A Booklet About Living and Working in Hjørring Municipality

A Booklet about Living and Working in Hjørring Municipality

Content 1. Welcome to Hjørring Municipality! ...... 3 2. Where to live in Hjørring Municipality ...... 4 3. The Official Paperwork ...... 5 3.1. Nordic Citizens ...... 5 3.2. Citizens from the EU and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland...... 5 3.3. Third Country Citizens ...... 6 3.4. Cross-Border Commuters ...... 6 4. Registration, CPR-number and Health Insurance ...... 7 4.1. Danish Health Insurance (The Yellow Card)...... 7 4.2. NemID ...... 8 4.3. Tax Card ...... 8 5. Banking ...... 9 6. Insurance ...... 10 5. Learn Danish ...... 11 5.1. Participate in a Free Danish Course ...... 11 5.2 Study Danish Online ...... 12 6. Danish Health Care ...... 13 6.1 General Practitioner ...... 13 6.2 Children’s health ...... 13 6.3 In case of an Emergency: Call 112 ...... 13 6.4 Emergency Doctor Service ...... 14 6.5. Dental Care ...... 14 6.6 Medication ...... 15 7. Housing ...... 16 7.1. Temporary Accommodation ...... 16 7.2. Rented Accommodation ...... 16 8. Children and Youth...... 17 8.1. Day Care...... 17 8.2. Primary and Secondary School ...... 17 8.3 Upper Secondary School ...... 18 9. Transportation ...... 19

9.1. Driving in Denmark ...... 19 9.2 Bringing a Vehicle to Denmark ...... 19 9.3. Public transportation ...... 19 10. After hours Activities ...... 20 10.1 Sports and Exercise ...... 20 10.2 Outdoor Life ...... 20 10.3 Hjørring Internationals ...... 20 10.4 Culture ...... 21 10.5 Libraries in Hjørring Municipality ...... 22 11. Shopping ...... 23 11.1 Food ...... 23 11.2 Clothes, Shoes, etc...... 23 11. Restaurants and Cafes ...... 24 12. Further Information ...... 25

1. Welcome to Hjørring Municipality! Hjørring Municipality is the second largest municipality in North Denmark with more than 65.000 inhabitants.

Hjørring Municipality lies in the heart of Vendsyssel. From here you have easy access to some of Denmark’s most beautiful scenery, a rich and vibrant city life and a wealth of exciting educational opportunities and leisure activities. Hjørring Municipality is centrally placed in Scandinavia and provides easy access to the rest of Scandinavia as well as the Northern part of Europe.

Hjørring Municipality would like to welcome you and your family to this wonderful part of Denmark. We have therefore produced this welcome-booklet that provides information not only about the essential ‘need to knows’ when moving to this part of Denmark, but also the ‘want to knows’ including cultural and leisure options.

We hope that you find this booklet informative.

2. Where to live in Hjørring Municipality Whether you would like to live in the city, by the ocean or in the country side, Hjørring Municipality has a lot to offer.

The city of Hjørring is the largest town within Hjørring Municipality and has a population of more than 25.000 people. Hjørring is one of the oldest towns in Denmark and archaeological discoveries show that the area was already populated 10.000 years ago. Hjørring has a vibrant city life with wide supply of shops, supermarkets, leisure activities, restaurants and cafes.

The harbour town of Hirtshals equals sea, harbour and salted air. Hirtshals is located 17 km. from Hjørring and is connected to Hjørring with both highway and train. In Hirtshals you will find an authentic atmosphere with roots in fishing and, at times, the harsh life at sea, as well as a wide selection of restaurants and possibilities of shopping. You can sail to both Norway and the Faeroe Islands from here.

In Sindal you will find an idyllic country life surrounded by beautiful nature scenes. Here you will find many delightful shops, pleasant places to eat and sculptures in the street. Sindal is located 13 km. from Hjørring and you can get from Sindal to Hjørring by train in less than 10 minutes.

Vrå is a town in the countryside. The town is well-located in relation to easy access to the highway and is connected to Hjørring with train.

Løkken and Lønstrup are charming old fishing villages with sights, events, shopping and dining. In these villages you will find charming old town houses with low ceilings, crooked walls and windows that might remind you of the fairy tales of H.C. Andersen.

If you are interested in knowing more about the different towns within the municipality, please visit www.toppenafdanmark.dk.

3. The Official Paperwork Before you move to Denmark and to Hjørring Municipality, there are a number of formalities that would be advisable for you to have completed before you arrive and a number of formalities that you need to sort out in order for you to take up residence in Denmark legally.

First of all you must obtain a residence and work permit. The registration procedure differs depending on where you come from and your reason for staying in Denmark. It is important that you register in the right sequence and at the right place.

