VISIT COPENHAGEN/ DANIEL JENSEN
INTRODUCTION
Don’t let the weather get you down: hit the ground running, newcomers! You’ve just arrived and you’re freezing.
SWIMMING WITH SHARKS Ever heard how swimming with sharks is the best cure for not wanting to swim with sharks?
it’s been as long as Brexit – but another winter of restrictions seems likely. How strict they are might depend on how many more choose to get vaccinated.
There’s no such thing as bad weather, the Danes will tell you, only bad clothing (mental note to oneself: next time you hear this, tell them to watch BBC drama ‘The North Water’ on dr.tv).
Well, sometimes heading outdoors on a blisteringly cold day (page 18) is the best way to warm up your spirits. From hunting and hiking to sailing and kitesurfing, Denmark is waiting for you to discover it.
But for now, the effect on your education (12-13), employment (14-15) and healthcare (16-17) prospects remains negligible. This is digital Denmark, after all!
But for a nation with so much bravado, they spend an awful lot of their winter indoors.
Sometimes you have to take ‘The Untouchables’ approach (see factbox). Because if you do, you can return home to your warm home and feel the wholesomeness the weather is doing its best to drain out of you.
And unlike the buildings in most other European countries, they tend to be splendidly warm. So, newcomers! Providing you’ve got a decent coat, you should be fine! LIFE WITHOUT THE SUN Still, there are better times to be arriving in Denmark, and this explains why we’ve gone all-out this November to tailor-make this Relocation special for newbies to the cold. Our main feature does its very best to prepare you for all the pitfalls of the Danish winter (pages 8-11). From waking up and navigating the school run in the dark to seldom seeing the Sun (if you can, the brass monkeys are in trouble), the effect is often more psychological than physical.
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Here’s hoping we can all enjoy a better Christmas than last year!
NO REVOLUTIONS HERE! Christmas plays a large part in helping us to persevere. Imagine what January and February would feel like if we were denied all that festive fun: like a bad joke! Really, sometimes it feels like it’s one massive construct to make sure the paupers don’t eat the toffs. And to think they used to ‘end’ winter with Lent. Talk about pushing your luck! BYE BREXIT, YOU’RE NEXT CORONA! There’s been a lot of talk about Brexit ending badly and we’ve done our best to update our British readers on the repercussions (page 6). We’re also hopeful that corona will end soon (also page 6) – sometimes it feels like
IRISH-SCOTTISH COP JIM MALONE SAYS ... You wanna get warm? If the Danish weather ish making you sschwirm on the way to the Sshubway, then sschprint all the way to work! If you can’t feel your faesh, then jump into the iceshee lake! That’sh the Copenhagen way!
VISIT COPENHAGEN
COLD DIGITS, WARM SPIRITS
GETTING STARTED PIXABAY
GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS
Some things can wait, but others can’t. Believe us, you won’t feel settled until you’ve accomplished these first few goals Whether you are well prepared or utterly clueless, here are some of the important first things to do when tackling relocation. CPR NUMBER First things first! Do you have a CPRnumber? For most things in Denmark, you will need a CPR-number (Civil Registration Number). This is easy to obtain through the website or office of your local kommune (council).
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There is a fast-track scheme in place to enable certified companies to hire highly qualified foreign nationals at short notice without having to wait for an application to be processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. The scheme also offers foreign nationals the option of working alternately in and out of Denmark.
EASY ACCOUNT Another thing that everyone in Denmark needs is an Easy Account (Nemkonto) because all payments from public institutions (tax refunds, child subsidies, pensions, student loans, unemployment benefits, housing support and social welfare payments) are transferred directly to this account by default.
English information on all this, and more, can be found on the ‘New To Denmark’ website: nyidanmark.dk
The easiest thing to do is to designate your basic bank account as your Easy Account. However, you can also open a specific separate account for this purpose. More information available here: nemkonto.dk/ da/Servicemenu/Engelsk
In order to get one, you have to meet certain criteria: your stay in the country must last longer than 3 months; if you are an EU citizen, you have a registration certificate (does not apply to Nordic citizens); if you are a non-EU citizen, you have obtained a residence permit; and you have a place to live.
SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT You will need a bank account in order to receive your salary and any payments made to you by the authorities, such as tax refunds. Danish law allows any person with a CPR-number to open a basic bank account. This will not include overdraft facilities, credit facilities or a debit card. These have to be agreed on with the bank individually.
Residence and Work Permits If you wish to stay in Denmark for longer than three months, you will need a residence permit. If you are not a citizen of a Nordic or EU country, you also need a work permit.
EU rules stipulate that you will have to supply the bank with data such as your full name, address, and maybe other information, which has to be verifiable by the presentation of an identity document, preferably including a photo.
RELOCATION WINTER GUIDE 2021
DANISH SOCIETY Learning about Danish norms is crucial to understanding the social culture in Copenhagen. Denmark scores well in international polls on things as diverse as lack of corruption and happiness. It is also considered a safe and secure country to live in. Children often walk or cycle to school alone and crime rates against persons are low. There is a high standard of living in Denmark and Danish society is very egalitarian, both economically and when
it comes to gender equality. Taxes can seem very high to newcomers but they go towards providing a comprehensive cradle-to-grave welfare state and most people pay them willingly. Among other things, the system is geared to providing child-care right from the start, and there are generous maternity and paternity leave allowances, which encourage women to return to the workplace after having children. Local councils are obliged to offer child-care places within the state regime and there are also private child-care options, which are heavily state-subsidised. Education and medical treatment are free of charge although there are private clinics and private schools available, should you wish to use them. TRANSPORT Cycling is extremely popular with people of all ages and social classes, and Copenhagen alone has over 390 kms of designated bicycle lanes. About 55 percent of the locals bike to work and school. In a city like Copenhagen, a bike is often the quickest way of getting around – and there are no parking charges. There are more bikes than cars here: last year, the number of bikes reached higher than 265.000, while there were only about 252.000 cars in the city.
