I don't speak Danish, although I can read it fairly well---Dutch helps a lot.
Language isn't much of a barrier. English works in 90% of cases, and broken Danish works in the other 10%. The first two modules of Danish classes are sufficient to survive anything given a proficient level of English (for context, there are around 6 or 7 modules, and they're all free, sponsored by the local government).
The main sources of stress are lodging, weather, and social life.
Finding a place to live is ridiculously difficult. As a foreigner, you will be forced to pay 12-15k DKK to get anything decent (think 2k€). Having to deal with short term rentals, visiting places daily for 2-3 months on end to find something you both like and can afford, etc. Dealing with landlords who abuse the terms of the contract, openly cheat and game the system, outright lie and manipulate. I currently pay 15k for a 110m2 flat, 20 minutes bike distance from the city center. My Danish friends tell me I'm overpaying and should get on waiting lists (which take anywhere from 1 to 10 years to come to fruition), my immigrant friends tell me how lucky I am.
The weather might sound like a frivolous point, but the lack of sunlight during the winter, and the overabundance of it during the summer will strain your body. At least it did mine. Random chocolate cravings in the winter. Insomnia during the summer.
The last point, social life, is an interesting one. Although I know a lot more people, and have more "friends" than I did when I lived in the UK, France, or Australia, they are a lot more difficult. Drinking is a real problem, and the fact that I don't is even moreso. There's such a social pressure to drink, that I often have to give in. I often have to order a beer not to be laughed at, interrogated, etc. There's also a lot more pressure to become a parent. Maybe this is due to my age, but it is a topic that has come up a lot more than anywhere else. Heck, when I interviewed here before moving, it was one of the selling points ("You know, Denmark is a _great_ place to have kids.")
In fairness: I'm working in startups now, which probably also accounts for a good portion of the increased stress.
15k for 110m2 is not unreasonable if you are 20 min bike from city center. I feel ya though with regards to accommodation, but that is honestly mostly a problem in Copenhagen/Aarhus, and not so much in smaller cities, like say Vejle. For the larger cities to go cheap, you have to know a guy that knows a guy, or be related to someone with an apartment :(
Those aforementioned cities are University cities, and also the central hub for a lot of companies, making it a quite big problem. If you think you have it hard with a full paying job, imagine what the students go through, that pay ~5k DKK for just a room.
The weather I’ll grant you, if honestly hate summers because of the light and heat, since air conditioning is not really a common thing in DK.
And heh, if you don’t drink in Denmark, you are automatically gonna miss out on a lot of things, it’s such an ingrained part of the culture. That said, it has definitely become more acceptable to say no in recent years, but it works best if you are consistent, because else people will know they can nudge you into it and get you on board. If you are consistent, it will get respected (eventually at least).
Language isn't much of a barrier. English works in 90% of cases, and broken Danish works in the other 10%. The first two modules of Danish classes are sufficient to survive anything given a proficient level of English (for context, there are around 6 or 7 modules, and they're all free, sponsored by the local government).
The main sources of stress are lodging, weather, and social life.
Finding a place to live is ridiculously difficult. As a foreigner, you will be forced to pay 12-15k DKK to get anything decent (think 2k€). Having to deal with short term rentals, visiting places daily for 2-3 months on end to find something you both like and can afford, etc. Dealing with landlords who abuse the terms of the contract, openly cheat and game the system, outright lie and manipulate. I currently pay 15k for a 110m2 flat, 20 minutes bike distance from the city center. My Danish friends tell me I'm overpaying and should get on waiting lists (which take anywhere from 1 to 10 years to come to fruition), my immigrant friends tell me how lucky I am.
The weather might sound like a frivolous point, but the lack of sunlight during the winter, and the overabundance of it during the summer will strain your body. At least it did mine. Random chocolate cravings in the winter. Insomnia during the summer.
The last point, social life, is an interesting one. Although I know a lot more people, and have more "friends" than I did when I lived in the UK, France, or Australia, they are a lot more difficult. Drinking is a real problem, and the fact that I don't is even moreso. There's such a social pressure to drink, that I often have to give in. I often have to order a beer not to be laughed at, interrogated, etc. There's also a lot more pressure to become a parent. Maybe this is due to my age, but it is a topic that has come up a lot more than anywhere else. Heck, when I interviewed here before moving, it was one of the selling points ("You know, Denmark is a _great_ place to have kids.")
In fairness: I'm working in startups now, which probably also accounts for a good portion of the increased stress.