If you are commuting to work from another country or have not taken up permanent residence in Denmark, special rules apply (rules for cross-border commuters).

3.1. Nordic Citizens Citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are free to enter, reside, study and work in Denmark. They do not need a visa, residence or work permit.

If you are going to stay in Hjørring Municipality for more than 6 months, you need to register with the municipality. You can read more about this on page 7.

3.2. Citizens from the EU and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. As an EU citizen you may freely enter Denmark and remain in the country for up to 3 months without an EU residence document (registration certificate). If you are a job-seeker, you may reside in Denmark for up to 6 months without a registration certificate. The periods of 3 and 6 months are calculated from the date of entry.

If you expect that your stay in Denmark will last more than 3 months, you have to apply for an EU Registration Certificate before the expiry of the three months. An EU registration certificate is your proof that as an EU citizen - or as a family member of an EU citizen - you have the right to reside in Denmark. The certificate is not issued for a specific duration and will remain valid as long as the conditions on which it was issued continue to apply.

We recommend that you apply for the EU Registration Certificate during the opening hours of the 'International Citizens Service' in Aalborg. All the authorities a foreign employee typically needs to contact are represented at the International Citizen Service in Aalborg. This means that besides applying for your registration certificate, you can apply for a tax card and have a talk with Workindenmark about the living and working conditions in Denmark, finding a job for your partner, student jobs, Danish driver's license and much more.

Please visit the website of the International Citizens Service for further information about the procedure for applying for the EU registration certificate: www.statsforvaltningen.dk. Questions about the EU Registration Certificates can also be presented by phone to International Citizens Service at tel. no. 72 56 70 36.

International Citizens Service Statsforvaltningen Aalborghus Slot Slotspladsen 1 9000 Aalborg

3.3. Third Country Citizens As a citizen of a non-Nordic/EU/EEA country, as a general rule, you must hold a residence and work permit in order to reside and work in Denmark.

Whether you can obtain a residence and work permit depends first and foremost on your qualifications. A number of schemes have been designed in order to make it possible for highly qualified professionals to get a residence and work permit in Denmark.

Applications for residence permits must normally be handed into a Danish Representative Office in your country of origin or the country you have been living in for the last three months (a Danish representative office is an Embassy or a Consulate General in your home country). In certain cases applications may or must be initiated in Denmark.

Please visit the website of the Danish Immigration Service for further information about the application procedure, as well as links to the necessary forms to be used: www.nyidanmark.dk/en- us/coming_to_dk/work/work.htm.

3.4. Cross-Border Commuters Cross-border commuters (also known as frontier workers) are foreign workers who work in Denmark, but keep their permanent residence in their home country and return to their permanent residence on a daily or weekly basis.

If you are working in Denmark for a short period of time, e.g. on a contract, and go home at weekends, you do not have to apply for an EU registration certificate or a residence permit. Instead you must register with the Danish Tax Authorities and they will issue you with a so-called ‘taxed at the source’ civil registration number (a tax ‘CPR’ number).

As a Cross-border commuter you can have a special health card issued, which gives you the right for free health care in Denmark. Please note that you have to apply for the 'Taxed at the Source'-Civil Registration Number before you apply for the special health care card.

You can find further information about the special conditions applying for cross-border commuters here: https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/Pages/Cross-border-commuters.aspx.

4. Registration, CPR-number and Health Insurance When you are going to live and work in Hjørring Municipality, you must register with the National Register of Persons at the Citizens’ Service in Hjørring.

Please note that you cannot register as a citizen in Hjørring Municipality, before you meet the following requirements:

. Your stay in Denmark must be longer than 3 months . You must have bought or rented a home in Denmark . You must have been issued with a residence permit/certificate of registration (Nordic Citizens exempt).

In order to register, you must show up in person at the Citizens Service. Please remember to bring:

. Passport . Your national id-number . Proof of your civil status (marital status documentation, divorce papers, widowhood) . Birth certificate if you have children

You find the Citizens’ Service at the below address:

Citizens’ Service Hjørring Springvandspladsen 5 9800 Hjørring

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 10.00-14.00 Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 10.00-18.00

4.1. Danish Health Insurance (The Yellow Card) When you register with the Municipality you will be issued with a civil registration number (a ‘CPR’- number) and Danish Health insurance. You can find additional information about the Danish Health Care system on page 13.

Approximately 14 days later you receive your National Health Insurance Card by post. The card states your name, address and personal identification number and the name and address of your General Practitioner (GP). The Danish health insurance card is your proof that you are entitled to free health care under the Danish health care system and must be presented at all visits to the doctor, emergency rooms and hospitals.