However, if you live too far from work to bike, or you just sweat like hell when you do it, you will need to make use of the Danish public transportation system. In this case, buses, metros, and trains will likely be essential factors of adapting to life in Copenhagen. See page 10 for a comprehensive guide to public transportation. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE Familiarising yourself with the Danish terrain and weather will help you better adjust to your new home. Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula (which is attached to Germany) and a number of islands in the Baltic Sea. The largest of these are Zealand, on which the capital city Copenhagen is situated, and Funen. The island of Bornholm is located east of the rest of the country. Many of the larger islands are connected by bridges: the Øresund Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, the Great Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand and the Little Belt Bridge connects Jutland with Funen. Area-wise, Denmark is a relatively small country (43,560 square kilometres) with a population slightly over 5.7 million people. Almost 2 million of them live in the four largest cities – Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg – with Copenhagen having the
largest population at 1.3 million. The country has a temperate climate characterised by mild winters, with mean temperatures in January of 1.5°C (34.7°F), and cool summers, with a mean temperature in August of 17.2°C (63.0°F). This does not mean, though, that it cannot get very cold here – on 8 January 1982 a record -31.2°C was reported in Hørsted in Thy.
NEWS
OPENING DOORS Make sure you have a corona passport, or you won’t be able to go out
shops to be made compulsory again.
Earlier this year Denmark became the first country in Europe to successfully roll out a corona-passport strategy: an app called Min Sundhed.
VALID FOR DAYS Unvaccinated people are required to get a test in order to get a pass. So not like Austria, where they are only allowed to leave their homes to work and shop for vital goods!
Once you’ve got a CPR number, make sure you sort out your corona passport.
All Danish residents with a CPR number (and a yellow health card) can access the platform, which holds a record of recent corona tests and their outcomes, vaccinations and immunity. CAPACITY IS CRUCIAL The corona pass has been required since November 12 in response to the escalating number of cases. Your passport grants you access to indoor dining and drinking, cinemas and theatre, nightlife venues and places frequented by vulnerable people – in a nutshell, it applies to all indoor events where the maximum capacity is 200+ and outdoor events where the maximum capacity is 2,000+. So far it is the only restriction in Denmark, despite many calling for the wearing of facemasks on public transport and in
While the PCR tests tend to take around 12 hours to yield results, plenty more centres have reopened offering antigen quick tests over the last week. The queue for a quick-test takes around 20 minutes, and the result follows in half an hour, yielding a pass that is valid for 72 hours, compared to 96 hours for a PCR test. GETTING PROTECTED The Danish vaccination program was relatively successful to the extent that 75 percent of the population was covered by September, but numbers have stalled since then for two reasons.
CLOSING THE GATE? All Brits are warned to reapply for Danish residency by December 31 or risk losing their right to live in Denmark
The only Brits exempt from reapplying for Danish residency either work for the British Embassy in Copenhagen or have successfully applied to become a citizen of this country. This meant that thousands who had permanent residency, in many cases moving here long before the 20th century came to an end, had to reapply - this time by getting their biometrics (fingerprints, photo) documented by the Danish authorities. It’s not 100 percent certain what will happen should somebody fail to apply, but it’s really not worth finding out if it means you are asked to leave a country where you have carved out a career, or raised a family, or both. Most likely, from 2022 onwards, Brits will have to apply as third country nationals under the Danish Aliens Act.
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Firstly, there are a relatively small number of anti-vaxxers – particularly compared to some countries in eastern Europe. Secondly, several communities of nonDanish heritage have extremely low rates due to concerns about the side-effects. Some even think the jab will make you infertile. It doesn’t help that the cited percentage applies to the entire population – so to under-12s who are not able to get the jabs, although it is being discussed whether children aged 7-11 should also be protected.
HOLLER IF YOU AIN’T HEARD Since the beginning of the year, the authorities have been encouraging Brits to re-apply, starting with the eldest first to make sure SIRI, the agency for international recruitment and integration, wasn’t swamped with paperwork. This has meant that some have had to wait until November 30 to get the green light, and they are best advised to get their skates on! All British residents with a CPR number should receive official notification in their e-Boks by the end of November, so contact SIRI if you haven’t heard anything. All documents must be submitted by 31 December 2021. NHS BLOW In related news, it transpires that a post-Brexit rule change means UK nationals who moved to the European Union after 31 December 2020 will no longer be able to get free NHS healthcare when they visit the UK. Under the NHS residence-based qualification system, these Brits will be classed as
overseas visitors. And finally, the 2021 British budget confirmed that British citizens living abroad, who are not residents of the UK for tax purposes, can qualify to vote on an “indefinite basis” in future UK elections. For British expats who have long been lobbying to change a 2002 law specifying that only non-residents who have lived overseas for less than 15 years are eligible, this is good news. However, it also means that these Brits could be subject to UK inheritance tax in the case of their death, warn experts.
