The age of the internationals; Lower interest rates; Every sixth home is at risk of flooding

Last Week in Denmark (08.09-15.09) Episode 30 Year 4

Editor HQ 

State of Denmark 

Just as it's getting colder outside, the fire inside is getting stronger. This week, Last Week in Denmark has participated at TechBBQ, which is probably the biggest English-speaking professional event in Denmark. To our pleasant surprise, we have discovered scores of internationals who want to take charge in organizing, unionizing, and bringing together our community in Denmark.

As we near 20% of the population (one million by 2030), the critical mass of internationals who can lead, innovate, and take responsibility has reached the optimal point where projects will start to spring up at an incredible rate. These projects will be all about the proverbial “teaching a man how to fish,” as internationals understand that only with our own hands can we ensure better conditions for our community in Denmark. 

One after another, previous limitations that kept internationals away from certain activities and decision-making spaces will be removed, and even the unthinkable (like having the first prime minister of Denmark with an international background) can happen. 

Yes, Denmark is going through massive transformations as it adapts to the new reality where one in five people has a background other than Danish. Yes, there are people who will have a hard time adapting to the new reality, which can exacerbate violent outbursts and the already problematic discrimination issue. Yes, the only way ahead is to normalize – normalize our presence on political posters, on commercial billboards, in the media, at tables where decisions about our life in Denmark are made, at the helm of companies, and leading volunteer-based associations – making Denmark a better place for all of us. 

As our audience grows and our platform becomes more influential, we hope that we will be able to light a fire in the souls of those brave enough to take the responsibility of coming to the front. Providing people with access to information is an essential first step towards empowerment and enlightenment.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark! 

P.S. - Check out the winning ocean photography photos here.

LWID Universe 

Linkedin: Our reporter Jittal Mehta made her debut with an article about the “How to thrive in Denmark” workshops. 

Instagram: Wonder how an event like TechBBQ feels? Check out our video reporting. 

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Danish Politics HQ

Weekly political overview 

Germany will introduce border controls with all its neighboring countries from September 16th for six months. 

Only half of 13 to 17-year-olds have a job in their free time. To increase this percentage, a majority agreement has been reached in Parliament. What are the agreed measures?

• Remove the 8% labor market contribution tax on income so that teenagers can keep more of the money earned. 

• The municipal youth service will advise young people about free-time jobs. 

• Those age15 and older will be allowed to work until 23:00 (it was previously 20:00). 

• Compulsory education will end in June instead of July, so that more young people can get a summer job. 

Updates from political parties:

• Alternativet (Green Party) wants to create a state-financed savings account worth 100,000 DKK for everyone over 25 years old. 5,000 DKK would then be added every year after turning 25. The money could be used for unpaid vacation days. 

Focus

Check out your municipality's website. The 2025 budget agreement has been approved in the majority of municipalities. For some municipalities it will be an exciting read about future investments, while for others it will be grim, as the main focus will be about cuts to public spending. 

• For example, in Copenhagen, there will be an income tax cut of 0.1% (the third cut in the last couple of years); parking will get more expensive as the red zone expands and free Sunday parking will be canceled; 156 million DKK will be invested in improving schools. 

• On the island-municipality of Fanø, where 3,500 people reside, funding worth 20 million DKK must be found, which means closing schools, fewer bus routes, and worse service in elderly homes. A long-term solution is needed, as the municipality will most likely go bankrupt in the near future. 

Danish Economics HQ

Weekly economics overview 

In eight municipalities, the employment rate of male non-Europeans is higher than the employment rate of male Danes. Where? Bornholm, Langeland, Lolland, Morsø, Rebild, Vordingborg, Vesthimmerland, and Fanø. 

• On a national level, the employment rate of male Danes is 67.1%, while for male non-Europeans it is 59.1%. For female Danes, it is 61.3%, while for female non-Europeans, it is 48%. 

