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Fly to Copenhagen with airBaltic ONE Happy from €55 WAY Copenhagen Denmark is regularly voted as the world’s happiest country. Baltic Outlook heads to the capital to find out why.

86 / AIRBALTIC.COM OUTLOOK / TRAVEL

he UN’s World 1 A green streets during the morning work began on Amager Happiness Report rush-hour and you will see Bakke, a 100-metre-tall recently named capital with more cyclists than drivers. waste-to-energy plant that Denmark as the sustainable In a recently published will incorporate a ski slope Thappiest country in the world. article, the Copenhagenize on its roof. As visitors take What’s more, the Scandinavian industry Design Company noted a glass elevator up to the country has topped the Right now Copenhagen that cycling is not only slope, they will be able European Commission’s is revelling in its status as environmentally friendly, to a glimpse at the inner well-being and happiness European Green Capital for but can also be the workings of the power index for an astonishing 40 2014, with the ambition fastest way to travel in plant below. years in a row. The report’s of becoming the world’s a busy city. Cycling into The plant’s smokestack life evaluation score takes a first carbon-neutral capital the downtown area from is to blow out a smoke ring range of factors into account, by 2025. Copenhagen is the suburb of Østerbro is every time a tonne of CO2 including income (GDP per a good model in terms of eight minutes faster than is released, as a reminder capita), health, life expectancy urban planning and design. taking public transport, of the environmental at birth, freedom to make life choices, social support, corruption and generosity. To understand why Danes are so happy, take a look at the cosmopolitan capital city of Copenhagen. Almost 2 million people live in its metropolitan area, or over one-third of the country’s population. The city’s reputation is drawing a growing influx of talented foreigners looking to start a new life; over 20% of Copenhagen residents have been born outside of TY STANGE

Denmark. Identifying specific The King’s Gardens are the country’s oldest royal gardens © factors contributing to happiness is hard, but spend It is also something of a some time in the Danish transport pioneer, aiming to COPENHAGEN IS AIMING capital and several clear become the world’s most TO BECOME THE WORLD’S MOST trends emerge. practicable city for cyclists. PRACTICABLE CITY FOR CYCLISTS Its goal is to have 50% of people cycling to their while from Havneholmen impact of consumption. place of work or education the difference is a sizable Due to be completed later this decade, up from 14 minutes. in 2016, the plant will the already impressive 35% Then there is the issue treat 400,000 tonnes who currently do so on of industry and its resulting of waste every year, over 1000 km of cycle lanes pollution. Combining a generating power for in Greater Copenhagen. ski resort with an energy 50,000 households, while Copenhageners feel like plant is something few another 120,000 will receive they are part of the green cities would consider, district heating from solution. Step out onto the let alone build. In 2013, the plant.

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Outdoor artistic adventure playground, and even jazz concerts in the lifestyle summer months. The focus on the outdoors in Another popular spot is Copenhagen is hard to ignore, the picture-postcard Nyhavn. as evidenced by the large Originally a busy commercial number of cyclists on the city port where sailors and their streets. Copenhagen has many companions made merry and parks and gardens where drink ale, modern Nyhavn CEES VAN ROEDEN CEES VAN

The focus on the outdoors in Copenhagen is hard to ignore © people can relax, sunbathe, go serves a similar function, albeit for a stroll, or just hang out with for a wider cross-section of friends. In fact, it is now official people. Writer Hans Christian policy that by 2015, all residents Andersen (1805-1875) lived must be able to reach a park in three different houses here or beach on foot in less than and it’s easy to imagine him 15 minutes. watching the busy life of Kongens Have (King’s Garden) Nyhavn pass by as he penned is the largest city park and a his early fairy tales. big draw for local families. It’s The quality of the water in home to Rosenborg Castle, and around the city is extremely sculptures, a rose garden, high. Locals take advantage by the Hercules Pavilion, the cooling off in the summer or symmetrical Renaissance taking an invigorating winter Krumspringet garden, an dip in one of the many harbour OUTLOOK / TRAVEL

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Copenhageners love to go for swims or perhaps spend an

