each other. We have always communicated in English: we met in London, and it’s my livelihood.

She wasn’t going to insist that from now on it would be a Danish-only home. That would be madness. And frankly, if she had, I wouldn’t be here. But here we are. And we have work to do.

May encounter turbulence RIGHT now, our son nds school tough. But we didn’t want our kids to go to an international school (another story) and we trust this Danish school will no doubt help him catch up. We trust they’ll meet his needs and then at home we’ll make him feel supported and nurture his self-condence. But we didn’t see this coming.

Do I regret the situation? Not at all. He’ll get there and when he’s older and truly bilingual in native Danish and native English, he’ll have a very good advantage.

But this chapter has given us a fascinating insight into navigating the many challenges of raising international kids.

in Nyhavn

An Actor's Life

JACK GARDNER

ADRIAN MACKINDER

If he thinks Onkel Reje and Brille from Ramasjang are funny, then surely he's Danish?

DR

MARIA DUBIN

ARTWISE

Maria is a Danish-American artist known for her monumental site-specific works. She is presently completing ‘The Secret Garden’, a permanent artpiece com prising paintings, floor decoration, paravants, light, colour and film for the radiation therapy department at Rigshospitalet. Find out more at mar iadubin.com

THE NATIONAL Museum of Art (SMK) has one of the largest collections of Matisse’s work outside of France.

The Danish businessman and collector Christian Tetzen-Lund had, until 1924, one of the world’s most important Matisse collections in his private home in Copenhagen.

Later they were bought by Johannes Rump, which together with a grant for the purchase of contemporary art was donated to SMK in 1928. Now, they form a very important part of the collection.

The role of the collector

IT IS ALWAYS very fascinating to examine who the collectors of Matisse’s work were: the Danes (Tetzen-Lund and Rump), the Russians (Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov) and the Americans (the Stein Family and Etta Cone), to mention the most prominent ones.

But would many of the great artists we know today have been visible without the collectors?

Etta Cone, one of Matisse’s ardent patrons, once complained about swelling prices, saying: “M. Mat isse, I helped to ‘make’ you.” Matisse cheekily replied: “No, Mme Cone. I made you.” Cone’s large collection is in the Baltimore Museum.

Peggy Guggenheim, another avid art collector, had a vast number of Jackson Pollock paintings. When she left New York for Venice, she contacted all her friends to ask if anyone would like to have some of them. She ended up having to bring them all to Venice, since none of her friends were in

clined to receive these very large works. I am sure SMK would have liked to have one or two.

An artist’s many homes

WITH A loan from Peggy Guggenheim, Jackson Pol lock and Lee Krasner purchased a small homestead overlooking Accabonac Creek in the Springs East Hampton. They paid back the loan through paint ings. Their studio and home are a museum now, and many a painter has made the pilgrimage to both be in and soak in their former working space.

I have had quite a few studios in different places, such as a palace in Tunisia, the old Zars horse sta bles in Sofia, a crumbling loft in Williamsburg, NYC (before it was cool to be there), a meatball factory in Vanløse and an abandoned military base in Nis, Serbia to name but a few.

The studios were in connection with a specific project created in each country. This summer I com pleted my latest series of paintings, ‘The Tunis Trees’, in a communal painter workshop in Christiania.

And right now, I´m an artist in residence (AIR) at the DUPLEX studio in Lisbon.

A labour of love in Lisbon

DUPLEX was an old furniture woodshop in the extremely charming area of Graça in Lisbon. The artist Susana Rocha found the space had been abandoned for more than two decades and had the courage to fix it up and create a shared studio space.

There are two floors: the top floor for permanent studios and the ground floor for AIR, where we are

The Red Studio

Up and running now until February 26 there is an outstanding show at the National Museum of Art (SMK): ‘Matisse: The Red Studio’.

The show is organised in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York where ‘The Red Studio’ (1911) is part of their collection. The painting depicts Henri Matisse´s studio in Issy les Moulineaux. There has been a vast hunt to find every single painting, sculpture and object included in the painting – it is thrilling to see ‘The Red Studio’ come to life.

The painting´s surface is saturated with a red terra de sienna. However, the exhibition scenogra pher did not paint the walls surrounding the painting in the same colour, which would have given warmth and depth. Nevertheless, it is not a show to be missed.

six artists presently and a curator. A few days before arriving we were informed about who would be attending the residency, and that there would be an open studio and exhibition four days after our arrival.

