Germans increasingly moving to Denmark for affordable homes and rural living

While many Danes traditionally cross the border into Germany to purchase inexpensive beer and sweets, a growing number of vacationing Germans are heading in the opposite direction each summer to enjoy the Danish west coast. As the holiday season winds down, a considerable number of Germans continue to reside in Denmark. Statistics reveal that nearly 34,000 German citizens now live in Denmark, up from about 22,000 in 2013, with a noticeable influx in the southern municipalities.

In a recent episode of the program ‘Hammerslag,’ experts visited the border region around Tønder, where they examined homes with German names on the mailboxes. A local realtor mentioned that 15 percent of his properties are sold to Germans, indicating a rise in sales to this demographic. One featured house was purchased outright by a 69-year-old German man who intends to convert the 1910 property in Møgeltønder into a retreat.

Local realtors attribute this trend partly to higher property prices in Germany compared to Denmark. Martin Klatt, a researcher focused on minority issues in the Danish-German border region, noted that city dwellers are drawn to the affordability of homes in southern Jutland. Many Germans have dreams of rural living, opting for Denmark over eastern Germany due to its lower population density.

Dissatisfaction with aspects such as the German education system has also driven interest in relocating to Denmark, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there appears to be a “terribly negative atmosphere” in Germany, prompting many to consider a move. While some may eventually return, positive experiences from their network encourage others to make the shift more permanent. Thus far, feedback from German newcomers has been largely favorable. In contrast, the number of Danes relocating to Germany has decreased in recent years.