1. More people working, wages rising faster than prices, and we’re spending more.

2. Homeschooling has increased 6x+ in a decade, from ~400 children in 2016 to 2,500 in 2026.

3. “Welcome September” events for internationals have started.

Letter from the editor

On Thursday morning I got a very interesting call that I want to share with you.

A former local political candidate with an international background reached out after reading last week’s letter. He wanted to know why the Danish parties changed their tune so severely between the last local elections and now. If during the local elections they showered internationals with attention, the entire endeavor died after election day. He also shared with me his thoughts of internationals having their own party.

As someone active in Danish politics for more than a decade, I had opinions.

My answer to him was that politics in Denmark have two main traits: pragmatism and transactionalism. Being deeply rooted in participatory democracy, the agenda and who gets elected have always been determined by the people who show up.

People who show up at the General Assembly. People who show up on election day. People who conjure up projects or interventions and get the ball rolling. People who show up.

Unfortunately, despite the many campaigns targeting internationals, a revolution hasn’t yet happened, and the parties noticed. We didn’t show up as expected, and they understood the message. Why bother fighting to gain us as voters or fear losing us? They realized they can make laws about us without worrying about us.

This became very clear to me when I saw a TV interview with one of the politicians from the main governing party, the Social Democrats. She didn’t even bother to give a real explanation of why they froze citizenship until… (no deadline for the foreseeable future). You could see it in her expression that her party, although co-founded by internationals and a political home for many of us for decades, has moved on.

So is this the end? Absolutely not. It just means we need to do more than complain. (I know, I know, complaining is a clear sign of integration.) The Danish system’s biggest strength is that it will allow anyone who organizes to gain influence. No discrimination there.

So is creating a party for internationals the solution? Honestly, there is no one solution, but rather a mix of initiatives to get the ball rolling. Join the Our Voice movement, join a Danish political party, or start a new party or movement. All are valid. The key is for more internationals to take responsibility and participate.

No Danish? No problem. No time? You can find time. No ideas for the future? Live in the present and maybe leave the place better for the next generations. Look, I know it can be exhausting to get involved, but believe me: you can create wonders with a bit of volunteer time.

And perhaps there is a bigger question here. How often have you heard an international say: “In the end, it’s their country, their rules”? I have heard it countless times. But if the goal of integration is eventually to make you see this country as yours too, then something hasn’t quite worked. At what point does Denmark stop being “their country” and become “our country”?

Because integration cannot only mean learning Danish, finding a job, understanding the rules, and adapting ourselves to Denmark. At some point, integration must also mean believing that we have the right (and perhaps even the responsibility) to help shape what Denmark becomes.

Sometimes I wonder what happened to our pioneer spirit that got us here in the first place. Could the many years spent here dull that sense in us? I mean, all internationals are primed to lead, build, and take initiative. It’s in our blood. Somehow, we found the courage to build a life in another country. Surely some of that courage can also be used to help shape the country we now live in.

I obviously don’t have THE solution to our shared societal challenge. Maybe nobody does. But I am increasingly convinced that waiting for someone else to solve it isn’t the answer.

Not everyone needs to become a politician. Not everyone needs to start a movement. One person can join a party. Another can volunteer in an association. Someone can attend a general assembly. Someone can write. Someone can organize. Someone can simply remember to vote.

So let’s start by rediscovering the strength that allowed us to come here. The burden is not on one of us, but on all of us. And, whether our actions are big or small, we can all DO SOMETHING about it.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. AI is Coming for the Half of the Middle Manager’s Job They Do Best, by Florin Lungu

2. The Cultural Explorer’s Diary: Bring a Brick, Not a Cathedral – What Improv Can Teach You Outside the Classroom, by Paulina Stachnik

3. Electricity Fraud in Denmark by Zeynep Aslan

4. Why Denmark Became Europe’s Go-To Wedding Destination by Anna Gáll

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

Podcast

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸A rare-looking white fallow deer has been spotted wandering through a Danish plantation.

📸Denmark woke up to a copper-coloured Moon this week.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

🌀 Greenlandic women subjected to contraception without their consent can now receive 300,000 DKK in compensation from the Danish state. Parliament has adopted a compensation scheme covering women who were subjected to IUDs or other contraception without consent in Greenland or Denmark between 1960 and 1991. Around 4,500 women could be eligible, with applications handled by Patienterstatningen until September 2028. The scheme follows Denmark’s acknowledgement of the Spiral Case, in which thousands of Greenlandic women and girls were given contraception without informed consent.

Law proposals

🌊 A major dispute is growing over Denmark’s new rules to reduce nitrogen pollution from agriculture. Farmers argue the 2027 rules are being rushed through before they know how individual farms will be affected, while environmental groups warn that delays will worsen conditions in Danish fjords and coastal waters. The issue is also dividing Venstre (Liberals), which helped negotiate the historic Green tripartite agreement while it was still in government. Nearly 3,000 farmers are gathering for an emergency meeting in Odense on Monday, while the government is standing firm and has set aside 1.23 billion DKK to compensate farmers for losses.

Political scene

🌹 SF leader Pia Olsen Dyhr is facing her first major political crisis after 12 years of mostly steady success. Since taking over the SF (Green Left), she has rebuilt it from crisis into Denmark’s second-largest party and finally brought it back into government. But the decision to hire an adviser who had previously left the party over inappropriate behavior triggered heavy criticism and questions about her judgment and crisis management. A new poll shows a sharp fall in how trustworthy voters consider her.

⛪ After two months, Parliament will not get its own resident priest after all. The original idea was that MPs should have access to a priest connected more directly to Christiansborg. Critics argued that this blurred the line between church and democracy and gave Christianity a special position inside Parliament. The compromise is much smaller: MPs will receive a phone number they can call if they want to speak with a priest, and the conversation can then be arranged elsewhere.

🇩🇰 Venstre (Liberals) considered tougher citizenship rules than those it presented to the public. An internal draft accidentally sent to DR shows that the party discussed requiring citizenship applicants to provide “character witnesses” who could vouch for their commitment. It also considered limiting citizenship for people from non-Western countries to around 250 per year. Both proposals were removed four days before Venstre presented its citizenship plan, and the party says it has no plans to introduce them. Denmark is currently not granting new citizenships because there is no longer a parliamentary majority behind the existing citizenship agreement, leaving more than 16,000 applicants waiting.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🥚 Eggs in Denmark can often be eaten well past the date on the carton. Fødevarestyrelsen says refrigerated eggs can easily last up to two months, potentially longer. The EU-wide date also accounts for countries where eggs are not refrigerated, while Denmark keeps them cold throughout the supply chain.

♻️ Not everything that looks like plastic belongs in the plastic container. Soft PVC products such as inflatable pools, rubber boots, shower curtains, and air mattresses cannot be recycled or safely incinerated and should instead go to landfill. Aarhus waste company Kredsløb is even renaming the category “things for burial” to make this clearer.

⏰ The classic 8-to-16-day may not suit everyone. An expert in chronobiology says schools and workplaces should take people’s biological rhythms more seriously instead of assuming everyone performs best early in the morning. Teenagers naturally tend to fall asleep and wake up later, which is why Ølgod Efterskole has introduced a later start on Tuesdays. The wider point is that flexible meeting times and fewer assumptions about “morning people” could improve both well-being and productivity.

🤝 117 children in North Denmark are waiting for a volunteer adult friend. The organization Børns Voksenvenner is looking for more adults who can spend time with children who may be missing another stable person in their lives. Someone to go to the playground with, bake a cake, watch a film, or simply talk to. The organization says the relationship can make a big difference for children, while volunteers often find it equally meaningful.

🏠 Homeschooling has increased more than sixfold in Denmark in a decade, from around 400 children in 2015/16 to 2,500 in 2025/26. Politicians now want Denmark to investigate how homeschooled children fare later in education and life. Meanwhile, another debate concerns national school tests after a mother received permission for her children not to participate; parents do not normally have an automatic right to opt their children out.

🍻 Young people are drinking less than before, but alcohol still plays a very big role in student life. A new survey from the Cancer Society and TrygFonden shows that Denmark remains among the European countries where young people drink the most. Nearly one in four students in upper-secondary education and more than one in four in higher education say alcohol takes up too much space in their school or study life, while more than half report having felt pressured to drink more than they wanted. Some schools are now experimenting with alcohol-free spaces at parties.

⛪ A young priest wants feminist theology to play a bigger role in the National Church. Mia Schmidt-Mikkelsen, known for reaching younger audiences on TikTok, says she regularly receives comments arguing that women should remain silent or that Christianity only supports traditional gender roles. She argues that confirmation classes should do more to show young people that the Bible has been interpreted in many different ways, including from feminist and queer perspectives.

🏝️ A young family has swapped their old life for a new one on an island with 100 residents. Lærke and Matias had never even visited Lyø before deciding to move there, take over the local grocery shop, and start again with a new home and a new kindergarten for their son. For the islanders, the shop is much more than a place to buy food: it is essential for daily life and keeping the island attractive to new residents. Until the couple arrived, locals had even been taking turns running the shop themselves to prevent it from closing.

🚢 Could cruise ships become temporary student housing in Copenhagen? A local politician proposes using ships for around three months after the start of the academic year, when demand for student housing is at its highest. His idea is that cabins could provide a short-term bridge until dorm rooms become available on land. A ship engineer says the proposal could be extremely expensive once charter costs and port fees are included, estimating rents as high as 15,000–20,000 DKK per month for a small cabin.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💰 More people are working, wages are rising faster than prices, and we are spending more. Denmark added 3,600 wage earners in June, bringing the total to around 3.09 million, while wages were 3.2% higher in Q2 than a year earlier. With inflation at 1.7% in July, average wages are currently growing faster than prices. That improving purchasing power may also be showing up in the shops: retail sales increased 1.3% from June to July, marking the third consecutive monthly rise.

🔥 A 1.5 billion DKK gas pipeline to Lolland-Falster is becoming a warning about expensive infrastructure. The pipeline opened in 2024 and was intended to support local industry and reduce emissions, but its biggest customer, the sugar factory in Nakskov, will stop production in 2027. With Danish gas consumption expected to decline, the economics now look even weaker. The cost will not simply disappear: gas infrastructure is financed through charges paid by gas users across Denmark, so fewer customers could mean a heavier burden on the remaining large consumers.

🚗 Carpooling is becoming a serious alternative to buses for young people in rural areas. Public transport outside the larger cities has declined significantly: scheduled service hours in rural areas are down 13.4% since 2016, while around 180,000 people live more than 2.8 km from their nearest stop. A two-year trial in the Central Denmark Region subsidized drivers with 10 DKK per passenger for journeys over 10 km and was considered successful. The government has already allocated 100 million DKK for improving rural public transport.

🏘️ A mayor on Mors wants us to rethink how money follows people when young adults move away. Morsø Municipality is facing around 50 million DKK in cuts, while its tax base is shrinking and the share of elderly residents is growing. The mayor has floated a “football model:” when a young person leaves a smaller municipality for a bigger city, some money should follow back to the municipality that paid for much of their education. He admits the idea is deliberately provocative but argues that our current municipal equalization system does not sufficiently account for aging and depopulation.

State of the markets

🍔 The competition watchdog wants to take Wolt to court for abusing its dominant market position. The Danish Competition Council says Wolt broke the competition law in three ways between 2022 and 2024. Among other things, restaurants were not allowed to offer lower prices through their own sales channels, while Wolt could give discounts without informing them and could compensate unhappy customers by up to 400 DKK at the restaurant’s expense. The Council argues these terms harmed competition and shifted too much risk onto restaurants. Wolt disputes the decision.