Your Local Global Academy a Stone’s Throw from Copenhagen
Open Evening
Tuesday January 11th. 2022.
Birkerød Gymnasium, STX, HF, IB & Boarding School has been an IB World School since 1991, offering Pre-IB and the upper secondary IB Diploma Programme. A vibrant environment of more than 60 nationalities gives the school a unique international atmosphere in which not only English
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and Danish are spoken, but also a number of other languages. IB at Birkerød Gymnasium is a unique chance to experience both the international atmosphere of the IB programmes as well as the atmosphere of a Danish national school.
BIRKERØD GYMNASIUM STX, HF, IB & KOSTSKOLE
SURVIVING WINTER VISIT COPENHAGEN/ METTE JOHNSEN
HIBERNATION OR MIGRATION? FINDING SALVATION IN THE DANISH WINTER
BY LENA HUNTER
The ultimate survival guide for enduring through to the spring If you’re reading this, you poor soul, then it’s because you’ve wound up by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in the northern hemisphere during the winter. Some people seem to traverse the coldest season with the kind of dazzling optimism that makes you want to smash a biscuit tin over their heads. So how do they do it? Well, it’s easy. IS IT SAD OR AM I JUST SAD? Living in the northern climes you’ve surely heard of Seasonal Afflictive Disorder (SAD). As you can surmise from the acronym, it’s a type of depression caused by the onset of winter that makes you feel sad in capital letters. Symptoms include lethargy and low mood, but the jury is still out on why some people develop SAD and others don’t. Around 8 percent of the Scandinavian population experience the ‘Winter Blues’ and it’s more prevalent among women than men.
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Studies have shown that the brain’s production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, relates directly to sunlight exposure. While Denmark is blessed with 17 hours of daylight in the summer, in the winter you’ll be lucky to see seven. Not only that, but your vitamin D levels take a beating in the winter. Vitamin D aids your immune system, nervous system, muscles and calcium absorption. SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOUL It’s wise, therefore, to give your body an artificial boost. Thanks to modern tech, light therapy lamps are now affordable, portable and widely available. Yes, they seem a little creepy, but nobody has to see you gazing blankly into its luminous depths like a cave-dwelling reptile – you can just absorb its power in private and spend the rest of the day fully charged and absurdly blithe. Plus, as per government advice for the entire northern hemisphere, Danes pop
vitamin D tablets like candy, or more accurately, they eat candy like it’s Vitamin D. Combined, a lamp and a supplement won’t rival a hot Friday afternoon of sun-worshipping at Krøyers Plads, but it has the semblance of self-care and might lift your spirits. When you’re facing four months of darkness, a little means a lot. NATURE LESSON 1: HIBERNATION When you’re on your second espresso, psyching yourself up to turn off the light therapy lamp and set forth on a dark, wet and joyless morning commute, it can be healthy to remember that life finds a way. Bears, for example, survive Arctic conditions by making a den and going into a torpor. By all means, go into a torpor yourself, but it probably won’t look good in front of your colleagues. More socially acceptable is to make yourself a den – which means embracing the flogged-to-death-by-tourist-guides concept of Danish ‘hygge’.
LEARNING DANISH IS
NO COW ON THE ICE [ “No cow on the ice” is a strange Danish way of describing things being easy ] Learn Danish – or simply improve your Danish – quick and easy at Studieskolen in the centre of Copenhagen. We guarantee the highest quality Danish lessons in an international study environment. Find out more about our new courses every six weeks for beginners, intermediate or advanced learners at studieskolen.dk.
SURVIVING WINTER VISIT COPENHAGEN/ KIM WYON
What hygge boils down to is choosing the people you’re going to hunker down with for the winter: the kind of crew you wouldn’t mind being sealed in an air-raid shelter with, together with only canned foods and Monopoly. Find those people and keep them close. Establish a schedule of casual socialising to combat the fearsome isolation of the pingpong, work-home routine. While you’re at it, make your home ‘hyggeligt’ to support a positive mindset: decorate, play music, clean up, cook good food. Mental framing may be your best weapon. A 2020 study by health psychologist Kari Leibowitz of attitudes towards winter amongst residents of Tromsø, Norway – which sees only three hours of daylight during winter – found that the more they perceived winter as an opportunity to enjoy the climate, the higher their levels of life satisfaction and overall mental health. NATURE LESSON 2: WARMTH Here’s what bears do: they gorge themselves to form a thick layer of fat before they turn in for winter. Whatever happens over winter, there will almost certainly be some gorging. Brace yourself for cheese fondue, pork, duck, gravy and an avalanche of potatoes-everyway. Danes are feeders and ‘tis the season when bottlenecks of decadent julefrokosts, reunion drinks, buffets and family parties will hijack your weekends. Every shop will adopt the ceremonial bowl of pebernødder (cardamom biscuits) and some staff may even accost you with a thimble of gløgg on entry. So the layer of fat is a given. But you should still supplement nature’s jacket with a high-quality winter coat. Puffer if possible, fur-lined if you want, but hooded is a must. Also crucial are long-johns, as is ensuring a secure connection between sock and longjohn. Essentially, if you were to strip a Dane in winter, you would find a thermal layer forming a perfect seal from neck to toe, like a ham in a sousvide machine. NATURE LESSON 3: MIGRATION In Tønder, southern Denmark, a familiar harbinger of winter is the sight of the so-called ‘sort sol’ (black sun) – migrating starlings in flocks of up to 1 million birds. The tiny holiday-seekers fly south for winter, where they book up whole blocks
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of cheap, full-board hotel complexes on the Alicante coast. It’s probably cheating to advise a winter break as a coping mechanism, but it’s one many northerners adopt. According to Danmark Statistik, every year 380,000 Danes go on a winter holiday – half to sun and sea and the other half to snow and ski. What they’re all seeking is extremes. Danish winter is cold and dark, but there are no snow-swaddled mountains, no gloomy lakes under a layer of ice as thick as a seven eleven, no polar night, aurora borealis or bloodthirsty carnivores roaming the villages. Denmark is a flat, bland vista of squat cities, towns and farmland, frequently bulldozed by fog and cloud, and never scorching nor glacial. If you can snag a cheap flight for some cheap thrills this winter, don’t say no.