Cross-border Commuters that do not meet the above requirements can still register for a special health insurance in Denmark, if you provide the Citizens’ Service with:

. A copy of your employment contract with your Danish employer . Your ‘taxed at the source’ civil registration number (a ‘CPR’ number)

4.2. NemID When registering at the Citizens Service, you will also be issued with a NemID.

NemID is a common secure login on the Internet, whether you are doing your online banking, finding out information from the public authorities or engaging with one of the many businesses that use NemID.

NemID is the same login everywhere. Whether you’re doing your online banking or you need to view your tax file, the way you log in will be exactly the same.

4.3. Tax Card Whether you live and work permanently in Hjørring Municipality, you work here as a cross-border commuter (and live in your home country), or you are here as a student with a part-time job, you must obtain a tax card from SKAT (The Danish Tax Authorities).

You can apply for the tax card at International Citizens’ Service in Aalborg at the same day as applying for the EU registration certificate. Please remember to bring:

. ID with photo, such as a passport or ID card . Marriage certificate if you are married (family certificate if you are a Swedish citizen) . Work permit if you are a citizen from outside the EU, outside Switzerland or outside the Nordic countries . Employment contract (signed by your employer)

You may also apply for the tax card online. Please follow this link: http://www.skat.dk/SKAT.aspx?oId=68777&vId=0

5. Banking You can make nearly all purchases in Denmark using a credit or a debit card. If you need to withdraw cash you can go to one of the several ATM’s located all over Hjørring. It is also possible to ask for cash when you make a purchase in a store using credit card. Please note that most foreign banks will charge a withdrawal fee when used in Denmark.

All individuals and businesses in Denmark are required to have a NemKonto (Easy Account) for payments from the public sector. A NemKonto is a normal bank account that you assign as your NemKonto.

More or less all Danish employers will pay your wages into your NemKonto. In addition, all payments made by the Danish public authorities, e.g. benefits, tax, child subsidies, repayments etc. will be to your NemKonto.

Contact a bank in order to open an account. The bank will tell you what documents you have to provide.

There are a number of different banks in Hjørring with local branches and ATM’s. We are unable to advice you on which bank to choose and therefore recommend you to visit the individual websites of the banks for information about interest rates etc.

Some of the larger banks in Hjørring are:

Danske Bank Jyske Bank Østergade 26 Østergade 23 9800 Hjørring 9800 Hjørring www.danskebank.dk www.jyskebank.dk

Spar Nord Hjørring Sparekassen Vendsyssel Østergade 8 Brinck Seidelins Gade 10 9800 Hjørring 9800 Hjørring www.sparnord.dk www.sparv.dk

More banks can be found at http://www.krak.dk/pengeinstitutter%20hj%C3%B8rring/s%C3%B8g.cs.

6. Insurance People take out insurance policies to protect themselves from the financial consequences of a loss.

In Denmark, you can find a range of insurance companies offering different terms, prices and coverage. It is advisable to contact some of them and compare their offers before deciding on one.

In Denmark, some insurance are compulsory:

. Third-party liability insurance if you own a car, motorcycle, scooter or moped . Comprehensive motor insurance if you have taken a loan to finance the purchase of a motor vehicle . Third party insurance if you own a dog . Third party insurance if you own a horse . Fire insurance for buildings if you are a homeowner with a loan secured against your house

However, there are also other important types of insurances which, even though it is not compulsory, can secure yourself and your belongings and save you a lot of money in case of an unfortunate occurrence. These are:

. Home contents insurance . Personal accident insurance . Personal liability insurance . Life and pension insurance . Health or medical insurance . Unemployment insurance (requires that you are a member of an unemployment insurance fund).

For further information about insurances, please contact an insurance agency.

5. Learn Danish Speaking Danish is an important part of working in Denmark. There are numerous offers for newcomers to help them learn Danish.

5.1. Participate in a Free Danish Course As a foreign citizen, who has turned 18 years old and who has moved to Hjørring Municipality (e.g. to work, study or as an accompanying partner), you have the right to participate in free Danish language lessons. Hjørring Municipality pays for your Danish language tuition. Representatives from Hjørring municipality will help sign you up for this course.

Your right to participate in the free Danish education (Labour Market Danish) is valid for 1 year and 6 months from the day, where you receive the offer of the free Danish lessons. Please note that this is also true, even if you do not show up for the lessons.

The course of Danish that you will be offered as a foreign worker is The "Labour Marked Danish Education", which is a special course designed for people who quickly needs to be able to speak Danish at work, studies and in everyday life. You get up to 250 Danish lessons (hours) divided into 5 courses of 50 hours each. If you complete the 250 lessons (hours) within the period of 1 year and 6 months, you have the option of continuing at the general Danish education which is valid up to three years.