🧱 LEGO has broken another sales record, growing much faster than the global toy market. The company sold 41.9 billion DKK worth of products in the first half of 2026. Sales grew by 21%. LEGO credits the result to a constant stream of new products and major partnerships, including Formula 1, the FIFA World Cup, and Pokémon. Adults are also becoming an increasingly important customer group: around 20% of LEGO’s products are now aimed at adults.

🚕 Uber must sell off a significant part of Dantaxi after the competition authority intervened over fears of higher taxi prices. The Competition Council has approved Uber’s acquisition of Dantaxi only on the condition that Uber sells one of Dantaxi’s two dispatch operations. The authority concluded that without intervention, the merger could reduce competition, lead to higher prices for passengers, worsen conditions for taxi operators, and make it harder for new competitors to enter the market.

Entrepreneurship

💻 Small and medium businesses (SMV) can soon apply for up to 50,000 DKK for cybersecurity and digitalization advice. The next SMV:Digital funding round opens 28 September and covers 50% of the cost of external consultancy. Cybersecurity projects will be prioritized, including risk assessments and action plans, although other digitalization projects can also qualify.

International Community HQ

🇺🇦 Denmark is tightening the special residence scheme for Ukrainians in two ways. Ukrainian men aged 23–60 covered by mobilization rules will generally need to document an exemption from military service to qualify, while the government also wants to exclude future applicants coming from 14 Ukrainian regions considered less affected by the war. The latter proposal is partly intended to reduce pressure on municipalities, which currently host around 47,000 Ukrainians. The proposed regional restriction will not affect Ukrainians already living in Denmark under the special scheme.

Community Noticeboard

ParentLab Salon 📍25Hours Hotel Copenhagen | 🗓 Wednesday, September 2, 11:00–12:30 (and more) | Baby-friendly, parent-focused conversations in English. 🔗 Sign up

Pathways to Find a (Student) Job 📍 CREATE, Aalborg | 🗓 Monday, August 31 | Advice for new international students on finding student jobs in Denmark, based on experiences and best practices from former students. 🔗 More information

Newcomer Café 📍 Hjørring Library | 🗓 Wednesday, September 2 | Meet other newcomers over coffee, practice Danish, and build your local network in an informal setting. 🔗 More information

Newcomers’ Info Webinar 📍 Online / Aarhus | 🗓 Thursday, September 3, 10:00–12:00 | A practical introduction for internationals who recently moved or are preparing to move to Aarhus. 🔗 Sign up

Diversity Evening 📍 Aalborg Zoo | 🗓 Thursday, September 3 | Aalborg Zoo, the municipality’s Integration Council and International House North Denmark invite international residents and residents with other ethnic backgrounds to an evening at the zoo. 🔗 More information

Newcomer Café: The Living Room 📍 International House Esbjerg | 🗓 Thursday, September 3, 17:00–19:00 | A relaxed meetup for newcomers, established internationals, and Danes to meet people, ask questions, and build a local network.

Lyngby Day / International Welcome Day 📍 Lyngby-Taarbæk City Hall | 🗓 Friday, September 4 | Meet local ambassadors, learn how associations and clubs can help you connect with Danes, and discover opportunities for getting involved in the local community. 🔗 Sign up

Chat in Danish – Sculpture Park Walk 📍 Hollufgaard Skulpturpark, Odense | 🗓 Sunday, September 6, 14:00–16:00 | Practice Danish while walking and talking among the sculptures at Hollufgaard. The free event is organized by International House Odense and is open for registration.

Global Festival 2026 📍Axeltorv, Nakskov | 🗓 September 18-19 | Global Festival brings two days of music, dance, food, culture, community building, and cross-cultural exchange. 🔗 More information here.

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

⚖️ Denmark backs International Criminal Court after new US sanctions - Anadolu

💄 Danish PM hits back at unsolicited cosmetic surgery advice - The Guardian

🗣️ Danish PM warns Europe of an “enemy growing from within” over migration - News24 Australia

🇵🇸 Denmark joins international declaration opposing Israeli West Bank settlement plan - Anadolu

1. 4.2% forecasted growth makes Denmark one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

2. Immigration and citizenship are back in the center of Danish politics. Expect a long debate followed by new initiatives this autumn.

3. Acute psychiatric help is now available through the emergency health service.

Letter from the editor

I used to believe that almost everything was possible in Denmark. I even had a name for it: the Danish Dream. After 17 years here, however, I have to admit something that is difficult to write: my connection to Denmark is at an all-time low.

I arrived in Denmark at 18 to study. During those first years, I was mostly concerned with surviving and figuring out who I was. But after about five years, something changed. I became convinced (perhaps naively) that I was living in the greatest society on this planet. I became attached to Aalborg. I began thinking of myself as a local. And I became fascinated by the Danish model: a society built around democracy, trust, strong institutions, and the idea that people should have both rights and responsibilities.

Around the same time, I started traveling extensively. Wherever I went, I became an unofficial ambassador for Aalborg and Denmark. I would tell people about all the things Denmark seemed to get right. You could see it in the articles I wrote, the projects I created, and the ideas I promoted. The DNA of Danish society was everywhere in my work.

I became so interested in Danish history and geography that I passed the citizenship exam with the maximum score before I could even speak Danish. To this day, I can name Denmark’s 98 municipalities in the order they appear on the map (a completely useless skill that I remain strangely proud of). I even volunteered in the Danish Home Guard and signed a contract saying, quite literally, that I was prepared to defend Denmark. That was how strong the connection had become.

At some point, I almost stopped thinking of Denmark as simply the country where I lived. Through shared values, participation, and a deep absorption of its society, I felt partly Danish. Denmark had a huge supporter in that younger version of me.

And that is perhaps why what has happened over the past few years hurts so much. My connection to Denmark has slowly weakened. For years, I have written about the cultural conflicts that I believed would shape Denmark. What I did not understand was that I would stop being an observer of those conflicts. I would become one of their subjects.

Denmark is changing. It always has, despite the romantic idea that there was once a culturally uniform Denmark that we simply need to return to. The Denmark of the future will inevitably be more diverse than the Denmark of the past. And whenever societies change, there are counter-reactions. I believe we are living through one now.

Ideas about internationals and belonging that not long ago belonged to the fringes have entered mainstream debate. Proposals that would once have caused outrage are discussed seriously. The boundaries of what can be proposed keep moving. And if you are among the people whose belonging is constantly being debated, you hear that message differently. Sometimes I can detach myself from it. I can look at Denmark as someone interested in geopolitics and analyze what is happening almost academically. Then I return to my actual life and remember that I am not merely observing the cultural transformation of Denmark. I am living inside it.

Perhaps having children changed this most for me. Things I might once have dismissed as political theater now make me angry. Every time the political system chips away at the rights and dignity of people it considers somehow less Danish, I wonder what kind of Denmark my children will inherit. Will they grow up feeling that this country is unquestionably theirs? Or will they spend their lives being asked (directly or indirectly) to prove that they belong? That question scares me more than any political proposal on its own.

If you have been reading this newsletter for some time, you have probably noticed some of these trends as well. That is one reason I believe our work has become more important, not less. We need to understand what is happening. We need to participate in the conversations shaping this country. We need to vote, organize, speak, write, join associations, engage with institutions, and challenge ideas when they cross the line from legitimate political disagreement into telling entire groups of people that they will never truly belong. A counter-reaction cannot be allowed to become the only reaction.

Because there is another Denmark too. The Denmark that an 18-year-old newcomer once fell completely in love with. The Denmark of democracy, participation, trust, community, and the belief that society is something we build together. I am not ready to give up on Denmark. But for the first time in 17 years, I feel that I have to fight to remain connected to it.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

Tur-return: Episode 17 – Nudity is natural — and no big deal in Denmark by Laura Matheson

The Little Viking Saga – Episode 13 – A wheelie big milestone by Emily Ritchie

Learning Danish Series: Rethinking Danish Learning with Liam Pilmore of DanishTube by Paulina Stachnik

What are the best ways to learn Danish? by Anna Łęcka

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

Podcast

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Have you been in TOP3 in the LWID World Cup Fantasy League? Reach out to info@lwid.dk to claim your prize.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸Late summer is prime time for skypumper, Denmark’s smaller cousin of the tornado.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

🇩🇰 The Ministry of Culture wants to protect the Danish language from English words and expressions. Culture Minister Zenia Stampe will give the Danish Language Council (Dansk Sprognævn) a more active role in protecting Danish, including contacting authorities and institutions to encourage correct Danish. The ministry also wants stronger language obligations for public-service media and will establish a new council advising them on their use of Danish. The minister argues that English is becoming increasingly dominant in workplaces, education, and culture, while traditional Danish words and expressions risk disappearing.

Law proposals

🚲 Copenhagen wants to rein in tourists on shared e-bikes. With around 13,000 shared e-bikes currently on the streets, cycling and tourism organizations have agreed with politicians that action is needed before next summer. Proposals include fewer shared bikes and better information about Danish cycling rules. Earlier this week, Lord Mayor Sisse Marie Welling even floated the idea of a short “cycling license” for tourists before renting a bike. For now, these are proposals rather than new rules. The debate follows growing frustration with inexperienced visitors on Copenhagen’s busy cycle lanes.

Political scene

🇩🇰 Danish politics is back from summer break, and the autumn could get messy. Denmark’s new four-party government has barely had time to settle in since taking office in June, but several potentially difficult battles are waiting. Political analysts point to immigration, citizenship, food prices, agriculture, and the green transition as some of the biggest issues likely to dominate the coming months.

• For us, immigration and citizenship may be the one to watch most closely. A debate is expected over screening applicants for Danish citizenship on their commitment to democratic values, while the government itself continues to pursue a strict immigration policy, including more deportations and return centers outside Europe.

💰The government has promised that taxpayers will not pay more while Denmark waits for cheaper food. The plan is to halve VAT on food and remove it entirely from fruit and vegetables, but the new system cannot be introduced before 2028. To help finance it, the government had planned to temporarily freeze several tax thresholds, effectively increasing taxes. After pressure from Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance), Lars Løkke Rasmussen now guarantees that any extra tax collected this way will be returned to taxpayers through other measures at the same time.

🛂Denmark wants the first people without legal residence in Europe to be transferred to “return hubs” outside the EU as early as 2027. Immigration Minister Morten Bødskov is touring European capitals to build support, with Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Greece forming a five-country group working on the plan. The ministers will meet in Copenhagen, with the European Commission attending as an observer. Denmark hopes to reach an agreement with a non-EU partner country before the end of 2026.

• In June, the European Parliament and EU governments reached a political agreement on new common return rules that explicitly allow return hubs in third countries. They would be for non-EU nationals who have received a decision saying they have no right to stay.

👓 Meta’s smart glasses spark a privacy debate in Denmark. Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) wants Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses banned over fears that people can be filmed without realizing it. They argue that glasses capable of discreetly recording video and audio challenge the basic right to privacy and say Danish legislation needs to catch up with the technology. The controversy has grown after reports of the glasses being used to secretly film people, particularly women, with recordings later appearing on social media.

