Relocating to Denmark is undoubtedly a steep learning curve, with the language, working culture, social norms and job hunting process among many major challenges newcomers have to grapple with.
It's easy to look back on things you could have done differently when you first moved to Denmark. We're all wiser with hindsight.
But if someone was moving to Denmark right now, what's the one piece of advice you'd give them?
Our readers based in the Nordic country offered a range of nuggets in response to our survey, covering various aspects of Danish life.
However, one theme stood out as most people’s top pick.
“Though Denmark is a good place to have work life balance, you should be prepared to face the rough weather and people who are least friendly and welcoming towards expats,” AK from India explained.
That is because Denmark “is not a place where outsiders are welcomed and it's hard to integrate with locals,” they advised.
A key in overcoming this is to “learn Danish asap,” wrote Martin Mutale, originally from Zambia and currently living in Brønderslev.
This will enable you to understand the local culture, help you get a job, make your life easier and shorten the path to connecting with Danes, he explained.
“Whatever you do, invest heavily in learning the language!,” he concluded.
“Make sure your kids learn Danish,” wrote Matthew, based on Amager.
“Clubs are the social fabric of Denmark, and not speaking Danish limits the amount of clubs,” he explained.
Language was also a priority for Karsten in Hornbæk, who said the first thing you should do is to “take the free language lessons.”
“I never mastered Danish. I should have taken the time for the lessons,” he said.
This was also backed up by Sukhmeet Singh from India, who wrote that “Danish is a key here, if you want to be successful in Denmark, learn Danish.”
“People here are super friendly, and you can easily get used to the Danish environment. It has more educated youth who help in different scenarios according to my experience,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russell Johannesson, from the United States, now in Aabenraa, said that he “would have learned the language for at least a year ahead of moving.”
“Compared to any other language I have encountered, including the closely-related Norwegian and Swedish, the pronunciation of Danish is indistinct, such that it is harder to understand and speak” compared to other European languages including German, he said.
That is “despite the fact that German grammar is substantially more complex,” he noted.
Others offered strategies for coping with the northern European winters.
“Don’t forget to have a one-hour walk during the daytime (e.g. at lunch time) in the dark winter days. Your mental health needs it,” said Dogan from Lyngby.
“Relax, and don't expect everything to be as it was in your home country, because, well... it's Denmark!,” wrote Ray from the US, who lives near Helsinge.
If you’re moving to Copenhagen, it might be an idea to enlist help with the oversubscribed housing market.
“Hire a relocation specialist to find an apartment in advance. Especially with kids!,” wrote Kate, who lives in the capital.
This is less disruptive and gives you “somewhere to settle immediately even without furniture,” she said.
Anna in Aalborg advised learning about Denmark’s tax system and “how any investments in (your) home country are handled taxwise after moving to Denmark.”
“I was not aware of some of the tax rules on my (American) investments,” she explained.
“Being fully educated on this will help as you can adjust investment strategies to save on some tax dollars,” she said.
READ ALSO: The five worst tax traps for Americans living in Denmark
One reader, Charlotte, suggested that the most important piece of advice about moving to Denmark might vary depending on where you are moving from. Charlotte grew up in Denmark and now lives in the US:
“I would give very different advice to someone moving from Germany, Ghana, China, and the US,” she said.
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