What Are You Doing in Denmark?

No one plans to lose their job in Denmark, but knowing the rules ahead of time can make a stressful moment a lot less scary. Derek and Conrad know and they’re here to unpack a topic most internationals quietly worry about but hope they’ll never need. They walk through what happens to your work and residence status if a job ends, covering how the rules differ for non-EU and EU residents, with a few...

Denmark is changing. Here’s what matters. Derek and Brooke highlight what’s changing in Denmark in 2026 and why it matters, with the goal of helping you feel more grounded in your adopted home. No matter if top-top SKAT is in your future or not, these changes shape daily life in ways that are worth understanding. This conversation connects the dots between everyday costs, small policy shifts, and...

Living in Denmark doesn’t usually change you overnight; it sneaks up on you and quietly rewires your brain. Derek and Mike share listener responses and their own “wait, when did I start doing that?” moments as they talk through the small cultural shifts that stick over time. The conversation wanders through everyday life, work, and unspoken social rules that slowly reshape how internationals move...

What should you expect from your first New Year’s Eve in Denmark? Couch-jumping? Royal speeches? Fireworks that feel slightly… unregulated? In this end-of-year episode, Derek and Conrad break down Danish New Year traditions from the perspective of internationals who’ve learned them the hard (and funny) way. From watching the King’s speech at 6 pm and playing speech bingo, to the cult classic Dinne...

With Christmas just around the corner, we’re revisiting one of our favorite holiday episodes from last year. In this festive roundtable, Derek, Conrad, Brooke, Annie, and guest Steven Feraru, talk about the big and small culture shocks that come with celebrating Christmas in Denmark as an international. From julekalenders and gløgg to julefrokost chaos, gift-opening traditions, and why Christmas s...

Winter in Denmark isn’t just cold, it’s dark, windy, wet, and emotionally confusing. In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek and Conrad are joined by comedians Jeff Bond and Jacob Taarnhøj to break down how to actually survive a Danish winter. From cycling through sideways wind, understanding seasonal affective disorder, navigating public transport misery, January despair, and Denm...

If you’re raising kids in Denmark and still feel confused every time you deal with the healthcare system, this episode will make things finally click. Derek and Brooke return for part two of their conversation with Emma, a British pediatrician based in Copenhagen. This time, the three of them talk about what it actually feels like to navigate Danish healthcare as an international parent, from gett...

Navigating Denmark’s healthcare system as an international can feel confusing, surprising, and occasionally hilarious, but it doesn’t have to. Derek and Brooke sit down with Dr. Emma, a British pediatrician in Copenhagen, to unpack how the system really works for internationals. They cover why the GP is your main gateway into care, why appointments can feel too short, and how cultural communicatio...

In this second half of our conversation with comedian Mikkel Klint-Thorius , we dive even deeper into Danish humor, cultural taboos, political satire, and how comedy evolves with the times. From reflections on “casual racism” in old material to Denmark’s unique relationship with free speech, intent, and edge-pushing jokes, Mikkel gives a refreshingly honest look at what it means to perform comedy...

In this episode, Derek and Conrad sit down with Danish stand-up comedian Mikkel Klint Thorius , one of the sharpest, most fearless voices in Danish comedy, to talk about the jokes behind the jokes, the culture that shapes them, and why Denmark works precisely because Danes refuse to think it does. Mikkel shares how he first stepped on stage at age 10, thanks to an unusually supportive teacher. Sin...

Denmark’s 2025 local and regional elections delivered anything but the usual political calm. Historic strongholds flipped, long-dominant parties stumbled, and unexpected winners surged—reshaping the political map just months before a likely national election. In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark , Derek Hartman and Mike Walsh break down the biggest surprises from election night with th...

Every December in Denmark, a very specific kind of chaos takes over and it all traces back to one quirky Christmas show. It’s time to explore The Julekalender , the 1991 Danish Christmas classic that internationals always look up when they’re trying to make sense of December in Denmark. Derek and Conrad are joined by an actual Dane, Henrik, who grew up with the show and helps break down the Dangli...

