A gap year in Denmark

Gap years in Denmark

It’s the land of Erik the Viking, Apple Danishes, and the Midnight Sun... and gappers with a sense of the dramatic will love Denmark. Whether you’re lucky enough to get a position at camp or ski lodge, or you’re taken in by a host family to care for their tots, snap up the first chance you get to include Denmark in your Gap Year itinerary. Why? This country casts a spell over all who visit. You’ll fall for its 18-hour summer days, its addictively well-connected island shores, its irresistible breakfast pastries, and its bicycle friendliness. In fact, Denmark could have been designed for backpackers – just don’t ask the price of beer...

Gap Year Opportunities

If your view of the ski slopes isn’t a face full of snow, then training to instruct in ski or snowboarding is a great option – and very popular. Ski instructor jobs usually come with generous pay, accommodation, and a free ski pass. You will, however, need to be qualified – if not, a great alternative is finding a position at the bottom of the slopes. (Yes, you already did that a dozen times, we know.)

Holiday companies often advertise for chalet staff, receptionists and so on; you’ll be there to welcome visitors, and serve at the après-ski parties. Hunt out an employer who offers free accommodation and enjoy!

For those without their ski feet, camping holiday operators are often a good source of employment. Check our listings for the latest job ads – they range from administration and childcare to hospitality and cleaning roles.

And if you’re specifically looking to work in childcare, how about au-pairing? The seedy image of au pairs has long gone: the job is now protected by a number of EU guidelines. It’s essentially a position for students, who are required to work for a limited number of hours per week in return for a modest salary and accommodation. Historically the au pair has been a foreign student who wanted to learn the language of her host country. Now the guidelines have tightened up, there’s a lot of red tape that prevents au pairs from working too hard, carrying out heavy chores, or working for more than two evenings per week. Although some hosts claim that this has resulted in a deluge of au pair without any interest in helping around the home, it’s good news for anyone prepared to take the position seriously and considerately.

Getting Around

With a large bicycling population and great transport links in and around the country, Denmark is a pleasurable place to explore. You can catch a train from Copenhagen to Hamburg, or from Copenhagen to Malmo, in Sweden, in just 15 minutes. In the cities, bicycle transport is very popular, with 20% of all trips in Copenhagen being made on two wheels. Bike lanes are plentiful and well-maintained, and Copenhagen has a five-year plan for improving its facilities even further. The capital also has a slick Metro with 17 stations right across the city.

About Denmark

Clean, safe, and expensive: Denmark is a haven for the affluent and clean-living. Ranked the world’s happiest country, but what does it offer for backpackers and gappers?

Floating between Sweden, Norway and Jutland, the Danish Archipelago – a series of 443 islands – is connected by a web of ferry services. Jutland (the main peninsular) borders Germany. Because of the number of islands Denmark’s coastline is estimated at more than 7,000km; and erosion here is a major problem, shifting the size of land masses almost overnight (or at least until a project team appears to correct the damage).

With a relatively peaceful political history, the main issues bothering Denmark in the last decade have been immigration – as the rules were controversially tightened – and religious offence. The infamous Mohammed cartoons published by a Danish paper brought the country under global scrutiny. Denmark is under constitutional monarchy – like the UK, it has a Queen and a prime minister.

Despite its balmy, temperate climate, Denmark’s northern position gives it some of the shortest and longest days in Europe. In winter Danes get 17 hours of darkness, and in summer 18 hours of daylight. They celebrate both occasions with festivities at Christmas and Midsummer.

What to see in Denmark

Greenland, which is part of Denmark, is an astoundingly beautiful destination. It’s made up of 85% ice, but the harsh landscape of regal ice glaciers contrasts with lush valleys inland. There’s no forgetting that this is also the place to see two of the world’s amazing natural phenomena: the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun.

From wide open spaces to traffic and crowds: Copenhagen is one of the most glamorous European destinations. It’s fun, it’s hectic, it’s packed with must-sees; but it’s also very, very expensive, and paying £5+ for half a litre of beer is common. For a less manic taste of the country, try Aalborg, at the northern tip of Jutland – with enough museums, culture, and entertainment (including Denmark’s longest ‘sunset strip’) to keep you occupied for a week.