Denmark - The State of Happiness

They are judged the happiest people on earth, with the world’s best energy system, a GDP per capita almost a third higher than Britain, more bikes in daily use than the Netherlands, a swim just 15 mins away from every Copenhagen resident and state-run TV that changed the face of drama with Borgen, the Killing and the Bridge. Yet Denmark is small (with about half the land mass of Scotland's with roughtly the same population). It has less oil/coal/gas to fuel its economy and lost an empire - just like Britain. Yet the Danes have bounced back to become the modern, eco-leaders of Europe. How did they do it?

Borgen Theme performed by L'Orchestra Cinematique · Halfdan Nielson ℗ 2015 MD - Chapel Music Halfdan E Music Aps Music Publisher: Amplitude Editions Musicales

[syedadeelhussain]

Denmark is one country which actually pays postgraduate (master's degree) students approx USD$1000 per month as an allowance to continue their higher education.
Even PhD students get stipends to do research. It's like doing a full-time job.
What a fantastic country!

[kennethvenezia]

I'm a New Yorker, and I spent 7 months there in the 1980's. Even when Danmark was having problems, it was still one of the greatest nations I ever experienced. Tak Danmark 😊

[sonicmoronic]

As an American, I always find it so silly that people in the US freak out over Danish tax rates but like...we also pay high taxes, the only difference is that we don't know where it goes and we get only a fraction of the amenities and resources that Denmark provides to its citizens. Just watching this is so depressing because Americans (again, as an American) are conditioned to immediately reject this lifestyle :( we're so unhappy lol

[jako]

From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for hiring a local danish folk musician to compose the music. I noticed it immediately and it made me so happy. Danish trad music is a part of our culture that has sadly been neglected by the mainstream for a long time, but we are currently seeing an increasing interest from young danes. I am myself part of this "movement" and even recognise the composer by name. Whenever I hear danish trad music I instantly recognise it as something inherently Danish (which I know from living in Scotland myself that bagpipes do to Scots) and as an expat it brings me back home for a moment. You managed to capture the "feel" of danishness from the first minute in this documentary, making it standout from every other documentary about Denmark. Thank you!

[khizar]

We don't dress for the ride, we dress for the destination. Bravo girl

[Kirstinevad]

Dane here. The ability to trust each other and the wish to be trustworthy runs deep. Saves a lot of problems. A little help at the right is a lot better than a little help given further down. It might not make all that difference. Danes want everybody to succeed. Not just danes but other countries. That is a win-win situation.

If one wants a piece of "the danish happiness" I think a good place to start would be the kindergartens. Really seeing the child and supporting development of personality and interrelations with the other kids is what those years are for in the kindergarten I think. Alphabet and numers are learned by playing.
Happy, independent kids with good relations will strive to be happy and do well as adults.
PS: Hoejskole and efterskole is not free though it is subsidised.

[darkreigncometh]

As an American, I really enjoyed seeing how a country I know very little about functions. This was fun to watch and very eye-opening.

[unclesamshrugged]

Americans pay very high taxes, just by another name: Health insurance premiums, social security payroll taxes, college tuition, childcare, auto expenses (due to lousy public transit), high cost utilities. If you add this up for a typical American, our true tax rate would likely be 40-55%. The Danish get universal health care, childcare, retirement, free college, great public transit and subsidized heat -- all paid for by their taxes. Will the US learn from this and improve our society? Probably not, because we're so arrogant and think we're "freer" than everyone else. How free are you if you can't afford healthcare or retirement?

[KHValby]

I´m 60 now. As a 15 year old I went to an "Efterskole", specializing in Gymnastic´s. And Yes! It was the BEST year of my life.., to this day 😊 ! I screwed up a lot (made some bad choices) and got punished a lot (fair).., but still., never regretted that year of my life, neither would I want to forget it! All Because I learned SO much I could take with me, growing older!

I´m a better person - today - for what I learned back then 👍😊👍 !

[Julleisa]

As a dane I would rather use the word CONTENT. It's more precise. And I enjoed your video as it, in many ways, are more telling about our country than a lot of other videos I've seen. Good job, and Skotland will always be welcome to join the nordic countries. Think you will learn more from us than from the british.

[MarsteinThomsen]

First and foremost thank you for a wonderful program and I have lived in Denmark half of my life and I can confirm everything in this video is true Denmark is a great country and surely is one of the best countries to live in❤️

[pvb]

This lady does a nice job showcaseing Denmark. The quality of life there mimicks the documentary. Congradulations the the country and her.

[brunoyvres]

Every politician in Scotland should be made to watch this. This has to be our future.

[matthewconstantine]

40% is high taxes.
In the States, I pay 33% & don't get crap back for it. But at least a handful of billionaires, the auto industry, and military contractors are happy.

[peterpearson]

You are perhaps gilding the lily just a little bit, but as an expat Brit who left his depressed town in northeast England in 1969 to live in Denmark, I can only say that Denmark is absolutely the best place in the world to live.

[janereid]

Think that starting school at 6yrs old with kindergarten beforehand is a great idea. Puts less stress on the child.

[andreasdebeskruse]

Documentary about happy Denmark. Always recorded in the summer :D

[alexysq]

Copenhagen/Denmark, and pretty much ALL the Scandinavian ( /Nordic ) nations, really do seem to have successfully got a handle on just how to effectively and suitably go about doing things and achieving meaningful results: in just about every way and sense, they clearly demonstrate what it actually means to *truly* be enviably sophisticated, progressive, modern, contemporary, livable, civilised, well-functioning, *¨developed¨* countries. ~Marvellous video, this 😊❤💖

[holmez]

Being a Dane and watching this is like studying an outdated text book on a subject you really know. You smile at how simplistic everything is described. Lots of things are recognizable and somewhat correct, but described bluntly without nuance and in its ideal state. Denmark is not this ideal little pradise. We have a lot of huge challenges; our old citizens dont get the care they have paid their taxes a whole life to get because there are too many old, too little money and too few care workers. Many of our young have serious mental issues stemning from abuse of and on social media. Our education system is in shambles from top to bottom. To say nothing of the problems all other countries in the West also struggle with; immigration, environmental issues, city gentrification, achieving energy supply stability, etc. On top of it all we have run out of good people who wants to run for political office and are only able to recruit poor leaders with limited intellects. The best candidates prefer the quiet, well paid life in the private sector away from the prying eyes of the ever present tabloid media. No, Denmark is not as straightforward idyllic as portrayed here. Nothing rarely is. On a few days during summer it is pretty cool, though….

[angelvaldez]

I had a Danish neighbor living next door to me in Cambridge, MA USA in 2012. He was the most beautiful guy I have ever met! He made me a homemade meal and also greeted me and welcomed me to the community! I only know his first name: Seth and I wish someday to meet him again.