Most internationals who make it past the first few years in Denmark stay for one of two reasons and they’re not what you think. That’s what Derek found out when he chatted with Dan Rosenberg from Copenhagen Capacity about their latest expat survey. While Denmark attracts record numbers of global talent, keeping them is getting harder. Dan breaks down the data behind why some internationals settle...

This is our final episode talking to candidates for the 2025 local and regional council elections. This week, Derek sits down with Asbjørn Reissman from Social Democrats, Heidi Wang from Venstre, and Joanne Bywater from Liberal Alliance to discuss the biggest issues in Copenhagen's local elections. From schooling to housing prices, the candidates share their opinions and debate the issues, finding...

Belonging, loneliness, and coping in Denmark. The line between belonging and losing yourself can be thin sometimes. That’s what Derek, Brooke and therapist and author guest Lucy Vittrup Christensen explore in this episode. Together they explore how the pressure to fit in, the loneliness of expat life, and Denmark’s open drinking and drug culture can blur the line between social habits and addictio...

In this episode, Derek sits down with Anders Storgaard from The Conservatives and member of the Frederiksberg Municipal Council , and Mads Hvid from The Socialist People’s Party (SF) , who’s running for the Copenhagen Municipal Council . Together, they explore why internationals in Denmark should make their voices heard at the ballot box and how to decide where to put that vote. The conversation t...

Behind the zoo cages lies something deeper. Denmark’s comfort with nature, death, and education sets it apart from much of the world and nowhere is that clearer than in its zoos. While other countries hide the realities of life and death, Denmark puts them on display, even for children. What shocks outsiders often feels completely normal to Danes, who see honesty and curiosity as essential to lear...

In this episode, we're revisiting the ghost stories of Dragsholm Slot, one of Europe's most haunted castles located right here in Denmark. From the crypt of 2024 spooky season you'll hear Derek share the tales of four different ghosts haunting the castle while paranormal skeptic, Mike, gives his thoughts and reactions. Whether or not you celebrate Halloween, you're in for a scary good time revisit...

In this episode, Derek interviews Finn Holschlek, Denmark's youngest candidate for local office at just 17 years old. Finn shares his journey from Austria to Denmark, his motivations for political involvement, and the importance of youth engagement in politics. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities faced by young politicians, the impact of being a foreigner in Denmark, and the...

Is making friends in Denmark really that hard? Derek and Mike dig into what friendship and belonging look like for internationals in Denmark, from the comfort of expat bubbles to the challenge of entering long-standing Danish circles. They explore whether you truly need Danish friends to feel at home, or just the right people to anchor you. It’s a thoughtful look at what it means to build real con...

In this episode, Derek is joined by Lasse Frimand Jensen, the mayor of Aalborg, to explore the city's transformation from an industrial hub to a modern center for education, green energy, and culture. Discover how Aalborg is embracing its growing international community and leading the way in sustainable development. Lasse shares insights from his personal journey living abroad, the challenges of...

Witch hunts, haunted castles, and modern magic. Derek, Brooke, and Conrad dig into Denmark’s witchy past — from real 17th-century witch trials to modern-day magic and haunted castles. Along the way, they mix eerie history with humor, ghost stories, and a few surprising facts about why Danes still burn witches on midsummer bonfires. It’s a spirited episode that’s equal parts spooky and fun. Other s...

Can a joke survive translation? Danish comedian Jacob Taarnhøj has been finding out for over a decade—performing stand-up in Danish, English, and even Norwegian. From the comedy clubs of Aarhus to TV specials and international stages, Jacob shows how humor shifts across languages yet still connects people through shared absurdities. In this conversation with Derek and Conrad, he reveals what it’s...

Voting turnout among internationals in Denmark is often under 30%, compared to over 70% for Danes. We can do better than that, right? Local elections in Denmark decide more than you think. Derek and Brooke get all the voting as international details from Narcis George Matache in this conversation. From Denmark’s upcoming local and regional elections—what councils actually do, who can vote, an...

Helpful or Hilarious? In this episode, Derek is joined by comedian Jefferson Bond to explore the wonderfully unhinged world of expat Facebook groups in Denmark. These online spaces are meant to help newcomers navigate life in Denmark — but they’re also overflowing with conspiracy theories, questionable advice, and the occasional comedy gold. Highlights include: A now-legendary post about someone r...