🏫 No fasting, no “dominance” puffer jackets and no speaking English during lunch? DD (Nationalist Populist) has 15 ideas for schools. Leader Inger Støjberg presented a package aimed at fighting negative social control. Among the proposals: students should speak only Danish (including during breaks), shake hands with someone of the opposite sex on their first day, sign a declaration accepting “Danish values,” and face restrictions on fasting, prayer rooms, headscarves, caps, and certain puffer jackets. The party also proposes a 25% cap on students with a non-European background at individual schools. However, these ideas most likely will never become reality.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🪽 A new symbol aims to make grief more visible in everyday life. People who have lost someone close to them can wear the new sorgvinge (grief wing), a small angel-wing badge carrying the words “Jeg har mistet” (“I have lost”), signaling that they may need some extra understanding from colleagues and others around them. More than 1,000 will initially be distributed free through hospitals and hospices. Supporters describe it as a modern version of the traditional mourning armband.

🏖️ How private can your private life really be when you work in a public-facing profession? A priest from Svendborg sparked a debate after people recognized her while she was sunbathing topless on a beach. The priest says she deliberately traveled elsewhere so she could relax without worrying about meeting people from her congregation but ended up being approached by a family that included former confirmation students. She says the encounter was friendly, but it left her asking where the boundary lies between being yourself and always representing your profession.

🚗 Frederiksberg will test an app that shows drivers where parking spaces are available. Around 300 spaces near Frederiksberg Swimming Pool will get sensors, allowing drivers to check availability instead of circling the streets looking for a spot. The one-year pilot is expected to start in early 2027, while Copenhagen is preparing a similar system covering around 4,500 parking spaces.

☎️ Acute psychiatric help is now available through the emergency health service everywhere in Denmark. If you or someone close to you experiences a serious mental health crisis, contact your GP (family doctor) during opening hours or your region’s out-of-hours service.

Capital Region: 1813

Region Zealand: 1818

Central Denmark: 70 11 31 31

Southern Denmark: 70 11 07 07

North Denmark: 70 15 03 00

You can call for yourself or as a relative. In a life-threatening situation, call 112.

🇩🇰 X Factor has an increasingly international face. This year’s winner, 17-year-old Hugo Almeida from Sønderborg, comes from an Indian family and moved to Denmark as a child. He follows 2025 winner Leslie Nguyen from Esbjerg, whose parents came to Denmark from Vietnam, and 2024 winner Helene Frank, who grew up in the Danish minority in Germany. They aren’t the first: in 2016, sisters Anilde and Azilda Kaputu, who came to Denmark as child refugees from Angola, won the competition as the duo Embrace. Denmark’s biggest talent show is reflecting an increasingly diverse Denmark.

🇩🇰 Danish gamer becomes the first European in League of Legends’ Hall of Legends. Rasmus “Caps” Winther has become only the third player in the world inducted into the Hall of Legends, following South Korean superstar Faker and China’s Uzi. Caps is considered the most decorated player in European League of Legends history. The recognition is another milestone for a powerful Danish esports scene, which has produced some of the world’s best-known competitive gamers.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💸 More young people are ending up in Denmark’s bad-debt register. The number of 18–20-year-olds registered in RKI has increased by more than 35% in five years, reaching 2,275 this July. That’s roughly one in every 100 people in this age group. Experts point particularly to unpaid phone bills, small consumer loans, online spending, and limited knowledge of personal finances.

• If you’re new to Denmark: RKI is important to understand. Being registered can make it difficult to borrow money or lease a car.

• Worried that you might be registered? You can check your own RKI status with MitID through Experian’s DinInfo service.

• Forbrugerrådet Tænk also provides free and confidential debt counseling for people with low income, including online counseling.

🇩🇰 Denmark’s economy is growing at an unusually fast pace with 4.2% growth now forecasted for 2026. A new forecast from think tank AE says Denmark is currently growing considerably faster than the countries it normally compares itself with. Among the major economies examined by AE, only China is expected to grow faster. And it isn’t just Novo Nordisk. Pharma remains an important engine, but strong exports from shipping and logistics businesses, combined with rising productivity, are also contributing. Denmark has simultaneously maintained record-high employment and controlled inflation.

• Importantly, AE says the growth increasingly comes from people producing more per working hour, rather than simply working longer.

State of the markets

🚫 Denmark has blocked access to prediction market Polymarket. A Danish court found that the US-based platform was offering gambling in Denmark without complying with Danish gambling law, leading Danish internet providers to block access. Polymarket, where users can bet on outcomes ranging from elections and wars to the deaths of public figures, says it plans to challenge the decision through the Danish legal system.

🐷 Pig farmers are losing up to DKK 400 on every pig they send to slaughter. An oversupply of pork across Europe has pushed prices so low that some Danish farmers now want to reduce production. However, farmers supplying cooperative-owned Danish Crown can generally only reduce their agreed deliveries by 5%, which producers say leaves them trapped producing pigs at a loss. Danish Crown says slaughterhouses cannot simply adjust capacity up and down and describes the current situation as extremely difficult.

🇩🇰 Denmark has just recorded its best-ever first half of the year for tourism. Around 26 million overnight stays were registered between January and June 2026, 2% more than last year. Almost all the growth came from international visitors: tourists accounted for 505,000 of the 565,000 additional overnight stays. Germany remains by far Denmark’s tourism market, with Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands among the other major sources of visitors. Hotels did particularly well, recording almost half a million additional nights (+5%), while holiday centers grew by 9%.

Entrepreneurship

🚀 Funding Incubator for Entrepreneurs in Denmark | 💻 Online | 🗓 August 25–September 29, 17:30–20:30 | English | A six-week practical program helping entrepreneurs understand Danish and EU funding opportunities and build a funding strategy. Participants will work hands-on with finding grants, writing funding applications, preparing budgets, combining grants with private investment, and pitching their businesses.

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

🌿 You’re invited to the opening of Denmark’s second National Nature Park! On Sunday, September 13, 10:00–13:00, Naturnationalpark Gribskov officially opens its roughly 1,300 hectares of wild nature. Everyone is welcome, with nature walks, activities involving the park’s free-grazing elk and red deer, and a BioBlitz where children and families can help find and register species. Participation is free.

Career Guidance: Cover Letter + CV 📍 Vejle Municipality, Skolegade 1, Vejle | 🗓 Thursday, August 27, 09:30–11:30 | Free career guidance for internationals looking for work in Denmark. 🔗 Find out more

ParentLab Salon 📍25Hours Hotel Copenhagen | 🗓 Wednesday, September 2, 11:00–12:30 (and more) | Baby-friendly, parent-focused conversations in English. 🔗 Sign up

Newcomer Café 📍 Hjørring Library | 🗓 Wednesday, September 2, 15:00–17:00 | Free. 🔗 Find out more

Newcomers Info Webinar 📍 Online | 🗓 Thursday, September 3, 10:00–12:00 | Free webinar for newcomers to Aarhus. 🔗 Sign up

The Living Room: Newcomer Café 📍 International House Esbjerg, Torvegade 23 | 🗓 Thursday, September 3, 17:00–19:00 | Free. 🔗 Find out more

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌊 Why Skagen is one of Denmark’s most distinctive coastal towns - Forbes

🪖 Denmark sends conscripts to Greenland for the first time - Arctic Today

🛡️ Denmark orders anti-drone control system from Terma - Reuters

❄️ Denmark’s defence chief visits Alaska to highlight Arctic readiness - High North News

🏭 Ukraine’s Fire Point plant in Denmark delayed until 2027 - Euractiv

1. The EU right to repair electronics will be finally introduced in Denmark.

2. Mette Frederiksen made an alliance with Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni to defend Europe’s Christian cultural heritage.

3. 10% average increase in house prices compared to last year.

Letter from the editor

The return to hverdag (everyday life) feels almost like a New Year’s celebration. A more important one, dare I say. You might not see fireworks or champagne, but the entire month of August is brimming with life and a certain sense of positivity. Denmark is starting up again.

Some parents have just taken their children to their first skolestart (the first day of school). I can only imagine the emotions, as I am just one year away from doing the same with my daughter. New students have arrived in the university cities. For many internationals, this is how their Danish story begins. It was certainly how mine began, back in 2009.

I still remember my first day in Denmark (who doesn’t?). My parents drove me more than 2,000 kilometers by car, only to drop me off with a bag full of canned food at an address I had found on some forum. There, I discovered a tiny, empty apartment that I was supposed to share with five other people. As you can imagine, my first nights were spent on the floor, until I got lucky and found a second-hand couch on the street.

And yet, I wasn’t unhappy. Quite the opposite. There was magic in the air. I felt like this was the beginning of something great, and whatever hardships came my way couldn’t really touch that euphoria.

That, to me, is the magic of August. It simply makes Denmark feel different.

Companies return from the summer holidays and start hiring again. Projects that have been waiting through July suddenly begin moving. People who previously said no to your collaboration or slightly crazy idea might be more willing to say yes. I have experienced it myself: even the public system (yes, the institutions) can suddenly seem more excited about trying something new.

August is an excellent month to look for a job, go networking, find collaborators, start volunteering, or finally do that thing you have been postponing. And perhaps there is a practical reason for that feeling. We are entering the longest relatively* uninterrupted stretch of the Danish working year: August to November. Summer holidays are behind us, and Christmas is still far enough away. For a few months, it feels like there is enough time to actually build something.

So while January gets the fireworks and resolutions, I think August deserves some recognition too. Enjoy Denmark’s great restart. And if all this talk about trying something new has made you curious, you are always welcome to join our team. Perhaps your new beginning starts with us.

*if you ignore the one-week October vacation

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Can Denmark’s Second-Hand Culture Be Moved Online? by Daniel Sfita

2. Safety, Social Norms, and Why Copenhagen’s Cyclists Skip the Helmet by Daniel Sfita

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

Podcast

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Wondering what volunteer teams you can join? One of our social media teams (Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook), the Podcast Team (support roles only), one of the original writing teams (Columns, Reporters) or one of the eight newsletter language teams (that you can find below). Write to info@lwid.dk and we will direct you to the right person.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸Did you see the Perseid meteor shower? 100 shooting stars in just one hour. Check photos here. What about the partial solar eclipse? If not, check photos here.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

🦐 Shrimp fishing around Rømø can resume after authorities lifted a decades-old ban linked to unexploded mines on the seabed. Fishing boats have been unable to catch brown shrimp around Rømø since late May, after authorities began enforcing restrictions that had effectively been ignored for decades. Following a safety assessment, the Emergency Management Agency concluded that the danger is no greater than in other waters where warnings already apply. From August 15, the areas will therefore become warning zones rather than prohibited zones, allowing fishing to resume at the fishermen’s own risk.

Law proposals

🔧 It will become easier to repair your electronics instead of replacing them. Denmark is implementing new EU “right to repair” rules covering products including washing machines, fridges, mobile phones, hard drives, and more. Manufacturers will have to offer repairs either free of charge or at a reasonable price, complete them within a reasonable time, and not create unnecessary obstacles that make repairs difficult. The proposal had its first reading in Parliament this week, after Denmark missed the EU implementation deadline of July 31. The government wants the rules to take effect as soon as the law is adopted and published.

Political scene

✝️ Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni say Europe must protect its Christian cultural heritage and expect people moving here to respect European values. In a joint statement, the two leaders argued that respecting European laws is not enough and that the millions of non-Europeans that live in Europe should respect the values of their host societies. The unusual partnership between Denmark’s Social Democratic prime minister and Italy’s far-right leader is increasingly focused on tougher European migration policy, including deporting criminals and establishing asylum and return centers outside Europe. No new concrete policies were announced this week.

