What Are You Doing in Denmark?

Denmark is heading to the polls, but if you’re an international living here, there’s a good chance you won’t have a vote.

In this episode, Derek Hartman breaks down the upcoming Danish national election and what it means for the hundreds of thousands of residents who live, work, and pay taxes in Denmark but cannot participate in the country’s parliamentary vote.

Joining the conversation is Torben Alexander Klinger, founder of Project Vote Talk and a candidate for Venstre, who helps unpack how Danish elections work and why this snap election was called. They also discuss the growing debate around citizenship, the freezing of citizenship applications during the election period, and what that means for internationals waiting years to become eligible voters.

The conversation explores a bigger question about democracy in Denmark: what does it mean to belong to a society if you can’t participate fully in its political system? With internationals making up nearly 17% of the population, the discussion highlights the tension between Denmark’s strict citizenship rules and its reliance on international workers.

Even if you can’t vote in this election, understanding how the system works and the debates shaping it might help Denmark make a little more sense.

Thank you to today's sponsor ➡️ Cool Accounts - your go-to service for expat taxes in Denmark

Thorbern Klingert (guest):

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taklingert/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taklingert/

Candidate Website: https://www.venstre.dk/personer/thorbern-alexander-klingert

Derek Hartman: 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moving abroad can be exciting, but it can also be lonely.

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek speaks with therapist, coach, and author Lucy Vittrup Christensen about loneliness, why it affects so many internationals in Denmark, and what people can do to build real connection in a new culture.

They explore the difference between being alone and being lonely, why cultural differences in Denmark can make friendships harder to build, and how feelings of isolation can sometimes lead people to withdraw even further.

Lucy also shares practical strategies for reconnecting, from contributing to communities to embracing vulnerability and finding connection through shared activities and nature.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected while living abroad, this conversation offers insight, reassurance, and practical ways to rebuild connection.

Topics include:

• Why loneliness affects so many internationals in Denmark
• The difference between being alone and feeling lonely
• Cultural differences in social connection and friendship
• Why people sometimes withdraw when they feel isolated
• How vulnerability helps build stronger relationships
• Practical ways to find community in Denmark

⚠️ This episode discusses loneliness and mental health. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, consider seeking professional help. Crisis resources are listed below.

Key Mental Health Crisis Resources in Denmark:

• Livslinien (Lifeline): Phone 70 201 201 (open 11:00 AM – 5:00 AM daily) for suicide prevention and counseling.
• Psykiatrifonden (Mental Health Helpline): Phone 39 25 25 25 (Mon-Thu 10:00-22:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00).
• BørneTelefonen: 11 61 11 (24/7 helpline for children and youth).
• Startlinjen: 35 36 26 00 (support for, life crises, 16:00-23:00).
• Regional Psychiatric Hotline: +45 78 47 04 70 (Central Denmark Region, 24/7)

Lucy Vittrup Christensen (Guest)

https://www.instagram.com/lucy_vittrup

https://www.facebook.com/lucy.vittrup.christensen/

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When distance doesn’t weaken family bonds. Living abroad doesn’t automatically pull families apart. This episode flips the usual story about adult children moving overseas. Instead of loss or rupture, Conrad and his mom Jane talk about what happens when living abroad becomes normal for a family. Their relationship was already shaped by travel, mobility, and independence long before Denmark entered the picture. Over time, they’ve adapted through frequent visits, immersive time together, everyday technology, and a shared openness to seeing life from different places. The conversation explores how closeness can be redesigned rather than lost, and how family life can stretch across countries without becoming fragile or distant. For listeners living abroad long term, or thinking about it, this episode offers reassurance without pretending distance is effortless.

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does the Danish healthcare system really work? When should you call 1813? Can you get a second opinion? And what happens if you show up at the ER?

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek and Brooke welcome back Emma Grint, Dr. Mum-for-Kids, to answer your listener questions about healthcare in Denmark.

We cover:

• Visitors’ access to healthcare in Denmark
• Emergency vs. non-emergency care (112 vs. 1813)
• How to get a second opinion
• Changing your GP (family doctor)
• Wait times and specialist referrals
• What’s covered under universal healthcare in Denmark
• Mental health and psychiatry waitlists
• Pregnancy and birth in Denmark (midwife-led care, epidurals, C-sections)
• Patient advocacy in the Danish system

If you’re an expat or international living in Denmark, this episode will help you understand your rights, your options, and how to navigate the system with confidence.

💬 Have more questions? Leave us a voice message via SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

Emma:

https://www.doctormumforkids.com/

instagram.com/doctormumforkids

email: [email protected]

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denmark added 25% VAT to gym memberships and personal training, and it’s already changing the fitness landscape. In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek and Annie sit down with personal trainer and educator Mikkel Valgreen to unpack what’s happening, why it’s happening, and who’s most affected.

