Living in Kolding

Now you are registered in Denmark and is ready to start your life in Kolding – but you still have a lot of questions.

We have gathers information about schooling, language practice, renovation, leisure time in Kolding and much, much more.

Learn Danish

Why should I learn Danish?

Knowing basic Danish makes it much easier to get a job in Denmark and to feel more at home in your new contry. It is easier to get a relation to the Danes, having a social network and to understand Danish. You have a possibility of applying for permanent residency later if you learn Danish.

Kolding Sprogskole – Language School

Kolding Sprogskole is a public language school and is located central in Kolding.

The language school offers education in different levels and time of day, so it’s easy to find a class that suits you.

Kolding Sprogskole

Language cafes

The best way to learn Danish is by speaking it! In Kolding it’s possible to join language Cafes both physical and online, which is run by volunteers. We have gathered the offers for you here:

Simon Peters Kirke The church is offering language café on Tuesdays from 4 PM – 6 AM at Simon Peters Hus, Islandsvej 4, 6000 Kolding.

Simon Peters Kirke

The Danish Red Cross also has tools to help you practice Danish with their volunteer language trainers. You can book an online conversation at sprogunivers.

The Danish Red Cross - sprogunivers

What's happening in Kolding

In Kolding there are always something going on each day – whether you are into music, art, explore the beautiful nature or something else.

Kolding Guiden

If you want to know about all the events happening in Kolding, then Kolding Guiden is the one to follow. You can either find the events at their webpage or download their app. The app is available in English.

Oplev Kolding

Kolding has a lot of beautiful nature. On the webpage Oplev Kolding “Discover Kolding” is a guide for you who would like to get inspirations for you next activity. You can also find a list over the different facilities you can use.

Campus Kolding

If you are a student or a young person, you can follow Campus Kolding on Facebook and Instagram. They are each week gathering a selection of events which is relevant for students and young people.

Cultural institutions

Kolding libraries

Kolding Liberaries has several different offers beside borrowing books. They are hosting events and serving as a cultural hot spot. You can find a list of where to find your local library here.

Nicolai Kultur

Nicolai Kultur is a space designated to culture. You can read more about what they offer here.

Museums

Wheater you like art, history or something else, Kolding has several of museums you can visit. You can find an overview here.

Theatres

Kolding has three theatres in the city. You can find more information on each of the theatres and their shows at the website of “Teater i Kolding”

International networks and associations

Kolding has a vibrant international community, with a huge variety of different nationalities and networks. Some of the networks and associations are hosting events and activities.

The Expats Association of Kolding (TEAK)

TEAK is a volunteer organisation that focuses on getting expats to feel welcome in Kolding. TEAK works for promoting integration and create a network in the Danish society. They also provide a platform to all expats to share their knowledge, experience, skills and cultures.

Read more about TEAK and how to join here:

TEAKdk.org

and join their Facebook group

Daycare (0-6 years)

Are you bringing your family to Denmark? Then you need to make decisions about your child’s day care. We are here to help you make the right ones.

Childcare is given a high priority in Denmark. Childcare is mostly financed partly by the family and partly by the municipality.

Watch a video about life at Danish daycare

The film provides an insight into what everyday life looks like for children in Danish early childhood daycare settings, and how these settings support children’s Danish language development, close cooperation with pareants, and children’s participation in peer communities.

Daycare in a Danish context

Daycare is an option for children aged 0-6 (More accurately: Until they start school).

The below list describes the daycare options offered in Kolding:

Daginstitutioner (Daycare centres):

There are three different kinds:

Vuggestuer (Nurseries) offer daycare for children aged six months to three years.
Børnehaver (Kindergartens) offer daycare for children aged three until they start school.
Aldersintegrerede institutioner (Integrated institutions) offer both nursery and kindergarten in one institution.

Specialinstitution (Special-needs institutions)

Institution that cater to children with special needs aged one to years.

Dagpleje (Childminders)

This is a private service offered for children aged from 24 weeks old up to three years. The child is typically looked after in a private home.

Legestue (Playgroup): This is part of the childminder service where different groups of children under different childminders meet to play with each other in a playgroup.

Find a daycare:

You can find a list of the public daycare providers here

Public Daycare

How do I register my child for daycare?

You apply for a referral to a nursery, childminder, or kindergarten online at the Kolding municipality’s website.

Apply here

You use your NemID/MitID.

Please note, that you and your child need to have CPR numbers in order to apply for childcare.

About daycare guarantee

Each municipality in Denmark is required to provide its residents with daycare facilities. Children aged six months to six years are guaranteed placement in a public daycare center within three months of signing up.

You are not guaranteed a specific daycare, but any appropriate daycare within the municipality.

Cost of childcare services

You pay for public childcare services 11 out of 12 months a year (the month of July is free, due to summer holidays). Sibling discounts are offered.

You can read more here

Private childcare

Private childcare is also an option. The structure and everyday life in a private childcare facility does not differ from that of a public one as they all adhere to same set of rules and obligations, but it is financed differently, and you sign up by contacting the childcare facility/childminder directly.

You can read more here.

Schooling (6-16 years)

The Danish school system

Denmark has a policy of 10 years’ compulsory education for children starting in August of the year they turn six.

Public schooling in Denmark is free of charge. Parents that choose to send their child to a private or independent school, however, are generally required to pay tuition.

Public school

In Denmark, we all have a free choice of school within the public schools. In other words, you can enrol your child in the local primary or secondary school in the school district in which you live. Or, if you prefer, you can apply for your child to attend a school (0-10th grade) in a different school district within the municipality.

Find a list of public schools in Kolding .

Find an overview of the public school districts in Kolding .

After school programmes (0-4th grade)

In Denmark school-based leisure-time offer is called skolefritidsordning or in short SFO.

After-school care is guaranteed for all children from 0 to 4th grade in public schools. It gives an opportunity to spend time with friends, play and participate in curriculum-based activities.

You will need to pay the cost of SFO yourself. Read more about SFO .

Leisure clubs (4th to 6th grade)

In Denmark there are leisure clubs as an after-school service. Some are run by the municipal and others are run by local associations.

You will need to pay the cost of leisure club yourself.

Youth educations

There are many opportunities to take a youth education in Kolding. In Denmark most youth educations are for free. Here you can find a list of youth educations in Kolding.

Youth education in English

Kolding Gymnasium offers an IB program (International Baccalaureate) which is taught in English.

Find more information here.

Waste and recykling

Wondering what to do with your household waste?

Here is a brief overview of the waste and recycling system in Kolding. Kolding Renovation, also called REDUX, has recently been implementing a new waste sorting scheme in Kolding.

Read more about who to sort your waste. For additional information, or in case you have any inquiries, you can either read more on Kolding Municipality’s webpage or you are welcome to contact REDUX’s at 79 79 71 00 within their opening hours.