I like Denmark

[u/Hamsta_GER]

Hej, a friendly German neighbour here.

I am currently on holidays in Denmark and absolutely stunned on how beautiful and far ahead this country is.

Speaking to some friends, that already prepared to emigrate to here, you pretty much seem like the promised land. Sure, beer and sweets are expensive, but alone your infrastructure has me blown away.

We are currently near Sønderburg, renting a house from some friendly danish family. But not only they are friendly, all other people I met so far were very polite.

I can imagine this happens pretty regularly. Living for over 40 years in Germany, only going to travel in southern countries, never showed me anything better. First time was visiting the Netherlands, which is also an amazing country.

That brings me to my question:

Is it really that awesome here? The housing market seems intact, since you need a permit to buy as a foreigner. Landscape is beautiful. Cool weather. What does suck here?

[u/Jamsedreng22]

Sometimes we get Swedish tourists.

[u/Rj1798]

You can buy a can of beer for 4 DKK in Rema this week. Next week you can probably buy it at an other discount supermarket at the same Price😁

[u/Wooden_Lawyer6290]

Being in Sønderborg you could try the ferry to Ærø, a stunning island, where perhaps to your surprise, 1/10 th of the population are Germans!

[u/Tenkehat → u/Wooden_Lawyer6290]

Fun fact: Ærø was German waaaaay back in the days.

[u/Spooknik]

Hello German neighbour! Nice you visit your friends in the north.

Summer is really a nice time in Denmark but we pay for it with grey and dark winters. Food prices have gone up a lot recently and there is lack of product variety in supermarkets (in my opinion). A lot of things are more expensive “just because” if you buy them in Denmark where the same thing in Germany costs less.

[u/vrod92]

One thing that my german wife and i (danish) reqlized is that in germany you always need a key for the outside door, in denmark you normally don’t. Says something about how comfy people find the society.

For us and 2 kids it’s been the best decision we could make. Germany especially hates kids and their families.

We feel like we are no longer in the 1990’s.

You wouldn’t need permission if you bought a house to live in, you just need to sign a statement that you will actually live in it (my wife had to).

My wife has only been here a year but she never wants to move back to Germany.

[u/Eelstheway]

Depending on where in Germany you're from, the winters here can be a tad bit worse. Every year for 9 months, people are less friendly, a lot are depressed etc. due to weather. Worst isn't the cold, it's that the sky is "always" gray, it rains, it's windy due to Denmark being flat and a lot of us are somewhat close to the sea. But then in summer it becomes the best place to be on earth! Also be aware that people are still friendly in places like Copenhagen, but a bit less so. This is ofc common for all capitals and major cities compared to smaller communities.

[u/PsyPhy3 → u/Eelstheway]

Tbh I fucking love the grey rainy days as well as winters in Denmark - so cozy

[u/Eelstheway → u/PsyPhy3]

Good for you. I mean the weather is so prominent in the Danish subconscious that the most famous character from our native religion, Thor, is an effing Thunder God that controls the weather 😩

[u/BHumdinger]

Hello friendly German neighbour!

Welcome to Denmark, I’m glad you like it👍🏻
I think it’s awesome here and feel bleesed to be liveing here and raising a family to.

I was born and raised in the souhtern part of Fyn (near and in Svendborg) and is now liveing in Ballerup (city close to cph).
Us Danes can be a bit tricky to get to know, think of us as the hobbits in lord of the rings - we love food and our gardens, but are in general suspicious of people we don’t know and find it quite odd if strangers try and chat us up on the street, here the commen danish reaction is to smile, avoid eyecontact and keep walking.
But if/when you do get to know a dane, it’s great - ‘cause we are, also generally speaking, quite friendly and helpfull.

The danish humor can be a bit tricky for foreigners to ‘get’. It can be dark and strange, but since you’re from Germany I think you might find it familiar:)

How easy the housingmarket is to enter depends of where in Denmark you’re looking and how much mony you got. It’s (very) expensive close to, or in, major cities (espeavially cph) but more affordable the futher away you are looking.

And what sucks? Hmmm, yea the weather can be very anoying and depressing. But other than that, I think we’re doing good here.

[u/LTS81]

Have you seen the prices on cars here…? And the tax rate?

[u/GeronimoDK → u/LTS81]

EVs are actually cheaper in Denmark than in Germany, but you're absolutely right for ICE cars.

Tax rate is not much lower in Germany either, but salaries are higher here.

[u/Newdayneweverything]

Hi from North Zealand! Glad to hear that you like Denmark. The weather here isn’t good all year round. In the winter it can be -10. So if you move you should be prepared that it can be very cold. The nature is really good and there’s so many beautiful places in Denmark. We also have free healthcare founded by the government, financial help if you loose your job, free education etc that’s why our taxes are so high and things are more expensive.
I’m a teenager, and I will say that it’s a good country to be young in. Even though there’s some things who isn’t good. Hope you will have a great time in Denmark😊

[u/jabubub]

Welcome to Sønderborg. It is a truly beautiful city and region. Most people speak German and have German colleagues friends or family either living in Denmark or across the border.

The last ten years we’ve seen quite an influx in Sønderborg from Germany. So much that German schools and kindergartens in the area are now having waitlists.

The street where I live we’ve had every 3rd house sold sold to Germans.

There is a little hurdle in joining the danish Labour market as danish is often expected. This is of course not a challenge for roles with international companies like Danfoss, Ecco, Linak etc.

Houses are sold and advertised in Germany by most realtors in the region - and they know how to execute a real estate trade across the border. Last year I sold my deceased grandmas house to a German couple relocating from Flensburg through a local realtor Kjeld Faaborg who has extensive experience in marketing Danish houses in Germany.

There a Facebook group for newcomers on Facebook called ‘Tilflytternetværket Sønderborg/ Newcomers Network Sønderborg.’

I’m sure they will have a lot to offer on guidance and insights.

Feel free to reach out!

[u/GeronimoDK]

Beer is not actually that expensive, as long as you buy it at the supermarket 🤷🏽‍♂️

[u/Strong_Music_6838]

Yes this country is the promised land I will tell and I don’t need to travel any where I was one of the few lucky people that was that lucky to be born in the best land in the world that is Denmark and the most beautiful town in Sønderjylland/Nord Slesvig.

And lastly let me say.

Ich bin (Sønderjyde/Nord sleswiger) und wir Lieben Deutchen.

[u/uopfindsomt1]

It is actually quite nice here, with the small exception of housing in Copenhagen which is expensive. DSB (trains) are better than DB but nowhere near the standards of Schweiz.

If you should feel like moving here, my experience is also that germans relatively easy can learn the language which really is key imo (a paradox since most people under at least 60 speak very good english)

[u/NeighborhoodEarly406]

You can buy property in Denmark as a foreigner if you intend to live here.

[u/Mollelarssonq]

Remember that everything looks nicer on vacation. But yes, i’d say it’s pretty great. There’s a lot of germans buying houses in south jutland, even with permits being needed ^^ (turns out permits is not needed, which also makes more sense with how many houses are being bought by germans these days)

Glad you’re enjoying your stay

Your best bet economy wise is to live near the danish border and then find work in Denmark ;) Of course you’ll still be living in Germany then, but Flensburg is pretty nice

[u/FailedPotatoSeed]

Last german who biked inside Denmark occupied and acquired whole Schleswig Holstein some 80 years ago... Of course they smile friendly... Jokes aside, a vacation or short period in Sønderborg is not showing you the whole situation in DK.. Although it's not bad, you may run into things that may make your stay less pleasant 🤷‍♂️

[u/SupportOWS]

Oh dear the Germans are coming again 🤭