This Week in Copenhagen: Networking Opportunities, Hidden Gems, Communal Dinners
And a handy Museum Guide!
Hello there,
This week, I’ve got the usual round-up of fun events but also something extra: a Museum Guide for when you feel like swapping dimly lit streets for dimly lit galleries. Some of these museums aren’t the big, flashy ones you can find with a quick search—but they’re my personal favourites, and I think they deserve a bit more love.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be rolling out similar guides on other themes —clubs, exhibition spaces etc.— so keep your eyes peeled. And hey, don’t forget to share the newsletter with your loved ones!
Alright, here’s this week’s happenings, and the guide is further down! Enjoy the week!
FOR KIDS — Make Your Own Mask
During the winter holiday you can visit Royal Danish Library’s children’s library and join a fun creative workshop. This time it’s mask making.
📆 10-16 February / 💸 Free / 📍 Black Diamond, København K.
WORKSHOP — Self-Criticism and Self-Compassion
In this workshop, you’ll explore how to cultivate self-compassion using insights from Paul Gilbert’s Compassion-Focused Therapy and Pat Ogden’s body-based techniques. Learn to shift from self-criticism to self-kindness and harness the wisdom of your body to foster emotional resilience.
📆 11 February, 17.00–19.30 / 💸 49 DKK or Free / 📍 Studiestræde 5, København K.
COMMUNITY — Communal Dinner
Community dinner at Islands Brygge is for everyone who wants to enjoy a good meal in good company. Sit together at the long table and be part of a classic fællesspisning.
📆 12 February 18.00-20.00 / 💸 80 DKK / 📍 Kulturhuset Islands Brygge, København S.
DANISH — Walk & Talk at Light Festival
This outdoor event is the perfect way to meet new people while enjoying the stunning light art and unique sculptures created by international and Danish artists. If you still haven’t checked out the Light Festival installations, this might be your chance to do so while practicing Danish!
📆 12 February 18.00-20.00 / 💸 Free / 📍 CLAVIS, Nørre Voldgade 94-96.
FEST — Copenhagen Gaming Week
Copenhagen Gaming Week is the ultimate gaming festival of the year for the whole family. Whether you're into Fortnite, football, Pokémon, e-sports, trading cards or board games, there will be fun and educational activities for everyone. Come and experience the magic of games and play!
📆 13-15 February / 💸 215 DKK / 📍 Bella Center, København S.
NETWORKING — “Welcome to Denmark”
The event will start with sharing some personal tips on where to network and then you'll have the opportunity to mingle and meet other participants and discuss expat life in Denmark. This is a group for you who are interested in free courses in English on various topics.
📆 13 February 18.00-20.00 / 💸 Free / 📍 Hovedbiblioteket, København K.
PERFORMANCE — “Awkward”
Awkward is a colourful sculpture with real food that people will explore via in- ear instructions. You will be guided in joining a table of abundance, to choose and savour the food based on your memories, experiences and curiosity. You will be invited to taste, grab, find and smell. The performance ends with in communal dinner.
📆 13-14 February / 💸 525 DKK / 📍 LiteraturHaus, København N.
COMMUNITY — Mom-to-be Brunch
During brunch the focus will be on the well-being of future mothers. There’ll be talks about pregnancy, motherhood, importance of your own support system plus a Q&A session and a nutritious brunch. There’s also a communal vegan dinner on 20 Feb where you can discover Indian cuisine. It costs 109 DKK and there’s rice kuska and chickpea butter masala on the menu.
📆 15 February 11.00-13.30 / 💸 220 DKK / 📍 OHA, Valby.
FOR KIDS — Planet Workshop
At this event kids will create their own planets and celestial bodies with cotton balls and crayons. The event is part of the Kosmos festival and ticket get you entry to the Rundetaarn.
📆 16 February 10.00-14.00 / 💸 40/10 DKK / 📍 Rundetaarn, København K.
EXHIBITION — “Ward”
“Breaking” is an exhibition platform that presents changing exhibitions featuring Danish and Nordic upcoming artists who work with the photographic medium in different ways. Right now there’s Victor Vejle’s “Ward” which shows a series of photographic memories from a two-month stay in a psychiatric ward in 2022.
