Housing and Job Fair Tønder: Boom of German Emigrants

<p>On September 18, 2026, the Tønderhallerne will once again transform into an attraction for Germans considering emigration: the housing and job fair in South Jutland is already entering its third round and thus meets a continuing trend. More and more citizens from Germany are deciding to live beyond the border – and the tendency is rising.</p><h2>Four municipalities, one shared goal</h2><p>For the third time in a row, the municipalities of Haderslev, Sønderborg, Tønder, and Aabenraa are pooling their efforts to provide interested parties from Germany and the border region with a comprehensive insight into life, housing, and work in South Jutland. The event takes place from 12 to 3 p.m. in the Tønderhallerne. The organizers expect around <strong>1,000 visitors</strong> – an indication of how great the interest in moving to Denmark has become in the meantime.</p><p>The fair is not only aimed at residents already living in the region, but explicitly also at German interests who are excited about the opportunities in South Jutland. Given the developments of recent years, this target group is no longer a niche audience.</p><h2>Statistics confirm the trend</h2><p>Current statistics clearly show how strong immigration actually is: the number of German citizens in the Danish border region of North Schleswig has doubled over the past six years. More than <strong>9,600 people with German passports</strong> now live there. In all of Denmark, there are now around <strong>36,000 German citizens</strong> – about 10,000 more than at the end of 2020. In addition, there is significant commuter traffic: more than <strong>13,000 people</strong> cross the border daily to work in Denmark.</p><p>Peter Hansen, head of the regional office Sønderjylland-Schleswig, puts the development into perspective: "The big Corona hype seems to be over, but the numbers continue to develop at a high level." The largest jumps in the statistics were recorded in the years 2020 to 2023 – the period of the pandemic when many Germans were dissatisfied with political decisions regarding Corona measures in their homeland. But even after this special situation subsided, immigration remains at a high level.</p><h2>What really attracts Germans to Denmark</h2><p>The reasons for moving are multifaceted. According to Hansen, greater trust in authorities and political decisions plays a central role – an aspect that apparently is increasingly missed in Germany. The region itself also scores with clear location advantages: safe everyday conditions, attractive housing options, strong communities, as well as proximity to nature and the German-Danish border are repeatedly mentioned by newcomers.</p><p>Interesting is the composition of the new residents: many of them are of working age and well-educated. At the same time, the number of families with children taking the step across the border is growing. For some families, the opportunity to implement their own school model is even a decisive argument for moving to Denmark.</p><p>However, not everything is cheaper in the neighboring country: when registering a car, several thousand euros in taxes can quickly become due, and daycare fees are often significantly higher than in Germany. According to Hansen, those who decide to live in Denmark should also be willing to actively contribute to the community – withdrawal and isolation are rather misunderstood in Danish society. For many newcomers, the German minority in North Schleswig often serves as a point of connection, as it already has established structures and networks.</p><h2>Conscious preparation as a success factor</h2><p>Those planning to make the move across the border should not approach it spontaneously. Experience reports from those who have already emigrated show: an intensive preparation period of about one and a half years, during which one engages with the language and culture of the neighboring country, pays off in the long term. This is exactly where the housing and job fair comes in – it offers interested parties the opportunity to get information on site, make contacts, and clarify open questions about work, housing, and everyday life in South Jutland.</p><h2>Conclusion and outlook</h2><p>The housing and job fair in Tønder is long more than a regional information event – it has become a symbol of an ongoing societal trend. Since the numbers of German immigrants remain at a high level even after the Corona special effects have subsided, interest in the fair is likely to remain strong in the coming years. For the four host municipalities, this is an opportunity to attract urgently needed skilled workers and deepen cross-border cooperation – a format that, given demographic developments in the entire border region, is likely to become increasingly important.</p>