Lolland in the Spotlight, Focus, Bank Fee Warnings, Best City Ranking in Denmark: LWID S3E22

Is the future of Denmark shifting beyond the big cities? This week on Last Week in Denmark, co-hosts Kalpita and Golda—both internationals with a deep connection to life in Denmark—break down three stories that reveal how things are changing. Lolland is stepping into the spotlight as a potential new hotspot for internationals. A surprising number of people are saving up to 50,000 DKK a year just by switching banks. And with Copenhagen now ranked the best city to live in worldwide, what does that title really mean for everyday life?

Topics: 

(01:20) Could Lolland become the new mecca for internationals in Denmark?

(09:03) Check your bank fees. You might save up to 50,000 DKK yearly if you switch banks.

(17:30) Copenhagen has been ranked the best city to live in, worldwide.

In this episode:

Cohosts: 

• Golda - https://www.linkedin.com/in/goldafania/
• Kalpita - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpitabhosale/

Podcast Manager:

• Stephanie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstephfuccio/

Audio Editor: 

• Leo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-vitasovic/

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🎵 Music,Jack Leatherbarrow @ Wizmedia: https://wiz-media.co.uk/

Transcript

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Kalpita:

Hello everyone welcome to yet another episode of Last Week in Denmark. This is episode 22. I am Kalpita and I have Golda with me as my co-host. How are you Golda?

Golda: 

Hi Kalpita. I'm fine. It's really, really hot here in the UK today, so burning a little bit. I'm surprised to say that. But yeah it's beautiful outside.

Kalpita:

It is amazing here as well. It's almost 25 degrees. Isn't that insane? I remember complaining that it wasn't warm enough.

Golda: 

Really? When was this?

Kalpita:

I think my episode with Fionn, I think that was two, three weeks ago.

Golda: 

Okay. Well, somebody heard your complaints and answered.

Kalpita:

Clearly. Well, let's dive right into it. We have three topics as usual today. We are talking about Lolland, which I haven't been to in Denmark, and we're talking about bank fees, and we're talking about Copenhagen being the best city to live in. Let's kick it off with Lolland. Have you been to Lolland, Golda?

Golda: 

To be honest, I don't think so. I could have as a kid on a school trip, it sounds familiar, but as an adult, I don't think I've been there.

Kalpita:

I have never been there either, but I do know people from Lolland and they are quite nice, very sweet people. But I read that Lolland is probably the only place in the local elections where they are having two international candidates.

Golda: 

Wow!

Kalpita:

Did you know that?

Golda: 

I did not know that.

Kalpita:

So there are two candidates. One is called Summer. How about that? And the other, if I remember correctly, is called Candice. And I think both of them are coming from the US, came here around 2019 and such. And they've been here for a while. And they've managed to create a space for themselves. And they're working for getting more visibility also for internationals in Denmark. I fancy that.

Golda: 

That's actually really amazing. I had no idea that was happening. But apparently Lolland, as I'm reading here, is the fourth largest island in Denmark. So I should have known a little bit more about it. That's on me.

Kalpita:

I know that Lolland has beautiful fields and flowers. Now this sounds very generic, but that's what my friends and colleagues that I know from Lolland have told me. And they also do barley, I think, or wheat. And I think a lot of sugar also is produced over there. So it would make sense that it was becoming the new Mecca.

Golda: 

So how did internationals begin to find themselves down there? Is it like a spot with lots of companies that hire internationals or do you know anything about that?

Kalpita:

I'm not sure if it's the companies, but I do know that Lolland is fairly inexpensive to live in, although it is quite far away. It is typical countryside and it's very attractive place for people to go and have houses and settle there. I know someone who recently also got a house in Lolland. Like a summer house-ish, but they want to make it into a full-time living space. As far as I know, Lolland is very preferred as a place to stay in and make a home. 

Golda: 

Yeah. I mean, as long as I hear affordable housing, then I'm sold, to be honest.

