Copenhagen - easy-going and rich on cultural life

A lot of people don’t really consider Copenhagen metropolitan and living in Copenhagen is also quite easy and uncomplicated compared to other larger metropolitan areas. When that being said, Copenhagen indeed has cosmopolitan atmosphere with a rich cultural life worthy of any metropolis.

The trees don’t have cancer

When world-famous composer and saxophonist Bob Rockwell was asked why he found it so attractive to live in Copenhagen he answered: ‘the trees don’t have cancer’! Bob Rockwell further argued that in Copenhagen, he could find peace and at the same time, he could enjoy the rich cultural life and a bubbling music-scene. Bob Rockwell has been living in Copenhagen since 1983 and he is still an active composer with his home base in Copenhagen.

In fact, Bob Rockwell’s description of Copenhagen is quite common among expatriates that reside in the capital of Denmark. Living is relatively easy and the Danish Welfare State provides social security and access to free education and health care for all citizens.

According to a worldwide quality of life survey, conducted by the consultancy Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Copenhagen was ranked as the world’s eighth best city in 2005 when it comes to quality of life. Mercer bases the analysis on an evaluation of 39 criteria in relation to political, social, economic and environmental factors in order to measure cities’ attractiveness.

The Copenhagen Region, which after all hosts 1,8 million people has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Children can walk to school on their own and even the Queen can go shopping in Copenhagen with a minimum of security. Public transportation is efficient and the general infrastructure is so developed that heavy traffic jam is a rare phenomenon.

The city is also very clean and green compared to many other European capitals. From Copenhagen, you can reach sandy beaches and forests within less than an hour. The Copenhagen Harbour is now so clean that it is possible and allowed to go for a swim in the water. Today, there are three pool areas located in the Harbour of Copenhagen and here, people can go for a swim in the water, relax on deck chairs or take part in beach volley ball games and other sport activities.

A foreigner like Bob Rockwell will also find it quite easy to move to Copenhagen and communicate with the Danes. Most people speak English and in Denmark, there is a tradition of being open towards the broader international environments. As a small country, it is simply a necessity to be open towards foreign countries and rely on international commerce.

With all these attractive features one could easily draw the conclusion that living in Copenhagen is far from being boring and plain.

International standards

The centre of Copenhagen is an old and charming quarter but today, the old buildings and history coexist with the latest trends in architecture, design, fashion and food. There are many cultural events and most of the activities do not require any Danish language skills. For example, all cinemas show films in the original language with Danish subtitles.

Copenhagen is on the world map within arts, which is primarily due to the internationally recognised art museums Arken (the Museum of Modern Art), Lousiana (the Modern Art gallery) and the National Gallery. These museums have become so recognised that some of the world’s most important galleries and museums are very happy to collaborate and exchange paintings and other art works with the museums in Copenhagen.

The city is also characterised by many interesting cultural projects and new buildings and quarters with their own distinctive atmosphere are sprouting both in the city centre and the suburban areas.

As an example, the former Naval Dockyard Holmen is now turning into a creative and vibrant place with a diverse mix of residential houses, educational and cultural institutions, and galleries and restaurants. From an architectural perspective, the buildings at Holmen are a fascinating combination of renovated gunboat houses from the 19^th Century and newly architect-built buildings.

A new opera house, which is designed by world-renowned architect Henning Larsen, has been built directly at the waterfront of the inner harbour. Right across from the opera house, a new theatre will be built - also at the waterfront.

And you do not have to walk far for a nice meal if the impressions give you appetite. In Copenhagen, there are numerous restaurants and cafés serving all kinds of quality food from traditional Danish meals to the finest of the French cuisine or broad selections of ethnic specialities.

This way, Bob Rockwell does not have to leave Copenhagen just because he wants to find inspiration.

Facts about quality of life in Copenhagen:

• Copenhagen is the largest city in Scandinavia and the Capital of Denmark, residence of government, and the Royal Family
• GDP per capita: € 41,800 (2003)
• Population: 1.83 mill.
• Population Density: 627 per square km
• Percentage speaking English in Denmark: 80 percent
• Quality of life ranking in 2005: 8^th on Mercer’s global quality of life survey

Last updated on: 03-02-2006	<< Back   Top