The Scandinavian crew

THIS DIDN’T put the Scandinavian group of two Danes and a Norwegian off. After saying hello, we rolled in our heavy loaded suitcases.

Erik Dæhlin from Oslo put on his white gloves and brought out some very fine prints, wooden arms and telescopes.

Matilde Bjerre had a sewing machine in her suit case, as well some old work cloths and pre-sewn work, and started sewing with the speed of a racecar.

I hurried off to the Bordallo Pinheiro Garden

and found a voluptuous mermaid and made a series of sketches of her. I decided to incorporate a monumental homage of her with all the Tunis and ‘Tactile Metamorphosis’ prints I had brought with me to give it a Lisbon touch.

We were in a hurry and worked very long days, helping each other with holding ladders, finding installation materials – the lot. The others had been there a bit longer than us and seemed a bit surprised about all the commotion since all they needed was to dust their workspaces off.

In the end, the Scandinavian group´s work com plemented each other well. We were all ready in time for the opening and able to greet a large group of mostly young artists, art students and quite a few funny looking dogs too.

Work in the DUPLEX Show

Erik Dæhlin installed his piece ‘Double Portrait Oslo – Castro Marim’ outdoors where it worked perfectly in the raw outside space. “I wanted to relate the old technique of stereoscopy, a pre-digital virtual reality device and thus a way of teleportation, as well as sensory apparatus giving you almost haptic experiences,” he explains.

Matilde Bjerre’s ‘Slideshow 2’ floats intriguingly from the ceiling. “My artistic practice involves performative actions, installations, as well as video-editing and quilting understood as nar rative methodologies,” she explains.

My ‘Portuguese Mermaid’ joined forces with ‘The Tunis Trees’ and 'Tactile Metamorphosis' (prints of my textile paintings).

MARIA DUBIN,

ERIK

ERIC PRINCE DIGITAL PRINCE

Eric Prince, the founder/CEO of ART[XR].

THIS THING on?" Great! Good day sentient beings, I would like to introduce myself as this is a new column. I strive to be an independent voice for free thought, art and the overall direction of new ideas and technology for the better of the good. I will be writing from my travels, professional work life and personal musings.

Games good for brains

AS A CHILD, I remember sitting crossed-legged on the floor growing up in the shadow of a large wooden cabinet at eye level and a blue glowing face where I would watch and dream of the Space Shuttle Columbia blasting into the heavens.

However, unlike the previous kids before me with Tang-stained smiles and astronaut ambi tions, the obsessive screen time of my youth was dominated by a strange, nondescript 16-bit human shooting spiders, bats and robots, oh my!

Trapped for hours in a hedgerow maze, my heart rate would race to the electronic horror sound of the pulsating background beat of human-hunting robots. Yes, Nightstalker for In tellivision was a video game to play while the parents were out on a late Saturday night.

Play games, any games! And let your kids play games with their friends. Some of my best memories were playing video games and, in between games, cranking the parents’ stereo system to 11 and jumping off the family room furniture together with a world-famous neigh bourhood airband.

Welcome to the Metaverse!

FORTY or so revolutions around the sun later and what not so long ago read as science fiction, is now becoming a household term.

Yes, I am speaking of the Metaverse. For those of you still wondering what the Metaverse is, you’re not alone. First, let’s begin by saying the Metaverse is still in its embryonic stage and ac tually being redefined and redeveloped as every new hour passes.

However, for those that would like a starting point, let me say that the term ‘Metaverse’ was coined by author Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel ‘Snow Crash’. A clear definition comes from Matthew Ball in his 2022 work ‘The Metaverse’: “A massively scaled and interoperable network of real time-rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously and persistently by an effectively unlimited number of users with an individual sense of presence, and with continuity of data, such as identity, history, entitlements, objects, communications, and payments.”

Served up, the Metaverse is the next evolution of the internet, which can be experienced in a 3D real time interface.

Not the ideal messenger FOR SOME of you reading, the first time you may have heard the term ‘Metaverse’ was when it was brought to you by everybody's favorite tech billionaire to hate, Mark Zuckerberg, in October 2021 during a cringeworthy late night infomercial video presentation.

