Hillerod, Denmark

Capital City

With a population of just 30,570, Hillerød is a quaint Danish town that lacks the vibrancy of Copenhagen. The administrative center of North Zealand, it's surrounded by lush forests and lakes, but residents must contend with a bureaucracy that can be a "persistent headache." The arrival of a new regional hospital project in 2020 has brought some economic activity, but Hillerød remains a sleepy provincial outpost better suited for retirees or nature enthusiasts than ambitious young professionals.