WINTER MY RIDE If you’re staying put, then take this alternative nugget of migratory advice: pimp your vehicle for winter. Put your car under a tarp or in a garage. Get a set of winter tyres. Get a squeegee, an ice scraper, and a thermal flask that actually fits your cup-holder. If you’re biking, switch your tyres: if you’re still flying around on skinny 25mm racer tyres you’ll thank yourself for upgrading to at least a 28mm, but a beefy pair of 30+mms with hefty tread is life changing. Have mudguards, bike gloves, responsive brakes, a balaclava with slits for eye holes so you can barrel down the road in subzero temperatures without friction-burning the skin off your face in the frozen air. Warm water works on a frozen lock and WD40 is your best friend.
LONESOME THIS CHRISTMAS? The elephant in the room is Christmas. It deserves its own survival guide. It’s both a welcome oasis of promised relaxation and a life-upending barrage of obligations. Nevertheless, the prospect of a solo-Christmas is less gloomy than in last year’s brutal lockdown. Many of us were and will be alone for the holidays. If your family is abroad and you’re scrabbling for company, here are some tips.
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Let go of your expectations. This isn’t as depressing as it sounds. Growing up, we’re spoon-fed an ideal of what Christmas should be by our families, half-remembered traditions and the media.
Once you free yourself psychologically from what you should be doing and who should be there, you will feel far more present and satisfied. Set your own tone and define your own enjoyment. If you want to seek company in your local community there are communal dining arrangements, usually in support of charities, around the city. Search for ‘fællesspisning’ to find events near you. Most Danes spend New Years’ Eve at home. If someone invites you to their home on the 31st , just say yes. Everyone’s looking for the perfect party and if you’re too picky you’ll end up with nothing. CLOTHES OFF IN THE COLD So far, surviving winter has been largely about avoidance. But the opposite strategy – embracing the cold – is frequently heralded as the healthiest approach. Winter bathing is a national sport in Denmark. A dunk in ice water improves circulation, burns fat, betters your immune response, releases endorphins and reduces stress. It’s an age-old secret to longevity championed in Scandinavia and well worth taking part in. A word of warning: do not jump in. Cold water shock is real and dangerous. Keep moving in the water to aid acclimatisation, and warm up slowly afterwards. A general rule is to spend one minute for every temperature degree of the water. CLOTHES OFF IN THE HEAT On the flipside, saunas are another proven vitality booster during winter. They purport to offer many of the same cardiovascular benefits as cold water swimming and are also thought to benefit asthma sufferers and those with irritated skin. Plus it’s just nice to be warm. Get outside without taking your clothes off by ice-skating, winter hiking in woodlands around the city, foraging for Christmas decorations or the last of autumn’s edible mushrooms. Take in the city lights and festive markets if you’re an urbanite – but for god’s sake go outside. Whatever your approach to winter, a blanket survival tip is to put the effort in. No pain no gain. When energy reserves are low, you’ll be grateful for preparation and forethought. In the season of giving, you get what you give.
G lobal Mindset - Global Education - Global Life
You don’t need huge glittering bows on a monstrous fir tree and a stack of gifts up to your elbows. Traversing airports and motorways, corona tests and living out of a suitcase just to appease the notion of ‘togetherness over Christmas’ is stressful. Admit it!
• We welcome students from ages 3 to 19 • We offer the full continuum of International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes: PYP, MYP and DP, as well as Pre-K • We deliver an excellent, well-rounded education in a caring and supportive learning environment • We offer exciting trips, extra-curricular activities and many more activities beyond the classroom • We have Morning Club and After School Care • We are affordable and offer scholarships • Our teachers are passionate and highly qualified • We pride ourselves on fostering reflective and purposeful learners, as well as responsible global citizens • We are considerate, form warm relationships, and build and nurture our ISH Community The International School of Hellerup is a Not-For-Profit IB World School with over 600 students representing more than 70 nationalities from around the world.