Looking back, the presentation was a true foreshadowing of the monumentally difficult technical task of bringing even a small portion of the Metaverse design and ideas to fruition. To boot, an ubernerd publicly drilled in front of US Congress – for alleged user privacy breach es, fake news and the alleged manipulation of the Facebook platform by a foreign adversary

to spread disinformation during the 2016 US presidential campaign – may not have been the best messenger to introduce a whole new multifaceted platform.

But hey, billionaire hubris may be blinding, give the guy a break.

Isn’t gonna fly, Marky UNFORTUNATELY, to no-one's surprise already working in the fields of Virtual and Augmented Reality, we can feel a bit let down by the promises by Mr Zuckerberg and Co.

Allow me to give a very brief review of the first iteration teaser of Zuck’s Metaverse ‘Hori zons-Venues’. I have said it before and I will say it again: please no more downloadable app installs. I think everyone reading will agree it is much easier to simply click through on a URL hyperlink to access the ‘Next Internet’ AKA the Metaverse.

As for the ‘plastic people’ design and the large projected poor quality videos staged as virtual performances … not gonna fly. There are plenty more details I could go into here, but in this age of instant gratification and an endless abundance of other great entertaining content, who honestly returns to venues after a few aborted take-offs?

Just the beginning STILL, let's remember this tech is very early and needs time and investment to bring it to the consumer market. On a more positive note, I

thank Zuckerberg and Co for popularising the ideas and being a true believer in the next evo lution of the internet.

Meta (Facebook) has poured 10s of billions into the development of both software and hardware projects this past year alone. Even with the recent troubles at Meta, I don’t count Meta out at all and look forward to future releases.

But ultimately, let’s all agree that the next big thing is the Metaverse, and no, Mark Zuckerberg will not own it. The Metaverse will potentially be owned by anyone who participates and uses it.

In this current Information Age this next evolu tionary step in technology has awesome potential to better the good in every imaginable industry and human relations. Looking forward to taking the journey with you and discussing much more details to come.

TOP TIP: QUEST 2

If you are interested in dipping your toes into what's available in immersible content with hints of Metaverse to come, I would highly recommend the Quest 2 virtual reality headset by Meta.

The Quest 2 is a great mobile VR headset with truly state-of-the-art experiences, games and entertainment that you will be able to fully immerse yourself into and enjoy anywhere.

com is a technologist and fine artist with 25 years of experience developing on line, mobile games and immersive 3D web VR/AR/XR technologies. His career has involved projects at Sony SOE, Mi crosoft, Electronic Arts and Epic Games. Currently working on bridging the fine arts and digital platforms to help usher in the Metaverse out of the Prince Gal lery in Copenhagen.

ABOUT TOWN ABOUT TOWN

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

The dignitaries were out in force at Bispebjerg Cemetery on November 13 to mark Remembrance Sunday, a day dedicated to all the armed personnel who have died serving their countries in con icts since the commencement of World War I. Among those present were: (left: left-right), Reverend Smitha Prasadam, the priest at St Alban’s Church, and British ambassador Emma Hopkins; and (right) US ambassador Alan Leventhal

The ‘Crazy Gang’ are back at Glassalen in Tivoli for another two-month run of the enduring 'Crazy Christmas Cabaret'. Pictured (left-right) are: Kevin Kiernan-Molloy, Mikkel Hoe Knudsen, Andrew Je ers, Vivienne McKee, David Bateson and Katrine Falkenberg. Check out page 17 for our ve star review of this year’s show, ‘Who Killed Don Calzone?’

Among the guests of Spanish ambassador María Victoria González Román (centre) at a reception to mark the National Day of Spain on October 12 were (left to right) her counterparts from South Africa (Fikile Magubane), Cuba (Roger Lopez) and Philippines (Leo Herrera-Lim)

The new ambassadors of Japan, Mexico and Greece are respectively Uyama Hideki (agrée), Norma Pensado (agrée) and Fragiskos Kostellenos. Yōkoso, Bienvenidas and Kalós írthate!

Jens-Kristian Lütken (left), the Copenhagen Mayor for Employment and Integration, and Hans Hermansen (right), the CEO of CPH POST, were among the guests of Indian ambassador Pooja Kapur on November 15 at a reception to mark the festival of Diwali

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

MAGNUS RASMUSSEN

TALK ABOUT returning to have another ‘stab’ at something!

