Meet the newcomers

Our friends are pleasantly surprised when they visit us…

In Fredericia, we’re more and more of us. Many rediscover their love for the streets they grew up on, and many newcomers open their eyes to all the dreams you can have fulfilled when you live right here.

Meet some of the families who have discovered that Fredericia could offer the perfect setting for their family life.

Goodbye to the big city, but not to city life

In Kanalbyen, Lea and Martin have found a calm oasis for their family, with city life just around the corner.

Martin and Lea have found their dream home in Kanalbyen. Here, they’ve unpacked the moving boxes in an apartment that met the family’s wishes for plenty of space, high quality and a great view.

After 11 great years in Copenhagen, it was time to open a new front door. Several things ended up bringing the family to Fredericia. First and foremost, Martin’s job in the theatre world as Artistic Director at AHA Creations. The performing arts are thriving in the city, and when it comes to musicals, Fredericia is the place. Lea is a digital marketing consultant and works in Copenhagen—but when you combine work-from-home days with the efficient train connections to the capital, commuting a couple of times a week is no problem.

Lea grew up in the Copenhagen area. Martin is from Fredericia, so they already knew about the city’s opportunities. Both also trained as musical performers at the Danish National School of Performing Arts, which is located in Fredericia. So moving to the fortress town has been a happy reunion with an old acquaintance.

Martin’s family lives in the city, and it also pulled at mum, dad and 3-year-old Allie to get closer to the Jutland side of the family.
But it was also Fredericia’s unique historical character and many beautiful natural areas that tempted them. Among other things, the family enjoys being so close to the beach in everyday life. And Fredericia Ramparts are a large green oasis where you can enjoy nature and walks in a unique historic setting.

About the family:
Name: Martin, Lea and Allie Palme Skriver
Age: 37, 36 and 3
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Artistic Director and digital marketing consultant

A new beginning with peace, quiet and community in Herslev

In Herslev, Helle and Lars have found more than a new home: they’ve also rediscovered their joy of life.

After 18 years, Helle and Lars Larsen packed up their moving boxes and pulled up stakes. They had both retired and were looking forward to a new phase of life with more time, fewer obligations and the chance to enjoy their days at their own pace. But their health got in the way, and everyday life didn’t quite turn out as they had hoped. Lars in particular found it hard to find energy and joy in the days, and the couple decided it was time for something new!

When the opportunity came to move into senior housing in a real “ollekolle”—a small, safe senior co-housing community in Herslev—they went for it. And they haven’t regretted it. Quite the opposite.

 

It wasn’t just the new surroundings, but especially the community in the ollekolle that made the difference. Helle and Lars were welcomed with open arms and today have a strong social network in the local area.

The warm welcome and close neighbourly bonds have meant a lot, not least for Lars, who has blossomed and found his zest for life again.

Waking up to peace and quiet in green surroundings is one of the best things about everyday life in Herslev. There’s room here for togetherness, joy of life and small everyday moments. And the home? That came about through the family. A lucky coincidence that became the start of a new and meaningful chapter for Helle and Lars.

About the family:
Name: Helle and Lars Larsen
Age: 63 and 67
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Retired

Family life, a quiet residential street and culture

In a master builder’s villa close to Fredericia Ramparts and just a short bike ride from both the pedestrian streets and the beach, Bolette and her family live

Mum, dad, two kids, apple trees in the garden, a cargo bike in the carport, a dining room with space for family birthdays—and concerts and cultural life within reach. Those were some of the dreams Bolette and her husband had when they decided to swap their apartment in Copenhagen for something else. They found it all on a quiet residential street in Fredericia.

Tell us what made you choose Fredericia?

When we became a small family in Copenhagen, we needed to swap the big-city apartment for a house and garden outside the city, and we also dreamed of having the sea and nature around us. It was a must that it was still easy to take the train back to Copenhagen. We wanted to live closer to our families, but most of all we wanted to create a life where we could afford to work part-time, so we could have more quality time with the family and more time for creative projects.

 

We chose to move to Fredericia because here we could create a safe, good and calm life for our little family in magnificent natural and cultural surroundings. Fredericia matched our wishes to be close to family, nature and culture, and at the same time we had the opportunity to buy our dream house and garden, which we enjoy filling with everyday life and lovely get-togethers for friends and family who “just happen to drop by”. Fredericia is right on the way when you’re travelling from Copenhagen on to Jutland to visit family, so we’re happy to stay for the “coffee break” on the way—and that way we still get to see our friends who still live in Copenhagen. The great train connections to and from Fredericia also make it hard to find an excuse not to come and visit.

 

I fell head over heels for Fredericia when I visited the city for the first time, back when I was going to meet my in-laws, and I was sure I wanted to live here. My husband also made sure I got a good impression when he took me up to Kongens Bastion on a starry night, showed me the clear, fresh, swim-friendly seawater at Østerstrand, and pointed out where the old legendary bar Generalen used to be—where Snoop Dogg once played a late DJ set. I got the feeling that the magical and unpredictable could happen and go hand in hand with everyday life of (vegetarian) gravy and potatoes, and kids’ life in the fresh air with everything your heart could desire—and all within walking distance!

 

Besides having a family-friendly everyday life that can be both magical and routine, we also have good opportunities to find jobs nearby, with cities like Middelfart, Vejle, Kolding and Odense within easy reach.

What has pleasantly surprised you about Fredericia?
When I first went for a walk on the ramparts, I was very surprised to find that people always greet you as you pass. The locals in Fredericia are incredibly welcoming, and I really feel the city’s history as “The City for Everyone” lives up to its name.

