It’s true! An incredible opportunity came up and my husband, pug, and I are moving to Copenhagen, Denmark in the new year. Neither of us have ever been (!!), but I’ve read a great deal about the city and am thrilled to be moving back to Europe. Copenhagen is famous for its award-winning food scene (hello Noma), chic Scandinavian design, and progressive environmental and social policies. My Kierkegaard scholar husband is geeking out to say the least. Though we don’t leave for a couple months, we’re already busy applying for visas and getting Alfred all the necessary pug immigration paperwork. I’ve even begun using Babbel and Duolingo to learn a bit of Danish. Not to mention all the trips I’m planning (Amsterdam, Berlin, Stockholm, Marrakech!). Have you been to Denmark…? Do you read any Danish blogs or know anyone I should meet there…? Any tips for learning Danish…? Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
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You have to watch The Bridge! I love the Danish language :)
And also congratulations! And yay!
Catherine – Ohhhh it’s on our list, have heard so much about it! We watched ‘After the Wedding’ last night and ‘A Royal Affair’ last week. On a bit of a Danish binge :)
I have no advice or tips (per usual) but I love reading your happy life-update posts! Congratulations, I’m very excited to see Copenhagen through your Insta feed!! Hope you have a wonder Christmas and Happy New Year : )
Karen – Thank you! I do think Europe will be good for my insta feed ;) Hope you have a wonderful holiday as well! xo
Congratulations Kate! I’ve never been to Denmark, so you’ll have one up on me there. Do you remember Morgan or Garrett Philbin (Teach kids)? They lived in Denmark for a couple of years when they were kids while their dad was on a Fullbright. The whole family learned Danish….give them a shout out!
Modeana – I wrote Garrett last week and he was so helpful and said wonderful things about the Danes! Great minds :) xoxo
When can I come visit?????
Such exciting news! You’ll have to invest in a chic push-bike…and a cute little basket for Alfred! Geist is my favorite place for dinner in Copenhagen, though I hear Noma is opening up a new venture next year, too! Try the flodeboller from Summerbird Chocolatier – it’s the best! The Living Room and Democratic Coffee are good local haunts. Enjoy the next few weeks left in Chi!
Clare – I owe you an email!!! And any time obvi! xoxo
Caitlin – This is all so helpful! And yes, I am so excited to get a bike, though I have only ridden one twice in the past 15 years so it could be comical. Thanks for your well wishes! Happy holidays!
So excited for you lady!! Will have to come visit! Xo
How exciting! I did a very quick weekend trip to Copenhagen with a girlfriend a few summers ago and it only made me want to see more. We stayed in the Vesterbro district and I really enjoyed walking around the Halmtorvet area in the evenings, so lovely in the summer and great restaurants all along the street.
Copenhagen is magical! I visited in ’07 and loved it. Congrats on such an exciting move! xx
What an exciting move! I studied abroad in Copenhagen two years ago and it is my favorite city in the world! Some of my favorite food was in Torvehallerne, they have endless options and you can pick up fresh farmers fruits and veggies or full meals, pastries and more. There is a little oatmeal store called Grød (in Torvehallerne and they also have another little location too) that is phenomenal. Cafe Norden, has some of the best lunch foods and such a stunning location near the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. Tivoli is stunning during Halloween and Christmas (they close it down every few months to change decor for the seasons) and it also has some great restaurants inside too! There are so many amazing places to shop as well, Osterbro, a more suburban and family friendly area of the city where I lived, has some amazing shoe stores with some fabulous and unique options. I hope you love the city as much as I did!
