Can a retired American move to Copenhagen? Would I be welcome, if I were a cool and crazy old dude?
This place is beginning to give me a headache. I’m jonesin’ for a doob. 
Peace,
mangeorge
I don’t know about Danish drug laws, but isn’t it the Netherlands that’s known for semi-legalized marijuana?
Denmark is indeed a great place to live. I spent a year and a half there, working and studying when I was in college. I highly recommend it.
However, it seems very difficult to live there unless you are (a) a refugee, (b) a student, © obtain a work permit from a Danish company, or (d) marry a Dane (or have other family connections).
See this site for more info.
As for the “doobs,” check out a place called Christiania, a small, semi-autonomous community within the city of Copenhagen. It is one of the strangest and most lovely places in the world, especially for strange and lovely folks…
(As an aside, though I wouldn’t recommend it, people have simply picked up and moved there. As a “cool and crazy old dude” you would most certainly fit in, and the worst that would happen is that they would ask you to leave.)
My advice would be to take a trip there, a long trip (I think as an American you are entitled to six months without a visa), and enjoy the Hell out of it. And while Sweden may be better know for its gorgeous women (and men, for that matter), Denmark is oft overlooked (and underestimated) in this area. I cannot stress enough how gorgeous the people are…that is, if you enjoy tall, fit, blonde, nordic goddesses!
Oh, and if you’re really serious about this, check out these two books at Amazon:
The Grown-Up’s Guide to Running Away from Home
The World’s Top Retirement Havens
Cause, ya know, there are lots of other great places in the world to live…!
Don’t wait too long to check out Christiania. The authorities are once again making noises about closing the place down. Sooner or later, they’re going to actually go through with it.
Denmark, unfortunately for you, does not have the most open immigration laws in Europe. About the only way for Joe Average American to move there is to get a job and have your new employer get you a work permit, or marry a Danish citizen. (And even marrying a Danish citizen no longer guarantees an automatic residency permit, though a retired American is unlikely to fall under one of the exceptions.) Do you have ancestors from Denmark? If so, getting that documented couldn’t hurt. Contact the Danish embassy if you’re serious and ask them what your chances and options may be, but erm, leave out the jonesin’ for a doob part, okay?
You see the basic problem is they are afraid you will be a burden on the public health & pension systems. If you can prove sufficient resources to prevent that from happening, most countries will let you in.
Not that I know a darn thing about the Nordic Countries.
What Paul says is certainly not true about Western Europe. They’ll let you visit all right, but unless you can get in via one of the routes flodnak mentions, you’ll only receive permission to stay for a particular length of time (generally 3-6 months).
Sorry as hell, folks. I meant Amsterdam. I always get those two confused. Probably because I’ve been to neither. And a history with the doobs. 
Truth is there’s no problem getting pot right here. I just feel the need to wander a litrtle.
Actually, I’m considering taking a merchant ship cruise to that part of the world. I could base in Holland and visit Denmark.
I you never have been there, before considering moving to the Netherlands, you certainly should take some lenghty vacations in Amsterdam. Perhaps the reality wouldn’t meet your expectations (not that I have anything against Amsterdam…I like this city…But there will always be a significant difference between your dreams and the cold reality).