👦 Some political parties want to lower the age of criminal responsibility after Sweden decided that 14-year-olds can be prosecuted for serious crimes. Sweden’s parliament voted this week to lower the limit from 15 to 14 for certain serious offenses, amid concerns that gangs recruit children. Denmark currently has an age of criminal responsibility of 15, but the DD (Nationalist Populists) want it lowered, while the DF (Nationalist Conservative) argues children as young as 12 should face criminal responsibility for particularly serious crimes. SF (Green Left) opposes changing the limit, arguing that Denmark can already place children in secure institutions and impose measures through the Youth Crime Board. Denmark previously lowered the age from 15 to 14 in 2010 before raising it back to 15 in 2012.

🏳️‍🌈 Equality Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen has accused a DF (Nationalist Conservative) politician of hostility towards LGBT+ people after he mentioned the Pride and ISIS flags in the same Facebook post. During Copenhagen Pride week, Zimmermann wrote that Denmark should not fly “the EU flag, Pride flag or ISIS flag” but instead the Dannebrog (Danish flag). Halsboe-Jørgensen called the comparison inappropriate following last month’s terrorist attack on Berlin Pride. Zimmermann says he supports the safety of LGBT+ people but does not believe Pride flags should be displayed in public spaces.

🏛️ The new government has received its first minister popularity ranking, with Health and Church Minister Ida Auken coming out at the bottom. In an Epinion poll, 18% of respondents viewed Auken positively and 38% negatively, giving her a net score of -20. Culture Minister Zenia Stampe followed at -17, while Climate Minister Samira Nawa, Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard, and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen shared third place at -8. At the other end, Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen was the government’s most popular minister with +11, followed by Jacob Mark and Pia Olsen Dyhr, both at +8.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🐺 Authorities have shot a wolf in West Jutland after repeated encounters with people. The wolf had been spotted several times around Houstrup and Nørre Nebel showing little fear of humans, prompting authorities to authorize its removal. Naturstyrelsen (Nature Agency) had deployed armed staff and thermal drones and even introduced a special SMS service allowing residents to report sightings directly to teams in the field. The wolf was shot on August 13 after approaching to around 10 meters.

🐺 What should you actually do if you meet a wolf? Following recent close encounters, authorities have reminded people that wolves normally avoid humans, and there have been no recorded wolf attacks on people in Denmark. If a wolf comes within around 30 meters and does not move away, stay calm, do not follow it, and make yourself clearly known by shouting or waving your arms. Keep eye contact and, if you unexpectedly find yourself very close, slowly back away rather than turning your back. In the extremely unlikely event of an attack, authorities advise fighting back with maximum resistance. Wolf sightings can also be reported through the national wolf-monitoring system at Ulveatlas.dk.

👓 Smart glasses that can discreetly film people are facing backlash in Denmark over privacy concerns. Ray-Ban Meta glasses look much like ordinary glasses but contain a camera, and several cases have involved people being filmed without their knowledge and later appearing on social media. The Consumer Council says the small blinking light signalling when the glasses are recording is not obvious enough. Filming people in public is not generally illegal in Denmark, but publishing footage can be restricted depending on the circumstances. Tænk (Consumer Council) is calling for clearer rules as smart glasses make it increasingly difficult to know when you are being recorded.

🍺 A 28-year-old has set off on a 3,000-kilometre cycling trip to visit Jutland’s traditional “brown pubs.” Anders Melsen is cycling his way north through Jutland, stopping at local brune værtshuse and documenting the journey as “Værtshusrytteren” (the Pub Rider). He hopes the trip will draw attention to the traditional pubs and the small communities that form around them. A brunt værtshus is the Danish version of an old-fashioned neighborhood pub: usually inexpensive and populated by regulars, with darts or slot machines often completing the experience. They are also slowly disappearing; Copenhagen, for example, went from more than 1,000 traditional pubs in the late 1980s to just over 200 today.

🚲 Four out of ten children now rarely or never cycle to school, raising concerns about the future of the country’s famous cycling culture. The Cyclists’ Federation says the share of children cycling to school has almost halved compared with 30 years ago, despite a national cycling strategy introduced in 2014 aiming to get more children on bikes. Distance is one of the main reasons parents give, while more than one in four say they do not feel the route to school is safe enough. Transport Minister Signe Munk says improving cycling around schools will receive particular attention.

🏫 Denmark’s first Swan-labeled public school has finally opened near Nykøbing Falster, around four years later than originally planned. Sundskolen meets the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s requirements for buildings, including low energy consumption, good indoor climate, strict limits on harmful chemicals, certified wood, and opportunities to reuse and recycle building materials. The project was originally supposed to be ready in 2022 but was hit by construction problems, with the final bill growing to 303 million DKK.

👩‍🏫 Some municipalities are now paying student teachers to work in schools while they study as Denmark struggles with a growing shortage of qualified teachers. Municipalities have introduced positions where students spend part of their week studying and part teaching in classrooms, with some receiving a salary for two teaching days per week. Education Minister Magnus Heunicke calls the initiatives “an expression of desperation” and acknowledges that national efforts have failed to solve the problem. Denmark was short around 4,300 qualified teachers last year, while enrollment in teacher education has fallen 28% in five years. Almost one in five newly qualified teachers who start working in a folkeskole also leave within three years, and the government now wants to invest in attracting more teachers and bringing some of the roughly 40,000 qualified teachers who have left the profession back into public schools.

🎮 From gaming to yoga and 3D printing, municipalities are experimenting to make school work for children who struggle with traditional school life. In Odense, schools are looking at more adult-led activities during breaks after experiences showing that completely unstructured frikvarter (recess) can be difficult for some children. At Næsby School, pupils can already choose activities including yoga and 3D printing, robots, and Lego, providing more structured alternatives to the playground. Meanwhile, Sorø has launched a different experiment for children experiencing skolevægring (school refusal). The Respawn program uses games like Minecraft to create a safe environment and rebuild relationships before gradually introducing Danish and math. The goal is to help children regain confidence and routine to return to ordinary schooling. In both cases, the thinking is similar: sometimes helping a child thrive at school means changing the environment around the child rather than expecting the child to adapt.

🧠 The number of children in Denmark receiving antidepressant medication has almost doubled in five years. New figures from Sundhedsdatabanken show that 7,050 children aged 0–17 received SSRI medication in 2025, compared with 3,694 in 2020, an increase of more than 90%. Most are teenagers aged 13–17, although there are also cases involving children as young as six. SSRIs can be prescribed for depression, anxiety, and OCD. Experts say the increase partly reflects greater recognition of psychiatric conditions among children, but there are concerns that medication is not always accompanied by sufficient psychotherapy and support for families.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

📉 Welcome news for your wallet: inflation in Denmark fell to 1.7% in July. The decline comes despite higher global energy prices. There is particularly good news at the supermarket: dairy products such as butter, milk, and cheese have become around 10% cheaper recently. Housing costs remain one of the main forces pushing inflation upwards, while holiday home rentals and package holidays became noticeably more expensive. Lucky for us, Denmark has one of the lowest inflation rates in the EU.

State of the markets

🏠 House prices are rising across almost all of Denmark, with the average increase approaching 10% over the past year. According to Boligsiden, prices for houses have fallen in only eight of the 98 municipalities, while some of the strongest increases are now being seen in places such as Billund and other parts of Southern and Western Jutland. One explanation is that buyers are looking further away from the most expensive cities. Copenhagen illustrates why: apartment prices are still around 21% higher than a year ago, although the market finally appears to be cooling. In other words, Denmark’s housing boom is no longer just a Copenhagen story. See the situation in your municipality here.

🐟 Denmark could get a tuna fishing industry again after bluefin tuna returned to Danish waters. The species disappeared during the 1960s but began returning around a decade ago, helped by growing stocks of herring and mackerel. Fishing for bluefin tuna is currently prohibited because Denmark does not have a share of the international catch quota, but Environment Minister Marie Reumert Gjerding is open to obtaining a quota, initially for recreational fishing and eventually as part of the overall commercial quota. Fishermen on Læsø see tuna as a possible new source of income, particularly as restrictions have reduced their opportunities to catch Norway lobster.

📮 Copenhagen is dropping Dao as its letter-delivery provider just eight months after the company took over nationwide letter distribution from PostNord. The municipality will terminate its agreement because it says Dao cannot fully meet Copenhagen’s requirements for wages and working conditions throughout its subcontractor chain. Dao rejects that workers are being subjected to social dumping and says it has changed its subcontractor agreements to address the municipality’s concerns. The municipality is now asking Transport Minister Signe Munk for talks on how proper working conditions can be ensured.

Entrepreneurship

🚀 Funding Incubator for Entrepreneurs in Denmark | 💻 Online | 🗓 August 25–September 29, 17:30–20:30 | English | A six-week practical program helping entrepreneurs understand Danish and EU funding opportunities and build a funding strategy. Participants will work hands-on with finding grants, writing funding applications, preparing budgets, combining grants with private investment, and pitching their businesses.

📦 New EU packaging rules have come into force, but small businesses say they were given too little time to prepare. The new requirements cover how companies document and report packaging, including rules on materials and harmful substances such as PFAS and heavy metals. A 70-page guidance document was only published on August 3, just nine days before the rules took effect, prompting criticism over the administrative burden on smaller businesses. The Danish Energy Agency acknowledges that companies need time to adapt and says initial inspections will focus on guidance, with some flexibility while businesses adjust.

International Community HQ

🇬🇱 Greenland increasingly relies on workers from the Philippines and Thailand to keep hotels and other businesses running. Around 1,300 Filipino citizens now live in Greenland, compared with roughly 160 a decade ago, alongside around 460 Thais. Together, Southeast Asian workers have become a visible part of a territory with only about 57,000 inhabitants. The reason is straightforward: Greenland has a serious labor shortage, driven by an aging population and young people moving away. International workers are now found across hospitality, retail, fisheries, and even healthcare, and people from outside Greenlandic backgrounds account for 13% of the workforce.

Community Noticeboard

👨‍🍼ParentLab Salon | 📍25Hours Hotel, Copenhagen | 🗓 August 23, 12:00-13:30 and more | Baby-friendly parent-focused conversations in English (sign up).

🥂 Aalborg Summer Gala | 📍Hadsundvej 25, Aalborg | 🗓 August 29, 18:00–21:00 | Free | A stylish evening bringing newcomers and long-time Aalborg residents together, with an open bar, cultural performances, art, and a celebration of community and European spirit (registration required).

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🛢️ Greenland forces Trump-linked US oil firm to delay drilling - The Guardian

📡 Denmark records record GPS disruptions near Bornholm as Baltic interference intensifies - EUalive

👑 Denmark is scrapping royal warrants. Will businesses miss them? (audio) - BBC

🏛️ Lost monastic complex discovered in Denmark - Heritage Daily

1. Online violent extremist networks are becoming an issue for our children.

2. The Ceuta crisis has deepened the divide between EU countries on how to handle migration.

3. It is illegal to share CCTV images of suspected thieves on social media.

Letter from the editor

Hello everyone! I hope you have enjoyed the long break from the news stream. I certainly did. I was quite happy to stop reading the news every evening for a while. Some of you are already back from your holidays, while others are still away, and some are just about to leave. I fall into the second category, writing this edition from the summer heat of Romania. After two years away, a visit back home felt long overdue.

Last Week in Denmark is back in print (as they used to say). From this week, the newsletter returns to your inbox every Sunday. The podcast is back this Wednesday, our website will soon feature new original articles, and our social media channels will once again buzz with interesting content.