Once you have registered with the Citizens’ Service in Hjørring, you will receive a letter from the municipality offering you free Danish lesson. Please note, that you must contact the Jobcentre within 14 days after receiving the letter and accept the offer of the Danish language course. You will then be referred to the Language Centre A2B, where you will be able to start your lessons within 14 days.

Important: Your right to participate in the free Danish language education is only valid for 1 year and 6 months. If you fail to contact the Jobcenter within 14 days after receiving the above-mentioned letter, your period of 1 year and 6 months will be calculated from the day, where you received the letter. Therefore, if you wish to participate in the Danish language education, but are unable to do so due to illness, maternity or work, please remember to notify the Jobcenter within the 14 days.

Questions about the Danish language education can be directed at:

Hjørring Jobcenter Sct. Knuds Park 6 9800 Hjørring Att. Kirsten Abildgaard, Tel. 72 33 60 92 or e-mail: [email protected].

5.2 Study Danish Online If you want to prepare yourself before your arrival in Denmark, you can study Danish online.

Online you will find both free offers and offers with a fee. You find the different courses here: http://www.uvm.dk/Uddannelser/Uddannelser-til-voksne/Overblik-over-voksenuddannelser/Dansk-for- voksne-udlaendinge/Danskuddannelse-til-voksne-udlaendinge/Online-Danskundervisning/Online- danskundervisning-for-begyndere.

The free courses include:

. Dansk Her og Nu (beginners) . Kan du tale dansk (Beginners) . Danish to go (Advanced Beginners)

Offers that reguire a fee (Online language schools):

. Dansk nu (Beginners and advanced) . E-sprogcenter (All levels of Danish) . Netdansk (Danish for people with a university education) . Speakdanish.dk (All levels of Danish)

6. Danish Health Care As part of the Danish welfare system, all Danish citizens have free access to health care services. This means that they can go to the doctor or be admitted to the hospital for free since health care in Denmark is financed by taxation. Medicine and specialist treatment, e.g. a dentist or a physiotherapist, are however not free.

When registering as a citizen in Hjørring Municipality, you will be issued with a Danish CPR-number and thereby the National Health Insurance. However, it is recommendable to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving for Denmark, as this card gives you access to free medical care in Denmark until you have been issued with the Danish cpr.nr.

6.1 General Practitioner When registering as a citizen in Hjørring Municipality, you must choose a General Practitioner. Access to the public health service is through your GP. Your GP can treat some health problems immediately. Others may require a referral for further examination or treatment by a specialist or treatment at a hospital.

Visiting your GP is free of charge, as is hospitalization. The costs are borne by the tax payer. You have to pay the cost of medicine, dental care and physiotherapy. But you may also be eligible for a subsidy.

To visit your general practitioner (GP) you need an appointment. If you are feeling very sick, you are likely to get an appointment on the same day. However, if your visit is not urgent, you may be given an appointment a few days later.

You do not need a referral from your GP if you need to go and see a dentist or if you are in acute pain and need to go to hospital emergency or require immediate hospitalization.

6.2 Children’s health It is recommended that you make an appointment with your General Practitioner for your child when you have arrived in Denmark. The GP will inform you about the vaccinations against children’s diseases that are offered to children in Denmark. From birth and until the age of eighteen, your child is typically registered with the family doctor.

If your child is between 0 and 6 years old, you will also be offered a visit from a paediatric nurse.

6.3 In case of an Emergency: Call 112 In the event of severe illness, an accident or other life-threatening situation in which you need immediate medical treatment, you must call the emergency call centre by dialling 112. When you have dialled 112, you will hear the following message in Danish ‘De har kaldt alarmcentralen 112. Brandvæsen, politi og ambulance. Vent roligt her.’ (Translation: ‘You have called the emergency call centre 112. Fire Service, Police and Ambulance. Please wait).

At the emergency call centre, you will be asked for your name, address and the phone number from which you are calling. The call centre will then make sure that an ambulance, the police or some other form of help is sent immediately.

6.4 Emergency Doctor Service Ordinary doctor’s surgeries are open from 8.00 to 16.00 Monday to Friday. If you need to talk to or visit a doctor after 16.00 on weekdays, at weekends and on public holidays, you can contact the ‘Emergency Doctor Service’ at +45 70 15 03 00.

You must always call the Emergency Doctor Service BEFORE you visit and do not forget to bring your National Health Card or your European Health Insurance Card.

Only call the emergency doctor service when it is absolutely necessary or if you are in doubt as to how sick you or your child may be.

The on duty doctor will ask you for:

. Your cpr-number . Whether you are using medication . Your temperature if you have a fever.

