Post by Last Week in Denmark

August 2009. That’s when I arrived in Denmark, in Aalborg. Not counting the years I spent in other countries, I’ve lived in Denmark for nearly 15 years. I must say that I’ve never seen it as international as it is today. So, a deep heartfelt thank you to all the internationals who work every day for Denmark and the international community. We might not be Danish, but we are Denmark. The New Denmark. We contribute; therefore, we belong. Many of us have even spent our youth here or have raised children here and left our own legacy to the benefit of society. In 15 years, I have volunteered my free time for exactly 15 years. I remember when I arrived in Aalborg, we were only the second generation of international students to arrive (a tiny cohort of 300). Life outside university was virtually nonexistent. That feeling of being invisible motivated me to do something about it. I didn’t want language to be a barrier during the university years, so I worked for a really long time so that international students also have opportunities. After university, I followed the same call - to make Denmark more welcoming for internationals. So I entered politics. The first ever DK political campaign in English was in Aalborg, and we were also the first to mobilize internationals to use their right to vote. It took until 2013, if you can believe it. We were alone then. Compare that to the most recent campaign in 2025. We’ve come a long way. This is just a snapshot from my life in Denmark. If you look around, you will find hundreds of similar examples. Every time an international volunteers their time, a tiny brick has been added to the sturdiness of Denmark’s future. That’s why I am grateful to all of you. Your investment paves the way for a better country for my children, for all our children. And here I am also referring to the more than 100 volunteers who help create the Last Week in Denmark universe. I might not have talked to all of you, but believe me: I see you. I see your amazing efforts, and I am humbled that you have chosen to build something together with us. I am humbled that we share the same mission: empowering internationals through information. Now we are in the hundreds, but what if we were in the thousands? What could Last Week in Denmark become? A multilingual radio and TV station. Local newsletters. More languages. More original reporting on our website and social channels. Recognition from the Ministry of Culture as a public institution (that’s the final boss to slay). Dreams. Something to aspire towards. Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark! - Adapted from the Letter from the Editor, Narcis George Matache --- 💌 Get Last Week in Denmark straight to your inbox via Substack 📢 Find us on your podcast app, YouTube, and all the socials. Read original reporting and opinions at our website.