On the surface, Denmark is known for consistently being one of the world’s happiest countries, for the concept of “hygge”, and of course the classical H.C. Andersen fairytales. But does living in Denmark live up to its fairytale image, and how do you know if living in Denmark is worth it for you?

Now, we could regurgitate a list of generic pros and cons, as most websites and videos out there seem to do, but in this day and age, so could ChatGPT – (em dash fully intended 😉) and frankly, it would always end up being misleading because:

There simply is no list of pros and cons that will apply to everyone reading it.

Everyone who reads this article is going to be in a different situation. For some of you, finding a job in Denmark is going to be easy, and for others it might be very difficult. It will depend on your field of work, your seniority, your education, your background, where in Denmark you are applying, and a million other factors that are unique to your situation.

In the same way, learning Danish is going to be a necessity for some of you in your field of work, while it will be optional for others.

So instead of trying to create a simple list of pros and cons, we are going to focus on answering the following:

Under which conditions does living in Denmark work extremely well, and under which conditions does it become frustrating?

If you want to skip to a certain section, you can do so here:

1. Denmark optimises for good-for-the-many, not the individual
2. Denmark rewards independence and perseverance
3. Work hierarchies are flat
4. Denmark is emotionally quiet
5. Denmark is a small country
6. The law of jante is very real
7. So… is Denmark Right for you?

Based on this, we aim to give you the tools to adapt the information to your own unique situation, so you can judge for yourself whether living in Denmark would be great.

Denmark certainly has its ways (so to say), which is something we have personally experienced firsthand. So let’s dive right into what we think are the most important dimensions where Denmark tends to either click or clash for expats:

1. Denmark optimises for good-for-the-many, not the individual

We are starting with a point that may be a bit atypical compared to most other resources out there, but we feel that understanding this single point can be an eye-opener that helps explain many of the other quirks that come with living in Denmark. Especially the ones expats often struggle with.

Denmark has a very broad social security and welfare system: healthcare is free, lower and higher education is free (EU citizens can even get paid to study in Denmark, as long as they meet the requirement of working 10–12 hours per week on the side). Unemployment benefits are there to catch you if you lose your job, and the state-sponsored pension ensures you can live after retiring.

However, these benefits come with the cost of very high taxes. Denmark has a progressive tax system starting at 37.5%, going all the way up to 57.8% for the highest incomes.

Consequently, Denmark is definitely not the place to go if you want to become obscenely rich. There are simply other countries where this is easier. But these welfare measures are exactly what allow social mobility to exist, and Denmark is therefore a place where you have a fair chance of improving your situation. In addition, the high taxes are partly offset by higher salaries than, for example, in Germany or Sweden.

In short, Denmark is great if you want to live a comfortable life, if you are a student, if you want to raise a family in comfort, or if you value a society without large inequalities.

The principle of optimising for the good of society as a whole rather than the individual also shows up in other ways.

A frequent complaint among expats is that Danish doctors are very dismissive. A joke we’ve heard is that no matter your ailment, Danish GPs will ask you to take a painkiller and come back in a week if the problem persists or worsens.

There is definitely some truth to this, because GPs in Denmark also function as gatekeepers of the already busy welfare system.

Sending you to a specialist might limit someone else who needs it more from seeing the same specialist in time. Similarly, prescribing antibiotics to treat an infection that your immune system might be able to fight on its own may be good for the individual, but could increase the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains.

This can be frustrating if you are used to telling the doctor what you need rather than the other way around. We have personally experienced situations where our concerns were dismissed, to our frustration. However, as we will discuss next, this can be mitigated by learning how to navigate Danish society and knowing what your rights are.

2. Denmark rewards independence and perseverance

One thing you will notice quite quickly in Denmark is that no one will tell you what to do. It is up to you to figure out what your rights are, what you are expected (or required) to do, and to make sure it gets done.