CEES VAN ROEDEN CEES VAN CONVENIENT entire day at the beach © MEETING ROOMS THE QUALITY OF THE WATER IN AND AROUND THE CITY IS VIRTUAL OFFICES EXTREMELY HIGH baths, such as the Havneparken planning buildings, it’s about 21. K. Valdemara Street, Riga LV 1010 waterfront park. It’s located at planning spaces to make a Call +371 6703 5300 the Islands Brygge, a former really good liveable city,” says industrial area turned into George Ferguson, the mayor of a fashionable residential Bristol, whose city inherits the info@rigapremiumoﬃces.lv neighbourhood. The park European Green Capital title www.rigapremiumoﬃces.lv retains several features from from Copenhagen in 2015. the neighbourhood’s industrial Despite the awards and past, including old railway success for Copenhagen, the tracks and an upside-down ship administration acknowledges hull that serves as a pavilion. that it can continue to improve It should come as no quality of life for its residents. surprise that Copenhagen’s “We have a long way to go biggest tourist attraction is set in noise-reduction and we can outdoors. Open since 1843, the learn from Bristol. We have Tivoli Gardens are the second a long way to go in waste oldest amusement park in the management and we can learn world. For locals, who make up from Vienna. When it comes to a good proportion of the park’s an efficient bus system, then 4 million annual visitors, Tivoli is we can learn a lot from Sweden. far more than rollercoasters and In picking up the best examples arcades; it is equally as popular from all around Europe, as a place to dine out and Copenhagen can improve its people-watch. position”, says Morten Kabell, “Copenhagen has led the mayor of Copenhagen’s the way in people-based Technical and Environmental planning. It’s not about Administration. Managed by OUTLOOK / TRAVEL 3

Simple attitudes the globe. However, despite food, our eating habits are of meat or fish, cheese the glamour of world-famous still dominated by bulk, or spreads. to food restaurants such as Noma, international and mainstream “The trend of using The new 2014 edition of the many Copenhageners bypass food. Most people want fast low-quality ingredients is Michelin Guide has awarded the gourmet trends and take a shopping and easy cooking in changing and we do have 17 stars to 15 restaurants in simplistic approach to eating, everyday life, and do not know good examples of good Copenhagen, the highest according to Copenhagen chef much about seasoning, real bread and pålæg (toppings). number ever. As a result, the and food writer Katrine Klinken. cooking, growing crops and Smørrebrød is surviving animal life. The city has more in a world where more discount supermarkets than international foods are ever before”, she says. available, but very few modern “Having said that, things restaurants actually serve have changed. Public schools it. Lunchtime in the Danish in Copenhagen now serve capital is not as busy as in organic food and new schools Stockholm, Paris and other big called madskoler are built with cities. In Copenhagen you work kitchens that involve pupils in during the daytime and eat the the preparation of food. Food biggest meal at home or at a cooperatives like Bees in the restaurant in the evening. City and Urban Gardening have “A lot of people are dining also popped up in recent years,” out more. Many small and she adds. relaxed restaurants have According to Klinken, the opened and food is being high number of Michelin- presented in new ways.

RESTAURANT MARCHAL (HOTEL D’ANGLETERRE) (HOTEL MARCHAL RESTAURANT starred restaurants has not had As always, food trends are © An increasing number of a major impact on how the changing. Right now, wild locals are experiencing average Copenhagener eats herbs are popular. In any case, food as culture and art at home. The most popular more locals have the possibility Danish meal for both locals and to experience food as culture tourists remains smørrebrød, a and art, even though most food scene is drawing more “Even though we consume simple open-faced sandwich regular food has not changed,” and more tourists from all over more fresh and organic consisting of cold cuts, pieces Klinken explains. CАЛОН ПЛИТКИ Разнообразие цветов и стилей For Growth on the Earth Консультации по дизайну и ... with a focus on successful agricultural investment development in Latvia разработке проекта Our strength lies in targeted, one-point-station advisory services for developing agricultural investment initiatives, at the base of which is our experience at bridging the world's best интерьер, соответствующий Вашему вкусу production know-how to local conditions and rules. изобилие цветов и дизайнов кафельной плитки визуализация проекта с эффектом трехмерного пространства