The Emergency Doctor Service in Hjørring Regionshospital Nordjylland, Hjørring Bispensgade 37 9800 Hjørring (The main entrance)

Opening Hours: Weekdays from 16:00-08:00 Weekends from 00:00-24:00

6.5. Dental Care Adults over 18 must find their own private dentist, for example, by looking in the local telephone directory. You have to pay for check-ups and treatment, but the state pays part of the cost. This amount is automatically deducted from your bill.

All children in Denmark are entitled to free dental health care from the age of 0-18.

Outside Normal Dental Hours If you suddenly experience severe toothache outside normal dental hours, you can visit a 24-hour dental emergency service. The 24-hours dental emergency service is located in Aalborg.

During weekends the emergency service can be contacted on tel. 70 20 02 55 from 9.00 to 10.00.

6.6 Medication At the pharmacy (‘Apotek’ in Danish) you can buy prescription and non-prescription medication. Medications requiring a prescription must always be purchased at a pharmacy. Many supermarkets and petrol stations sell various kinds of non-prescription medicine such as painkillers and cough medicine.

Pharmacies are normally open between 09.00 and 17.30 on weekdays, with the exception of Saturday when the majority close at 13.00 or 14.00.

Out of Hours Pharmacies The two pharmacies Hjørring Løve Apotek (Østergade 7, 9800 Hjørring) and Hjørring Svane Apotek (Strømgade 5, 9800 Hjørring) share the out of hours duty between them. This means that a pharmacist can be contacted by phone if you experience an urgent need of medication. You will have to pay a charge for buying medicine outside normal opening hours.

In even weeks Hjørring Løve Apotek can be contacted at 40 63 04 11.

In uneven weeks Hjørring Svane Apotek can be contacted at 98 92 07 77.

7. Housing Most housing in Hjørring Municipality consists of multi-storey apartments, terraced houses or detached houses. Housing comprises rented accommodation, cooperative housing and owner-occupied housing.

The majority of rented accommodation is to be found in multi-storey buildings. Many are built in large blocks of flats grouped together in urban areas in the major cities. Rented accommodation is privately owned or owned by a non-profit building association.

There are rented properties to suit all tastes in Hjørring: Properties in the old parts of the town, properties with views, centrally located properties, properties on the outskirts of the town. If you wish to live outside Hjørring in one of the smaller towns, there are also numerus options for renting apartments or houses.

The standard of housing in Hjørring Municipality is generally very high. Many of the older properties have been fully renovated in recent years and there are houses and flats of all shapes and sizes. Thus, there are rented properties to match all requirements – whether it is for single people, couples or families and for people of all ages.

In Hjørring Municipality the vast majority of the apartments are unfurnished.

7.1. Temporary Accommodation What constitutes suitable accommodation often depends on the length of your stay in Hjørring. If you are only in Hjørring for a short period of time or if you need temporary accommodation while looking for a permanent place to live, you can rent a room at one of the B&B’s in the municipality.

7.2. Rented Accommodation You can find vacant apartments/houses in Hjørring on different websites and in the local newspapers. Unfortunately, most websites that can help you find housing are in Danish. Below we have listed some of the websites normally used for house hunting in Hjørring:

Boligforeninger (non-profit building associations): www.bolighjoerring.dk www.domea.dk www.bonord.dk

Privately owned apartments www.boligportalen.dk (A fee will be charged for using this website)

Local Newspapers http://nordjyske.dk/e-avis . Vendelboposten (Hjørring and the rest of the municipality) . Hirtshals-Bindslev avis . Sindalavisen . Løkken Folkeblad

For further information about renting an apartment, please have a look at www.new-in.hjoerring.dk. Here you can find additional information about Tenancy agreements, utilities, household waste, buying furniture etc.

8. Children and Youth All children living in Hjørring Municipality have the right to Day Care from the age of 0 to 6 years (when they start school). When the children start school, they can attend After School Care until the end of the 3rd grade.

8.1. Day Care If you have children between 0-6 years old and want your children to attend day care, representatives from Hjørring Municipality can help you. Please contact ‘Pladsanvisningen’ at the Municipality for further information at +45 72 33 33 33. If you have nem-id, you are able to sign your children up for day-care online at www.pladsanvisningen.hjoerring.dk.

You must pay for Day Care and the cost is charged on a monthly basis. If you have more children in day care, you qualify for a discount.

In Hjørring Municipality we offer the following Day-care options:

Child Minders (Dagpleje) Day Nursery (Vuggestue) Kinder Garden (Børnehave)

For children between 0 and 2 For children between 0 and 2 For children between 2 years years and 11 months. years and 11 months. and 10 months and 6 years/school starting age. Together with typically 3 or 4 The nursery is staffed by other children, the child is qualified kinder garden Kindergartens are staffed by looked after by a childminder teachers and assistant kinder qualified kinder garden approved by and registered garden teachers. teachers and assistant kinder with Hjørring Municipality. garden teachers.

