Sim City: Why Aarhus is the Happiest City in the World
‘This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are’ — Plato.
Every time I step foot on the cobblestone-covered streets of this lesser-known Nordic gem, something blows my mind. Whether a friendly interaction with a smiling stranger quickly escalating into an unexpected evening in one of the many public spaces or noticing the locals are so trusting in one another that leaving their phone and keys lying momentarily unattended in the street is a norm, every day something about the city, and the 330,000-person strong community takes me back.
The 2017 Capital of Culture, affectionally dubbed ‘the city of smiles,’ can positively alter the moods, behaviours, and attitudes of those lucky enough to visit it. The tranquil nature of the city, its people, and its landscape leads me to wonder — could this be the happiest place on earth? The British Institute for Quality of Life recently validated my claim, ranking Aarhus as the world’s happiest city. So, drawing on my experiences visiting the city, observing its culture, and interacting with locals, I’ll attempt to cite three of reasons this Jutland city is the happiest place to live.
‘Janteloven’
While proud of their city, the people of Aarhus are humble and appear somewhat flabbergasted that someone would want to visit their city as a tourist. Aarhus doesn’t claim to be anything special — it’s an unknown haven of happiness that even the locals sometimes struggle to realise. To an extent, Aarhus’ population is used to the world’s attention being placed on Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen, and are happy to get on quietly.
There is no arrogance when you talk to the city’s people, but the city’s quality of life and wonder is secretly known by its residents. The city prides itself on being friendlier and more down to earth than the dreamy Copenhagen — something locals are delighted to hear an outsider recognise.
Aarhus is perhaps the epitome of the Scandinavian philosophy of Janteloven, whereby individuals are encouraged to adopt an ‘anti-bragging’ identity, putting the larger society ahead of oneself. Social status certainly doesn’t feel inherently important when you’re in Aarhus.
The people aren’t in competition with one another but are already content with the quality of life that they’re experiencing, so attempting to outperform your peers feels counterproductive and unnecessary. While stylish and cool, Aarhus doesn’t feel remotely flashy like many of the other great cities worldwide.
This, mixed with a youthful, well-educated population, creates a society that provides a perfect opportunity for equality amongst gender and race. At the same time, it isn’t easy to distinguish or notice differences in social class. In truth, the men and women of Aarhus rarely appear to express hyperrepresentations of their gender. The men are well-socialised and rarely adopt unnecessarily macho-male identities. At the same time, the women seem to feel safer than in other cities and are comfortable breaking away from stereotypical gender norms regarding employment, family, and relationships.
The lack of oppression, discrimination, and austerity in Aarhus results in a society at peace with the world around them, making members more likely to display high levels of trust and kindness to one another and less likely to commit crimes or diverge against communal goals. This trust in one another and the area’s safety is prevalent to such an extent that it isn’t rare to see keys, mobile phones, and wallets left unattended in busy areas.
Social Opportunity
Studies show that one of the most significant indicators of life satisfaction and happiness is the quality of the relationships we have with people around us. As with much of Scandinavia, Aarhus has an outstanding work-life balance, but this is only intensified by the abundance of social opportunities the small city offers.
Roughly 50% of people living in Aarhus are in their 20s, meaning many of its inhabitants are freed from the responsibilities of providing for a family, so most of the city has plenty of free time on their hands to spend nurturing their existing relationships, meeting new people, and participating in different activities.
The safety and trust of the city mean that locals, particularly after a drink or two, have zero apprehensions about approaching new people, being judged negatively by others, or encountering any real danger. It results in an easy-going, open-minded ambiance in the city’s many bars and pubs, where it feels welcoming and easy to meet with new people.
Open spaces, such as the incredible Sailing Rooftop, a large open terrace with gardens, cafes, live music, and views of the city, create opportunities for locals to mingle in low-cost, uplifting environments. At the same time, Dokk1, a beautiful modern library and cultural centre, enables students to meet and study, children to play, and anyone else in between just aimlessly to wander and enjoy the luxuries of the building.
Just going to order a coffee gives you a chance to understand why Aarhus is labeled as ‘the city of smiles. Every interaction, whether a small piece of customer service or receiving help for directions on the street, seems filled with compassion and genuine interest in assisting you. It’s a place that makes you feel important and valued.
The friendly, laid-back nature of the city’s people is contagious. On one visit to Denmark’s second-largest city, a 50–100-strong group of West Ham United joined my flight from London Stanstead. They were walking stereotypes of English football fans traveling abroad in Europe: drunken, loud, and obnoxious. However, on the return flight home, I noticed many had mellowed down significantly after a few days in Aarhus. They appeared kinder towards airport staff, more relaxed, and much easier to talk to. The general feeling of the city makes it impossible for you not naturally to reciprocate the kindness and warmth you receive.
Walkability
Walking around Aarhus feels like you’re living the creation of someone’s utopian idea of an ideal city in a simulation. The levels of safety, trust, and harmony feel almost unearthly — this is most noticeable on a summer’s day in one of the city’s many central parks, where locals play games together and integrate with ARoS Art Gallery’s walkable panorama roof in the background. This unique structure looks like something someone could only conceptualise in a city-building video game.
Aarhus is convenient — it isn’t a mega-city with endless attractions like London or Paris, yet it still feels big enough to have everything you could ever need. Aarhus has a central area where you can walk in just 15 or 20 minutes. Yet, many exciting bars, cafes, shops, roof terraces, restaurants, libraries, and museums fill the area. But simultaneously, the space remains clean, spread out, and pleasant, with parks and squares filling vacant plots.
The bustling, walkable streets foster social interaction; they make civilians feel more connected to their city peers and create a place of shared belonging. Within the small, confined central zone, you can swiftly hop from the various Quarters the city offers, all occupied by slightly different types of people, allowing a greater level of acceptance and integration between different subgroups within the larger community.
With streets, parks, and public spaces filled it not only creates the impression of a society that is eager to interact with one another, but one that prioritises its physical health too. When a city is as charming as Aarhus is, it’s easier for residents to feel motivated just to take a stroll, ride a bike, or jog through the city’s uplifting environment.
Follow the flow of the ‘Aarhus River’ that travels through the city’s main street, Åboulvearden, and you’ll meet the impressive, previously mentioned Dokk1 on the harbour’s edge. The harbour, a large urban area just a few minutes from the centre, is buzzing on a summer’s day as locals flock to the many water-facing beach huts, baths, cafes, and saunas. The architecture surrounding the harbour is unique, well-designed, and thought out, further adding to its general pleasance.
With maintained beaches, a beautiful deer park, and a large sporting arena just 20 minutes in the opposite direction, it feels like a perfect city with everything. It could only be genuine in a utopian simulation.
In the words of the local beer Carlsberg, this is “probably the best in the world.”
