Living in Denmark

Denmark is a modern, multifaceted country known for both its impressive nature and a high quality of life. Moreover, great weight is given in Denmark to sustainability and innovation, which is reflected in many areas of daily life. Are you thinking of emigrating and now want to learn more about life in Denmark? We provide you here with an overview of the nature and climate, infrastructure, housing, health and education systems and much more.

Denmark comprises Jutland, the mainland, and over 1,400 islands. The country is often thought of as being part of Scandinavia but is in fact not located on the Scandinavian peninsula. Denmark’s mainland borders Germany, with the islands located off the coast of Sweden.

Denmark has a land mass of 42,952 square kilometres and a population of 5.9 million. It has coastlines on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat. The largest Danish island is Zealand, on which Copenhagen is also located. The country of Denmark is only one part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The largest Danish cities are Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense.

Denmark is a parliamentary monarchy with King Frederik X as head of state and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as head of government.

Denmark’s mainland, Jutland, is divided into East and West Jutland. While East Jutland has a hilly landscape, West Jutland is much flatter. Vast heaths, dunes and moors characterise the mainland. The most beautiful beaches in the country are located on the North Sea, while the coastal landscape of the Baltic Sea with its bays and fjords is more varied. This is also where the majority of the Danish islands are located, contributing to an impressive coastline of over 7,000 kilometres.

The climate in Denmark is temperate. In summer, temperatures are around 20 degrees, in winter around freezing. Despite its location on the Baltic and North Seas, there is relatively little precipitation in Denmark. The water temperatures range from 3 degrees in winter to 17 degrees in summer.

Denmark’s beautiful and diverse nature offers many opportunities for outdoor activities. At the North and Baltic Sea coasts you can enjoy swimming, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Hiking enthusiasts will get their money’s worth in Mols Bjerge National Park or along the impressive Møns Klint cliffs and can marvel at Denmark’s impressive nature. The many coasts, rivers and lakes offer a wonderful opportunity for fishing, and even deep-sea fishing is possible in Denmark. South Jutland and the numerous fjords are perfect for kayaking and canoeing. The country is also a paradise for cyclists and there are well-developed cycle paths both in cities like Copenhagen and along the coasts.

But Denmark also has a lot to offer culturally. Copenhagen is a beautiful city with a host of exciting things to discover. Visit Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s famous old-town harbour, or check out the statue of the Little Mermaid. The districts of Vesterbro and Nørrebro are also particularly worth seeing. Throughout Denmark you can experience the hygge lifestyle in cafés and restaurants. Enjoy the Danish spirit of cosiness with a smørrebrød and Danish pastries.

Denmark is known for its sustainability and innovation – and this is reflected in its infrastructure. Copenhagen is considered a smart city and is number one as a model city of the future. One component of this modern infrastructure is Denmark’s e-government services, which enable citizens to conveniently complete numerous administrative procedures online.

The road and rail network is excellent. Numerous bridges and tunnels connect the islands with each other – one bridge even leads directly to Sweden. Ferries also play an important role in the Danish transport system. Public transport, too, is well organised, especially in the three largest cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. While Aarhus and Odense have a tram system, Copenhagen has a modern metro network in addition. The country’s main airports are Copenhagen-Kastrup, Billund, Aalborg, Aarhus and Esbjerg.

Denmark can also boast an outstanding cycling network – especially in Copenhagen. More than half of Danes use their bicycles every day. And a lot is being done to promote this: cycle superhighways (cykelsuperstier) have been implemented, snow removal on cycle paths has a higher priority than on other roads, and by law cycle paths must be at least 1.70 metres in width. Bicycle parking remains an area with potential for improvement. But here, too, innovative concepts aimed at improving the parking situation for bicycles are already in the works.

The high popularity of the bicycle contributes to Denmark having a comparatively low rate of motorisation. Another decisive factor is the high tax on vehicles. If you are emigrating to Denmark, you will have to register your car there after 30 days at the latest, so you will unfortunately not be able to avoid the high vehicle taxes.