Vivienne McKee and her trusty 'Crazy Christmas Cabaret' team are back at Tivoli’s Glassalen with a good old-fashioned murder-mystery, ‘Who Killed Don Calzone?’

If the Calzone name sounds familiar, it’s because it was also at the centre of last year’s show, ‘Tell Me About It’. That’s right, the 39th Crazy Christmas Cabaret is a sequel – a first for the long running series.

Back in business

AS YOU may recall, the 'Crazy Christ mas Cabaret' was forced to shut down halfway through its two-month run last year due to COVID-19.

Against this backdrop it therefore seems rather logical for McKee to be revisiting Miami, the 1980s and the Calzone Family for this year’s show. There was simply too much untapped comedic potential yet to be extracted.

As the cast appeared for the open ing number ‘We’re Still Standing’ (a take on Elton John’s popular ‘80s track) wearing colourful tracksuits and other era-appropriate gear, you immediately sensed their joy of being back where they belonged and back in business.

And if you missed out on last year’s show, fret not, since the first five to ten minutes of 'Who Killed Don Calzone?' is dedicated to recapping and recreating the most memorable scenes from last year, including a repeat of the hilarious aerobics musical number (think men in tight orange leotards and mullet wigs).

A whodunnit free-for-all WITH THE stage set and the audience already in stitches, we pick up the story four years after the events of ‘Tell Me About It’. The Calzone children, who were forced into a witness protection program in Denmark, return to Miami following the suspicious death of their father Don Calzone.

The questions on everyone’s lips is a) who will take over as the new Don

or Dona and b) who killed him (it is a murder mystery, after all).

Since everyone we meet along the way seems to have a motive, the an swer to that last question gets more and more muddied.

Heart and soul

NOT THAT it matters too much, but the plot of the 'Crazy Christmas Cabaret' has never been hugely important, as it’s the actors and colourful characters they play, as well as the jokes, satire, improv and musical numbers, which make the show so unique.

Take for example the seasoned pros Vivienne McKee, David Bateson, An drew Jeffers and Katrine Falkenberg. They are the heart and soul of the show – so much so that you couldn’t imagine a 'Crazy Christmas Cabaret' without them in it. Their ability to drop effort

lessly in and out of the many characters they play always impresses, and when they riff off each other, it’s where a lot of the comedy gold happens.

Exhibit A: the scene where McKee and Bateson pull an unassuming au dience member onto the stage – a much-loved 'Crazy Christmas Caba ret' tradition. Without going into too much detail – let's just say it involves an intimacy coach armed with a yellow card – you can tell that they play this out a little differently every night, but the end result is always the same with the crowd in laughing fits.

Arise Sir Knudsen

IN KEVIN Kiernan-Molloy, McKee has found a new crowd favourite. The Australian actor demonstrates both his versatility and comedy chops. His rendition of the flamboyant mob boss,

the Cuban, is up there with the funniest characters ever to grace Glassalen.

An honourable mention must go to newcomer Mikkel Hoe Knudsen who steps in to replace the sizeable shoes va cated by Jefferson Bond. Knudsen mostly cut his teeth in musicals, and his smooth tenor vocals add star factor to the vari ous musical numbers. But comedy is the bread and butter of the 'Crazy Christmas Cabaret', and against the veterans he was

more than capable of holding his own.

Happy returns

FOR THIS writer, being back at Glas salen for the first time in three years felt in many ways like a happy and much needed reunion.

Of course not all the jokes and musi cal numbers were sharp and on point, but in the grand scheme of things this is a show you don’t wanna miss!

CRAZY CHRISTMAS CABARET PRESENTS

The cast are in murderous mood this year

Crazy Christmas Cabaret: ‘Don Calzone’

ongoing, ends Jan 14; Glassalen at Tivoli; from 360kr, teaterbilletter.dk; 135 min

This Crazy Christmas Edition will take us away from the dreary Danish winter to sunny 1980s Miami Beach, where the Calzone Family are in crisis again! Most of the team are returning from last year, so expect show creator and London Toast co-founder Vivienne McKee (see page 10 for her column), David Bateson, Katrine Falkenberg, Kevin Kiernan-Molloy and Andrew Je ers as The Dame. Check out our review on Page 17 (SS)

Connections

ongoing, ends Feb 19; Sølvgade 48-50, Cph K; 120kr The year 2022 marks exactly 30 years since Denmark received 20,000 refugees from the former Yugoslavia. Many of these refugees chose to stay in Denmark and became artists, and seven of them present personal artwork inspired by the Yugoslav Wars, migration and asylum policies.