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4 Creating companies of the future Last year, Fortune magazine named The city may seem provincial compared Copenhagen as one of the seven best to international capitals, but I see this global cities for startups, and with good as a plus. It’s easy to get from place to reason. After all, two of the most popular place quickly and to connect with the programming languages, C++ and Ruby on relevant people. As a capital, Copenhagen Rails, were invented by Danes. is beautiful with its old buildings, cosy “Soon we won’t be asking: ‘Where’s the next Silicon Valley?’ Instead, the question on everyone’s lips may be: ‘Where’s the next COPENHAGEN’S Copenhagen?’”, writes the magazine. STATUS AS A STARTUP HUB While Copenhagen ranks well for IS DRAWING IN GLOBAL educational institutions and digital COMPANIES BY THE HUNDREDS infrastructure, what really makes a startup scene develop is its people. Success breeds with its many parks, but expensive with success, and Copenhagen’s status as a the high cost of the Danish living,” he startup hub is drawing in global companies continued. by the hundreds. According to local It’s this high cost of living that might entrepreneur Simon Stubben from Project dampen Copenhagen’s tech ambitions, Canvas (www.projectcanvas.dk), “We have as early-stage entrepreneurs often need so much talent here. My startup has great to live as cheaply as possible for a year or people from the UK, Pakistan and Belarus, more while they “bootstrap” their business all working at our Copenhagen office. The and look for counties with beneficial emergence of Copenhagen as a startup corporate tax regimes. Nevertheless, the capital has only just begun.” progress of Copenhagen as a regional “Copenhagen to me is friends, a friendly centre for tech entrepreneurship has and happy culture, and a great lifestyle. been impressive. OUTLOOK / TRAVEL

It is common to see families shopping on Saturdays in Copenhagen, where kids also have a say in what ends up in their shopping bags KASPER THYE ©

The art of hygge singing songs and togetherness. It’s hard to pinpoint how much this If one word was to sum up the Danish vague concept fuels Danish happiness, lifestyle, then that would be hygge. but as the UN’s World Happiness Report Notoriously difficult to translate,hygge has noted, mental health and social falls somewhere between cosiness, support are known to affect well-being. friendliness and togetherness. This word Professor of Economics Christian says a lot about the uniqueness of the Danish lifestyle, with a focus on socialising FEEL and relaxing with family and good friends. DANES Although often used at mealtimes or EMPOWERED TO BE ABLE TO in bars, hygge has more to do with the CHANGE SOMETHING IN THEIR atmosphere and social interaction than the LIFE IF THEY DON’T LIKE IT setting itself. Hygge can describe the raising of spirits during cold and gloomy winters, Bjørnskov from the Aarhus Business as well as the experience of grilling pølser School wrote his PhD on happiness. (sausages) over a grill after a long bicycle According to him, one factor that ride on a summer evening. makes Danes so happy “is that they The meaning of hygge is best discovered are very trusting of people they don’t at Christmas time. Danes gather with know. Also just as importantly, Danes their families on Christmas Eve for a big feel empowered to be able to change celebration with hearty food and drink. something in their life if they don’t like it.” Under one local tradition, an unchopped He then refers to the importance almond is hidden in the risalamande, a of hygge: creamy rice dessert, with a prize on offer “We spend our money differently here. for the person who finds it in their serving. We don’t buy big houses or big cars. We The food is basic and the home is candlelit, like to spend our money on socialising putting the focus firmly on conversation, with others.” OUTLOOK / TRAVEL

Five outdoor hot spots Where the locals relax Kongens Have – the gardens of Rosenborg Castle Nyhavn – the colourful 17th-century waterfront Fælledparken – the largest park in Copenhagen Havneparken – the former docklands at the Islands Brygge The old port at Nyhavn is filled with people enjoying the relaxed atmosphere by the Superkilen – a brand new urban ROEDEN CEES VAN

Copenhagen’s rising stars Here are the city’s three new Michelin-starred restaurants:

Marchal Clou Studio at the Standard Inspired by Nordic and Simplicity meets luxury at an Ingredients inspired by French classics with establishment run by brothers nature from all around the a twist Jonathan and Alexander Berntsen world Kongens Nytorv 34 Borgergade 16 Havnegade 44 www.marchal.dk www.restaurant-clou.dk www.thestandardcph.dk