Find out more about ISH, book a visit or contact us at + 45 70 20 63 68 I info@ish.dk I www.ish.dk
EDUCATION VISIT COPENHAGEN/ JAKOB HANSSON
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DANISH SCHOOLS If you have school-age children, you may be wondering what the Danish education system is like. There are a number of questions that will spring to mind if you are a family with young children that have just arrived in Denmark. You may want to know about day-care and what the different options are. For those with older children, the question might be how does the education system function? Is it compatible with the one back home? Is it as good? Then you may need to decide whether to go state or private. All importantly, if my children don’t speak the language, how well will they integrate and will they make friends? It may also be relevant to ask what opportunities there are for higher education and will a degree or qualification taken in Denmark be recognised abroad? HIGH STANDARDS The Danish school system is considered one of the best in the world and traditionally, Danish governments have
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always prioritised education highly. Denmark is a small country with few natural resources, so an educated population is vital in our globalised world. The National Reform Program adopted in 2013 was designed to get more young people to complete their education quickly, as well as ensuring high quality and efficiency within the educational system.
a UK, US or French model, is taught in English, French, Spanish, German or Japanese. Although there may be some Danish students, the student body is typically international. These schools are private and approved by the Ministry of Education to teach in languages other than Danish, either for the whole school or parts of it.
FREE OR FEE-PAYING? All children are entitled to free tuition at Danish municipal primary and lower secondary schools, as are adult students living in Denmark, depending on the level and nature of the institution. However, private schools are also fairly common and as these are heavily state-subsidised, the fees are not as high as they might be in other European countries. Private schools may be faith-based or following particular educational precepts, such as Rudolf Steiner schools. There are also schools for the German minority in Denmark. International schools exist where the curriculum, which often follows
LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING Children whose mother-tongue is not Danish and are enrolled in a daycare facility may be given a language assessment if there are linguistic, behavioural or other grounds to suggest that the child may be in need of language stimulation. The language assessment is compulsory for all children aged 3 who are not attending a day-care facility. If the assessment shows that language stimulation is needed, the local council must provide it. In primary and lower secondary schools, bi-lingual children can take ‘Danish as a second language’. If basic instruction is needed, the child
EDUCATION will be assigned to a reception class, a scheme for teaching in teams, or individual instruction. Bilingual children can participate in ordinary teaching but those who need extra support are referred to supplementary teaching. The number of lessons is tailored to the needs of the individual. A limited number of bilingual children in primary and lower secondary schools are offered tuition in their mothertongue. KEEP ON LEARNING Denmark has a long tradition of lifelong learning and many Danes participate in adult education. It is also common for workplaces to expect staff to upgrade their skills through educational schemes throughout their working careers. There are so-called folk high schools in Denmark: they offer a broad range of courses lasting from 4 days to 36 weeks. No particular educational or professional qualifications are required to attend these and most students are between 18 and 24 years old. You sleep, eat, study and spend your spare time at the school. There are no exams – but you get a diploma as a proof of your attendance. As for language schools, though studying Danish has recently become an expensive quest (unless you’re a refugee), some organisations offer free Danish courses – Red Cross and Bethesda church are two examples. Red Cross also does other relevant volunteer work such as their couples’ integration program, which provides help managing your relocation. As for digital means of language learning, you can start by checking out duolingo.com.
THE SIX STAGES There are six stages of education in Denmark: 1. Pre-school 2. Primary and lower secondary education 3. Upper secondary education 4. Vocational education and training 5. Higher education 6. Adult learning. Before they start pre-school, most Danish children have attended day-care, either in a nursery school or kindergarten. After preschool, which is optional, children go on to do nine years of compulsory education in primary and secondary school, with an option to take a tenth year. Pupils are divided into year groups by age, and progression from one year to the next is automatic. The same pupils stay together for all the 9 years. Classes usually consist of between 16 and 26 children. The tenth form can be taken in the existing school if it is offered there, but is also available at an efterskole, ungdomsskole or frifagskole. As well as providing academic programs allowing entry into higher education, upper secondary education can offer programmes of a more vocational nature. These are aimed at giving direct entry into the labour market and are often in conjunction with internships in various top Danish companies.
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JOBS
The Danish work culture is unique but many internationals fail to adequately consider it in their applications Job-hunting is an unappealing prospect at the best of times, not least during a global pandemic. For those looking to not only embark on a new career but do so also in a new country, the struggle is even greater. There are a number of obstacles between applicants and their dream job abroad – some of them obvious, some of them less so. Fortunately, in Denmark there is a plethora of resources out there to make the challenge that bit easier, moving you one step closer to a new life of a more Danish variety. A Danish draw For many internationals, a move to Denmark is hugely appealing. With a high quality of living and a work-life balance famed the world over, the small European state has much to envy. Furthermore, with some of the best English-speakers outside of the Anglophone world, many from these countries might think the move to be a simple one. If this goes some way towards understanding the supply of international workers looking to Denmark, it is well matched by demand within the country too. A small country with a small population, companies of all size are beginning to look abroad to fill vacancies.
