Last Week in Denmark (15.01 - 22.01) Episode 2 Year 3
SU debt; Great Prayer Day II; Homeowners; Mold
Editor HQ
Internship opportunity: Our partner organization, the Aalborg Institute for Development, is looking for interns for their offices in Aalborg and Copenhagen. Some positions can also be fully or partially remote. If you would like to gain experience in grant applications, project writing and implementation, marketing, social media management, sales, recruitment & HR, and event management, then apply here before the 27th of January.
Danish Politics HQ
Danish Citizenship, Integration and Immigration Laws
The article with the misleading title “Foreigners are running away from the SU debt” published in DR this week, has caused some waves in the Danish Parliament.
A far-right politician from the UUI Committee (which was presented last week) asked the minister of integration if internationals with unpaid SU debt should have the right to permanent residence and/or citizenship. Another one asked if the non-EU internationals that left Denmark while having SU debt should be banned from returning? The minister has not answered yet.
18,000 internationals have SU debt. 5,000 of them have already left Denmark. The ones that left have a collective debt of 350 million DKK. In total, former international students have a SU debt of 1.3 billion DKK.
However, there are 120,000 former Danish students that have a total SU debt of 11 billion DKK. Therefore, the problem is not specific to international students. Not to mention, a recent study from IDA has shown that in the last decade, international students contributed 26.8 billion DKK to the Danish economy.
Law proposals and ideas
The “Great Prayer Day” saga is not over. Even though the law has been proposed and the government has enough votes to pass it once it’s submitted for a vote, the trade unions and the opposition parties are doing everything to stop it. The law will be voted on at the end of February.
Traditionally, the trade unions have been represented politically by Socialdemokratiet. However, it seems that the relationship between the social-democrats and the trade unions is at the lowest point ever. The leader of the trade unions, Lizette Risgaard said that this law opens the precedent where the government can intervene and take more free days, maybe even a Sunday.
The trade unions are calling for a referendum on the law. Large demonstrations against the government are planned for next week.
In the middle of this saga, the new collective agreement is being negotiated. The old one expires on March 1st 2023. There are concerns that the union members will not be able to separate their anger against the government and increase their demands from the employers, leading to a major conflict.
The opposition parties have been called to negotiations at the Ministry of Finance. They have alternative ideas on how to obtain the 3.2 billion DKK needed annually to strengthen the army.
At the moment, there are 26 members of the Danish Parliament asking for a referendum, after Alternativet joined the call. 60 are needed.
Danish Economy HQ
For homeowners: Go to this website, insert your address, and see if the data generated reflects reality. The tax authorities are using the BBR data to make the new property appraisal (that decides how much tax you pay), and if there are mistakes in the BBR, you could end up paying too much tax. If you find mistakes, follow this guide on how to fix them.
If you end up being one of the approximately 1.5 million homeowners that receives a new property appraisal in 2023, remember that you have only 4 weeks to complain in case something is incorrect in the declaration.
Since 1st January 2023, companies have also been required to sort household-like waste into ten fractions. This is something that is already done at home (although not in 10 fractions everywhere yet), but companies were not previously required to do so. If you are a business owner, you should read this. If you do not comply, there are fines involved.
The market
The price for Tesla cars in Europe has dropped by almost 20% (by up to 130,000 DKK) after the company did not reach its goal in sales for last year. This has also affected the prices of used Tesla cars, which also fell significantly and will probably continue to fall. As a response, the other electric car manufacturers have started to lower the prices.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Hate crimes: The “Hate Crime Report” from 2021, published by the National Police, shows that the number of registered cases has fallen by 18% compared to 2020, from 635 to 521. The crimes against people with another ethnic background have decreased by 29%, while the crimes against LGBT+ people have increased by 29%.
Baby names: The most popular names for babies in 2022 are - Ella, Alma, Nora, Ida, Freja, Sofia, and Luna (girls) - William, Oscar, Carl, Malthe, Emil, and Valdemar (boys).
Healthcare
Beware of mold: When you keep your house cold and you rarely open the windows, you are creating an environment that is conducive to mold growth. Here are 10 pieces of advice on how to prevent it:
Keep your house dry.
Air your house every day for a minimum of 10 minutes, especially the kitchen and the bathroom after use.
Use the hood vent when cooking. Ensure the filter is clean and functioning properly.
Clothes should be dried outside on a rack if possible, not inside.
All rooms in the house should have a similar temperature - no lower than 18 degrees.
Clean the house regularly. Mold likes dust.
Leave a minimum of 10 centimeters between furniture and outer walls.
Dry the bathroom after taking a shower.
Check if the ventilations from windows and doors are open. Keep them open.
When it appears, don’t wait for it to grow.
The number of severe mold infections in Denmark has exploded in the last couple of months. If you don’t know what mold is, google it and then check for it around the house. It is bad for your house and your health.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen shows that we don’t eat enough legumes like peas, beans, and lentils, as recommended by the authorities. They are considered climate-friendly "superfoods," yet they rarely end up on our dinner tables.
Check here for the dietary guidelines from the authorities and awesome recipes for under 50 DKK with legumes.