This can be very confusing as a newcomer. What should I do when I move? When should I apply for a permit, and in which order should I get a bank account or a CPR number? When can I apply for permanent residence, and so on?

No one is going to hold your hand through these processes. It is up to you to figure out which rules apply to you. As an example, we noticed that on the Copenhagen Municipality website for foreigners, they explicitly state that you should not write to them asking which rules apply to you. Instead, you are expected to submit the form you think is correct for your situation and find out whether it was correct based on the decision you receive.

This is great if you have the resources to devote to research or an existing network to ask, but for others it can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. (These frustrations are exactly why we created Denmark&Me in the first place – read more about us here.)

On the other hand, if you know what your rights are and have the perseverance to follow through, you will be rewarded.

This can mean knowing your rights as a patient in the healthcare system: that you have the right to freely choose a hospital, that you are guaranteed treatment within a certain time frame, or that if the public system cannot arrange treatment within that time, they are obligated to pay for treatment at a private hospital. Continuing our earlier example of doctors as gatekeepers – you also have free choice of GP and can always change doctors. In our experience, following up with doctors significantly increases the likelihood of receiving treatment.

It can also mean knowing what can be deducted from your taxes, such as union membership fees, certain transportation costs, and investment losses.

It can mean knowing what is currently subsidised by the government. This changes frequently, but from time to time various home renovation projects are subsidised, often on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lastly, it can mean knowing your employment rights and understanding the difference between what is mandated by law and what your employer offers beyond that. Some employers try to attract international workers by advertising five weeks of paid vacation or paid parental leave, while failing to mention that these are legal minimums and that many companies offer more.

In Denmark, benefits are extensive and consumer protections are far-reaching, but you have to know they apply to you in order to benefit from them. In that sense, Denmark rewards independence and perseverance.

3. Work hierarchies are flat

You may have heard this before. Organisational structures tend to be quite flat compared to many other countries, and you are much more equal to your boss than you might be elsewhere. In practice, this means it is acceptable, and sometimes expected, to challenge your boss’s decisions, although they can still pull the manager-card and say “too bad.”

You are on a first-name basis with everyone at work, and titles matter very little. In fact, being overly insistent on your title often comes across as out of place. I personally work in science, and many of my colleagues are PhDs, postdocs, or former associate professors from universities, but you will rarely hear any of them mention that. Having a long education does not mean you can use it as an argument for why your opinion should matter more than someone else’s. Your opinion matters, but it does not matter more than anyone else’s.

In Denmark, prestige comes from reliability, competence, and collaboration. Not status, degrees, or previous job titles. This can be a shock if you are used to your opinion carrying weight because of your background. In that sense, starting work in Denmark can feel like starting over, as you need to rebuild credibility from the ground up.

This can be refreshing if you enjoy autonomy and responsibility, prefer influence over authority, and are comfortable speaking up in group settings.

But it can be frustrating if you expect clear top-down decision-making, are used to hierarchy providing clarity and protection, or rely on titles or seniority to establish authority.

4. Denmark is emotionally quiet

Denmark, like the other Scandinavian countries, is a place where you do not sit next to someone on the bus or train if there are free seats elsewhere, and where small talk with strangers is minimal or entirely absent.

It can be very hard to make Danish friends, as Danes usually have small social circles that often consist of friends from primary school, high school, or university. If you arrive as a professional, expect Danes to be friendly at work, social and polite during lunch breaks, and up for the occasional Friday beer, but most work relationships stay at work.

If you are from a culture where small talk is common, Danes may come across as cold or reserved. Denmark can feel lonely, as friendships take a long time to cultivate and are often defined by shared circumstances (such as studying or living together). On the other hand, if you do make friends, they tend to be friendships for life.

Although making new friends as an adult is difficult, it is possible. Just slow. Socialising in Denmark is often structured around activities rather than spontaneity, so our best advice is to go where Danes go: join clubs, associations, attend events, and be patient. Meeting people through shared activities also increases the chance of shared interests.

