Frederikshavn handed out sandwiches, goodie bags and discount cards to around 80 new conscripts in the Royal Danish Navy, hoping some will settle in the town later.
The town in northern Jutland held a running and welcome event on September 2, aimed especially at newly arrived Navy conscripts. DR reports that the conscripts were given food, goodie bags and discount cards for local restaurants and shops.
The program was built around showing the conscripts the town and letting them talk with local young people. According to DR, about 80 new Navy conscripts took part and were briefed on the opportunities Frederikshavn offers.
Dan Kobberup, head of trade at the local merchants’ association FREDERIK, told DR the aim is long term. He said the hope is that the conscripts will look back on the town once their service ends, and that some may eventually return.
Fewer young residents
The number of 18 to 20 year olds in Frederikshavn Municipality has fallen by roughly 15 percent over the past ten years. That figure comes from Statistics Denmark and was cited by DR in its report on the event.
Kobberup said the decline makes an active effort necessary. Per DR, he pointed to a growing share of older residents and a wish to make the town more attractive to young people.
The merchants’ association is not offering jobs or housing through the initiative. The tools used on September 2 were a sandwich, a discount scheme and a guided impression of the town, as described by DR.
What the conscripts said
One participant was Kian Schaumann, who normally lives in Fredericia. He told DR it was pleasant that the town spent time showing the conscripts around.
Schaumann also said the sandwiches and discount cards were not what weighed most heavily for him. According to DR, he described it as useful to know there is a good town to move to if he continues in the Danish Defence.
He added that his decision could depend on his new colleagues from the Navy. If some of them settle in Frederikshavn, he could imagine doing the same, he told DR.
The event combined a run with a welcome program, and local businesses supplied the discounts. Photographs from the day were provided by Kobberup and published by DR.
Frederikshavn is one of the towns where young people weigh cost of living in Denmark against job and study options elsewhere. The merchants’ association framed the day as a first impression rather than a recruitment offer, according to DR.
No figures have been published on how many of the roughly 80 conscripts intend to stay in the area. DR’s report does not indicate whether the event will be repeated for future conscript intakes.