Digital Matters

ends Feb 19; Kunsthalle Charlottenborg, Kongens Nytorv 1, Cph K; 90kr; kunsthalcharlottenborg.dk

Honey Biba Beckerlee examines connections between spheres of geology, technology and biology using wire coils, microchip scrap, cables and server racks to create sculptures that resemble ceramic mosaics. (SS)

Christmas at Tivoli

ongoing, ends Dec 31; Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; standard entry: 145kr; tivoli.dk

The 28th Christmas season at Tivoli begins on November 19 with Santa Claus welcoming the rst guests in his new house built on the square overlooking the Christmas village. The candles on the Christmas tree will be lit at the Great Fountain, accompanied by celebrities, while the Tivoli Gardens Brass Band and the Storybook Theatre elves will also entertain. (SS)

Opera Tours in English

Nov 26, Dec 3 and Dec 10-11 at 10:00, Nov 27 & Dec 4 at 12:00; Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; 135kr, under-12s 60kr, kglteater.dk

Discover the Opera's beautiful foyer with its clean lines, Olafur Eliasson's light sculptures, and views over Copenhagen Harbour that embrace the shiny maple shell around the Main Stage. Guided tours of Gamle Scene will take place on November 17 and December 4 & 11 at 11:00.

Højbro

Plads Market

ongoing, ends Dec 21, open Mon-Wed 11:0020:00, Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-22:30, Sun 12:00-19:00; Højbro Pl, Cph K; julemarked.nu In the heart of the Old Town, the International Christmas Market is based on the typical German Weihnachtsmarkt concept. The wooden huts are imported from Tyrol and many exhibitors come from Germany. (SS)

Globe Christmas Quiz

Dec 15, 19:15; Globe, Nørregade 43, Cph K; 50kr, ve per team

The winners get 1,200 kroner. And who knows, the odd rollover has been known to go too. Backto-back quizzes following the cancellation of the September 22 edition.

In nite Deep

ends Jan 16; Nikolaj Kunsthal, Nikolaj Plads 10, Cph K; 40kr

Curator Christian Nørgaard had exclusive access to David Lynch’s photo archives to make this exhibition. It’s tailor-made to t in with the gothic style of Nikolaj Kunsthals Øvre Galleri og Tårn. The church tower dates back to the 16th century. (SS)

Kendzsi Tanaka

Nov 30, 19:30; Konservatoriets Koncertsal, Julius Thomsens Gade 1, Frederiksberg; free adm; dkdm.dk

Kendzsi Tanaka’s repertoire of classical piano pieces mixed with electronic music gives this performance an eclectic touch. The concert will include a suite by Ravel and Bartok's piano quintet, among other works. (SS)

Copenhagen Zoo Market

ongoing, ends 31 Dec, open most days 10:00-16:00; Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 38, Frederiksberg; 195kr includes entrance to zoo; zoo.dk

More than 400,000 Christmas lights, 900 Christmas trees and cosy market stalls make the wonderful experience of visiting the zoo a magical one. (SS)

De kosmiske dansere

ongoing, 16:00; Ofelia Plads, Cph K

Five large sculptures by Danish artist Lin Utzon, each 3.5 metres in length, have been unveiled at Ofelia Plads. The statues will be illuminated each night until the end of March.

Ka-Ching! - Show me the money

ongoing; National Museum, Ny Vestergade 10, Cph K Learn about the history of money and gain some insights into the world of nance. And take a money bath!

Gravens Rand Quiz

Dec 6 & 20; Søndre Fasanvej 24, Frederiksberg; entry 30kr

Maximum of four per team, it’s 1,000 kroner for the winners and a crate of beer for second. Two beer rounds, and shots for last place!