The children are cared for in the childminders private home.

8.2. Primary and Secondary School Denmark has a policy of ten years' compulsory education. Children are to be taught from the age of 6 years old.

All children in Hjørring Municipality are entitled to free tuition at one of the municipality’s primary and lower secondary schools (‘Folkeskole’ in Danish). This tuition includes a one-year pre-school class followed by nine years of primary and lower secondary education and an optional 10th grade.

In addition to municipal primary and lower secondary school, there are also independent primary and lower secondary schools and private schools where tuition is paid for by the parents.

Hjørring Municipality offers a morning and after-school care scheme (SFO) for all pupils attending 0. to the 3. Grade. The After School Care is connected to the school that the children are enrolled in.

Contact Hjørring Municipality at tel. +45 72 33 33 33 for further information.

8.3 Upper Secondary School Following primary school, which is completed at the age of 16-17, nearly all Danish students continue on to some form of upper secondary education. Upper secondary education consists of general and vocational programmes for students from 16-20 years old. Danish is normally the language of instruction in the general upper secondary education programmes.

Upper Secondary Schools in Hjørring Hjørring Gymnasium og HF (High school): www.hj-gym.dk/da/

EUC Nord (Craft training and technical high school): www.eucnord.dk

VUC (High School): www.vucnordjylland.dk

9. Transportation Considering bringing your own car to Denmark? And how are the options for using public transportation?

9.1. Driving in Denmark When you drive a car in Denmark, it may be necessary to exchange your foreign drivers’ license for a Danish drivers’ licence. Drivers’ licenses issued in a Nordic or EU/EEA country are not required to be exchanged to a Danish equivalent. If your drivers’ license was issued in another country, please have a look at www.new-in.hjoerring.dk for further information.

9.2 Bringing a Vehicle to Denmark If you bring a vehicle to Denmark and you take up residence in Denmark, the vehicle must be registered to Danish number plates within 14 days of arrival, and you must pay registration tax. Registration of vehicles is administered by SKAT (the Danish Tax Authorities). In some (very few) cases, SKAT may give you a waiver allowing you to use your foreign registered car in more than 14 days in Denmark. However, the rules are complex and we recommend you to contact SKAT directly for further information.

You can read more about registration tax at www.new-in.hjoerring.dk and www.skat.dk.

9.3. Public transportation Public transport in Denmark is well-developed and functions well.

In Hjørring the public transportation consists of both trains and busses. Nordjyllands trafikselskab (NT) is the public transport provider of busses in Hjørring Municipality. The bus network is well developed and you can get to almost all parts of the municipality by bus. Please note that some busses are only operated on weekdays.

The national train network is operated by DSB. The train leaves from Hjørring station several times every day and will take you to Hirtshals, Frederikshavn and Aalborg (and beyond).

Using public transportation will get you around within the municipality in a short time, which makes the possibility of settling outside the town of Hjørring attractive. See examples of travel times below:

Hjørring – Vrå: 8 minutes by train Hjørring – Sindal: 9 minutes by train Hjørring – Hirtshals: 22 minutes by train Hjørring – Løkken: 30 minutes by bus

The best tool for planning your journey – anywhere in Denmark – is the ‘Rejseplanen’ (www.rejseplanen.dk). Rejseplanen offers an English language option. All you must do is to insert your start address and destination, and the site will find the easiest route via bus and train for your journey.

10. After hours Activities Hjørring Municipality has a rich and vibrant city life and a wealth of exiting leisure activities. There are therefore plenty of activities to engage in after work.

Joining an association can be a good way of meeting new people. The majority of the Danish citizens are members of an association in their spare time. Here, people who share a common interest meet. This may be an interest of an academic, political, sport or cultural nature.

10.1 Sports and Exercise If you (or your children) want to do sports or exercise together with others, you can become a member of a sports club. Here, for example, you can play football, handball, tennis, badminton, and do gymnastics. You can also choose to become a member of one of the many fitness centres in Hjørring. Further information about the many options of joining a sports club can be found at www.new-in.hjoerring.dk.

If you enjoy Wellness, we recommend that you visit ‘Vandhuset Park Vendia’. It has a large swimming pool and a wellness section, where you can indulge yourself and find inner peace and strength. You can also enjoy a swim in the large 50 meter basin with 8 lanes. Vandhuset Park Vendia has a fun area with a 60 meter long water slide, where children can play and includes a basin with 30 degree C warm water plus steam bath and sauna.