The European Central Bank lowered the interest rate by 0.25% to 3.5%. Denmark’s National Bank followed immediately by also lowering the interest rate by 0.25% to 3.25%. Good news for the first-time home buyers and current mortgage holders. Not so great for savings accounts. Why is the interest rate going down? Inflation has stabilized, and it should further push interest rates down in the next couple of months. 

60,000 companies received more pandemic subsidies than they were entitled to. The state sent repayment requests in the value of 4.9 billion DKK. The highest bills have been sent to Copenhagen Airport (41 million DKK); Tvilum, H&M (18 million DKK each); HB-Care, and TEFA (10 million DKK each). 

To strengthen the entrepreneurial environment in the European Union, approximately 6,000 billion DKK must be invested annually. The former president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, published a report on the EU's competitiveness compared to other markets, and the situation looks dire. To keep up with China and the US, we need massive investments of more than double the Marshall Plan after the second world war. 

• What to expect? EU member states will most likely go again for joint borrowing from the financial markets. Entrepreneurs can expect a wave of opportunities in the next couple of years. The golden age of entrepreneurship is coming. 

DSV might become the largest logistics company in the world. If the acquisition of the German logistics company DB Schenker goes through, it would mark the biggest merger in Danish history, and DSV will become the largest logistics company in the world. DSV was founded in 1976 by nine independent hauliers and has since grown to 75,000 employees in over 80 countries. The potential acquisition would double the DSV workforce to 150,000 employees. 

Focus

51 municipalities are threatened by flooding. The Coast Directorate (Kystdirektoratet) updated the map of high-risk flooding areas and added 24 municipalities to the list. Where? The entire Limfjord area, Mariager Fjord (North Denmark); Grenaa, Aarhus, Horsens, and Himmelbjerg lakes (Central Denmark); Graasten, Rømø (South Denmark); and Roskilde Fjord (North Zealand). 

• Look out for increased home insurance costs in the newly added areas. 

Find out how much property tax you will pay in 2025 and 2026. Use this calculator based on the preliminary 2022 property assessment. Go to vurderingsportalen.dk, check property value (ejendomsværdi) and land value (grundværdi), insert the data in the calculator together with property type and municipality, and find out how much you stand to pay in the next two years. 

• Home owners from 83 municipalities will get a lower property tax, while home owners from 15 municipalities will pay more. Why? The calculation is based on the average price change (increase or decrease) in each municipality between 2022 and 2024. 

Entrepreneurship Corner

Join our network of international entrepreneurs in Denmark. We have a LinkedIn group for announcements and opportunities and a WhatsApp group for business-related questions. 

Tip of the week! You don’t need a lawyer or a consultant to start a personally liable company in Denmark. It takes less than five minutes to register on virk.dk. In less than 24 hours, you have a CVR number. What do you need? A name, an address, and the type of economic activity. As for the legal form, you can choose PMV (if you think you will earn less than 50,000 DKK per year) or an EKM. 

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

Insights into the Danish way of life

If you’re reading this email on Sunday, September 15, and you still have no plans for today, we might have the solution for you. Today is Åbent Landbrug, the annual Open Farm Day, where farmers essentially invite everyone in the country to visit their farm. More than 80 participate all around Denmark. This event has taken place since the end of the ‘80s, with thousands of people going into the countryside to understand where the national produce comes from.

As we all very well know, finding a farm is not hard business in this country. If you take any train in almost any random direction pointing opposite the city centers, you will end up in a farm. In fact, 61% of Denmark’s total area is cultivated – and then there’s some generous extra land that is just nature. In Denmark, countryside is king.

In case you can’t make it, however, here are some interesting facts about the Danish farming world. The agricultural sector is responsible for 22% of the total Danish export of goods, and of course, pork and dairy (and fish) are its golden items. The main buyers are Germany, Sweden, the UK, and China. Although it is a rather tiny country, humble Denmark of 5.8 million inhabitants produces food for 15 million people. Cereals are the dominant crop, but rather than consuming or exporting it, 85% of it serves as animal food.

