Denmark

A place where the simplest things in life are the most important

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Denmark consists of a peninsula and over 400 islands in the North Sea, forming a bridge between Scandinavia and continental Europe. This friendly Nordic country blends modern, cosmopolitan cities with simple, historic architecture rich in northern traditions and charming villages with local markets, rural churches, and castles. The flat landscape, with marshes, lakes, farmland, forests, and pedestrian streets, is perfect for cycling or chatting with friends in cafés. Danes value their personal space and love feeling cozy and comfortable – embracing the concept of “hygge.” For young people, weekends often mean parties, café hangouts, or going to the cinema. Football is the most popular sport, but swimming, sailing, and rowing are also common, especially if you live near the coast.

Monarchy_Of_Denmark_April_2010

Host family and community

There is a possibility that you could live anywhere in Denmark, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. However, it is most likely that you will stay in a small town or rural area. Danish cities are close to each other, and you can reliably use public transportation. Family ties in Denmark are very strong, and they enjoy cooking dinner together every evening. Follow the example of your host brothers and sisters – be independent, do your homework, and help out around the house by showing initiative.

School

Most likely, you will study in the first or second year of gymnasium (high school preparing students for university) or in a folkeskole, which is a school for students aged 6–16. The school year runs from August to June, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You will have five or six compulsory subjects and one or two electives, along with Danish language instruction throughout the program. The school and local municipality also offer various extracurricular activities, such as sports, music, crafts, theater, or scouting clubs.

Language

The primary language spoken in Denmark is Danish, but depending on the region, Greenlandic, Faroese, and German are also recognized as official languages. Danes generally have a good command of English, so your English skills will be very useful at the start of the program. AFS will help you find Danish language courses during the first few months of the program or provide you with learning materials to study the language before you go on the exchange.

Food

Danish cuisine includes a wide variety of vegetables and meats. Danish lunch typically consists of an open-faced sandwich called smørrebrød. Dinner is the main meal of the day, where all family members gather to talk about the day’s events. Danes also enjoy pickled herring and salty black licorice.

Herring-Smørrebrød

Explore the Programs Available in Denmark