10.2 Outdoor Life If you love the outdoor life, Hjørring Municipality has a lot to offer you.

Hjørring Municipality is characterised by a beautiful landscape and a vigorous nature. In the Spring everything turns green and nature sets the scene for a pleasant picnic. In the Summer you can enjoy the warm summer days on one of the many wide sand beaches. When Autumn comes, the hunt for natural treasures like mushrooms and berries begins. In the Winter it is time to enjoy the snow and a wonderful toboggan ride in the hilly landscape.

The options for doing outdoors sports are plenty. Why not go hiking in Slotved Skov, near Sindal, where you can observe the flocks of fallow deer? Or if you like mountain biking, try the MTB tracks in the many different woods or dune plantation. On the beaches you can go surfing, play beach volley and beach soccer – or just take a nice walk in the shallows. If you are in to fishing, you can fish from the piers, the beaches or take a boat out to go sea fishing. Another option is to rent a canoe and take a trip down the small river Uggerby Å? And for golfers we have a large selection of golf courses of a very high quality. Winter swimming is popular – and you can join the local winter swimming club in Hirtshals every morning during the year.

As you can tell, the possibilities of being active indoor or outdoor are excessive in Hjørring Municipality.

10.3 Hjørring Internationals Hjørring International is a social network for foreigners and internationally minded Danes who live in and

around the Hjørring area. Hjørring Internationals is a unique and fun opportunity for newcomers to Hjørring to make friends and build up a network which will help you settle and feel at home.

The network meets on a regular basis for different activities, some during the day and some in the evening. The events within Hjørring Internationals are arranged by Hjørring Municipality.

The network has a very active Facebook group, where you can ask questions, follow events and find information about living in Hjørring as a foreigner. You find the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/445633042127294/

10.4 Culture Hjørring and the smaller towns around are characterized by life all year round. Throughout the year there are a host of exciting events. No matter if you like revue, theatre, films, concerts, galleries or workshops you can find it in Hjørring. Below we have listed some of the many experiences. We also recommend you to have a look at www.visithjoerring.dk for further information.

Vendsyssel Theatre is a small and dynamic regional theatre in Hjørring. The theatre provides four student productions during the season, plus a number of guest performances and themed events.

Hjørring Theatre is a beautiful old theatre from 1907. It provides about 30-40 performances annually.

Hjørring Biocenter is the largest cinema in Vendsyssel and presents movies for the entire family. The foreign movies are shown in their original language with Danish subtitles.

In the center of Hjørring you will find historical pearls like three Middle Age Churches and Vendsyssels Historiske museum which is the historical museum of Hjørring with exhibition about prehistoric times.

At Vendsyssel Kunstmuseum you can experience modern Danish art and on P. Nørkjærs Plads you will find a sculptural collection of the artist Bjørn Nørgaard.

In the town of Lønstrup you will find a wide selection of exciting galleries and other forms of arts and crafts, e.g. Glass blowers, pottery, textile art, jewellery artists and stone sculptors.

10.5 Libraries in Hjørring Municipality All Danish municipalities have public libraries, where you can borrow books, CDs and videos (in many different languages) and use the Internet free of charge. Borrowing books are free of charge.

The libraries also have kids’ area, offering picture books, access to PC’s and playing opportunities, where you and you children can have a nice time.

If you wish to practice your Danish language skill, you can participate in the weekly language café ‘Café Chat’ that takes place at Hjørring Library (upstairs in the shopping centre Metropol) every Wednesday from 15:00-16:00. Participation is free of charge and you do not have to sign up. The language café is mostly for adults, but children can play in the children’s library.

You find the libraries in Hjørring Municipality here:

Hjørring Library Hirtshals Library Østergade 30 Jørgen Fibigersgade 20 9800 Hjørring 9850 Hirtshals

Løkken Library Sindal Library Nørregade 28 Torvegade 15 9480 Løkken 9870 Sindal

Vrå Library Sdr. Vråvej 1 9760 Vrå

11. Shopping Hjørring is the biggest commercial town in Vendsyssel. With more than 175 special shops and a wide selection of supermarkets you can always make a good deal. Here you will find pedestrian streets, large supermarkets, shopping centres and warehouses – all located in the centre of Hjørring city. You will also find supermarkets, fashion shops and speciality shops in the smaller towns of the municipality.

11.1 Food There are a number of supermarkets within Hjørring Municipality, which vary in prices. The supermarkets can be divided into two price categories: Intermediate and lower price range:

Intermediate price range Lower price range

Føtex, Bilka, Kvickly, Menu and Superbrugsen Aldi, Rema 1000, Lidl, Netto, Kiwi and Fakta.