Christmas at Bakken

ongoing, ends 22 Dec; Dyrehavevej 62, Klampenborg; free adm; bakken.dk

The world's longest-running themepark has a market with traditional food. Santa Claus will be there with his singing reindeer to put on shows for the whole family. (SS)

CPH Musical Theater Xmas Concert

Dec 8, 20:00; Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø & Dec 17, 15:00 & 19:00, LiteraturHaus, Møllegade 7, Cph N; 95kr, cphmusicals.com

CPH Musical Theater Co presents a collaboration with Lamfuz Madklub and LiteraturHaus full of Christmas magic. Expect Christmas show-stoppers galore. (SS)

Tivoli Market

ongoing, ends 30 Dec, open Sun-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; 145 kr, tivoligardens.com

Decorations and thousands of Christmas lights create a dreamy atmosphere as Santa and his reindeer await visitors. The surrounding market stalls will be lled with snacks, sweets and hot drinks. (SS)

Nyhavn Christmas Market

ongoing, Sun-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; Nyhavn, Cph K; free adm Nyhavn is decked out in Christmas decorations with a wide range of local sweets and traditional Danish Xmas hits on o er. (SS)

Christmas Extravaganza

Dec 3, 20:00; Lille Vega, Enghavevej 40, Cph V; 200kr; billetto.dk Celebrate the Christmas season with a drag show full of music and humour. (SS)

Carlsberg Market

Every weekend in Dec, 10:00-17:00; Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V; free adm Carlsberg is once again holding its Christmas market in the historic surroundings of the former brewery. Sample beer and stroll around the stalls selling Carlsberg products. (SS)

Kongens Nytorv Market

ongoing, ends Dec 22, open Mon-Wed 11:0019:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri & Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-19:00; Kongens Nytorv, Cph K; admission free jul-i-kobenhavn.dk

In the city centre there is a market that brings together the Christmas essence of the Danes. Father Christmas will be there for photos surrounded by the smell of hot drinks and sweets. (SS) Christmas at Flid

Dec 9-11, 10:00-17:00; Nørrebrohallen, Nørrebrogade 208, Cph N; 30 kroner, free adm for kids; idmarked.dk

A market full of handmade art by designers and professional artists at Nørrebrohallen. (SS)

Kennedy’s Quiz

Dec 5 19:30; Kennedy’s Irish Bar,Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V

Quiz night at Kennedy’s Irish Bar includes ra es, cash prizes, and drinks rounds.

The Nutcracker

on The Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage

Nov 26 Dec 21, Wed-Fri 19:30, Sat & Sun 13:00 & 17:00; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 135-805kr, kglteater.dk

Enjoy George Balanchine's version of 'The Nutcracker' set to the music of Tchaikovsky at the home of Danish ballet. Going to watch it is a beautiful Danish Christmas tradition. (SS)

Proper British Afternoon Tea

Nov 20; Kogebogeriet, Guldbergsgade 10, Cph N If you’re looking for an authentic British afternoon tea, then Kogebogeriet is the place to go. Enjoy a menu that includes roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, freshly-baked scones and clotted cream, along with unlimited tea.

HC Andersen Market

ongoing, ends Dec 21; Nytorv, Hulgårdsvej 27, Cph K; free adm, julemarked.co

A fairytale Christmas market in the heart of Copenhagen. All the stalls are named after Hans Christian Andersen's fairy-tales and you can even meet the famous author in person and have your photo taken with him. (SS)

Dragør Market

Nov 26-Dec 18, Sat & Sun 12:00-17:00; Badstuevælen, Dragør; visit-dragoer.dk

Come to the old town of Dragør and discover the Christmas stalls that ll Badstuevælen's central square. Buy small gifts and enjoy sweet glögg wine. (SS)

Christmas at Kronborg Castle

Nov 26-Dec 4, weekends 10:00-17:00; Kronborg 1B, Helsingør; 95kr, kronborg.dk

The large halls and rooms of the castle will invite you to a wide variety of craft stalls, Christmas decorations, unique designs, toys, clothes and trinkets. Don’t miss the large Christmas tree in the ballroom! While children can enjoy storytelling and workshops. (SS)

Christmas at Designmuseum Danmark

Dec 2-11, Fri 12:00-17:00, Sat & Sun 10:00-17:00; Designmuseum Danmark, Bredgade 68, Cph K; free adm with museum admission, otherwise: 20kr.