An EU driving licence allows you to drive in Denmark without restrictions. You do not have to have your driver’s licence converted. However, Denmark has its own traffic rules, including different speed limits: a maximum of 50 km/h is allowed in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas and up to 130 km/h on motorways.

The Danish healthcare system does not differentiate between private and statutory health insurance. All citizens are insured with the same health insurance company. Private insurance is only available for services that are not covered by statutory health insurance.  

In the Danish healthcare system, however, a distinction is made between two groups:  

Group 1 and 2. Most people in Denmark are insured as Group 1. Here, you are tied to a specific GP and do not have to pay for general and specialist examinations, hospital stays, a large part of medication and dental treatment up to the age of 18. In Group 2, you are free to choose your GP, but you always have to pay a portion of the treatment costs yourself. In both groups, you will need a referral from your GP for specialist treatment.  

Just like in Germany, there are general practitioner and specialist practices in Denmark. Outpatient clinics are available for less urgent medical attention. Instead of many small hospitals, Denmark now has several larger “clinic centres”.

Another important part of the Danish healthcare system is “e-health”, the electronic patient record. It has been in place for years already and enables doctors from all healthcare facilities to access the health data of their patients. This digital networking is viewed very positively in Denmark, as it is efficient and can even save lives.

The school system in Denmark differs from the German school system in several respects. One key difference: Denmark has compulsory education but does not have compulsory schooling. This means that parents are free to decide whether they want to home-school their children or pursue compulsory education in a school.  

The school education path begins with the 0th grade, a compulsory pre-school year in kindergarten. Afterwards, the children go to the folkeskole. This is a kind of community school that all children attend together for nine years. After that, they can decide whether they want to go directly to a grammar school for three years or first attend an efterskole for one year. The latter is a boarding school that offers one-year preparatory education for entry to grammar school. In the grammar school itself, students can choose different subjects.

The grading system also differs from that in Germany. In Denmark, the focus is more on the personal development and independence of students – especially in grammar school. There are no classic exams during the school year: instead, pupils work on larger homework assignments with fixed deadlines and which are not graded. Pupils sit one or more big exams only at the end of the school year.

Digitalisation also plays a major role in the Danish school system. Especially in the upper classes, pens and paper have already been replaced by digital solutions. Homework, timetables, teaching materials are fully digitised.

The cost of living in Denmark is relatively high. However, wages and salaries are also above the German level.

If you want to emigrate to Denmark, you will have to deal with the cost of renting or   buying a property. Rents are higher in cities, while they are much more affordable in rural areas. Especially in big cities like Copenhagen or Aarhus, the housing market is strained, so you should start looking for suitable accommodation early on.

Property prices in Denmark are no longer as cheap as they used to be – they have risen steadily in recent years. If you want to buy a house in Denmark, you will find cheaper properties in the countryside than in the city. Purchase prices start at around 120,000 euros, while properties in the greater Copenhagen area can cost around 800,000 euros, depending on the location. Once you have registered your main residence in Denmark, you can also purchase a property there without any additional requirements.

Compared to other countries, property and housing taxes are relatively low in Denmark. While the ejendomsskat is calculated according to the value of the plot of land, the ejendomsværdiskat is based on the value of the real estate itself. Energy-efficient houses in particular benefit from lower operating costs, as Denmark attaches great importance to sustainability. Many Danish homes are equipped with environmentally friendly heating systems such as district heating, heat pumps or solar energy.

A special feature in Denmark is the “andelsbolig” system, a form of communal living. In this case, you are not buying a classic property but rather shares in a housing cooperative. This often allows for cheaper housing but also entails certain rules and restrictions.

Holiday homes are common in Denmark, especially along the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts. Many Danes own this sort of “feriehus” as a second home, which they either use themselves or rent out. These holiday homes are mainly used in summer.

The concept of “hygge” plays an important role not only in society, but also in the furnishing of apartments and houses. Here, too, it means cosiness and stands for a warm, inviting atmosphere in which people feel comfortable. Light colours, natural materials such as wood and wool as well as well-thought-out lighting create a harmonious environment.