Kalpita:

Yeah, exactly. And I mean, I worked on an article not very long ago about youth wings in politics. And I think, I don't, I don't believe that they joined youth wings, but language plays a big role was what I took away from one of the interviews as well, that you need to know the language to be able to follow what's going on, obviously, because everyone's Danish and they speak Danish in party meetings and stuff like that. So language must have played a big role in them getting any kind of recognition in making a difference, especially for internationals. But imagine that to be the future. You remember we spoke about that last time that internationals are the future, especially in Denmark, and now we are having two international candidates running for elections. So it's already happening.

Golda: 

Yeah, you're right. And it's actually really amazing to see in real time and to live in a time like this where internationals can actually make an impact. I'm really happy for this time. It's a good time to be alive in some aspects.

Kalpita:

Indeed. I mean, they are already bringing a picture of change to Denmark because they become one of the first internationals to be standing for an election. And I hope that all other internationals take recognition of other internationals in their local areas and municipalities and such to find out what they stand for and what change they plan to bring and hopefully elect them, of course, in all fairness, obviously. And that is also one of the most significant ways to bring change because you get to be right at the heart of policy making and bring an international perspective to everything, which I think the politics here misses.

Golda: 

Yeah, I always say that as much as people want to avoid and run away from politics, politics is your daily life and all these policies affects you day to day, whether you know it or not. So it should actually be in your best interest, whether you're new to Denmark or if you've lived in Denmark for many, many years, it's actually in your best interest to follow policy very closely. I've lived in the UK now for the past two years, and even as a Danish citizen in the UK, I am affected by a lot of the new laws that are happening in the UK. And the only way to truly navigate this life and be able to live a decent life, as I would say, is to in some way, shape or form, fight for your rights.

Kalpita:

Absolutely. And it's also about leading an informed life, I think, from my perspective. I mean, in Denmark, especially, we're such a small country, but we also have politics at the center of everything that happens in Denmark. Politics is very important in Denmark. People talk about politics, like casually over breakfast, lunch, dinner. Open conversations are held among peers, within families, right from the young ones to the old ones around the table. So I think politics is significantly affecting our lives. I totally agree with you, Golda. But also politics is something I am... I'm a complete novice at politics. Politics just mushes my brain completely. I... It's so complicated, so complex. But then I think Last Week in Denmark was actually the one that made it a bit simplified for me. And it became such a eye opener actually in many ways because I was able to at least remotely understand and follow what the heck was going on and who was who and what's what. But that's the thing. My first step into knowing and understanding Denmark was understanding its politics.

Golda: 

I really like that. I really like that you took that initiative to want to become informed.

Kalpita:

Yeah, and speaking of informed now, bank fees have have been brought to light through the newsletter and in the news that you can apparently save up to 50,000 Danish kroner a year if you switch banks because bank fees from one bank to another have significant differences. Have you experienced that before? Have you changed banks in Denmark?

Golda: 

No. So I think for me, when I came back in 2012 to study in Denmark, I opened my first bank account with Nordea and I closed my bank account with Nordea last year because of the fees. It just wasn't really adding up for me to have an udlandskonto. The fees was just way too much and I barely was using it, the Danish account anymore. But I can imagine that if you are switching, then it would make sense that you can find something lower. I was just a diehard Nordea customer. Who are you with?

Kalpita:

I have a bank account with Arbejdernes Landsbank. I find them to be super cheap, super simple. They're also always available if you have questions. But I do know that, I mean, they keep sending me messages every now and again :"Oh, now we are reducing rent on this, rent on that is going to be increased". And it's usually a zero point something percentage, which I'm like, "Nah, okay, you know, that's not really breaking my bank". But I do understand that there are other fees. Like you said, your outstation account was very expensive. And I know Danske Bank does that as well. And now we also have, I don't know, banks like Lunar and such, which are private banks, are also significantly impacting the whole bank and finance game in Denmark. But I also find it a bit strange that the difference is so vast. I get that there's competition, but I also don't understand the difference. It's like getting your phone changed. What is that called? Subscription changed, because now some other phone company calls you and pitches in a cheaper, you know, option for you. And then a couple of years later, then you find out: "Oh, this Three is cheaper and oh, no, Telenor is cheaper or Telmore is cheaper or whatever." It's a bit strange also to, you know, keep switching your basic.