In addition, we have noticed that even when you become close to Danes, you may not have as much in common as you hoped. You have gone through a major, life-changing event by moving to another country – something few Danes have experienced themselves. Many Danes tend to underestimate how difficult this is and how challenging it can be to start from scratch. As a result, you may find that you have more in common with other expats who have gone through similar experiences.

5. Denmark is a small country

This likely comes as no surprise, but it has consequences that are rarely discussed. Industries tend to be small and tightly connected, which makes professional networks particularly important, both for hearing about opportunities and when references are requested. In smaller industries, burning bridges can be far more costly than in larger markets. In larger sectors such as pharma/biotech, shipping and logistics, IT, or green energy, this matters less, but it can still play a role.

Another consequence of Denmark’s small size is related to nature rather than work. Denmark is small and very flat. In addition, very little undisturbed forest remains, as around 60% of the country has been converted into farmland. This creates beautiful landscapes in late summer, but it is far from the dramatic nature found in places like Lofoten. Antonina and I lived in Vienna for a while and were struck by how accessible nature was . You could take a tram from the city centre and get off at the base of one of many nearby mountains.

Denmark does not offer that. We have rolling hills and a few old forests, but no truly majestic nature.

On the other hand, the country’s small size makes everything that does exist easily accessible by train, car, or even bike. Many Danes in addition take advantage of the EU’s freedom of movement: skiing in Norway or Austria, canoeing in Sweden, cycling in the mountains of France — while we go on cheap grocery runs to Germany. In addition, an unexpected benefit of living in an expensive country is that food and experiences in other countries are mostly cheaper than they would be in Denmark. 

6. The Law of Jante is very real

“The Law of Jante”, or Janteloven in Danish, is something few Danes could explicitly list or explain in detail, but most are familiar with the concept and what it generally refers to: you are not supposed to think you are better than anyone else.

The concept originates from author Aksel Sandemose’s 1933 novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks (En flyktning krysser sitt spor). In the book, Sandemose describes life in the fictional Danish town of Jante, governed by ten unwritten rules centred around social conformity and discouraging individuals from thinking they are special or superior.

Sandemose’s novel is a critique of life in Denmark, particularly in smaller towns, but the concept seems to have resonated widely. In practice, it means the threshold for when Danes perceive someone as overly highlighting their success or ambition is lower than in many other cultures. Success is expected to be understated, confidence should be quiet, and achievements are best demonstrated through actions rather than words.

This can lead to cultural clashes, where self-promotion is perceived as arrogance or strong personal branding feels out of place. The Law of Jante tends to be especially relevant when dealing with older generations. Younger generations, who grew up with social media, generally have a higher tolerance for ambition, visibility, and self-promotion.

So… is Denmark right for you?

To help answer that question, ask yourself what you need in your next phase of life. Hopefully, we have given you some useful insight into what life in Denmark can be like – for better or for worse. Denmark offers many opportunities, but it also requires perseverance and independence. At the same time, if you are willing to be patient, it offers a system where it is hard to fail completely, as there is always a safety net.

We have noticed an interesting contrast: Danes often view entrepreneurship as risky (perhaps partly influenced by the Law of Jante), while many expats see the welfare system as a safety net that makes risk-taking more acceptable. As a result, being an outsider may actually be an advantage if you want to start your own business in Denmark.

If you decide to move here, your experience will only partly depend on Denmark itself, and just as much on how you navigate life here and how well you understand how the country works.

That is exactly why Denmark&Me exists: to help you decode how life in Denmark actually works, so you can make informed choices, avoid unnecessary frustration, and build a life here where you truly thrive.

P.S: If you’ve read this far, you might be interested in hearing that Antonina and I are working on creating a community for internationals in Denmark. Over the years, we’ve realised that having a community might be the difference between surviving – and thriving in Denmark. Having access to help and people who have gone through the same thing as you can make or break you experience. If you are interested in hearing more you can do so ​here.​