The kids in my family—cousins and all—are fascinated by the adventure they experience every time they visit us in Fredericia. The water tower—does a princess live there, guarded by a dragon? The cannons, the gates, and all the talk about soldiers, kings and wars are fuel for the imagination, and they love playing their way into that fairytale world.

How did you make your housing dream come true here?
We were sitting in Copenhagen when we suddenly spotted the house we ended up buying after seeing it just once. We’d talked about lots of things: a terraced house in Erritsø, a scenic location in Trelde, a rental apartment close to the water. But once we’d seen our lovely master builder’s villa on 6. Julivej, we had no doubts. We love our house and garden.

What’s the best thing about everyday life here in Fredericia?
I love having to pass Prinsens Port or Nørreport every day when I’m dropping my kids off at daycare. That fairytale-like, grand experience of starting the day with a walk on the ramparts and through the beautiful old gates gives me a feeling of gratitude every single day for being able to enjoy such wonderful surroundings.

I love the path system on the ramparts, which I can explore with my kids or on my own little runs. I love being able to run straight down to the lovely, fresh seawater, take a dip, and run home again.

KulturKasernen is a new and exciting cultural hub that I’m really enjoying following, and I think it has great potential to attract creative talent and become an important cultural centre for the entire Triangle Region. I think it will develop into a place that can offer an unexpected experience and bring new perspectives to life’s big questions. I hope it can become a big part of my and my family’s everyday life. I also really love the large artwork on the HYDRA parking garage—the round, coloured glass. It’s truly a pleasure to swing by there.

About the family:
Name: Bolette Søs Dyrberg
Age: 36
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Communications hustler and freelance storyteller
Favourite spot in Fredericia: The top of Kongens Bastion

From Greenland to Taulov: A safe base close to everything

After many years in Greenland, Henrik and his son Sakkak have found a home in Fredericia with space, closeness and an everyday life that runs smoothly.

Henrik Poulsen Pötzsch has lived most of his adult life in Greenland—first in the capital Nuuk and later in smaller settlements such as Kulusuk, Isertoq and Tasiilaq. Before that, he was based in Copenhagen for 15 years. But when life took a turn and Henrik was left alone with his son Sakkak, there was a need for a fresh start somewhere with a safe setting, close to family and the chance of a stable everyday life.

The choice fell on Fredericia—more specifically Taulov—where Henrik’s family lives. Here, father and son found not only a new home, but also an everyday life with more breathing room.

Their home, a spacious house with soul and atmosphere, became possible when Henrik inherited from his father. And it has turned out to be exactly the right setting for their new life. Even though the house is located in an area shaped by transport and logistics, nature is surprisingly close by. That’s something they both enjoy in everyday life.

Sakkak’s school in particular has made an impression. Henrik highlights how well everything works and how smoothly it all runs, which is a huge reassurance as a parent. On top of that, Fredericia’s central location in Denmark makes it easy to get around, whether you’re travelling by train, bus, or via Billund and Hamburg airports. From here, you’re close to both family and the rest of the country.

Henrik describes Fredericia as a place that has everything you need, while also being close to both Kolding and Vejle. For him and Sakkak, the city has become the safe base from which they can look ahead and enjoy everyday life together.

About the family:
Name: Henrik and Sakkak Poulsen Pötzsch
Age: 58 and 9
Marital status: Widower
Occupation: Driver, formerly a teacher in Greenland

Everyday life on the kids’ terms

Simone and Mikkel found the perfect setting for a safe, nature-filled upbringing for their three girls. Simone looks after the children at home and appreciates the great conditions available here.

Home is best
We lived in Kolding while we were studying, but when we were going to buy a house, we chose Fredericia. We both grew up in Assens on Funen, though Mikkel moved to Taulov with his mum when he started upper secondary school. So we already knew Fredericia and Taulov, which have become our home.

We chose Fredericia based on several factors. Among other things, the location in relation to family and work, proximity to the motorway, and the wish to live in a good local community. The framework for everyday life matters, and here we found a local area with good shopping options, everything you need day to day, community, and a rich leisure life. Plus, it was easy to find attractive homes at good prices.

Mikkel is a self-employed web developer. I, Simone, am trained as a social worker, but right now I work as a personal care assistant, as it is
a job that can be combined with looking after the children at home. The attractive conditions for home childcare also made us choose Fredericia.
In Fredericia Municipality, you can receive a subsidy for home childcare, and that option has been crucial for us as a family.
There’s a large home-childcare network in Fredericia and, in general, a strong community for families with children in our local area—which clearly makes our
everyday life both easier and better.

I’m a member of the home-childcare association HJEM, which, in addition to the four weekly events, runs a wide range of events and activities throughout the year. It creates a really good network and sense of community.

Lots of nature
We really enjoy taking a little trip to Fuglsang Deer Park—preferably on the cargo bike. It’s such a lovely place. The kids can enjoy feeding the fallow deer carrots, play at the forest playground, and challenge their motor skills with play in the woods. We adults enjoy the peace and quiet, and that all of this is gathered in one place, surrounded by lots of beautiful nature.”

Nature means a lot in everyday life—both as home childcare parents and as a regular family with children, we love getting outside. And there’s lots of beautiful nature around Fredericia, with both forest and beach. It’s easy to add a little exciting adventure to everyday life with a short walk in the area. We’ve also been pleasantly surprised that there’s ongoing development towards more forest and nature in our local area.

The city also has lots to offer. When friends and family come to visit, we like to take them out to Fuglsang Forest, for a walk around the Ramparts in Fredericia, and to Østerstrand. Street food is also a bit of a favourite when there are lots of us eating together.

About the family:
Name: Simone, Mikkel, Alma, Ella and Anna
Age: 33, 32, 6, 4 and 1
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Personal care assistant (trained social worker) and self-employed web developer