Golda: 

I agree with that. And it's not everybody who truly understands how banking works. You say politics is complicated. Finance and banking. Yeah. It took me moving outside of Denmark to actually sit and, like, have a look at my bank account and understand all these fees and what was happening, but, yeah, so I just think it's good that people at least are aware, like, that it's coming in the news. So if you're, like, the average Joe, now you can be like: "Hm, what are my fees?" You know, maybe this was not something you were thinking about before, but now you can. Go check it.

Kalpita:

Absolutely. I mean, it's always worth taking a quick call with your bank manager, and they will always simplify things. It's just like negotiating your holiday, I don't know, with the flight company or your stay. You call them saying: "Hey, this bank is giving cheaper rent. What do you have to offer for me? If not, then I will see you when you become cheaper." But also, it's, it's, yeah, I, I do not like the bureaucracy of it, like the whole paperwork, and then you have to move one thing to another and all that. Ah, that's one thing that, that can put me off. And then I won't mind paying any kind of fee because I don't care. I'm not going to keep changing my things. Imagine the things you need to keep up with, like change your bank account, then keep changing your phone, then keep changing your, I don't know, insurance, because you are going some save some. Yeah, it's insane. 

Golda: 

Insurance! That's why we say adulthood is a scam. Someone scammed us into this.

Kalpita:

Indeed is. Absolutely. I mean, the things you have to keep up with because they keep changing the rules and fees and benefits. It's, It's a bit like, hey, we live such a great life. Why don't we just complicate it a little bit? Why don't we put you just a tiny bit to work, please?

Golda: 

Yeah, it does feel like that sometimes.

Kalpita:

Yeah, I do. I do like banks, especially my bank, because they're so simple. I can just go into my app and do whatever I need. But I also understand it's a bit unfair for me to say that it's simple because I don't really have so many needs through my bank. But I suppose that's even more complex for entrepreneurs who need to keep up with not just their personal, but also their business accounts.

Golda: 

Yeah, it is. It is.

Kalpita:

And then the, the accountants don't come cheap either.

Golda: 

I think I have a friend who does that for businesses, and it's true. It's, it's not cheap at all. It's definitely worth it, but it's not cheap because it is complicated. And maybe we need more courses in in high school or in university that can kind of break some of these things down without you having to major in accounting or economics, maybe just like mainstream banking courses for, you know, young adults.

Kalpita:

Yeah, yeah. That's a good point. I was having a conversation with someone not long ago where we spoke about the only thing that - one of the things that really impacted them during graduation was that there was absolutely at no point that they were told how to start a business or how to be in retail or how to rent a place or how do you do your banks or taxes and stuff. And that felt like a big, big gap as well, because Denmark is known to be an incredible place that not only supports but encourages businesses and entrepreneurship. And then it's not part of the system or education system is a bit disappointing.

Golda: 

It's definitely a privilege to know these things, and I agree with you, it is a bit disappointing. And there's only a few who maybe stumble upon it later in life, but you kind of have to be self-taught and it's really just about making mistakes and hoping you don't mess up too much. But, yeah, it would be good to make this readily available for young adults. I'm talking probably those who are, like, 18-21 would be a good group to target.

Kalpita:

Yeah, absolutely. Imagine the difference it would make if every individual would know what is up and down in being an entrepreneur and taking your business retail or even B2B for that matter. And then the tax, let's not even begin on that. That's like a whole different ball of thread that is all jumbled up that you just need to... you never sort it out. There's always something or the other with tax. So I don't blame the banks to making it even more complicated in some way.

Golda: 

Yeah, I, I agree with that one.

Kalpita:

Which is a paradox, because our next topic is that Copenhagen was recently selected as the most livable city.

Golda: 

I did see that on LinkedIn. I was kind of proud. Copenhagen is a very beautiful city. It's become even more beautiful over the years. And sometimes I do just miss the simple bike lanes. It's just the small things. I literally, even today, we went out walking and we live in a really nice place. We live outside of London and big sidewalks, nice car lanes, flowers, trees, everything. And then, phew, there's a bike that came behind us. And I was just thinking, why are they here? Why can't we just get some bike lanes so the bikes know where they're supposed to be? And that's where the nostalgia about, like, you know, just growing up in Copenhagen and kind of maybe taking that for granted, but really understanding what it means for a city to invest in like these eco-friendly and infrastructure that kind of allows for cities to bloom and also think about the safety of its citizens.