So exciting!! Copenhagen is such a great city, you will love it! We will be back in Europe this summer for a few months, if you come to Berlin let me know. If we aren’t there, I can at least send you my favorite places :) xox
Very exciting, Katie! Are you familiar with the blog The New Diplomat’s Wife? http://www.thenewdiplomatswife.com/ She’s an American expat based in Copenhagen and writes about life in Denmark…and she interviews expats in countries around the world as part of her Notes From the Field series. You’ll love it!
xo Amelia
https://southbynorthwestblog.wordpress.com/
Hello Katie
I am Danish and live in Copenhagen (Christianshavn) to be more specific :-) I’ve followed you since the happy Matchbook days (loved your magazine) and would love to meet for coffee and chat. Maybe I can be of some help? I have to say this is exciting news and you’ll love it here. Also, you’ll have easy access to Malmø, Sweden, which is 20. min. away by train and makes for a great day-trip plus the rest of Europe, too. Do you have any idea where you’d like to live, which neighborhood? Please let me know if you’d like to meet. My Instagram is Mannahavn.
Have a lovely Christmas and welcome (soon) to Scandinavia :-)
Kindly,
Marianne
Copenhagen is FANTASTIC!! So excited for you! Have you watched Borgen yet?
WOW! What awesome news! Congratulations! Its beautiful to see you both go for your dreams! You”ll be living in Europe! How romantic! The Danish are so chic and Copenhagen is so beautiful. So happy for you both can’t wait to see it through your instagram eyes! Merry Holidays to You and your family.
Congratulations, Katie! I know nothing about Copenhagen but will nonetheless be living vicariously through you!
Ellie – You must!!! xo
Alexandra – That is so good to hear! I hope I love it as much as you did!
Adara – Come visit!
Alexis – Ohhh Osterbro sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing!
Ashley – Would love for you to show me around Berlin! Definitely planning a trip there next year. Will be in California in January, would love to catch up there too!
Amelia – Thank you so much for telling me about her blog, it looks awesome! Will be sure to write her before my move!
Marianne – I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to hear from a local! Will send you an email. We must get together!
Jess – We haven’t yet, but it’s on our list! Have read so much about Danish tv shows lately. Hope to see you when I’m in London!
Tiffany – Happy holidays to you and yours as well! So glad to hear all these nice things about Denmark :)
Lauren – You’re so sweet! I hope I don’t disappoint! I think it will be a fun adventure. Have wonderful holiday!
Hejsa Katie and greetings from Copenhagen!
I’ve been a Matchbook Magazine and blog reader for years :) Originally from Finland I ended up in CPH a year and a half ago with my hubby and pup. And we all love it! And (I hope) so will you guys!
I’d love to help you with info or anything you might need. Or else just whish you velkommen!
Hi Katie – welcome to Copenhagen! You’ll love it here I’m sure – a few things take some getting used to but it can be quite the home and has it’s own beautiful character.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life here or if I can help with anything – congrats again!
Katie,
Several years ago I had the honor to be the guest of the Queen. I spent 4 weeks on Denmark. I so wanted to more their. The food, the arts and the people are beyond wonderful. I know you and your husband
will love living in Denmark.
The city is enchanting as are the people.
Maureen
Wow, where to start with you this year? SO happy about your marriage, thanks for sharing that with us! And Denmark?! What an adventure! Merry Christmas to you and all of your family, and lots of wishes for a terrific new year!
I am so excited for you, Katie. What a wonderful opportunity and can’t wait to see it through your eyes! Happy Holidays!!
Congratualtions on your impending move! I will miss your Chicago posts but my son will be moving to NYC after next year so we will both soon be saying goodbye to Hyde Park’s charm. Looking forward to enjoying your access of Europe’s beauty for us all to share.
Oh my gosh have a wonderful time!!!!
Lia
http://Www.adinaandgem.etsy.com
Wow! That’s amazing! What a dream!