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Reliance on exports also plays its part, with a steady demand for natives of important foreign markets to provide local insights and linguistic support. With this twofold action of desire and demand, it is tempting to think that a move to Denmark would be an easy one. For many, however, it is not so straightforward. Under their wing Many are fortunate enough to enjoy the support of the Danish government in making Denmark a permanent place of work. The Greater Copenhagen Career Program is a free six-month programme set up by the City to support international students in making the move to Denmark after they finish at a Danish university. It offers seminars and workshops on interview and presentation technique, CV and cover letter advice, and even LinkedIn tailoring. With the support of a personal career mentor, participants are encouraged to explore their preferences and consider their qualities in order to land a job in the Danish job market. But they are not the only ones that enjoy support from the state. A similar set-up is available for those who move to Denmark as a result of their partner’s career. The Copenhagen Career
Program is a free five-day job-hunting course, also run by the City. It represents a conscious effort to encourage assimilation into the workforce, and includes matchmaking events and company visits. Left in the cold Others, however, are left without the same welcoming party on their arrival in Denmark. For those that are neither partner nor student, kicking-off a job search in Denmark can be a formidable task. This is the case for a number of reasons: the language is one most internationals are unlikely to be unfamiliar with; the work culture, though an improvement on most, is a unique one; and that’s before they set out on tackling the whole pile of paperwork! Whilst English is a tongue that the majority of Danes can slip into with ease, Danish is still the language of business domestically. Whilst perhaps not explicit, there is certainly a sense in which employers expect Danish proficiency from their employees – a hurdle unexpected by many job-seekers. With all these obstacles, you might be forgiven for thinking it is more trouble than it’s worth, but thankfully there are many organisations and individuals out there eager to motivate and support your job search.
VISIT DENMARK/ MARTIN HEIBERG
GOOD JOB HUNTING: THINKING DANISHLY
JOBS
consideration, many applicants are likely to fall at hurdles they didn’t even realise were there.
For job-hunters more specifically they offer 1-2-1 coaching sessions, CV reviews, LinkedIn support, and presentations concerning cultural integration. Their services provide talented internationals with guidance on how to shape their skills and experiences to specifically Danish employers.
“It’s not just about the salary at the end of the month here. What recruiters in Denmark are looking for are people that are committed to their values – their mission as a company.”
Karey-Anne Duevang, career strategist at the Welcome Group, puts it simply: “It’s about understanding what you have and what you can offer.” The importance of culture You might have the perfect CV, fantastic previous experiences and great interview technique, but what Duevang believes many overlook are the cultural differences between Denmark and the applicant’s country of origin. Danish work culture is unique, and something people here take great pride in. Without taking it into
“The biggest challenge is cultural understanding. People can arrive in Denmark with the best, most accomplished CV and some wonderful experience, but unfortunately unless you understand how to communicate that to a Danish workplace then you’re not going to succeed,” Duevang contends.
Your first assignment One way the Welcome Group in particular has sought to raise awareness here is through the ‘Academy’ – an organisation set up by the group to ‘guide, advise and support internationals into employment in Denmark’. This is achieved through courses, workshops and up-skilling programmes, with regular Q&As with recruiters and events covering everything from CV writing to an ‘employment assistance hotline’. One happy graduate, Geoff Oakley, stated that it provided him with the “confidence, tools, and cultural awareness that I feel I need to truly understand Danish market
conditions, Danish society, and etiquette.” For Duevang, there are three golden rules: “one, prove that you can deliver on the job; two, prove that you can fit in with the existing team; and three, prove that you will stay once you get that position”. With these in mind, the job-hunt might just get that little bit easier. Taler du engelsk? Another useful resource for job-hunters out on their own is English Job Denmark, a non-profit providing information, guidance and advice specifically for those looking to land an English-speaking role. Primarily operating online, it consists of a large community of experts and internationals providing advice and motivation for those in the midst of job applications. As networking becomes increasingly important to job-hunting, English Job Denmark provides both a ready-built network and also tips on building those further connections needed to land that dream job. The Facebook group that runs adjacent boasts over 18,000 members and posts new jobs daily. Duevang describes the market for English-only speakers as “tough” but, to paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, nothing worth doing comes easy!
VISIT DENMARK/ KIM WYON
A welcoming smile One such organisation is the Welcome Group – a relocation and accommodation Service Consultancy located in the centre of Copenhagen. Its guiding mission is to ‘provide support every step of the way to a new life abroad’. Itself run by expats, the organisation provides support for everybody from those first thinking about making the leap to those already embedded in Denmark looking to further assimilate.
