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Revision as of 12:47, 20 July 2010

This site is aimed at helping international employees at Risø DTU get settled in Denmark. If you have any information to add, please feel free to do so. Because this site has open acess, do not post anything that may be confidential or unsuitable for an open website.

After Moving to Denmark

A list of the most important things to do after you have moved to Denmark is located here. The most important things to do once you have arrived in Denmark is to register for a CPR card. It is a personal identity card, and the number is unique and is used for tax purposes, but also used at the doctor, at libraries and will be asked when purchasing a mobile phone or sometimes when renting an apartment. You will have a doctor allocated to you when you get your CPR card. This is your local doctor and the address for the doctor will be on your CPR card. Remember if you have a preference for a male or female doctor, let the kommune know when you register.

Register for a CPR number
Open a bank account where your paycheck can be deposited.
Get an E-boks. An e-boks can be used to receive pay stubs and bills from many companies such as Dong Energy and TDC.

Transportation

You can plan your trips using public transportation on rejseplanen. For travel on busses, trains, metro and ferries in northern Sjælland (movia.dk) you can either pay on the bus (expensive), buy a klippekort (means - clip card) at a station, or buy a monthy pass (good if using the bus, ferry, train or metro every day).

The greater Copenhagen area is split into zones. You pay for the minimum of 2 zones and then every extra zone you travel into you will need an extra clip on your klippekort. You can buy klippekort from many locations – 7 eleven, train stations they normally have a sign outside the shop to say that they cell klippekorter. Each klippekort has 10 clips and they can be added together. For example if you would like to travel in 4 zones you can punch the 2 zone klippekort twice.

Klippekort prices (an updated list is located on DSB's website)

2 zone 135 DKK

3 zone 175 DKK

4 zone 225 DKK

5 zone 275 DKK

6 zone 325 DKK

7 zone 375 DKK

8 zone 415 DKK

Alle zoner 430 DKK

If you use DSB to commute to work everyday, it is best to buy a monthly card. You can also subscribe so that a new card is sent in the mail before the beginning of each month. There is some information about the service here (in Danish). You need to buy the first monthly card at a station, but you can sign up for the subscription online. After you have subscribed to the service for one year, you will get transportation fees for 6 weeks refunded. You can also sign up for a program that gives you a discount when the trains are late on DSB's Rejsegaranti page.

Roskilde - Risø

By bus 600S (every 10-15 min) or 216 (every hour), in front of the train station. A 2-zone clip is enough for the distance.

Copenhagen - Roskilde

You need a 8-zone clip to go from Risø/Roskilde to Copenhagen. The ticket is valid for 2 hours.

Notice, however, that there is only one train every hour (xx:57) that goes directly to the airport, and that passes through Copenhagen central station. If you take that train to go to Copenhagen the controller might ask for an extra 40kr inside the train (except during the week-end, and late evenings, early morning). Look for the writings "esktra tillæg" on the screens, which indicates the extra cost. In doubt, you can ask the controller, before you get in the train, if you need to pay extra.

Copenhagen - Risø

You only need a 8-zone clip to go from Risø to Copenhagen, because somehow Roskilde and Risø are both located 8 zones away from Copenhagen. If you buy a monthly ticket, however, you will have to pay for 9 different zones (Alle zoner).

Kastrup Airport (CPH) - Risø

You need an alle-zone clip to go from the airport to Risø

Trains and the metro both run to the airport, but taking the train is generally more convenient. One train per hour runs directly to Roskilde. Otherwise, the best route is to take a train to the main train station (København H) and transfer to a train to Roskilde St there. If using the metro, the best way is to stop at Nørreport St and transfer to a train that runs to Roskilde St. From Roskilde St, Risø can be reached using the 600S or 216 buses and the stop is Risø.

Going out during the evening in Copenhagen from Roskilde

If you go out in Copenhagen during the evening from Roskilde, you might be interested on buying a Bytur. It's a ticket that costs 59kr that you clip once when you leave Roskilde and that is valid between 16:00-04:00.

Another option is the Rejs efter 19 for en 20'er, where you send an SMS to the number 1415 with the word "aften" in it. You will then receive an SMS which is valid for 2 hours between 19:00-06:00 in all zones. You can then show the SMS to the controller in the train. The service costs 20kr. Be careful, you are not allowed to use a Risø mobile with this service!