For the second half of the year, we have big ambitions. Over the coming months we will develop a Last Week in Denmark OS (Operating System) to ensure we continue at a high standard, regardless of our team composition. From time to time, I’ll share short development diaries so you can follow our progress.

After five and a half years, Last Week in Denmark is ready for its next chapter.

Since the beginning, this project has grown through a wonderful kind of creative chaos, shaped by dozens of volunteers who generously contributed their time. Now, with trained journalists joining our newsroom and a stronger secretariat in Aalborg supporting our volunteers behind the scenes, we are entering a new phase. Our goal is not to become a traditional newsroom but to build a stronger foundation that allows even more people to experiment and create.

Some things, however, will never change. Our mission remains exactly the same as it was on day one: to empower people with information.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Roskilde Festival 2026: The Mechanics of a Temporary City by Daniel Sfita

2. 3 Tips to Avoid Housing Scams in Denmark by Zeynep Aslan

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

Podcast

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

In Memory of Eszter Chrobacsinszky

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Eszter Chrobacsinszky, who died unexpectedly at the age of 39.

Eszter joined Last Week in Denmark in November 2024 as a translator and founding member of Múlt Héten Dániában, our Hungarian edition, later becoming its Team Lead. A remarkably talented linguist, she also worked as an interpreter for major European institutions and spoke several languages.

Eszter helped create the first Hungarian-language publication of its kind in Denmark and laid the foundations for a newsletter that continues to serve the Hungarian community today.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who knew her.

Thank you, Eszter. You helped create something that will outlive all of us, and you will always remain part of our story.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

⚽ Football and solidarity come together in Tvingstrup on August 15 for the fourth edition of Together We Can Succeed. From 09:00 to 18:00 at Serridslevvej 88, twelve football teams will compete in an AMIS charity tournament accompanied by a full day of family activities, including face painting, a raffle, a children’s drawing competition, a penalty competition, and a Kids vs. Parents match. Visitors can also enjoy Romanian favorites from the grill and traditional desserts. ❤️ This year’s proceeds will support two causes: helping a family with six children in Romania replace the windows in their home, which is currently being renovated, and supporting David from the Vejle parish, who needs medical treatment.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

🎓 The government is tightening exam rules to curb AI cheating in gymnasiums (high schools). An immediate package of measures was launched, including screen monitoring during exams, an oral defense for major written projects in HF (two-year upper secondary) programs, and encouraging schools to have students complete more written assignments under supervised, on-campus conditions. Education Minister Magnus Heunicke says the goal is to ensure AI supports learning rather than undermine students’ ability to think and write independently. More measures and a national AI strategy for education are expected later.

Political scene

🛑 Political parties are demanding answers about violent online extremist networks operating in Denmark. The calls come after three teenagers were charged with planning an attack on a school near Randers, in a case authorities believe may be linked to so-called NVE (nihilistic violent extremism) networks. Europol says it has worked with Danish police on dozens of cases connected to these online groups, which encourage violence and other serious crimes among young people. The government says it is prepared to provide police and intelligence services with additional resources if needed to tackle the growing threat.

🎓 Some schools are training teachers to spot early signs of online radicalization. Before the new school year begins, several municipalities are offering courses to help teachers recognize behavioral changes that could indicate a child is being drawn into violent online communities. Experts say early intervention is the best way to prevent vulnerable young people from being recruited into extremist networks.

📹 Several political parties want to make it legal for businesses to share CCTV footage of suspected thieves online. The proposal comes after reminders that posting surveillance images of identifiable people is currently illegal in most cases. Supporters argue the change would help identify offenders and deter shoplifting, while insisting any new rules would need safeguards to protect innocent people from being wrongly identified.

🇪🇺 The EU has backed Spain’s handling of the Ceuta migrant crisis while agreeing to strengthen the bloc’s external borders. At an emergency meeting, member states praised Spain’s response after tens of thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco, with almost all later returning and none reaching mainland Europe. EU countries also agreed to strengthen border protection, increase returns of rejected asylum seekers, expand cooperation with non-EU countries, and crack down on human smuggling networks. Denmark said the crisis showed the need for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders.

• During the meeting, EU officials also revealed they had identified more than 2,000 fake articles and 6,000 fake social media posts linked to Russian actors attempting to exploit the Ceuta crisis and fuel instability in Europe.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

📹 Think twice before posting CCTV footage of suspected thieves on social media. Privacy experts remind businesses and individuals that sharing surveillance images or videos of identifiable people is almost always illegal, even if faces are blurred. The footage can legally be shared with the police as part of an investigation, but posting it publicly could result in fines or other legal consequences.

🚸 As schools prepare to reopen, parents are encouraged to let children walk or cycle to school instead of driving them. The Road Safety Council says heavy traffic outside schools can create dangerous situations, while practicing the route on foot or by bike helps children build confidence and learn to navigate traffic safely. Where driving is unavoidable, parents are encouraged to park a short distance away and walk the final stretch together.

🐛 Parents are being warned to watch out for the toxic hairs of the oak processionary caterpillar (the so-called larva from hell), which can cause itchy rashes and eye irritation. The warning follows reports of several children and staff developing skin irritation at a daycare center in Odense, where the playground has been closed as a precaution. The caterpillar’s microscopic hairs can be carried by the wind and remain hazardous even after the insects have gone, so experts advise avoiding affected areas, keeping children away from nests or caterpillars, washing exposed skin and clothing after possible contact, and seeking medical attention if breathing difficulties develop.

🎵 A music graduate has gone viral after identifying a melody used in hundreds of pop songs. Carl Emil Martin’s research uncovered what he calls “The Gen Alpha Melody,” a four-note sequence that appears in at least 75 hit songs, with variations found in around 200 more, including tracks by Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, and The Strokes. His YouTube video explaining the discovery has attracted millions of views and sparked international media attention.

🏰 Denmark’s most unusual home has found a new owner. A house in Gistrup, near Aalborg, that was transformed over two decades into a medieval-style castle complete with towers, a drawbridge, and its own flag has been sold for 3 million DKK, half a million above the asking price. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed, but the sale includes both the castle’s unique architecture and its medieval-inspired interior.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💍 Getting married in Denmark comes with major financial advantages. Married couples can benefit from joint taxation, including transferring unused personal deductions between spouses, and spouses generally inherit from each other without paying inheritance tax. For unmarried partners, the same inheritance could trigger a substantial tax bill.

🚌 Bus and train services in North Denmark could face cuts as the region tries to close a 60 million DKK funding gap. Rising fuel costs and declining public transport use have left the regional transport authority under financial pressure. Local politicians warn that rural bus routes are most at risk and urge the government to provide additional funding after it previously promised support for public transport in rural areas. Until then, the future of some services remains uncertain.

• The financial pressure has also sparked debate over climate goals, with even Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) politicians saying a temporary return to less expensive diesel buses may be necessary if it helps prevent route closures.

💰 One of the poorest municipalities is planning major cuts after facing a 531 million DKK budget shortfall. Lolland Municipality has proposed closing schools, merging daycare centers, reducing the number of nursing homes, and cutting almost all non-mandatory services, including cultural and preventive programs. Local leaders say the measures are unavoidable as the municipality struggles with a shrinking population, lower tax revenues, high social spending, and significant debt. There is hope that the state will provide additional financial support.

🖥️ Growing AI use is putting increasing pressure on electricity and water supplies, prompting calls for stricter regulation of data centers worldwide. A new debate has emerged after experts warned that AI could account for 40% of data center electricity use by 2030, raising concerns about the environmental impact of the industry’s rapid expansion. While Denmark is considered less vulnerable thanks to its water resources, experts argue that countries facing water shortages need stronger rules to ensure AI infrastructure does not come at the expense of local communities. Denmark is already tightening its approach, with the government planning to give energy-intensive data centers lower priority when connecting to the national electricity grid.

State of the markets

🌊 Denmark’s mussel fishing industry has ground to a halt after authorities began strictly enforcing existing EU reporting rules. Producers must now sort and record every marine species caught alongside mussels, a process they say is impossible on an industrial scale. Although the reporting requirement has existed since 2013, it is only now being enforced after the industry failed to secure an exemption to sample (instead of sort) every catch. With more than 90% of Danish mussels exported to countries like France and the UK, producers warn that jobs and export contracts could be at risk if a solution is not found before the autumn harvest. The government says it is working with the European Commission to find a practical solution.

💊 Novo Nordisk is still struggling to regain investor confidence a year after appointing CEO Mike Doustdar. While the company has launched its successful Wegovy weight-loss pill in tablet form, cut thousands of jobs and taken legal action against competitor Eli Lilly, investors remain focused on whether Novo can develop its next generation of blockbuster medicines before patents on its current flagship drugs expire. Following the latest financial results, Doustdar told employees the company must “work harder” and “run at a different pace” to stay competitive, comments that drew criticism from trade unions, which argued staff are already under heavy pressure after recent layoffs.

⚡ Denmark has awarded contracts for two of its largest-ever offshore wind farms, with electricity production expected to begin by 2032. Swedish energy company Vattenfall won both projects after offering the lowest electricity prices in the tender. Together, the new wind farms will increase our offshore wind capacity by 69% and generate enough electricity to power around 1.8 million households. Experts say the agreement is a major boost for the green transition and could help keep future electricity prices lower.

💡 Thousands of households could lose money after several electricity suppliers in the Velkommen Group declared bankruptcy. The companies had been under investigation after customers reported unusually high advance payments and delayed refunds when switching providers. Authorities have also reported the companies to the police for allegedly failing to repay customers as ordered. Former customers can still register claims with the bankruptcy trustees, but many may recover little or none of the money they are owed.

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

🌸 Odense Flower Festival | 📍Odense (citywide) | 🗓 August 13–16 | Free | A city-wide celebration of flowers, gardens, and floral art.

🏳️‍🌈 Copenhagen Pride Week | 📍Copenhagen (citywide) | 🗓 August 8–16 | Mostly free | A week of Pride events including Pride Square, outdoor concerts, debates, and the Pride Parade, with some ticketed events.

☕ International Café (Welcome Ambassadors) | 📍Ørestad Library, Copenhagen | 🗓 August 19, 17:00–19:00 | Free | Meet other internationals and locals in a relaxed networking event (registration required).

🍴 Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival | 📍Copenhagen (citywide) | 🗓 August 21–30 | Mix of free and ticketed events | Denmark’s largest food festival featuring tastings, dinners, workshops, and culinary experiences across the capital.

🤝 Builders Aarhus: Mixer for Future Partners and Cofounders | 📍Incuba Katrinebjerg, Aarhus | 🗓 August 17, 16:30–18:30 | Free | Networking event for entrepreneurs looking for co-founders, collaborators, and new business partners (registration required).

👨‍🍼ParentLab Salon | 📍25Hours Hotel, Copenhagen | 🗓 August 23, 12:00-13:30 and more | Baby-friendly parent-focused conversations in English (sign up).

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🇺🇳 Denmark assumes UN Security Council presidency for August - Anadolu

🪖 Denmark begins extended military conscription in response to Russia, Trump - Reuters

💶 Denmark becomes first EU nation to complete Recovery Fund plan, securing €1.63bn - The Brussels Times

🛡️ Denmark to step up defence engagement in Faroe Islands as Trump renews Greenland push - High North News

🤖 Danish pupils will have to orally defend essays in attempt to combat AI cheating - The Guardian

🍽️ Noma prepares to reopen under new leadership after abuse allegations - The Guardian

1. More than half of Denmark’s inspected agricultural trainee placements broke employment rules, with 12 farms reported to the police.

