Last weekend, at the fourth edition of the largest student-led conference in Europe, the Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM) Ancona 2025, we welcomed Aarhus as the new Erasmus Destination of the Year. The second-largest city in Denmark took home the 2025 title, winning against the other four amazing finalists: Wrocław, Tallinn, Riga, and Łódź.
Known as "The City of Smiles," Aarhus welcomes around 1500 international students each year, with ESN Aarhus hosting approximately 150 events annually to help them connect, explore, and feel at home. They cover all aspects of supporting students: from an integration week for full-degree international students and connecting Danish and international students through the Dare-To-Danish initiative to organising a secondhand marketplace and promoting active citizenship.
The Erasmus Destination of the Year initiative highlights exemplary city-level efforts in supporting student mobility while showcasing the vital role local student associations play in making their cities better mobility destinations and enriching the overall student exchange experience.
Erasmus Destination of the Year is the embodiment of ESN - it aims to create more and better and more inclusive mobility. With the fourth edition of the initiative, we keep on seeing its constant growth and the importance of giving student organisations' work the spotlight it deserves and we cannot wait to see the lengths of its impact in the future. - Lina Mohorić, Communication Manager of ESN International
This edition of the initiative builds upon the success of the previous years and winners: Thessaloniki (2022), Ghent (2023), and Porto (2024). All ESN local associations were encouraged to apply, either by joining forces or individually, depending on how many associations are present in the city. After an internal evaluation, Aarhus, together with runner-ups Wrocław and Tallinn, Riga and Łódź, made it to the finals, which led them to presenting their city in front of the 1000 participants of EGM Ancona 2025. Next to the vote of the Erasmus Generation at the conference, the external jury made up of esteemed guests from the European Commission, European Association for International Education (EAIE), Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), European Youth Forum (YFJ), and Campus France decided on the winner, taking into account important factors such as collaboration with key stakeholders, organising impactful initiatives, and offering support for both local and international students, ensuring a quality mobility experience for everyone.
Aarhus is a hidden gem of the North that deserves to be discovered. From the very first day of my journey abroad, I felt welcomed and included. Here, I found incredible friends—both internationals and Danes—discovered love, and was constantly surrounded by the warmth of the people of Aarhus. This city deserves all the recognition, and winning this title would put Aarhus on the map internationally. We couldn’t be happier! Aarhus, jeg giver dig mit hjerte! - Balázs Izbéki, President of ESN Aarhus
ESN Aarhus has grown alongside the Erasmus+ programme, shaping Aarhus into a vibrant, student-friendly city that embraces diversity and international exchange. Their close collaboration with Aarhus University, Studenterhus Aarhus, and the city of Aarhus is nothing less than an inspiration for other organisations and institutions to continue building meaningful experiences for young people across Europe and beyond.
The volunteers of ESN Aarhus are a testament to “Students Helping Students”. Thanks to their energetic and inclusive mindset, Aarhus stands as a place where young people are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, explore new cultures, and experience the transformative journey that is studying abroad.
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