In this regard, the grass is greener on Denmark’s side: Danes consume more organic produce than any other country, at 12% (we do wish it was even more!). And if you’re wondering where the food waste you are asked to separate in your kitchen goes, the answer is biogas for energy production and manure. By 2050, Denmark aspires to become fully carbon neutral in the food sector. If you are still reading our newsletter by then, we will keep you in the loop.

Weekly overview

Shortage of bicycle mechanics in Denmark. The waiting period to get a bike fixed averages from one week outside Copenhagen to two weeks in the capital. You can get a bicycle mechanic education in Hvidovre and Herning. There is also a possibility to start your apprenticeship at a bike shop. 

Remember to recycle your old electronics; they contain valuable resources that can be reused.  52% of our old phones and 44% of our old tablets/laptops are still hanging around somewhere in our home, gathering dust. 

17 mobile phone games have been reported for manipulative designs (which are illegal). Among them, you can find Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, etc. Why? They entice young children to lose control over how much money they spent in-game. 

Copenhagen Municipality will invest half a million DKK to prepare a potential bid to host the Olympics in 2036. First, the municipality wants to submit a bid to host the Youth Olympics in 2030. Further on, they want to investigate the possibility of hosting the Olympics for the first time in history in the Nordics. There is potential competition from Warsaw (Poland). 

Interested in networking with celebrities in Copenhagen? Go to the B.93 football club matches at Østerbro Stadium. It has become the coolest place to be on a Friday after work. It’s not about football, as the team is mediocre at best (lower levels of the second division); it’s about culture. 

How to avoid becoming overweight during pregnancy? Check out these five pieces of advice from a leading obstetrician in Denmark. First, stay active. Daily exercise is important to train the body for birth. Second, avoid rice, pasta, and white bread. Fast carbohydrates make you hungry again very quickly. Third, eat more often and smaller portions throughout the day. Fourth, avoid the natural calorie bombs like fresh juice, nuts, and raisins. Lastly, rest: take a nap instead of snacking. 

40% of pregnant women in Denmark are struggling with weight problems. For the past couple of years, the problem has gotten worse. Overweight pregnant women risk many complications, such as unplanned cesarean sections, pregnancy-related diabetes, and pre-eclampsia. 

Giant tsunami (200 meters tall) in Greenland. Last year, a strange phenomenon took place in a desolate place – the Dickson Fjord in Greenland. A giant tsunami was trapped as if it were in a bathtub, going back and forth for 9 days straight and causing the entire planet to feel the tremor. 

International Community in Denmark HQ

Read the second issue of the “Found in Translation” column written by Ali Lewis.

“The First Ever Danish Quantum Industry Day: What Internationals Need to Know” article written by Pratik Hariharan

Announcement Board

Aalborg, September 17, 14:00-15:45: Job Search Seminar – Are you new to job search in Denmark? Or could you use some practical help and guidance on how to successfully search for a job? International House North Denmark would like to invite you to a free seminar where you will be introduced to the basics of job search in Denmark.

Odense, September 21, 10:00-14:00: International Welcome Day 2024 – Are you looking for a new hobby, a local network, or an opportunity to volunteer? Then come and meet some of Odense's local organizations – from sports clubs to volunteer groups, cultural organizations, and public institutions.

Aalborg, September 21, 11:00-14:00: Internationals’ Fair North Denmark 2024 – Are you new in Denmark and looking for all the opportunities life has to offer in North Denmark? At the fair, you'll have the chance to hear speeches from the Mayor of Aalborg, Lasse Frimand Jensen and International House, meet public authorities, relevant organizations, NGOs, and more to get useful information as a newcomer living in North Denmark.

Online, September 17, 19:00 - 21:00: Danish culture is an “extreme”- online webinar with Anatolie Cantir. Sign up via mail to michelle.christensen@br-mv.dk

International media about Denmark HQ

Denmark returns iconic indigenous cloak to Brazil (BBC) 

Greenland urges Denmark to confront its dark past (France 24)

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