With more than 70 designers and professional craftspeople, this is the chance to pick up a unique gift: from ceramics and glass, to jewellery and textiles. (SS)

The Nutcracker at Tivoli

Nov 26-Dec 23, Tue-Thu 19:00, Fri 16:00, Sat 12:30 & 16:00, Sun 12:30; Tivoli Concert Hall; 220-690kr, tivoli.dk

Set in Tivoli itself on one Christmas night in the late 19th century, Danish Queen Margrethe II has designed both the set and the costumes for this production! (SS)

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK

Recruitment Announcements

GLOBAL PROGRAMME FINANCE MANAGER, OXFAM IBIS

We are looking for an experienced and qualified Accountant or Finance Manager with experience in developing and implementing financial processes, policies and templates

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 2 December 2022

Contact: Lars Udsholt, Global Programme Manager lu@oxfamibis.dk

JR. ASSISTANT - PEOPLE GROWTH & CULTURE, COLOPLAST

The student assistant supports and manages tasks within the digital learning space, global program management and other ad hoc tasks.

Location: Humlebaek

Deadline: ASAP

Contact: Stine Fehmerling, Snr. Director of People Growth & Culture, +45 49 11 34 19

EXPERIENCED SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER (ENGLISH/GERMAN/ITALIAN/ CHINESE SPEAKING), TOUR PARTNER GROUP, NORDICS

Together with your clients you will develop authentic itineraries and create memories for their customers that should last a lifetime.

Location: Charlottenlund Deadline: ASAP

Contact: tourpartnergroup.com/ vacancies

To advertise your vacancy here and reach 60,000+ readers weekly, contact: info@englishjobdenmark.dk or call 60 70 22 98.

For more information about what we can offer: https://englishjobdenmark.dk/

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK

PRODUCT MANAGER FOR CABLES & ACCESSORIES, INVISIO

Your key focus will be to manage and drive the requirements and coordinate the Product Management work for a competitive system offering.

Location: Hvidovre

Deadline: 18 December 2022

Contact: Patrik Bitzén, Director Product Management, pbn@invisio.com

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER FOR THE IFRC PSYCHOSOCIAL CENTRE; RED CROSS

Do you thrive in a busy work environment with constant deadlines and ever-changing tasks and priorities? Are you fluent in English, in writing as well as spoken? This might be the job for you.

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 4 December 2022

Contact: Jesper Guhle, jeguh@rodekors.dk

SENIOR CONSOLIDATION MANAGER, CARLSBERG

Do you have exceptional IT & excel skills? Probably the best Consolidation Team is searching for a new colleague with a passion for consolidation, financial reporting and IT.

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 11 December 2022

Contact: Jesper Niehues, Consolidation Director, Jesper.Niehues@carlsberg.com

MECHANICAL MANUFACTURING ENGINEER, TOPSOE

You will report to the Head of Product Development and work closely with product developers having a background in process, electrical or mechanical engineering. You will also team up with experts within the fields of business and market development along with and procurement and industrialization experts.

Location: Kgs. Lyngby

Deadline: 5 December 2022

Contact: Christian Wix, Head of Product Development, +45 22 75 41 61

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, HUMAN RESOURCES, MAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS

You will be supporting the Head of HR International in her daily work; from organizing travels and various calendar and mail topics (meeting bookings, meeting agenda preparation, driving annual recurring activities, travel management etc.) to preparing material/ presentations.

Location: Copenhagen

Deadline: 12 December 2022

Contact: Ms. Katrine Brusgaard Haldne, Head of HR International, +45 23 21 41 63

FRONTEND ENGINEER, ELOOMI

We are looking for someone with a strong professional background in building frontend applications using VueJS & TypeScript and delivering modern, testable and maintainable code.

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: ASAP Contact: Josh Carson, Talent Sourcer, jcarson@eloomi.com

UNSOLICITED APPLICATIONS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, RAMBOLL

If you can’t find an open position that matches your interest, we invite you to join our Talent Community.

Location: Copenhagen

Deadline: No deadline

Contact: ramboll.com/careers

Find out more at: englishjobdenmark.dk/

English Job Denmark started in 2019, in response to how challenging and unforgiving the employment market can be for foreigners. The team had firsthand experience and wanted to share their knowledge in successfully finding a job in some of the top organizations in Denmark.