More and more internationals are discovering Bornholm, the island in the Baltic Sea with a unique character and a growing job market.
Bornholm is no stranger to internationals.
In 2023, the top countries from which internationals relocated to Bornholm were Germany (18 percent), Ukraine (10.6), Italy (8.6), Poland (8.3), and Sweden (7.1).
The Copenhagen Post has talked to David Christensen, Coordinator at Newcomer Citizen Service, and Bornholm’s Mayor Jacob Trøst to understand the mindset of internationals on the island.
Bornholm is a very popular tourist destination amongst Danes and internationals in Denmark, especially during summertime.
While the general perception in Denmark is that tourism is the largest driver for the island’s economy, the mayor describes otherwise.
“Tourism is only 10 percent of our total income in Bornholm. The biggest business establishment is heavy-duty laundry company Jensen with close to 600 employees. The municipality is a major employer with close to 4000 employees in community services,” Trøst says.
The ‘Energy island’ Bornholm project is one of the largest operations currently being undertaken on the island that require high-skilled labour.
The newcomer service has been crucial in attracting talent to Bornholm, the mayor notes.
According to David Christensen, there are two offices at Bornholms Regionskommune (municipality) dedicated to providing services to internationals.
Newcomer Service: Dedicated to assisting individuals in relocating to Bornholm.
On-Island Assistance: Provides practical support to newcomers after their arrival on Bornholm.
There has been a recent influx of EU citizens to Bornholm, and that English is becoming a more dominant workplace language.
“On the harbor even with local energy production facilities there has been an effort to transform their language from Danish to English to accommodate highly skilled internationals in the near future. According to recent statistics, we have attracted the most EU citizens across Denmark in recent years,” he said.
New campaigns have highlighted jobs on the island in the industrial sector, especially with smiths and welding people working in the windmill industry.
“These are jobs that require some very specialized abilities that we might not find on Bornholm. So, we’ll have to get that workforce from abroad,” says Christensen.
Dennis Grundmeyer is a German pharmacist who relocated to Bornholm two years ago.
His advice to other internationals considering a move to Bornholm is to
learn Danish: While English is spoken, knowing basic Danish is crucial, especially for job opportunities.
Research Opportunities: Determine if your current job is feasible on the island or explore new career paths.
Be Open to Challenges: Be prepared to take on jobs outside your comfort zone and be patient in finding your niche.
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