2. Construction workers on larger sites may soon have to carry official ID cards to help authorities combat illegal work.

3. Denmark wants to stop granting new residence permits to military-age Ukrainian men subject to mobilization.

Letter from the editor

This is the last edition of the first season in 2026. We’ll be back on August 9th for the second season of the year. The weekly podcast will also be back on that week.

The first part of this year has not been without challenges for our universe; if you remember the “dangerous spam” crisis when we lost hundreds of subscribers. Luckily we recovered a good part since then, but it has really shaken our confidence in the Substack platform and made us think that we might need a plan B for the newsletter in case something like this happens again.

We also apologize to the people who wrote to info@lwid.dk and never got an answer in recent months. We are working to cover that channel so that we can improve the communication lines.

At the same time, a lot of good things also happened in our universe.

• Our Facebook channel got its own team of original content writers and started to publish Facebook-only content that you can’t find on our other platforms.

• Our Instagram channel hosts a new series made by journalist Sarah Baksyte called Denmark’s Invisible Borders.

• Our Linkedin channel launched a weekly carousel series focused on business called “Last Week in Business.”

• The weekly podcast introduced guest co-hosts in seven episodes this season, for the first time in its five years.

• The reporting team is working with the students at Erasmus Mundus in Journalism, Media, and Globalization to officialize a partnership where they will be integrated into our volunteer teams, significantly strengthening our capacities and providing students with practical work experience.

• Our newsletter teams (for all nine languages) have managed to publish a newsletter every week as intended, which is an achievement in itself.

To be honest it’s quite incredible what we can do with will and a bit of free time. And here, I’m not talking only about our volunteers, but also YOU, our readers. Lately, there’s no event I can go to without finding at least one subscriber who tells me how they believe in this project and how they tell everyone they know about it. The only reason we have this strong following is thanks to YOUR efforts to spread the word, and we hope you will continue to do so in the future.

Enjoy your summer and see you in August.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. ADHD Is An Explanation, Not An Excuse by Florina Lungu

2. Beer, Bedlam, and Belonging: The World of Denmark’s Graduate Trucks by Stephanie Lund

3. When the Danes Were the Migrants by Juan Álvarez

4. When Danish Class Meets AI: The Story Behind DanskAI by Paulina Stachnik

5. The Org Chart is a Fiction by Florin Lungu

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Law proposals

🇬🇱 Women affected by Greenland’s contraceptive scandal will soon be able to apply for compensation. The Danish government has introduced legislation that would grant 300,000 DKK to each woman who received contraception without her consent in Greenland or Denmark between 1960 and 1991. Applications open on July 1, with claims processed once the law takes effect in September. Mobile outreach teams will also travel across Greenland to help eligible women apply, in what the government describes as an acknowledgment of “a dark chapter” in Danish-Greenlandic history.

🏗️ Workers on larger construction sites may soon be required to carry ID cards. The government has introduced legislation requiring identification cards on major building sites to make it easier for authorities to check immigration and workplace safety rules. The measure aims to combat labor exploitation and illegal work, particularly involving foreign workers, while ensuring fair competition for companies that follow the rules.

🚔 Denmark wants to make it easier to deport criminals. The government has proposed new rules that would make deportation the default for non-citizens sentenced to at least one year in prison for serious crimes. The proposal would also introduce electronic ankle monitors for those without legal residence in Denmark who repeatedly break reporting requirements, while expanding financial support for those who choose to return voluntarily to their home countries.

Political scene

📱 A member of Parliament has lost his spokesperson role after social media posts. DF (National Conservative) MP Allan Feldt sparked widespread criticism after posting a photo of a hijab-wearing daycare employee with speculative comments about her religion and conduct. He later deleted the post and apologized, but Frederiksberg Municipality has since reported him to the police, and his own party has responded by removing all of his spokesperson responsibilities and banning him from using social media on the party’s behalf.

🏛️ A debate over Quran law turned into a controversy over parliamentary conduct. During a parliamentary debate, independent MP Jakob Harris quoted an offensive joke about Jews to argue that Danish law allows racist jokes but criminalizes Quran burnings. Politicians from across the political spectrum condemned his remarks as inappropriate and beneath the standards of Parliament. Harris rejected accusations of antisemitism, saying his intention was to highlight what he sees as unequal treatment under the law.

⚓ A secret port agreement with China has sparked security concerns. Esbjerg Port, one of NATO’s key logistics hubs in Northern Europe, signed a cooperation agreement with a major state-owned Chinese port without first consulting the Danish Foreign Ministry. The government later intervened over concerns the deal could have “unintended consequences,” and security experts warned that even commercial partnerships with Chinese state-owned companies can raise strategic risks. Port officials insist the agreement is about improving trade routes for exports such as Danish seafood.

📚 The national reading exam is facing growing criticism. Teachers argue that the Year 9 Danish reading test measures how quickly students can navigate texts rather than how well they actually read and understand them. This year’s exam reportedly required a record 28 correct answers out of 50 just to pass, while the failure rate has steadily increased over the past decade. Education authorities reject the criticism, saying the exam is designed to assess both reading speed and comprehension, because skilled readers need to adapt their reading strategy to different tasks.

🪖 Conscripts will be deployed to Greenland for the first time under the country’s new 11-month military service. Beginning in late July, conscripts who started their service in February will spend a month supporting guard duties and the Arctic Endurance exercise alongside professional soldiers. The government says the deployment reflects our growing military focus on Greenland and the Arctic, and similar assignments abroad, including Latvia, could follow.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🚗 Denmark has been named one of Europe’s safest countries for road traffic. The country received the European Transport Safety Award after recording just 23 road deaths per million people in 2025, the third-lowest rate in Europe, behind only Norway and Sweden. Officials credit decades of investment in safer roads, stricter traffic laws, vehicle safety standards, police enforcement, and public awareness campaigns.

🗣️ The Danish language now recognizes gender-neutral pronouns. Den Danske Ordbog will include “hen” and “de” (singular they) alongside “han” and “hun.” Dictionary editors say the words have existed for years but only recently became widely recognized enough to be included. The latest update also introduces 292 new words, 12 new expressions, and revises 392 existing entries.

💊 Cocaine use among young people is highest in nightlife and major cities. A new study found that 24% of 15–25-year-olds who regularly go out at night have tried cocaine, compared with an estimated 9% across the same age group overall. A separate wastewater analysis estimates around seven tons of cocaine were consumed nationwide in 2025, with the highest levels detected in Copenhagen and Aarhus. Unexpectedly high fentanyl levels were detected in Fredericia.

🌿 Denmark’s first national wild nature park is already showing signs of recovery after one year. At Fussingø near Randers, around 120 grazing deer and Galloway cattle and restored natural waterways are helping boost biodiversity. Rare species, including Stella’s pseudoscorpion, have already been recorded. Fussingø is the first of 21 national nature parks planned to give nature more space to develop on its own.

🔥 Sankt Hans traditions are beginning to change. While many midsummer celebrations still feature the traditional straw witch on top of the bonfire, others are choosing to leave the witch out or even celebrate witches instead. Organizers say the focus is shifting more toward community and midsummer traditions. Critics of the old custom argue it symbolizes the historical persecution of people accused of witchcraft.

🎉 Younger hosts are increasingly inviting their neighbors to summer parties. According to a discussion on DR, many people in their 20s and 30s now notify neighbors before graduation parties and other celebrations by knocking on doors, leaving notes, or posting in local Facebook groups. The trend comes as neighborhoods across the country debate how to balance summer festivities with noise for those living nearby.

🐶 Dog-friendly ice cream is becoming a summer trend. More ice cream shops are now selling lactose-free ice cream for dogs, with flavors including salmon and liver. Animal welfare experts say the trend reflects the growing role pets play in many families and expect it to continue. Owners are advised to let dogs lick the ice cream slowly, as swallowing large frozen pieces can upset their stomachs.

🤖 The Danish Armed Forces are launching a dedicated AI Center. The new center will develop artificial intelligence for military planning with the aim of reducing reliance on foreign technology providers. It will work closely with universities and private companies and use the Gefion supercomputer to accelerate development. The center expects to employ around 30 people by the end of the year, with the long-term goal of embedding AI across the entire defense organization.

🎬 A forgotten heroine of the resistance movement is getting recognition. A new DR documentary tells the story of Jutta Graae, a key intelligence operative who helped coordinate secret communications between the Danish resistance and British intelligence during the Second World War. She played a role in major wartime operations, received the Order of the British Empire in 1947, and later worked for the Danish intelligence service.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💰 Lolland Municipality is warning of a severe financial crisis. The municipality expects a 531 million DKK budget deficit and says it could run out of cash next year without major spending cuts. Even with around 300 million DKK in additional state support, officials estimate a funding gap of at least 200 million DKK remains. If the finances cannot be stabilized, Lolland will be placed under state financial administration.

🌡️ There is no “heat leave” but employers must protect workers during heatwaves. The Danish Working Environment Authority says employers are responsible for providing safe working conditions, including drinking water, regular breaks, and, for outdoor workers, shade and sunscreen when the UV index exceeds 3. Indoor workplaces should normally stay below 25°C, although higher temperatures may be accepted during exceptional heatwaves if other protective measures are in place.

🌙 Five projects received 10.2 million DKK to make journeys home from nightlife safer. The funding will support initiatives including safe spaces near train stations, bystander training for young people, improved street lighting, a safety app that alerts trusted contacts, and a national awareness campaign. The program follows research showing that half of young women feel unsafe walking home at night.

State of the markets

📈 Tryg has admitted it needs to better explain sharp insurance price increases. Some customers have seen premiums for home contents, accident, and travel insurance rise by up to 40%, prompting criticism over generic explanation letters. The country’s largest insurer says it will review how it communicates price changes but has stopped short of promising customers more detailed explanations. Consumer advocates say unclear pricing has become a widespread issue across the insurance industry.

💻 AI data centers are beginning to push up the price of everyday electronics. Surging demand for memory and storage chips used in AI infrastructure has driven component prices higher, with manufacturers warning the impact will spread across laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other devices. Apple became the first major brand to raise prices. Analysts expect more consumer electronics companies to follow.

🌲 Illegal dumping is becoming a growing problem in forests. Forest managers report increasing amounts of construction waste, household appliances, furniture, and garden waste being abandoned in woodland across the country. Some clean-up operations have cost tens of thousands of DKK, prompting several forest owners to install barriers and increase surveillance. The Danish Forest Association is calling for tougher penalties to deter environmental dumping.

International Community HQ

🚜 More than half of inspected agricultural trainee placements failed to meet employment rules. The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) found violations in 94 of 181 inspections, including unpaid holiday entitlements and missing weekend or overtime supplements. Following the findings, 12 host farms have been reported to the police. Immigration Minister Morten Bødskov says the current trainee scheme will be replaced with a new system after a nationwide review.

🇺🇦 Denmark plans to tighten its special rules for Ukrainian refugees. Under a new proposal, Ukrainian men aged 23–60 who are subject to military service in Ukraine would no longer be eligible for new residence permits under Denmark’s Ukraine Special Act. The government says the change is intended to prevent the scheme from being used to avoid military mobilization and will not affect Ukrainians who have already received residence permits in Denmark.

Community Noticeboard

🎷 Copenhagen Jazz Festival | 📍Copenhagen (citywide) | 🗓 July 3-12 | Hundreds of concerts across the capital, with a mix of free and ticketed events.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 ParentLab Salons | 📍 25hours Hotel, Copenhagen | 🗓️ July 8 & 19 and August 5 | Baby-friendly, parent-focused conversations with like-minded adults

🏝️ Fejøs Festival | 📍Herredsvej 158, 4944, Fejø | 🗓 July 15–19 | A five-day island festival with music, community events, and activities.