HEALTH RIGSHOSPITALET
YOUR GUIDE TO THE DANISH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
DENMARK HAS A COMPREHENSIVE TAX-PAYER FUNDED PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE BY STEPHEN GADD Under the Danish healthcare system medical treatment is usually free of charge. However, dentistry and any medicines prescribed may be charged to the patient, though these costs are often subsidised to some extent by the government National health insurance card All permanent residents in Denmark are eligible to use the healthcare system. Permanent residents receive a national health insurance card from their local authority which acts as an identity card and must be shown on visits to doctors, emergency rooms and hospitals. Anyone acutely ill is entitled to free hospital treatment, and this also applies to visitors from other countries. Interpreter If you do not speak or understand Danish, the staff can call in an interpreter to assist you. Likewise, if you need an interpreter at an appointment with a doctor, midwife, health visitor or visiting nurse you should indicate this when you make the appointment. This service is free of charge. Interpreters are neutral and bound by the rules of professional secrecy. General practitioners
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Anyone resident in Denmark is entitled to be registered with a general practitioner (GP). Your own GP will normally be able to find out what is wrong with you and how to treat you, but in some cases, may refer you to a specialist or a hospital. The name, address and telephone number of your GP is written on your national health insurance card. In order to see a GP, you will have to make an appointment by phone or via the internet. If you are dissatisfied with your GP, you can change to another one. Changing a GP without moving to a new address at least 15 kilometres from where your current GP is will incur a 190 kroner fee. If you change GP as a result of moving, that is free of charge. If you need medication, your GP will prescribe it for you. Prescription medicines can only be bought at pharmacies. Specialist doctors If your GP deems it necessary, you may be referred to a specialist. Some specialists require no referral, such as eye specialists and ear, nose and throat specialists. Out-of-hours services
If you become ill outside your own GP’s service hours, you can call the out-of-hours service. In most cases you will have to go to a treatment centre yourself to see an outof-hours doctor. The out-of-hours service is open from 4 pm to 8 am on weekdays, weekends, and on public holidays. Emergency Rooms Located at hospitals, emergency rooms are for serious injuries that your own GP cannot treat. At some hospitals you have to phone the emergency room in advance to let them know that you are coming. Alarm 112 If you need an ambulance, call the emergency centre at 112, stating your name and explaining what has happened, where and when it happened, and where you are calling from. Pregnancy If you are pregnant, you may be examined several times during the pregnancy by your own GP and a midwife. Ultrasound scanning is also available in hospitals to make sure that all is well with you and the baby and to identify any potential
HEALTH PIXABAY
problems as early as possible in your pregnancy. When you are pregnant, the first examination in your pregnancy will be carried out by your GP, who will create a maternity record that you must bring along to all subsequent appointments. Your GP will notify a midwife of your pregnancy. The midwife will then contact you to make an appointment. Together with your GP you can decide at which hospital you want to give birth to your child. You can also elect to give birth at home with the assistance of a midwife. Termination In Denmark all women have the right to opt for termination of the pregnancy at a hospital in the first twelve weeks. In order to obtain a termination you must contact your GP, who will then refer you to a hospital. Childcare in Denmark You will receive assistance from a health visitor in your home when your child has been born up to the age of 2. In addition to examining your child, the visitor can answer any other related questions you may have. Health checks and child vaccination All children can be examined and vaccinated free-of-charge. All children in Denmark are also entitled to free dental care until they reach the age of 18. Upon reaching school age, local authority doctors and nurses will perform preventative examinations of children in their first and last years of schooling, and children will receive automatic appointments with the school dentist. If your child encounters problems at school, you can talk to the school psychologist about them. Help and care in your own home Special services are offered to elderly people who need care and assistance. Elderly people may apply for home help for personal care, cleaning and assistance with shopping. You can also apply for help if you are very ill. Elderly people and those who are very ill can also request a district
nurse to come to their home to provide care and administer medication. A doctor will assess your needs in this respect. If you have been hospitalised you may need home help or a nurse to help you when you return to home. Normally, the hospital will contact your local authority to make sure you will be given the help and assistance you need. Read more The information in the above article is taken from a brochure issued by the Danish Health Authority and the Danish Cancer Society. The easiest way to obtain this brochure is to visit cancer.dk/international/english, click on ‘Cancer prevention’ and find the link that reads: The Danish healthcare system. For information about the coronavirus in Denmark, see the Health Authority’s website: sst. dk/en/English For seniors, more information about your rights and opportunities can be found at the DaneAge Association (ÆldreSagen): call +45 33968686 or aeldresagen.dk (but fire up Google Translate because the website is Danish-only).
RELOCATION WINTER GUIDE 2021
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OUTDOORS
NATURE AND WATER SPORTS IN DENMARK
VISIT COPENHAGEN/ TINE UFFELMANN
OUT OF THE CAGE AND INTO THE WILD:
BY MATHIAS FREUDENTHAL True, more than 60 percent of the country is arable land, but there’s still plenty of nature, and outdoor activities are a great way to explore the country.
Beginners can start by enrolling in a course or taking part in a camp at places like copenhagensurfschool.dk/en, coldhawaiisurfcamp.com and klitmoller.en.westwind.dk.
Some 16 percent of Denmark consists of forest and heath and 7 percent of wilderness areas such as lakes, bogs and meadows.
SAILING Whether it’s a rowing, sailing or speedboat, a kayak, canoe or pedalo, or even a floating spa, given the proximity of water, you’re never far away from a rental company in this country. But if you want to learn to sail properly, the Royal Danish Yacht Club offers beginner, intermediate and advanced sailing courses in English (learn more at kdy.dk) with the opportunity of earning a Danish sailing licence.
Added to that is the marvellous Danish coastline. Extending for 8,750 km, it outstrips Chile and even India! So there are plenty of opportunities for newcomers to get the most out of their new country. Providing there’s an activity that rocks your boat, of course. ROWING Rowing clubs are always looking for new members and you don’t have to be an experienced oarsman. If you are a newbie, why not try it out at a special free trial session organised by Denmark’s oldest rowing club, Roforeningen KVIK (roforeningen.dk/ english). To help you with settling in, other expats in the club provide a special mentoring service to newcomers. KITESURFING Kitesurfing is a popular pastime in all seasons. Combining aspects of snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and gymnastics, it’s one of the ultimate sports for adrenaline junkies.
