Trust that Denmark will always be there to welcome you with a warm embrace and well, a pint of beer. Nonetheless, this is one country that you would wish to migrate to after your retirement, along with plenty of reasons why this is one of the most livable countries for everyone. That said, we’ve highlighted the top points why you should spend your next vacation in Denmark.
Denmark is One of the Cleanest Countries
If you’re a germ-freak and have always been an avid fan of professional cleaners, then, the germaphobe in you will jump with joy when you find out that Denmark is the third cleanest country in the world. As health and cleaning experts put it, if you want a healthier and more productive life, you better uphold clean living. And that’s probably why Danish are very particular about their cleanliness.
With only a total of more than 5 million citizens including ethnic Danes, Faroese, Greenlanders and a few Germans, it is able to secure the third most coveted spot in the list of cleanest countries and has always been a pioneer for renewable energy.
Well, if you’re curious about what to do in Denmark and what this country does to maintain its cleanliness, here are some of the reasons why:
1. Cruise around this bicycle-friendly country
Without contributing to the alarming rate of pollutants in the air, being a bicycle-friendly country means a great deal to the preservation of the planet. It’s one way of promoting clean living among Denmark’s citizens, which is a good exercise as well. They have provided long bike routes and specially-designed cycle bridges for bikers.
Copenhagen is one of the cities in the world with the most bicycles, 50% goes to work by bicycle and there are almost 400 km of bicycle lanes. In fact there are more bicycles than inhabitants. Tourists can do this as well by renting a bike during the stay. You can explore the city without worrying about your safety. You may also bring it to the mountains for biking if you feel like communing with nature and other bikers.
2. Experience Green-living in Denmark
Being one of the few countries that have adopted renewable energy technology some thirty years ago, Denmark has proven that it is one of the most efficient ways to protect the environment while keeping it clean and green. Their wind turbines and energy-efficient waste management is proof that it’s possible for a country to survive a lifestyle that’s not harmful to the planet.
3. Learn a few household chores in Denmark
Danish families are kind of strict about how they handle their household chores. They may look like the sweetest persons in the world, but if you don’t know how to wash your dishes or clean the floor, you might get a subtle side-eye from them. However, don’t be too shy to tell them that you’re not familiar with these basic household chores. They’d be glad to teach you a few tricks so you can apply them when you’re back home.
4. Experience sustainable travel in Denmark
Denmark is famous for its use of organic materials to create renewable energy. Manure, animal fats, and straws are also part of this energy campaign that can be used as the basis for their biogas and liquid biofuels. You’d think that these materials are ready to be thrown away or rot to death, but in Denmark, they really find a way to make use of these materials to help sustain their energy flow.
Well, figuratively, Denmark is also a clean country when it comes to politics as they are ranked as the least corrupt country in the world.
5. Experience a cool Scandinavian way of life
Apart from being one of the cleanest countries, Denmark has adopted a cool way of living being part of the Scandinavia region. It’s a hub for fashionistas to strut their ensemble, explore their great architecture display, hop around museums and art galleries, and drink all the beer that you can find! Allow Denmark to show you around the cool stuff about their country by following some of these pointers below.
6. Visit museums and art galleries
Depending on what era of art you feel like staring at, this country has a wide variety of galleries that you can visit. If you’re curious about Vikings’ art, you can go to the Viking Ship Museum or the Ladbyskibet, which is a preserved burial ship for a Viking chieftain.
But if you want a hodgepodge of cultural artifacts from different eras, you might as well visit the National Museum of Denmark to get an overview of the Danish culture and history.
7. Experience the festivals in Denmark
If you want to hear live bands play their hearts out, you can find them in almost every bar in the city. Now, European countries are serious about their games. So, the next time you visit one, make sure that you experience watching live at least one game of football or any sport that the country is passionate about.
In Denmark, Danes are huge supporters of their very own football team. The players are also as enthusiastic as their fans because every time they go out into the field, anyone sitting on those benches would never run out of reason to scream and cheer. You should also come for the brewing festival during Easter or the Christmas season where they brew one of their special beers.
8. Hygge in Denmark
Hygge doesn’t have a direct English translation, but in the most perfect sense of the word, it’s a feeling of content, warmth, and security. It is something that you would feel when you sip a hot cup of choco during a cold winter in front of a fireplace or when you have your tent set up for camping in the summer. It’s something that they have believed in for so many years that generations after generations have adapted that concept of hygge into their everyday living.
The Danes value the invitation of friends or family to cook together, enjoy a good movie or a rich wine, without wifi or technology in between. Breakfast in bed on weekends, staying a while longer or reading a book with a rich cup of coffee and without hurry, are ingredients that also fall into the Danish recipe to live happily. According to them, it is important to have moments of rest, disconnection (and, therefore) re-connection, as well as pleasure.
9. Witness where two seas meet
To witness two seas meet in the middle is something that is jaw-dropping if that’s the perfect term for it. The clashing waves of Skagerrak and Kattegat seas will leave you in awe as you see the magic of nature doing its thing right in front of your eyes. You might think that nature probably had a miscalculation during its entire creation, but in reality, it’s a form of art that only the Ultimate Creator is capable of doing.
10. Danish Black Sun
In the spring of Denmark, millions of European starlings gather to form huge and complex shapes in the sky.
11. Be Happy in Denmark
Denmark was voted as the happiest country in the world possible because they live within the concept of hygge. It can also be due to the fact that Danes walk along clean streets or that they come home to a clean house right after dealing with a non-toxic work environment. That’s probably true, but whatever the underlying reasons may be, it’s best to note that Denmark has been regularly voted this particular title even dating back to the 70s.
Conclusion
Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping because their cities aren’t polluted making it a livable place ‒ even for other species. And then once you walk up to the barista at the nearby coffee shop, they’d greet you with the warmest of smiles and then hand you your perfectly brewed coffee. That’s not hard to imagine knowing how Danish lives their lives.
If it’s not too much to ask, I hope all countries in the world could adapt this kind of mentality so we can all live in a better place. That’s a far cry from what we have right now, but it’s worth taking the shot.
Interesting Reads: Where to See Northern Lights in Denmark