A study from DTU (Technical University of Denmark) states that plant-based drinks are not an alternative to milk. The sales of rice, oat, soy, and almond drinks have multiplied by a factor of five in the past decade. However, their claim that they are a healthier alternative to milk is debunked by scientists. According to the study, these plant-based drinks have a lower content of vitamins and micronutrients, and they contain fewer minerals.
Myopia is affecting every fifth child in Denmark. Until recently, you couldn’t treat or prevent this eye disorder. Now, thanks to a combination of different night lenses, day lenses, and special glasses, you can slow down its progression. This disorder (not being able to see far) develops between 8 and 13 years old. It needs to be addressed before the eye's growth stops at 20 years old.
120 minutes a day of being outside in daylight can do wonders for children’s eyes (high light intensity prevents myopia)
Danish Health Agency Citizen Panels: Our Public Health. Is that important to you? Do you have opinions about it that you would like to share? Join the “Borgerpanel”, where you can give input on the national guidelines on alcohol, tobacco, food, etc. Sign up here.
Culture, Religion and Royals
Melodi Grand Prix 2023 - the national competition that decides the representative of Denmark at Eurovision - has presented the eight finalists. You can listen to the songs here. The competition will take place in Næstved Arena on February 11th.
Madonna is coming to Denmark. She will give a concert at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen on October 25th. The sale of tickets started on January 20th.
European Union HQ
The Balearic Islands seek to ban non-residents from buying property.
Turkey vs. Sweden / Finland: Before Turkey will consider approving Sweden and Finland as members of NATO, the two Nordic countries must first surrender 130 individuals to Turkey who are considered "terrorists" by the country.
Opportunities for self-development
New European Bauhaus Prizes: Several prizes of 30,000 euros are offered for projects within these categories - Reconnecting with nature; Regaining a sense of belonging; Circular industrial ecosystem. Deadline! 31st January
Announcement Board
Aalborg, 20th April: Denmark’s largest IT Career Fair with 53 companies present. Check out more information here.
Aalborg, 31st January (14:00 - 16:15) CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn seminars. Where? International House North Denmark. Sign up here.
UNESCO-UIA nominated Copenhagen as the World Capital of Architecture 2023.
Feeling alone in Copenhagen? Read this article (English) and you will find a new way to make friends.
Aarhus, 27th January (10:00-12:00) Monthly Coffee Morning with the International Community.
International media about Denmark HQ
Forbes article on why you should visit Aalborg. “From April 2023, the new direct flight from Newark to Aalborg will operate three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the summer season.”
€1.1 billion for the Danish Carbon Capture Scheme. “This €1.1 billion scheme will enable Denmark to capture and store a significant amount of CO2, preventing its release into the atmosphere.”
The Tesla Supercharger network expands in Denmark. “As of now, 16 Supercharger stations are online in Denmark (of which 13 are open to non-Tesla EVs), and another 14 are planned.”
“Professional esteem, good pay, and integrated digital health records are the key factors making Denmark’s doctors smile.” Six reasons Danish GPs love their job.
Around 300 UK citizens risk deportation from Denmark.
“Making connections as an expat”, by Lisa Walker
Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience because there is a new culture, language, and way of life to get used to. For those of us who have moved with partners or spouses rather than for work or education, it can be particularly difficult to feel settled and make connections.
While we obviously want to integrate into Danish life, it can be beneficial to meet other expats who are going through similar experiences. Signing up for Danish classes can be a good way of doing this, as well as searching for international meet-ups in your local area.
Through Facebook, I was happy to find a group for international women in my city, Aalborg. I saw that they were regularly hosting events and decided to sign up for a brunch at a local restaurant. On the morning of the event, my excitement turned to nervousness. How many people would be there, and would they all know each other already? Would I stand out as the “new girl”?
I needn’t have worried because the group was friendly and welcoming. There was a fun and interesting mix of people from different countries and backgrounds. Some had been settled in Denmark for years, and some had started new jobs or courses only recently.
As well as meeting new people, I discovered an artistic streak I never knew I had through a pottery painting event. I’ve also met other creative writing enthusiasts through the group, and even someone to look after my cats while I was away for Christmas.
My advice to other people wanting to join an expat group is to just go for it! You won’t know if a group is right for you unless you try it. While these groups can be a good opportunity for networking, try to keep an open mind; you might not meet someone from your industry, who will give you a fantastic new job, but you could still make some friends. Lastly, be brave and sign up for something totally different for you (like I did with the pottery). As well as new connections, you could end up with a new hobby!
Based on my experience, here are some tips for making connections as an expat:
Sign up for Danish classes. They’re usually free for internationals who have recently moved to Denmark and have a residence permit, and you will meet other expats there. Find out more at lifeindenmark.dk.
Use Facebook to find international groups in your area. They’re a great way to meet people from different countries who have moved to Denmark for many reasons.
Search for events and activities related to your interests. You will probably meet some like-minded people this way.
Try some things that you haven’t done before. You might find a new hobby and a group of friends at the same time.
Be brave and “put yourself out there”. Most people are friendly and welcoming to expats, and you never know who you might meet!