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FISHING With its long coastline, and over 5,000 lakes, Denmark has a great selection of places to fish to suit all tastes. Locally, the Øresund is good for trout and cod – especially during the winter – the freshwater lakes at Furesø and Esrum are famed for their record-breaking pike and perch, and Isefjorden is another excellent location for trout. Join Copenhagen’s network of anglers at fishingcopenhagen. com or check out fishingzealand.dk if you’re ready to wander away from the capital. Head to fiskeristyrelsen.dk/english for more information on acquiring a fishing license. HUNTING Despite being protected by hunting laws, the vast majority of animals in Denmark are fair
game – provided it’s the right season. The difficulty is finding somewhere to do it; you can’t just go out into the wilderness and start shooting. You will need to get a Danish hunting licence, so your first step should either be joining a club or befriending a club member. On Zealand, roe deer and birds (especially mallards, greylag geese, pheasants, pigeons) are the most popular prey. For more information, visit eng.mst.dk/nature-water/ hunting, eng.naturstyrelsen.dk/experiencenature/hunting and en.nordichunters.eu/ hunting-permits/denmark. HIKING Though Denmark’s countryside isn’t too hilly, it’s still beautiful, boasting a huge variety of flora and numerous footpaths to follow. Copenhageners’ first choice should be Jægersborg Dyrehave where 2,000-plus deer inhabit an 11 sq km area full of ancient oak trees. MOUNTAIN BIKING There are plenty of off-road tracks in Denmark offering good exercise, fresh air and an adrenalin-inducing challenge. Be warned, though, that some locations forbid mountain biking because the rough wheels can tear the ground up. Try the Red Track in Hareskoven, Store Dyrehave in Hillerød and Teglstrup Hegn if you’re near the capital. Other tracks on Zealand include the Blue Track in Himmelev and the White Track in Bidstrup Skovene by Roskilde. For more options see: singletracker.dk/en/mtb-trails-in-denmark
OPINION VISIT COPENHAGEN/ RICHARD CLARK
SURVIVING THE DANISH CHRISTMAS
BY RAY WEAVER
Ah, the holiday season. Or Christmas season, if you prefer. I have no desire to open that silly can of US worms, so call it whatever the hell you want to. ON THE FIRST DAY OF XMAS One of the fun parts about moving around the world is discovering that holidays are celebrated differently by people in different parts of the world. Even by those of us that share a common language. Boxing Day? Don’t even ask. Of course, here in Denmark, they have their own time-honoured traditions as well. The birth of the most important figure in the Christian canon is celebrated by the release of a seasonal brew, and, as the first evening of Christmas progresses, projectile vomiting and public urination by hordes of teenagers wearing blue, flashing Santa hats. It brings a tear to a sentimental old heart. IT’S COMING OFF, JUST NOT NOW Then there are the julefrokosts: corporate Christmas bacchanalia where, according to stories printed in this very newspaper, exactly 102 percent of the population cheat on their partners after consuming herring, schnapps and the aforementioned Christmas swill. There is something potent
in that fish. Little wonder all the children born to people who work for large Danish companies look vaguely, eerily similar. Imagine my shock the first time my then very new Danish wife was getting ready for her company Christmas do, and I said: “I don’t remember you mentioning it.” “What the hell do you mean I’m not invited? If I’m not invited, then you sure as hell aren’t invited either. At least not in that dress.” She had a grand time. DINNER FOR TWO … DAYS My first Danish julefrokost was also my first experience at a real, long, loooooooong, marathon-length Danish dinner. My wife warned me to take it easy as the first courses of little fishy things … and schnapps, of course … rolled out. I, being a large American fella with an equally large appetite, scoffed at the idea I could somehow get full on little squares of dark bread with pieces of fish chased by tiny shots. I was green, drunk and taking a nap on my mother-in-law’s couch before the flæskesteg even appeared. It didn’t matter, of course. I caught my second wind and rejoined the table the next day, where the feed was still going strong. Okay, that is a
slight exaggeration, but is there any other culture on the planet where a sleeping bag is a necessary accessory to have at a sitdown dinner? ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY And then there’s that whole dancing around the Christmas tree singing Christmas songs deal. With lighted candles on the tree. By people that have been drinking pretty much since the Christmas beer was released at the beginning of November. What could possibly go wrong? I would have never survived until adulthood had I been a child at Christmastime in Denmark. The gifts are there. Waiting. And instead of simply ripping into them in a maniacal, frenzied fashion the way those of us from civilised countries do, there is yet another interminable meal, a yearly trip to the empty-every-other-day-of-the-year local church, and then, slowly, painfully, the gifts are opened, one-by-one, oohed over, examined, taken out of the boxes, assembled, broken and then (and only then) the next gift is opened. Oh well, when in Rome … or Zealand; the holiday season is indeed upon us. Whatever your persuasion and method of celebrating … enjoy.
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Christmas 2021 guide Copenhagen // København Juleguide 2021
Grab a free Christmas guide at Copenhagen Visitor Service and get an overview of this year’s Christmas markets and activities. The guide covers markets and events of all sizes in both Copenhagen and the surrounding areas. You will also find a selection of this week’s guided tours as well as an updated overview of the many cozy Christmas markets and current events at www.visitorservice.dk/guide.
Christmas markets, workshops, exhibitions and winter activities // Julemarkeder, juleværksteder, udstillinger og vinteraktiviteter Please note that events mentioned in this guide are subject to change without notice. To avoid disappointment, we suggest confirming opening hours, prices and dates with the organisers directly. // Vi tager forbehold for, at aktiviteterne nævnt i denne guide kan ændres eller aflyses.Du bedes derfor altid dobbelttjekke åbningstider, priser og datoer direkte hos arrangørerne.
Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!
Copenhagen Visitor Service - Vesterbrogade 4B - København V - visitorservice@kk.dk - 70 22 24 42