🎵 Musik i Gentofte | 📍Gentofte | 🗓 July 31–August 1 | A local music festival featuring live performances in the Copenhagen area.

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🏺 Archaeologists find huge Viking textile production site in Denmark - NPR

📡 Denmark must pay telecoms firm US$12m for Huawei equipment removal - South China Morning Post

🇬🇱 Denmark says Greenland talks with US could conclude with deal by end of 2026 - Anadolu Ajansi

✈️ Denmark hires Greenland airline for Arctic surveillance - The Straits Times

1. You are awesome. Never forget that.

2. Packages arriving from outside the EU will face a minimum charge of 22 DKK, even for low-value purchases.

3. Airline passengers keep their right to compensation, plus get guaranteed family seating and easier ticket corrections from 2027.

Letter from the editor

August 2009. That’s when I arrived in Denmark, in Aalborg. Not counting the years I spent in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Krakow (Poland), and Brussels (Belgium), I’ve lived in Denmark for nearly 15 years. I must say that I’ve never seen it as international as it is today. So, a deep heartfelt thank you to all the internationals who work every day for Denmark and the international community.

We might not be Danish, but we are Denmark. The New Denmark. We contribute; therefore, we belong. Many of us have even spent our youth here or have raised children here and left our own legacy to the benefit of society.

In 15 years, I have volunteered my free time for exactly 15 years. I remember when I arrived in Aalborg, we were only the second generation of international students to arrive (a tiny cohort of 300). Life outside university was virtually nonexistent. That feeling of being invisible motivated me to do something about it. I didn’t want language to be a barrier during the university years, so I worked for a really long time so that international students also have opportunities.

After university, I followed the same call - to make Denmark more welcoming for internationals. So I entered politics. The first ever DK political campaign in English was in Aalborg, and we were also the first to mobilize internationals to use their right to vote. It took until 2013, if you can believe it. We were alone then. Compare that to the most recent campaign in 2025. We’ve come a long way.

This is just a snapshot from my life in Denmark. If you look around, you will find hundreds of similar examples. Every time an international volunteers their time, a tiny brick has been added to the sturdiness of Denmark’s future. That’s why I am grateful to all of you. Your investment paves the way for a better country for my children, for all our children.

And here I am also referring to the more than 100 volunteers who help create the Last Week in Denmark universe. I might not have talked to all of you, but believe me: I see you. I see your amazing efforts, and I am humbled that you have chosen to build something together with us. I am humbled that we share the same mission: empowering internationals through information.

Now we are in the hundreds, but what if we were in the thousands? What could Last Week in Denmark become? A multilingual radio and TV station. Local newsletters. More languages. More original reporting on our website and social channels. Recognition from the Ministry of Culture as a public institution (that’s the final boss to slay). Dreams. Something to aspire towards.

Want to write history together with us? From August, we need a new leader for the reporter team. You’ll help decide which stories our writers focus on and coordinate the publishing of original articles. As a leader, you have power to shape the newsroom and leave your own legacy behind. Write to info@lwid.dk

Is audio more your thing? We still need a couple more audio editors for the weekly podcast team. You only need to contribute a few hours once or twice per month. Write to info@lwid.dk

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Ira Sylvester and the Rise of Copenhagen’s English Comedy Scene! by Ahmet Akkoç

2. The Cultural Explorer’s Diary: Six Copenhagen Museum Days to Add to Your Summer List by Paulina Stachnik

3. Tur-retur: Episode 16 – An Ode to the A (My Newfound Love of Buses) by Laura Matheson

4. The Tiny Alarm Inside Your Brain That Controls Your Life by Florina Lungu

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Want access to valuable expertise for your business idea - for free? Join Keys to Europe’s Market event in Aalborg (Hadsundvej 25) on June 26 from 16:00. You’ll meet seven experts in the field and go home with a new world open to you. Both entrepreneurs and wannabe entrepreneurs are welcome. Sign up here.

Share

Are you planning to follow the FIFA World Cup? Join the Last Week in Denmark fantasy league where we play together. There will be prizes, including custom footballs.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸A spectacular “sausage cloud” rolled across the skies of North Jutland.

📸Spot one of the most beautiful summer phenomena: glowing noctilucent clouds, known in Danish as lysende natskyer.

📸The winner of the Danish Underwater Photography championship.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

✈️ Air travel is getting a little simpler. The EU has agreed on new passenger rights that will require airlines to include both a personal item and a cabin suitcase in ticket prices from 2027. Families with children under 14 will be guaranteed seats together at no extra cost, and passengers will no longer be charged for correcting name mistakes on tickets. The deal also preserves compensation of up to €600 for major delays, despite pressure from some countries and airlines to reduce passenger protections.

Political scene

⚖️ A political controversy has sparked a wider debate about second chances after #MeToo. Following criticism of SF (Green Left) leader Pia Olsen Dyhr’s decision to hire a former adviser previously accused of misconduct, the adviser has now resigned. Beyond the political fallout, commentators say the case raises a difficult question we still struggle with: when has someone paid their social penalty, and when should they be allowed to return to public life? Others argue that any path toward forgiveness must also involve those affected by the original behavior, not just the person seeking redemption.

🚕 Taxi drivers could face new legal restrictions. Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) say they are ready to explore making it illegal for taxi drivers to have intercourse with passengers during a taxi ride. The proposal comes after a series of cases raised concerns about consent when intoxicated passengers are sent home by taxi. Supporters argue that existing laws leave too much uncertainty in situations where proving consent is difficult, while critics question whether consensual relationships between adults should be criminalized.

⚓ The Navy is trying to recruit former employees back. Facing growing staff shortages, the Navy has begun contacting former sailors in the hope of persuading them to return to service. More than one in 10 positions are currently vacant, while some units operating around Greenland and the Faroe Islands reportedly lack a quarter of their required personnel. Employee representatives welcome the initiative but say long-term solutions will require better pay and working conditions to attract and retain skilled staff.

🌍 Spain is taking a different approach to immigration than much of Europe. The Spanish parliament has approved a pathway to legal status for an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants already living in the country. Supporters argue the move will help fill labor shortages and bring workers from the informal economy into the tax system, while critics fear it could encourage more irregular migration. The decision stands in sharp contrast to the increasingly restrictive immigration debates taking place across much of Europe, including in Denmark.

🛂 Denmark is again pushing for asylum centers outside Europe. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and several European leaders have called for the rapid creation of migration and return centers in countries outside the EU. In a joint letter, they argue that Europe must do more to increase deportations of rejected asylum seekers and weaken human smuggling networks. The proposal builds on initiatives such as Italy’s agreement with Albania and reflects a shift in European migration policy.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🧠 Many men struggle in silence. New figures show that one in four men report high stress levels, one in 10 experience loneliness, and more than twice as many men as women die by suicide. During Men’s Health Week, researchers say the problem is not a lack of friends, but a lack of close relationships where men can talk openly about worries and setbacks. The advice is simple: make time for friendships, build an identity beyond work, and be willing to start the difficult conversations yourself.

📱 Put your phone away; your child is playing. A new playground in Copenhagen is encouraging adults to stay off their phones while their children play. Signs around the playground ask parents to keep screens in their pockets and focus on being present, though there is no ban or enforcement. The initiative, created by Danica, aims to give families a break from constant notifications and social media.

⚔️ A medieval world championship has become bigger than expected. More than 900 armored combat matches will take place at Spøttrup Castle in Salling this July after registrations exceeded organizers’ expectations. The event, which features competitors fighting with swords and medieval armor, originally planned for around 160 matches. Organizers are now urgently looking for 30-40 additional volunteers to help run the four-day championship and ensure the battles do not continue late into the night.

🚢 Denmark and India are teaming up to search for a 400-year-old shipwreck. In September, researchers will begin looking for the remains of Øresund, the first Danish ship to sail to Asia, which sank off the coast of India in 1619. Historians believe the wreck could reveal new details about the earliest connections between Denmark and India and King Christian IV’s ambitions to establish trade with Asia.

🏆 Aarhus is now home to Europe’s Museum of the Year. Den Gamle By has won the European Museum of the Year Award, beating 33 other museums from across the continent. The open-air museum is known for bringing history to life through recreated streets and homes spanning more than 500 years of everyday life. Judges praised its ability to make history accessible, while also helping local communities connect with their own heritage.

🎨 Aarhus has a new cultural landmark. ARoS has opened As Seen Below – the dome, a spectacular new light installation by American artist James Turrell that has been ten years in the making. The giant 40-meter-wide dome invites visitors to experience the sky as part of the artwork itself, with changing views that shift throughout the day. ARoS describes it as Turrell’s largest and most ambitious Skyspace installation anywhere in the world.

🗿 Lolland’s answer to Stonehenge is finally complete. After nearly 20 years of construction, the final granite sculpture has been unveiled at Dodekalitten near Kragenæs, completing a circle of 12 giant stone figures overlooking the Småland Sea. The artwork combines landscape design and a unique sound installation that responds to nature’s rhythms. What began as a small art project in 2006 has grown into one of the country’s most distinctive landmarks, attracting up to 100,000 visitors each year.

🎨 A 50-meter-high silo is being transformed into one of the country’s largest artworks. Canadian street artist Emmanuel “Young” Jarus is painting a 2,300-square-meter mural on Esbjerg Harbor as part of the city’s street art festival. The artwork will wrap the entire silo in a scene of ocean water with a small rowing boat at its center, celebrating Esbjerg’s connection to the sea. The project is part of a 3.5 million DKK initiative to bring street art and museum culture together, and the finished mural is expected to become a new landmark for the city.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🏥 More money for healthcare. The government and Danish Regions have agreed on a new budget that will provide an extra 2.3 billion DKK for the healthcare system in 2027. A major focus is youth mental health, with a total of 1 billion DKK earmarked for psychiatry services between now and 2028. The agreement also includes 4.2 billion DKK for hospital construction. The deal comes as hospitals continue to face staff shortages, long waiting lists, and growing demand for mental health support among young people.

📦 Shopping from outside the EU is about to get more expensive. From July 1, all packages arriving from non-EU countries will be subject to a new minimum customs fee of 22 DKK, even for low-value purchases that were previously exempt. The charge applies per product category rather than per package, meaning mixed orders can trigger multiple fees.

🏠 Fewer surprise tax adjustments for homeowners. Parliament has agreed on a temporary shortcut that will allow property valuations in 2026 and 2027 to be calculated using average local housing price trends rather than individual reassessments. The move is designed to reduce years of delays and prevent old tax statements from being reopened when new valuations arrive. While the system may be less precise for some properties, housing experts say it should give most homeowners certainty.

🚗 Planning a road trip this summer? Experts say a typical self-drive holiday can easily cost 20,000-25,000 DKK, but a few simple choices can make a noticeable difference. Bringing your own food for the journey can save hundreds of DKK, while driving 110 km/h instead of 130 km/h may cut fuel consumption by up to 20%. Motorists are also advised to plan refueling stops a bit further from the highways, ideally in the morning or between 6-10PM.

🏖️ Check if Denmark owes you holiday money. If you have worked in Denmark and changed jobs, you may have unused holiday pay waiting for you. Through Borger.dk, employees can view and request holiday pay earned from previous employment. If not claimed, the money will go towards a holiday fund.