Hi Katie,
I have been following your journey since NYC. I love your blog so much! Also, Copenhagen is my favorite city ever. I studied abroad just across the sea in Vaxjo, Sweden. We often visited Copenhagen, as it was so much closer than Stockholm. Please take a ferry or drive to Malmo, Sweden. The sea villages there are so quaint. Also, I really enjoy Antonia over at http://www.swedishloveaffair.com/. I wish you nothing but the best on your new adventure. Keep blogging!!
very exciting! My husband is from DK and we return every year… Copenhagen is a lovely city, but there are so many more darling corners of this lovely country. Be sure to check out Fasled Kro asap ( our very favorite place in the country) – The architecture of the different churches throughout ( Kirke) are amazing. Also we spend a few days at Svinklov Badhotel to recuperate from jet lag …. Noma isn’t in DK anymore fyi – but there are so many other wonderful restaurants, both new food and traditional delights. You’ve no doubt done your research – but feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions ! best, julia
Hi Katie
Although I’m a relatively new reader of your blog I wanted to pitch in as well. I’m also a local from Copenhagen ready to welcome you to our city. Glad you will arrive close to Spring as it’s the best time to begin your adventure in the city. As a fellow traveler and fan of beautiful things let me know if I can help you when arriving – I would love to meet up! Exciting times for you all – pug included!
Best wishes – Barbara
Hey Katie! Very exciting. I wouldn’t worry too much about learning Danish to be honest. Copenhagen is such a unique place. Because it’s an epicenter of culture and in Scandinavia perhaps the most desirable place for Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians working in anything creative, you’ll actually notice almost everyone is speaking English with each other! Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes are all working together in English everywhere you go as its their common language. You’ll notice this right away if you sit next to the kitchen in a restaurant or the staff in a store that English is the most common language here. Seriously its crazy. I’m all for learning the language of a new place of course, but you’ll find in Copenhagen it wouldn’t be considered rude to not speak Danish, nor even necessary it’s actually just the language that ends up working best here between is super international population. XOXOXO
No not envious at all. Copenhagen is an amazing city you will have the best time exploring. I recommend cheap but inspirational eats on Paper Island http://copenhagenstreetfood.dk/en/ cosy in the winter with blazing fires and bustling in the summer sitting on deck chairs on the harbour people watching. You also have to go to Grød for porridge at least once (a month), they have a few locations now so should be accessible wherever in the city you live. If I can convince my OH to look for work out there I’d be there in a heartbeat. Enjoy.
Some Danish blogs and links
http://lookdepernille.theyouway.com
http://emilysalomon.dk
http://www.thefoodclub.dk
http://www.madbanditten.dk
http://www.aok.dk
http://ihcph.kk.dk
http://www.scandinaviastandard.com/pet-care-in-denmark/
http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/bicycle-culture/
Congratulations! I love Copenhagen. I would highly recommend reading A Year Living Danishly. It’s about a British couple who moved from London to Denmark. The writer is a free-lance journalist. Her book is witty, laugh-out-loud funny yet she provides a realistic perspective on the positives and negatives of Danish culture. Best wishes as you cross the pond! I highly recommend it
Katie, I was so very excited and wistful thinking of you moving to Copenhagen. I spent my junior year of college there, living with a family 10 miles north of the city, with whom I am still in touch. It seems to be a popular destination for college students today—way more so than when I went in 1982! So I have always introduced the young people I know who are going, to my Danish “family” and they all seem to enjoy each other very much : ) I’d be glad to introduce you to them if you’d like! The “sister” of my family is now about 50 (CRAZY because I still think of her as 16!) and she has a 21 year old daughter. She a lovely and beautiful person, inside and out. My Danish “brother” is a physicist and professor at the University of Copenhagen. Sadly, the parents have both passed away.. They have an older sister who was the model of the family, even though they’re ALL model-worthy! She’s living a little further north of the city now, though, I believe. Let me know if you aren’t too overloaded with Danish introductions, and I will make the intro! And BEST of luck with your next adventure! Farvel!
Welcome to the expat life! MY husband and I moved to Amsterdam from Chicago about 18 months ago. We even were crazy enough to start a family over here this last year. It is a FUN ride to get to explore all of Europe with a little one in tow. We haven’t visited Copenhagen yet, but will be sure to reach out about all the best spots to visit when we do.
Alecia – How fun! Loved Amsterdam when I visited. Do reach out if you find yourself in Denmark! xx