Denmark

Actually true

• Cycling really is the default way to get around

  Copenhagen has more bikes than cars in daily commuting, with dedicated lanes across the entire city.

• Hygge is a genuine cultural practice, not a marketing term

  Candles, cosy blankets and small gatherings are a real, near-daily habit through the long dark winters.

• The welfare state runs deep

  Free healthcare, education and generous parental leave are broadly popular and heavily used.

• Design is treated as a national strength

  Danish furniture and architecture, from Jacobsen to Bjarke Ingels, are globally influential design exports.

Commonly believed, wrong

• "Denmark and the Netherlands are basically the same"

  Despite the flat, bike-heavy stereotype overlap, the language, history and culture are entirely distinct.

• "Everyone is Viking-obsessed"

  Viking heritage is a tourism draw and museum subject more than a living daily identity.

• "It's grim and dark all year"

  Summers bring long bright evenings and an active outdoor beach and harbour-swimming culture.

• "High taxes make people unhappy"

  Danes consistently report among the world's highest satisfaction levels despite among the highest tax rates.