Kalpita:

Absolutely. I always talk about this whenever, especially whenever I take a holiday or a travel outside of Denmark for whatever reason. Things just work here. There's, I mean, things just work. You don't have to think about where, what, how. It just works. It's just right there and very efficient. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's very, very hard to not figure something out by yourself in this city. It's just incredible how it works.

Golda: 

And it's just very beautiful as well, I think, with some of, like, the way it's become modernized, the, the, the new buildings, the coloring, even with like the metro and the metro is not complicated. I still feel like the London metro system is just, it's really complicated. I get lost all the time, where I love getting to Kastrup Airport and I just know if I take this metro, I am in central Nørreport, you know, or if I want to go to Copenhagen Central Station. I just, I know how to get there where I feel like, you know, other places I've traveled to, it's a bit complicated to get from the airport to the city. It's just like, yeah, it's just the small things. I just really like that city. It's a bit expensive to live. That's probably the downside. But to be honest, it's a good place to like go if you really just want to enjoy an efficient city that works.

Kalpita:

Yeah it does have some quirky corners as well. I know Copenhagen and I live in Nørrebro so we do have these hip lanes and there's a lot going on in different streets but at the same time you can always find a little square somewhere or a walk through the woods where you just find some peace and quiet or a little lakeside somewhere. And it's also full of culture. And that has also grown over the years, which is nice to see. I remember when I came, I felt like, "There's just absolutely nothing that happens in this city!" Because I came from Mumbai and Mumbai is buzzing. It's like a city that never sleeps. There's something or other happening at every corner of that city. And then you come smack in the middle of Copenhagen. Everything's quiet. There are no people on the streets. Everyone's wearing black clothes. And there's just pin drop silence all year round.

Golda: 

That is true. I think things are slowly changing now. especially in 2018, that's when it took like a pivotal change, at least for the community of like people of color and black people that started like creating events for themselves. Because what you described, we definitely felt. But like creating more events, whether it's around like art or it's around music or it's around like poetry, all that started to spring up at least for me around 2018. And I think these communities really just had to like get together and everybody had to express their frustration about the fact that it is a very quiet city and you can end up really having a lot of time to yourself if you don't necessarily plug yourself into a community. But there's also a lot of, like, things you could potentially do, but it does cost money. Like, I really want to try. I forgot what that's called, but there's, like, this outdoor slope. I forgot where it was as well, where you could, like, ski. Have you heard of that one?

Kalpita:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. I don't remember what it's called either, but it's above some kind of factory or something.

Golda: 

Yeah.

Kalpita:

They made this around COVID or after COVID or something and they launched it. Yeah, yeah, I remember.

Golda: 

Yeah. Stuff like that. There was also a time we went water skiing around the same area. I know there are just more and more outdoor activities popping up, so we'll see how it looks. in a few years but... yeah.

Kalpita:

I have seen a big difference since I don't know six, seven years when I came. There are, like you said, more clubs, more sports clubs and I think it's also some credit to social media that we became so popular as well. A lot of fashion brands made Copenhagen popular or we, I mean, Copenhagen is one of the biggest fashion cities in the world after New York. I think we overtook London about two years ago. I mean, the fashion weeks are also not that popular anymore as much as Copenhagen fashion week is. You have brands like Ganni as well that have taken the brand internationally as well. And a lot of credit also goes to TikToks and creators who have come to Copenhagen. And let's not forget our bakeries. They are world famous, even if they have zero branches other than Copenhagen.

Golda: 

Yeah, some of them have made it on the other side of the ocean. There was one that I saw, actually. I'm so bad with names, but, yeah, there was one I saw where I was walking in London and I was like, "Oh, that's, that's the Danish brand". But, yeah, you're right. The cafes, the bagels, they've done well in terms of places that people can go and sit as well. It's very easy to find a place to, like, sit and work, especially in central Copenhagen.