These shops offer a larger selection of groceries These shops have low prices on everyday than the smaller discount shops. Some also have products and also have several discount their own bakeries and butchers. offerings on non-food goods.

The opening hours of the supermarkets vary, however you will always be able to find an open supermarket between 7:00 – 22:00.

11.2 Clothes, Shoes, etc. Østergade, Strømgade and Stokbrogade in Hjørring are pedestrian-only shopping streets. Here you will find a wide selection of interesting shops, restaurants and cafes. You will find shops carrying jewellery, designer furniture, home furnishing, as well as shoes and clothing.

Metropol Shoppincenter, located on Østergade 30 in Hjørring, is the biggest shopping centre in Hjørring. Besides shops with clothing and shoes, you will also find a Supermarket, cafes, fitness centre and the library inside Metropol.

Bispetorv Bycenter is a new shopping area in Hjørring. Here you will find Føtex and larger stores such as Toysrus, Harald Nyborg, Elgiganten (electronics) and Petworld among others.

In the East part of Hjørring you find several home stores.

In Hirtshals pedestrian precinct, Nørregade, you have lots of shopping possibilities. Nørregade takes its point of departure from the harbour front and leads deeper into the heart of Hirtshals.

In Løkken the central shopping streets include Søndergade, Sdr. Strandvej, Torvet and Nørregade. Here you will also find many interesting shops.

11. Restaurants and Cafes Hjørring as well as the other towns within the municipality offers a wide selection of dining. Whether you are looking for a quick meal or a pleasant evening with a gastronomic experience, we are sure that one of the many restaurants or cosy cafes and coffee bars will be able to meet your needs. You will find traditional Danish Food as well as International and Ethnic dishes. It is impossible for us to list all of the restaurants in this booklet, but let us present some of them for you:

Bryghuset Vendia is Hjørring’s stylish, critically-acclaimed restaurant and brewery. Here you will find a Brasserie (informal atmosphere), a Gourmet Restaurant (reservation necessary) and a Brewery with quality beer directly from the tanks.

Bone's is a typical American family restaurant with family-friendly prices.

In the center of Hjørring you find Ristorante Pane & Vino. Here you can expect an authentic Italian restaurant in which good fresh ingredients based on the rustic Italian tradition make up the basis in the kitchen. Also in the center La Maschera di Ferro (The Iron Mask) is situated. The café restaurant is specializing in Italian dishes from Piedmont.

Kamii Sushi & Restaurant in Hjørring serves elegant dishes inspired by Asian cuisine, including sushi of the highest quality.

In the city center of Hjørring the coffee bar Uno Kaffebar serves a wide selection of coffee made with care. Close to Uno you will find Blomstercafeen that offers pies, sandwiches, drinks etc. During the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the water fountains and sculptures.

The restaurant at Tårs Hotel has a very good reputation. Every day it serves a delicious Danish dish at a reasonable price.

Restaurant Fyrklit in Hirtshals is one of Denmark's best situated restaurants, with a breathtaking view over the Skagerrak, The restaurant offers first-class cuisine, and is included in the dining guide White Guide 2016 edition, which is an overview of Denmark's best restaurants.

The restaurant Villa Vest in Lønstrup offers imaginative and well prepared meals based on local products and created in a spirit of passionate and professional pride. From the restaurant you can enjoy the most beautiful sea view.

Located on the town square in Løkken for more than 30 years, the Café Frandsen has always been a popular place to meet up with friends. Great atmosphere from morning coffee through to colourful cocktails on light summer nights. You can enjoy your lunch, relax with a glass of wine or eat a light evening mail. The menu contains both classic café dishes and exciting specialties

As we said – this is only a very few of the many restaurants in the municipality. If you are interested in knowing more about the many options for dining out in Hjørring Municipality, please visit: http://www.toppenafdanmark.dk/nordjylland/spisesteder/spisesteder-i-hjoerring.

12. Further Information If you have questions in relation to your life in Denmark, we highly recommend you to join the Facebook group 'Hjørring Internationals'. Here you have the chance of asking questions to fellow internationals and Danes. In addition you will get daily updates/post with information that might be interesting for you as an international in Hjørring. Hjørring Municipality is responsible for the group and representatives from Hjørring Municipality will also answer your questions in the group.

If you do not have a profile at Facebook, you are also welcome to contact Hjørring Municipality by email, att. Rikke Ishøy at [email protected].

If you are looking for further information about relocating to Hjørring Municipality, please have a look at the below links.

 www.new-in.hjoerring.dk  www.visithjoerring.dk  www.visitnordjylland.dk  www.workindenmark.dk  www.IHND.dk  The Facebook group: Hjørring Internationals

We hope that you have found this information useful and we hope to be able to welcome you to this lovely part of Denmark!