Finding an Apartment

Finding an apartment in the Copenhagen area is not simple and there are plenty of scams out there. NEVER agree to pay a possible landlord cash - all payments should be made through your bank. It is quite common for reputable landlords to charge three month's rent as a deposit and require to pay the last three months of the contract up front. That means that you may have to pay a total of seven times one month's rent to move into an apartment. You should expect to spend at least one month searching for an apartment in Copenhagen.

If you are a member of the engineer's union DIP, it is a good start to apply for an apartment through them. The vacant DIP can be found here. There are many websites that list apartments and some of them are listed below. The apartments generally go quickly, so it is a good idea to check the listings often and contact the landlord as soon as possible. Most of the apartment sites require a fee to view complete information about the apartments.

http://findbolig.nu/ - a free website operated by Dan-Ejendomme

dba.dk - one of the cheapest sites with many listings (some free)

http://www.boligportal.dk/

The Risø DTU intranet (Riwen) has a Bulletin Board (Opslagstavlen) where rooms and apartments are advertised by Risø employees. You can also post a notice asking for accommodation.

Another option is to place an advertisement in the local newspapers (Roskilde Avis, Copenhagen Post, etc). Sometimes landlords prefer to choose possible tenants like this, rather than being contacted by numerous apartment-seekers when they place an advertisement. Stating in your notice that you are working for Risø DTU gives you some credibility (shows you are employed professional and able to pay the rent!)

Bicycles

For shorter trips, a bicycle is generally a very effective way to get around Roskilde and Copenhagen. New bicyles are sold in many shops, but it is not uncommon for newer bicycles to be stolen. Second hand bicycles are a cheap alternative that can be recommended. Many bicycle workshops also sell used bicycles at reasonable prices. Roskilde Station Cykler (Algade 63 E, Roskilde) has a fairly large selection as well as brugtecykler.dk in Copenhagen.

Some popular places to buy new bicycles are Jupiter and the larger supermarkets often sell inexpensives bicycles.

Mobile Phone

Some of the most popular companies that offer mobile phone service:

Telmore – no stores but quite good deals. Also can get cheap phones through this company

Risø may also provide you with a mobile phone that can also be used for personal calls inside Denmark.

Supermarkets

More or less by order of price

Netto – generally the cheapest
Aldi
Fakta
Spar
Super Brugsen
Superbest
Kvickly
Føtex
Irma – expensive but has some of the difficult to find things

If you are looking for foreign specialty goods, Istedgade behind the main train station in Copenhagen has a selection of various shops selling Asian and Middle eastern food.

If you are looking for organic food, look for the økø logos: European logo, European logo 2, Danish logo

Opening Hours

Larger grocery stores in Copenhagen/Roskilde are generally open 9-20 M-F, 10-18 Saturday and are closed Sunday. However, most large stores are open on the first Sunday of each month and each Sunday in December before Christmas. Small grocery stores, kiosks, and fruit and vegetable stands are usually open later and often are open on Sunday. Most shops close at 18 or earlier M-F, 10-16 on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays.

Clubs

Joining a club can be a good way to meet people outside Risø. Many local club sites are in Danish only but http://translate.google.com/# can help if that is a problem.

Sailing

Football

There is a group that meets every Wednesday after work at the Risø football field that is open to everyone.

Handball

Himmelev Handball Club

Other Clubs

There are many more clubs, so please add any that may be interesting

Taxes

If you are a postdoc or scientist working at Risø, you are likely eligible for a special 25% tax rate, but you must request it. PhD students and research assistants are usually not eligible for the 25% rate. Talk to a secretary or an employee at the salary office to make sure you sign up for the correct tax card. Before your proper tax rate is determined, a high tax rate will be taken out of your paycheck. Threfore, it is not uncommon for the first three paychecks from Risø to be surprisingly low. Typically, after 3 or 4 months, your tax rate will be determined and you will get all the back taxes in the following paycheck.

Could someone write about what happens after 3 years on the 25% tax??

Importing a Car to Denmark

There is information about importing a car to Denmark on the Work in Denmark website and additional information on the tax authority's website.

Officially, you must register your foreign car within 14 days of your arrival to Denmark. Registration of vehicles is administered by Skat, where you can also find rules and tax rates for imported cars. The registration fee will be approximately 60% of the value of the car. An "Appraisal of vehicles" form must be filled out and given to SKAT. The car must pass an MOT test before it can be registered.

Public Holidays in Denmark

A list of public holidays in Denmark can be found here. Risø DTU generally observes all public holidays.

Useful Links

A list of links is located here