Moving to a different country is always a big deal. You have to build a whole new social circle, get familiar with the language and culture, sort out all the necessary paperwork, get used to new workplaces and weather conditions… All in all, a pretty intense experience. In the end, it all comes down to making things work smoothly – not just for a couple of days, but long term.
If you are an international in Denmark, this guide will give you tips on doing just that: learn how to survive in Denmark – to help you thrive in Denmark!
1. Prepare for winter and get cozy
Even though Denmark isn’t known for huge blizzards and lots of snow, winters can be rather intense. The winds are strong and cold, and the nights are long and dark… But that’s a great excuse to maximize the coziness in your life.
Wear lots of layers – warm sweaters and jackets, hats, scarves, and don’t forget your gloves and warm socks! By wearing layers, you can adjust the temperature easily – just take off some of them when you get inside, but keep your scarf on if it’s still a bit chilly, and so on. Drink hot tea as soon as you get home and cuddle up in your favourite blanket.
Since there aren’t too many hours of daylight during the winter, it’s important to have all the nutrients you need in your diet. It’s a good idea to get vitamin D supplements to make up for the lack of sunlight, and to maintain a regular sleep/wake cycle.
Even though Denmark still gets more daylight hours than regions further north, the lack of light can really get you down. If this happens to you, make sure to talk to someone and consider getting a light therapy lamp to help deal with the darkness.
And both during winter and summer, it’s important to be able to dress for all kinds of weather: all year round, it can get very rainy and stormy, and you’ll be grateful for a good raincoat, rain pants (yes, pants), rubber boots, and a fleece jacket.
2. Explore your surroundings and start hobbies
No matter if you’ve just arrived or lived in Denmark for a while – check out what the surrounding area has to offer. Maybe there is a café down the street that you haven’t checked out, or a really nice beach a half-hour bus ride away. Take a trip and see where it takes you! If all you know is your apartment, workplace, and local grocery shop, life can feel monotonous, while things around you remain unknown and maybe a bit scary. But as soon as you get to know more places in your area, the world seems a little bigger again!
Loneliness can also be a big problem when living abroad. Why not combine socializing with doing something you enjoy? This is a great chance to meet other people, locals or internationals, and to add some fun activities to your everyday life to help you survive in Denmark! From ambitious dance classes to board games and free yoga classes, keep your eyes open on the web and check Facebook for events near you.
3. Get paperwork out of the way
Moving to Denmark involves a lot of bureaucracy. The more you can get out of the way early on, the more time and energy you will have to actually enjoy your stay! Make sure everything is okay with your visa, get your CPR number, yellow card and NemID/MitID, get a Danish bank account and set up your tax card (the list goes on) – and don’t book the necessary appointments at the last minute as there can be waiting times.
You may not be able to sort everything out immediately, but procrastination is not recommended here – the earlier you get started, the easier it becomes to spot and resolve problems as well.
4. Get informed about your rights and duties
You’ll probably learn about lots of your duties as a Danish resident while dealing with the abovementioned things – taxes, information that you have to give your housing association, and so on. But it’s just as important to check what rights you have! You’ll see, for example, that as an EU citizen, you are allowed to vote on the municipal level as soon as you arrive (and as a non-EU-citizen, you can still do so after a certain time period) – so you can actually have an impact on politics as an international!
To ensure that you get legal and financial help if needed in connection with your job, it is recommended to join a fagforening (union) and a-kasse (unemployment insurance) which provide just that. On top of this, they offer information and workshops about different job-related topics, such as your rights and how to write a good CV.
5. Find a job or work as a volunteer
Apart from enabling you earn a living and cover your basic needs, of course, your workplace is often a possibility to get more involved in society. You can connect with your coworkers and you are filling your time with a meaningful activity.
If you cannot or don’t feel the need to get a paid job (or you want to do something with the time you have besides your job), why not try a few hours of volunteer work? Many organizations are always looking for helping hands – how about helping out at the local charity shop?
6. Learn Danish
Most people in Denmark know how to speak English and have no problem switching languages to communicate with foreigners. However, it never hurts to at least learn the basics of the local language. Not only does it make everyday communication easier and help you decipher what is written on signs, documents, and packaging; it also shows the people around you that you care about being a part of the local society. And last, but not least, learning a new language is fun!
There are a bunch of ways to learn Danish. Listening to, watching, and reading things in Danish are great ways to get closer to the language – but the most effective things to do are taking language lessons, and, of course, talking to native speakers!
On Swap Language, you can watch language lessons online – whenever and wherever you like. Finding a language exchange partner is another way to get you talking Danish while being social and teaching your language to someone else. Swap Language nights offer a great possibility to meet people looking to do language exchanges – maybe you’ll find your language match there!
7. Make your new place a home
When living abroad, it can feel like you’re just on a weird, very long business trip, exchange, or holiday… and that is a sign showing that you don’t quite feel at home yet. This can have many reasons. Maybe you haven’t quite found your friendship circle yet, the language barrier makes you feel a bit excluded sometimes, or maybe the culture, bureaucracy, workplace, or school climate is still a bit hard to get used to.
Whatever the reason is – it is possible to trick your brain into feeling just a little bit more at home. Store things away when you don’t need them to avoid the “messy hotel room” feel; put cozy cushions and blankets on the couch to make it inviting; light candles at night; hang up pictures of friends and family back home and here. All these things add a personal and homey touch and make you feel more grounded where you live now.
Hygge is key – no matter what exactly it means to you, including it into your life will help you survive in Denmark both as an international and as a Dane.
8. Stay in touch with friends and family in your home country
It is very likely that there are people in your home country that you’re going to miss very much. And they miss you, too. So make sure to arrange regular video or phone calls with your family and friends to keep each other updated – and maybe they can also come to visit one day? Keeping the ties with home will give you (and them) some emotional support and comfort – even if that means crying together (instead of crying alone) because you’re so far apart.
9. Don’t pressure yourself and keep an open mind
Often, we go into a new situation with a set of expectations, like “you have to find a solid group of friends within two months of arriving” or “you have to start feeling at home within the first couple months” … the truth is that things probably aren’t going to go the way you expect them to. Your life is going to change in a lot of ways, both for the better or for the worse.
The key to a less stressful existence in this respect is: Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! There is nothing wrong with being determined to make things happen, but it’s also okay if not everything goes to plan when you are settling down in Denmark. Good things take time and patience. Getting used to a new place, new people, and new culture can be hard, but as long as you go in with an open mind, a very big step is already made.
Survive in Denmark and, most importantly, enjoy your time
This is the time where you should pat yourself on the back for reading all the way through this article on how to survive in Denmark! You made it – and now you’re armed with knowledge on how to make life just a little bit easier as an international.
We hope you enjoy your time in Denmark and seize the day (even though it doesn’t have a whole lot of hours during the winter)! And most importantly, have fun and take care of yourself!
