Moving to the countryside - migrants in rural areas of Denmark

This paper is based on a study on migrants who have moved long distances to settle in rural and peripheral areas of Denmark Nørgaard et al. (2010) and further draws on studies by e.g. Andersen (2008) Ærø et al. (2005) showing how those moving to rural areas have very different reasons, expectations and needs and to varying degree feel they belong to their new environments and social setting. Our study is based on an understanding that there are multiple reasons and motivations that influence migration decision-making thereby applying a biographical approach inspired by e.g. Giddens (1984), Boyle and Halfacree (1998) seeking to 'demonstrate the complexity of the seemingly simple act of migration and its embeddedness within the everyday context of daily life for those involved'. The paper further draws on aspects of belonging to place inspired by e.g. Savage et al. (2005).