Becoming a stranger in your own country

Many stories are heard about internationals moving to Denmark for the first time. They face hardships when finding a job, a place to live, or a sense of belonging. But what about Danes coming back home? Holding Danish citizenship doesn’t mean your path home will be smoother. To shed light on what returning Danes are facing, Michael Bach Petersen, Secretary General of Danes Worldwide, unpacks the reality behind moving back

Michael Bach Petersen is the Secretary General of Danes Worldwide, the organization of Danes living abroad, representing thousands and thousands of them in more than 100 countries.

Julie Llopes

Apr 30, 2025

“There is a legal definition of a Danish citizen, but besides that, how do you define the feeling? Some have Danish ancestry going back to the Vikings, some live the everyday hygge lifestyle with sommerhus and kanelsnegle, some are interested in politics, democracy, and freedom of speech, but one isn’t more Danish than the other,” […]

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Michael Bach Petersen is the Secretary General of Danes Worldwide, the organization of Danes living abroad, representing thousands and thousands of them in more than 100 countries.

Becoming a stranger in your own country

Many stories are heard about internationals moving to Denmark for the first time. They face hardships when finding a job, a place to live, or a sense of belonging. But what about Danes coming back home? Holding Danish citizenship doesn’t mean your path home will be smoother. To shed light on what returning Danes are facing, Michael Bach Petersen, Secretary General of Danes Worldwide, unpacks the reality behind moving back
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