📆 Until 27 April / 💸 40 DKK / 📍 Fotografisk Center, København V.
WORKSHOP — “Plastic bag-free Amager”
Plastikpose-frit Amager initiative wants to reduce plastic consumption on Amager by implementing cloth bags made from recycled fabric. They sew cloth bags from recycled fabric and distribute them to Amager's shops to reduce the consumption of plastic bags. And you can volunteer in the open sewing workshop. Can’t sew? Volunteer anyway — they may have other work for you.
📆 Every Tuesday, 13.00-18.00 / 💸 Free / 📍 Kvarterhuset, København S.
COMMUNITY — Communal dinner
You can have a communal dinner at Send Flere Krydderier in Nørrebrohallen every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The dish always costs 72 DKK for adults and 35 DKK for children between 3-10 years old (free for children under 3 years old).
📆 Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 17.00-19.30 / 💸 72 DKK / 📍 København N.
ARTS — Model study
An evening session where you can refine your technique and observation skills by studying a live nude model. Unlike croquis, the model holds a single pose for the entire session. Work with any medium — paint, charcoal, watercolor, or clay. Bring your own materials (clay available for purchase), and use the studio’s easels and drawing boards.
📆 Every Thursday, 19.00-22.00 / 💸 80 DKK / 📍 Valby Kulturhus.
Museum Guide
I’m sure most of these museums are nothing new to you, but take a look anyway — you might just stumble upon a new favourite spot.
This one is probably one of my favourites. A hidden gem in the middle of Copenhagen and it’s completely free! It’s home to one of the finest Islamic art collections in the world plus a solid mix of Danish and European art. Did I mention it’s free, so there’s really no excuse not to check it out. The building itself has some serious character too.
Arbejdermuseet (The Workers Museum)
Ever wondered what life was like for Danish working-class families back in the day? This cosy, nostalgia-filled museum takes you straight into the everyday lives of workers from the 19th century to today. Expect vintage apartments and workplaces, a classic beer hall, and maybe a little reflection on how much (or how little) has changed. I love love love this museum but it’s a bit heavy on the Danish side (meaning there’s very little English signage which is a shame really, because this place offers such a fascinating look at how workers’ rights evolved, how unions came to be, and just how recently things started improving) so be prepared to use your favourite translation app along your tour.
If you want to get to know Copenhagen beyond the postcards, this is the place. From Viking roots to modern city life, the museum tells the whole messy, fascinating story of how Copenhagen became, well… Copenhagen. Great for history lovers, city nerds, or anyone who just wants to understand why Copenhagen is the way it is today. Nowadays there’s a photo exhibition about Denmark’s old pub culture, so it’s definitely worth a visit! Also, free entry on Wednesdays!
A little outside the city but this arts museum is absolutely worth it, Ordrupgaard is where French impressionists meet Danish modernists. Think Monet, Degas, and Gauguin, but also Danish icons like Hammershøi. And if you’re into architecture, don’t skip Finn Juhl’s House. I have an aarskort to this museum and every time I visit I find myself fascinated by all the details at Finn Juhl’s Hus — it’s a mid-century design dream.
Probably one of the most well-known museums in Copenhagen it gets a bit too crowded in high seasons so these days are actually perfect to visit this place. Design lovers’ paradise. Whether it’s furniture, fashion, or just beautifully designed everyday objects, it’s sort of like a crash course in Danish design. Nowadays there’s a ceramics exhibition so there’s a wonderful chance to see what Danish ceramicists are creating.
Home to the works of Bertel Thorvaldsen —Denmark’s beloved sculptor— this museum is packed with huge statues, intricate reliefs, and a collection of art he gathered. Building itself is pretty amazing too. And the best part is that there’s free entry on Wednesdays!
That’s it from this week, folks. Next week I’ll bring you a different guide! (If you have any requests, leave a comment☺)
If you’d like to share your artwork or passion project or something that makes you happy about life in Denmark —anything you want to share with people— send it my way (denmarkhappenings@gmail.com). I’d love to include shout-outs!
Have a lovely week, everyone! And I’ll see you next time.
