I’ve just got back from a ‘refugees welcome’ rally held outside the Danish Parliament, Christiansborg, in Copenhagen. The police tweeted that around 30,000 turned out and it certainly felt packed. It’s been a strange week for Denmark. Most outside this country of just over 5.5 million, think it’s a liberal, welcoming state. At times the reality… Continue Reading
An equal society, a happy nation, the least corrupt country in the world. Denmark has a lot going for it, particularly when it comes to soft power. But just how welcoming is it to foreigners? Well, I had a simple question I wanted answered: What is Denmark’s policy on Syrian refugees? Given that its neighbours,… Continue Reading
I wrote this piece this morning for The Huffington Post and you can see it on their website here. Otherwise, it’s in full below, with some extra comments from Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s husband, Stephen Kinnock. ______________________ In the early hours of this morning, Helle Thorning-Schmidt resigned as Danish Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democrats.… Continue Reading
Danes love to sing. From birthdays to saints days, it doesn’t take much to get this nation opening its windpipes. It just so happens that I enjoy singing too. But until April, I hadn’t been a member of a choir since my university days. After talking about it for years and always finding a work… Continue Reading
Last year I was lucky enough to go to the Danish premiere of ‘1864’ a new historical drama that was about to air in Denmark. When I say ‘premiere’ this was as far removed from a red carpet event as you can get. Think low key and relaxed – so relaxed that the film broke… Continue Reading
Until I moved here, I didn’t fully appreciate the number of fantastic restaurants there are in Copenhagen. 15 in this capital have at least one michelin star. While I’ve been lucky enough to eat at the very best in the world – Noma – I may have now experienced somewhere that tops even this joint.… Continue Reading
Did you queue? Because if you did, you must have met most of Copenhagen outside the ice cream shop today. The Danish ice cream chain, Paradis, opened for business this weekend. And to mark the end of winter – yes I know it’s still February – it was giving its ices away for free. What… Continue Reading
I’ve just returned from a very moving public memorial to those killed and injured in the terror attacks in Copenhagen at the weekend. Thousands of people gathered in Østerbro near the Krudttonden cafe, where the first shooting took place, to hear speeches and music. Despite the crowds this was typically Danish – calm, respectful, united.… Continue Reading
Denmark ‘gets’ children – and I don’t just mean childcare. Go to any museum or art gallery in this Scandinavian country and it’s geared up for kids. From exhibitions to children’s activities, little people matter here and it’s a joy to watch. This weekend, my husband, son and I visited Statens Museum for Kunst, the National… Continue Reading
It’s wonderful living in a green city. From cycling to even swimming in the city’s canals, Copenhagen prides itself on its green credentials. By 2025, it hopes to be the world’s first carbon neutral capital city. Copenhagen has been the 2014 European Green Capital – and quite frankly, no wonder. Whether or not you believe… Continue Reading
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