Kalpita:

Absolutely. And we've also done some good work. I mean, Trump has obviously made us very, very popular since his first term. But we've also become popular among the education system because we do get a lot of American students, many from Europe as well. And now, as we spoke last, last week, students from Africa are also coming in and many, many, I see many, many Asians coming in as well to get an education. Of course, the focus being sustainability, but that has also given Copenhagen a big, big boost. And I know Copenhagen capacity, for example, is doing a lot of promotion for the greater Copenhagen area as well. So also credit to those who are actually literally promoting the city as an education hub and a hub for people to come in and have a good life.

Golda: 

They've done really, really well. They've done really well. I follow them online on LinkedIn and I see all thee amazing campaigns that they're launching. They've done, yeah, they've done a good job, to say the least.

Kalpita:

Yeah. And you spoke about green areas and stuff. When I was working for, for a company, we were talking about making cities accessible. And one of the things Copenhagen has also done is to make more areas where people can have a sit among trees and green. And also, you must have, I don't know if you've been here in the last year, year and a half, but now you see a lot of poppies and daisies across the streets. So they have actually made literal physical efforts to beautify the city, planting new trees and flowers, and you'll see that every season, it's not just spring, but they also change those in the autumn.

Golda: 

Mhm.

Kalpita:

So that's, I think that's incredible. I think it's an incredible joint effort of making Copenhagen not just livable, but something that people take with them just like you.

Golda: 

Yeah, I think it's an honor well deserved that they got this new award. And it makes sense to get such recognition. I think they really put in the effort and I always feel, I think that probably plays into it. But yeah, I always feel at home when I come to Copenhagen because I'm just like, I can just breathe. I know where things are. I feel everything is accessible easily, whether it's by bike or public transport, and public transport works for the most part. I think in the winter, there are some delays here and there, but even that, just being able to know that the bus is delayed and how many minutes it's delayed, like that really is something for me as well. I read somewhere that they're trying to make the travel card digital so it can be on your phone. They're putting chargers on the buses as well in case somebody, you know, phone is going off there. I think some buses may even soon be getting Wi-Fi, I believe. There's just a lot of work to make Copenhagen a place that you want to live. But of course, housing prices could go down. I'm just saying, for anybody listening here.

Kalpita:

Yeah. We sound like we live in the future. But I totally agree with you. Housing prices and also those damn grocery prices. I mean, come on. Yeah. They've become ridiculous.

Golda: 

Yeah.

Kalpita:

Everybody knows they're inflated.

Golda: 

Yeah, that's true. That one, I'll give it to you. That is actually true.

Kalpita:

It's, it's absolutely insane. It's insane to get your, get your coffee for what? 80 kroner, 60 kroner. It's, it's ridiculous. You get one bell pepper for nine kroner. 

Golda:

Yeah. 

Kalpita:

One bell pepper. That's in, I mean, yeah, I didn't, I don't know what's going to change that, but, I mean, I'm not, I don't know. Have you heard about the Arla thing that happened where they were inflating prices of, prices of their butter?

Golda: 

No, I didn't know about that.

Kalpita:

Oh, yeah. But that's, that's become a thing. They, I think it was also in the UK that it was spoken about that Arla has inflated the prices for butter, which is now costing, I don't know, 30, 35 kroner almost. And it also was brought up in the parliament by some parties saying what's going on with the grocery prices and why are they inflated and stuff. So, yeah, but we are still livable.

Golda: 

Yeah.

Kalpita:

Of course, when you have everything, you do have the choice to point out things. Just like beautiful weather sometimes and not beautiful weather sometimes.

Golda: 

That is true. That is true.

Kalpita:

On that note, thank you so much for tuning in and thank you for your time, Golda, this week.

Golda: 

Thank you for a lovely conversation, and I hope you get to enjoy the most livable city. I'll probably be there in August.

Kalpita:

Oh, yeah. That'll be when we start our next season. I think this is the second last episode of this season. So tune in one more last time for the next last episode, which is episode 23. This is episode 22.

Golda: 

Yes. Thank you.

Kalpita:

Thank you and see you. Bye.