The change stems from an EU classification that defines fitness services as “commercial” rather than healthcare. That means higher prices for gym memberships, personal training, and classes while taxes on things like sugar and alcohol are being reduced.

We break down:

• Why the VAT was introduced
• How gyms and trainers are responding
• Who is exempt (and who isn’t)
• The political debate around whether fitness should count as healthcare
• What it means for Denmark’s long-term public health

Plus, Mikkel shares practical advice for actually sticking to your fitness goals in 2026 without burning out by the end of February.

If you live in Denmark, work in fitness, or just care about how policy affects your daily life, this episode is for you.

Mikkel Valgreen (guest):

https://www.mikkelvalgreenpt.dk/

https://www.instagram.com/valgreen_pt

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denmark’s Highest Point Isn’t the Point. Denmark doesn’t have mountains, but it’s residents do have opinions about hills. Strong ones. Derek and Conrad are here to unpack why a modest hill called Himmelbjerg became one of Denmark’s most famous landmarks, even though it’s not the country’s highest point. Along the way, they explore how definitions, measurements, and perspective shape what we think is true and why a flat country spends so much time debating elevation. The story reveals more than geography. It offers a window into Danish humor, identity, and the quiet art of not taking yourself too seriously. 

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re in Denmark in February, you’ll probably notice children in costumes, wooden barrels being hit with bats, and an alarming number of cream-filled buns in every bakery window. That’s Fastelavn, one of Denmark’s most beloved and confusing traditions.

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek and Brooke break down what Fastelavn actually is, where it comes from, and what you should expect as an international living in Denmark. From its roots as the Northern European version of Carnival, to historic Fastelavn processions, children singing for treats, and the very strange tradition of “hitting the cat out of the barrel,” we explain how this holiday evolved and why it still matters today.

We also talk about Fastelavn songs, costumes, and most importantly fastelavnsboller, the cream-filled buns that quietly turn February into Denmark’s sweetest month.

Whether you’re new to Denmark or just wondering why everyone suddenly cares so much about pastries, this episode will help Fastelavn make a little more sense.

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

Referenced:

Check out Ilana Buhl for fastelavnsboller content

https://www.instagram.com/the_lykke_charm

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_lykke_charm

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does hunting work in Denmark and how can a country with strict gun laws also have a strong hunting culture?

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek and Brooke sit down with David Carsten Pedersen, author, founder of Always Hunting, and host of the Danish podcast Jagt Radio, to unpack what hunting really means in Denmark for those looking in from the outside.

Together, they explore how Danish hunting culture grew out of land ownership and farming traditions, why gun ownership in Denmark is treated as a privilege rather than a right, and how extensive education, testing, and safety requirements shape the way Danes think about firearms. David explains the rituals, ethics, and community-driven nature of hunting in Denmark, as well as how respect for animals, food, and shared responsibility are central to the tradition.

The conversation also looks at why hunting has become more accepted in Danish society in recent years, how Danes generally view hunters and guns today, and what internationals, especially those from the U.S., often misunderstand about Danish gun laws, gun violence, and trust in public institutions.

This episode offers internationals living in Denmark a deeper understanding of Danish gun culture, hunting ethics, and the broader values around safety, education, and social trust that shape life in Denmark.

David Carsten Pedersen (guest):

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwayshunting.dk

David's podcast: https://www.instagram.com/jagtradio/

Hunting License Course: https://alwayshunting.dk/

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 notes for students too. This conversation is about preparation, just in case.

Along the way, they talk about garden leave, A-kasse, common misunderstandings, and the very real difference between being told you’re losing your job and officially being unemployed. With personal stories, a bit of humor, and plenty of practical context, this episode is designed to help you feel more prepared and less panicked, whether you're facing layoffs now or just want to understand the system better before you need to.

Relevant Links:

Visa Information (english): https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/

Contact SIRI (english): https://nyidanmark.dk/pl-PL/Contact-us/Contact-SIRI/Call-SIRI

Borger Service (english): https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/

More on A-kasse: https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/working/work-rights/unemployment-benefits

Job seeking episodes:

29 | Help! I’m in Denmark and I can’t find a job! https://pod.link/1704607322/episode/NjVmOTkwOTg2MTNlNzgwMDE2MDRjNGI3

30 | They asked you WHAT?! Job interviews in Denmark, Danish work culture myths, and much more. https://pod.link/1704607322/episode/NjYwMTJmM2NlNDE0YTYwMDE2YTU3YzA4

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the rhythms of living in Denmark long term. Some changes show up quickly, like prices or routines. Others are easier to miss but still influence daily life. Together, they offer context, perspective, and a sense of where things are heading.

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

New rules on medicine:

https://laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk/da/nyheder/2025/nye-regler-for-privatpersoners-indfoersel-af-medicin-til-danmark-fra-1-januar-2026/

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.