I have a difficult choice right now, I have to choose my new home and can’t decide between these three countries. What do you think will fit better for a 26M, social, loves techno, boardgames and long walks.

I don’t worry that much about career options, in Spain I’d keep working online, in Netherlands and Denmark I’d try to get a job in the local market. But work wise either option is fine.

In which one of these countries you think I could maximise enjoyment of life and stability?

Thank you!

  • Apprehensive-Cap6063@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    your question shows you are quite young but I don’t think expats is the right group for this question since you don’t worry about career options.

  • theothersinclair@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    Be warned that (we) Danes and Scandinavians in general are notoriously difficult to make friends with once you reach adulthood. Especially in the Copenhagen area (we do love board games and long walks though). If easy socialising is important to you I’d recommend Spain over both Denmark and Netherlands.

  • Big-Depth-8339@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    If the question is where id rather get refugee/asylum status. Denmark seems to give you the best benefits, when it comes to housing and unemployment benefits, and ukranians seems to be a rather hot commodity right now because in some cases the state will pay half of your salary instead of your employer. But on the flipside, with the current political climate, when the war is over and it is deemed safe to return, you will be expected to do so.

    • Human_Buy7932@alien.topOPB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      10 months ago

      I would love to return. My plan was to travel digital nomad around for a year or two hoping the war gonna end and I can come back home. Well, war is not over yet and news are worse than ever + I am really tired to live without home. Denmark indeed provides some great benefits and has a good integration system. Spain on the other side just provides residency status without any help, but also with no obligation, so I can just work online and rent my own place already immediately.

  • DiamondVegetable4967@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    First world problems lol, salary wise Denmark or NL, if your priority is social life and good weather then Spain. Only challenge in Spain is that you will have to take an effort learning the language, is not like NL or DK that almost everyone speaks English

  • Dutch-Dork@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    The Netherlands has a housing crisis. Spain is poor in comparrison with the other 2. Denmark is your best bet! 1 thing to add… Cars in Denmark are insanely expensive

    • Human_Buy7932@alien.topOPB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      10 months ago

      Well I am the one from r/fuckcars haha. Even though Denmark is a very car-centric country outside of KBH and Århus.

  • Ruby_Deuce@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    Привіт, незнайомий друг! I live in the Netherlands, what would you like to know about it?

    Housing is tough indeed, people are not easy to open, windy and rainy all the time - everyone can tell you that. Also, the main cure from the doctor is “take paracetamol”.

    What is good. The Netherlands has a massive club culture, massive electronic music sphere, and events related to games (from game nights to conventions). I prefer rock and metal but in the Netherlands a good EDM is unavoidable. Ever heard of Defcon? You would like their show.

    Tolerance. Our babushkas would call the Geirope on liberasty, but I feel like here no one cares about your appearance, age and sexuality in the best way. People care if you want to be better, watched an interesting movie or learn more languages or do sports. What I truly love is that at work, no matter if it’s a white or blue collar job, your boss is close to you. No things like “Шановний пане господарю-начальнику, чи не могли би ви дозволити мені взяти один день моєї відпустки… Щиросердечно, форева Ваш Пан ОР”. Nope, your boss, your friends, doctors and whoever is absolutely fine with calling you by name and being called by their first name.

    Biking. That one can be nice in Denmark but I can only imagine how. In the Netherlands it’s safe and many routes are going through the parks and forests. I never biked before moving to the Netherlands, in my hometown it’s quite dangerous. In the Netherlands biking is safe and convenient. In general, this country seems to encourage people to do sport, activities and exercises.

    Food. This is a tricky one, many expats don’t like the variety of food. As for me, after few years of living here, I see that the choice of food is growing so as the quality. The Netherlands has market days which reminds me of Ukrainian bazar, because you go there and buy farmer veggies, fruit and cheese among other things. I didn’t see the markets to that extent in Germany, Belgium or Finland. Btw, I hope you are not lactose intolerant, Dutch cheese is tasty, plus, the cheese from neighboring countries is accessible.

    Board games. Maybe it’s just my social bubble, but I see gaming communities everywhere, every city has board game gatherings but that one is most likely the case in Denmark and Spain.

    Language. Keep in mind, that Dutch, Danish or Spanish is your key to have a more versatile social life. The Netherlands is very multicultural so you may find people who communicate in English. Meanwhile, Dutch is the easiest language I have had and locals are friendly if you try your luck with speaking Dutch. Though, they might want to switch to English with you but that is just to make a conversation easier for a foreigner.

    Infrastructure. It’s everywhere for people, you may rely on schedule.

    Beurocracy. As someone who has replaced the national passport and tax number in Ukraine, (Дія doesn’t work for me ever), I enjoy how little papers I need for the most serious things in the Netherlands. No one cares about “extra copy of the paper, signed on the blood moon by a virgin”, no one is rude to me while doing their job, everyone wants to be done with the things.

    Also, everything is digutalized, you can avoid cash and pay with a card or even a phone.

    The only thing I truly miss is the clear starry sky. The Netherlands is dense, many people are living in a small area, which means much more light pollution and significantly less privacy.

    That’s my opinion. Good luck with your search and good luck with your family.

    • Human_Buy7932@alien.topOPB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      10 months ago

      Дякую за відповідь! Everything is very well explained! In many ways I see Netherlands are similar to Denmark. I actually found bureaucracy in Europe overall (haven’t been to NH thought) more complicated than in Ukraine haha. In Ukraine I got used to do everything digitally through Diia and online tax cabinet. But I heard horror stories from people who had to deal with bureaucracy before Diia, uffff… In Denmark I think I can forget about eating out often, Danes mostly cook their meals and eat out on special occasions. Therefore most restaurants would be offering 70€ 5-meals course rather than a la carte. Exception was a food court in Århus, that place had some diverse and nice food for fairly cheap (for Denmark), on average 10€-12€ a meal, I guess it’s as cheap as it gets in the Nordics hahah.