State of the markets

🇪🇺 A major battle over Europe’s future budget is beginning. EU leaders have started negotiations on the bloc’s next seven-year budget, worth an estimated 13 trillion DKK. Denmark is among the countries pushing for more money to be spent on defense, while other member states want to preserve agricultural and regional development subsidies. Mette Frederiksen has called the current proposal “unacceptable,” arguing that Europe’s security challenges require new priorities. The negotiations are expected to be one of the EU’s biggest political battles over the coming months.

🔓 Hackers are reportedly demanding 160 million DKK from Novo Nordisk. The pharmaceutical giant has confirmed that cybercriminals gained access to internal systems and copied non-public data, including some personal information. The ransomware group FulcrumSec claims it stole more than a terabyte of data and spent over two months inside company networks before demanding payment.

🏖️ Should some of your taxes follow you to your holiday home? The government is exploring whether municipalities with large numbers of summer houses should receive a share of the municipal taxes paid by the owners. Supporters argue that tourist destinations spend millions maintaining nature areas and public facilities used by seasonal visitors, while receiving little extra tax revenue in return. The idea is still under review, but if adopted, it could become part of a reform of municipal finances scheduled for 2029.

International Community HQ

⚠️ Authorities are monitoring a small rise in far-right extremism among some young Ukrainian refugees. Several municipalities have reported cases involving extremist symbols and contact with far-right groups. Officials stress that the issue concerns only a small minority of the more than 65,000 Ukrainians who have arrived since the war began. Researchers point to trauma and difficulties adapting to a new country as possible factors and say early intervention is important to prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into extremist environments.

⚽ From Bornholm to the World Cup. Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder Amir Hadžiahmetović could make his World Cup debut this week, but his journey began in the small town of Nexø. Born on Bornholm to Bosnian refugee parents who arrived during the Balkan wars, he spent his childhood playing football on the island before moving to Bosnia at age 12. Now a professional player for Hull City, Amir remains a source of pride for both Bosnia and Bornholm.

Community Noticeboard

🔥 Sankt Hans Eve (Danish Midsummer)📍Nationwide | June 23 | One of Denmark’s most beloved traditions. Expect bonfires, speeches, live music, picnics, and communities gathering by beaches and parks.

📻 Skagen Music Festival. Denmark’s oldest music festival returns to Skagen July 2–5 with folk music and a cozy atmosphere. A perfect excuse to explore Denmark’s northernmost tip while enjoying live music by the sea. Ticket required.

🎻 Hindsgavl Festival — International Chamber Music. One of Europe’s leading chamber music festivals takes place at Hindsgavl Castle near Middelfart from July 1–8. Expect world-class musicians in beautiful historic surroundings. Ticket required.

🎖️ 6 July Days — Battle of Fredericia Celebrations. Fredericia commemorates its historic 1849 battle on July 5–6 with military parades, cannon salutes, jazz concerts, guided walks, street food and living history events across the city. Most activities are free.

⛵ Tall Ships Races 2026. Some of the world’s most beautiful sailing ships will dock in Aalborg Harbor from July 30 –August 2. Expect ship visits and a festive atmosphere along the waterfront. Free to attend. Also in Aarhus this week.

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌍 “We’re not safe’: Denmark warns Trump’s Greenland ambitions remain” – Turkiye Today

🪨 “Japan to send delegation to Greenland to evaluate rare earth extraction, Nikkei says” – Japan Today

🌱 “Denmark drops staggering $2.5B lifeline to trap factory pollution” – dagens.com

🚜 “Denmark scraps agriculture minister after 130 years” – The Scottish Farmer

👴 “The 3 best countries in Scandinavia for American Retirees” – Investopedia

🪖 “Denmark says its military will deploy battalion in Latvia” – Reuters

1. 14,300 citizenship applicants will likely have to wait until Spring 2027 for a decision.

2. For the first time since 2023, interest rates have increased 0.25% to prevent inflation.

3. The greatest Danish song of all time is Alberte Winding’s Lyse Nætter.

Letter from the editor

Open Letter to the Minister for Immigration and Integration

Hej Morten,

Congratulations on your new position. I’m writing to you as a fellow party member. An international of Romanian origin. Not a criminal, despite what some media stories would occasionally lead people to believe.

I understand that this may not have been your dream ministry. But when the music stops, we all take the chair available to us. No hard feelings there.

However, you don’t have to follow the path of previous ministers. You have an opportunity to write your own story and finally show the 15%+ of the population (nearly one million people) with international backgrounds that there is someone in government willing to listen to us.

So far, this ministry has built a reputation. From the perspective of many internationals, it often appears more focused on deportations, reducing integration support, and making citizenship harder to obtain than on helping people become part of Danish society. The message many receive is simple: you are welcome to work here, pay taxes here, and help keep society running. But becoming fully accepted as part of the national community is another matter.

Look, I understand what Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is worried about. She does not want the far right to gain ground, and she does not want her government to appear weak on crime. But the people currently being affected are not criminals.

Otherwise, I cannot understand why 14,300 people who have fulfilled all the requirements for citizenship, passed all the tests, paid all the fees, spent many years here, and followed all the rules are still being kept waiting with no clear timeline for a decision.

You say that you cannot move forward until the expert commission reports on whether citizenship candidates can be screened for anti-democratic views. The commission was supposed to deliver its conclusions this summer. Now the deadline has been pushed to the end of the year. Is it really worth keeping 14,300 people in limbo while waiting for a report that may ultimately conclude that such a system is impossible to implement?

Think about the contradiction. Democracy is built on freedom of thought and expression. If the state starts examining people’s opinions for signs of anti-democratic thinking, it immediately enters difficult territory. People’s views change over time. Democracies should judge actions, not beliefs. The commission is effectively being asked to find a way to reconcile ideological screening with rights protected by the Constitution and European conventions. That is a difficult task, to say the least.

You often say your focus is on removing people who threaten society. Fine. But what about the rest of us? The people who followed the rules. Who built businesses, filled labor shortages, raised families, volunteered in communities, and genuinely care about this country.

Why does the conversation always seem to focus on those who break the rules rather than those who follow them?

The only thing the current freeze is achieving is the erosion of trust. It is weakening people’s connection to Denmark. It is making them question whether they will ever truly belong, regardless of how much they contribute.

Please do not let that happen. Come and talk to us. Get to know us. Meet the people behind the statistics. And use the powers you have to show that integration is not only about obligations but also about belonging. I believe you know how to do that.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Denmark Saw the Autism We Couldn’t by Stephanie Lund

2. Finding a Voice in Local Politics as an International in Denmark by John Dixon

3. Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Denmark’s National Treasure by Gosia Kozlowska

4. Why do Danes always talk about the weather? by Sigga Hansen

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Are you the next star of our weekly “Last Week in Denmark” podcast? We are looking for two audio editors to join our podcast technical team that makes the magic possible. Expect a couple of hours every other week. If you are interested write to info@lwid.dk

Did you know that your business in Denmark can sell everywhere in the European Single Market without exporting? Join Keys to Europe’s Market event in Aalborg (Hadsundvej 25) on June 26 from 16:00 and find out everything you need to know about selling across the European Union. You will meet seven experts in the field and go home with a new world open to you. Both entrepreneurs and wannabe entrepreneurs are welcome. Sign up here.

Are you planning to follow the FIFA World Cup? Join the “Last Week in Denmark” fantasy league, where we play together. There will be prizes, including custom footballs.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸Check out the phenomenon, known in Danish as a dravat, that forms when cold air from a storm pushes under warm, humid air, creating a rolling “curtain” of clouds.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

🏛️ A politician with Polish roots could soon become one of the most powerful figures in Danish politics. Holbæk mayor Christina Krzyrosiak Hansen is being backed by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for the role of deputy leader of the Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats). Krzyrosiak is Denmark’s youngest mayor and has led Holbæk since 2018. If elected, she would become one of the highest-ranking politicians in the country’s largest governing party.

🦐 A fishing dispute on Rømø is turning into a political headache. Local shrimp fishermen have been forced to stop fishing in waters where they have worked for decades. This happened after authorities began enforcing a little-used 1984 rule linked to unexploded wartime mines on the seabed. Fishermen say the affected area accounts for most of their catch. With jobs now at risk, politicians are pressing the government to review whether the long-ignored restriction still makes sense today.

🩺 Women’s health is getting a dedicated voice in Parliament. Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) has appointed Denmark’s first spokesperson for women’s health, a move aimed at drawing greater attention to issues such as endometriosis, fertility, menopause, and conditions that affect women differently from men. The government has also earmarked 160 million DKK for research in the field, arguing that women’s health has long been under-researched.

🚆 Another week, another rail debate. After a fallen power line near Sorø caused major train disruptions, politicians are once again arguing about how to fix the railway system. Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) wants private operators to compete with DSB, arguing that competition would improve punctuality and service. Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) points instead to years of underinvestment and wants billions spent on upgrading the rail network. Meanwhile, new Transport Minister Signe Munk has asked DSB to explain what went wrong and how future breakdowns can be avoided.

🏠 Thinking of tearing down an old house and starting from scratch? That could become more difficult in the future. The government wants to introduce an “explain or preserve” principle that would require homeowners to justify why a building should be demolished before receiving permission to rebuild. The proposal is aimed at protecting both the architectural heritage and the climate, as new construction generates large amounts of CO₂. Ministers are also considering a demolition tax and stricter recycling requirements.

🧠 The government wants to rethink how children receive mental health support. With waiting times in youth psychiatry continuing to grow, Health Minister Ida Auken says an emergency plan is being prepared to help young people access support more quickly. The government is also exploring whether psychologists and physiotherapists can play a bigger role alongside psychiatrists. The move builds on a nationwide system introduced this year that gives children easier access to local mental health services before problems become severe enough to require specialist treatment.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🎶 Denmark has chosen its favorite song. After nearly 300,000 people cast their votes in DR’s Top 100 poll, Alberte Winding’s Lyse Nætter was crowned the greatest Danish song of all time. The song has become a soundtrack to some of life’s biggest moments, from weddings and confirmations to funerals. Few songs are as deeply woven into modern Danish culture, and for many people, hearing the opening notes instantly brings back memories. Listen to TOP100 here.

🎵 The new culture minister wants more people making music together. Culture Minister Zenia Stampe says music communities can help counter loneliness and excessive screen time. The government’s new program includes plans for a national music strategy focused on music education and support for female artists. Stampe, who has played the flute since childhood, argues that playing music with others is becoming increasingly important in today’s isolated society.

🎭 Copenhagen is opening a new playground for creative ideas. This summer, the city will launch its first cultural “free zone” in a raw space beneath Langebro, where artists and community groups can test new concepts without navigating lengthy application processes. The pilot project runs until the end of 2026, with the municipality providing the venue and practical support. More than 60 cultural actors have already expressed interest, and city leaders hope the experiment will make it easier for creativity, and community events to flourish in the capital.

🚗 Tesla’s most advanced driver-assistance system has been approved for use in Denmark. The new FSD Supervised technology allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals, but they must still pay attention and be ready to take over. The Road Traffic Authority believes the system could improve road safety, while FDM (Association of Motorists) warns that it may create a false sense of security. During a test drive, FDM observed the car making a serious mistake.

💉 Authorities are warning against buying weight-loss drugs from unofficial sources. Criminal networks are producing fake versions of popular medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, with some counterfeit products found to contain bacteria or entirely different ingredients. While authorities say medicines obtained through doctors and authorized pharmacies remain safe, they warn that products bought through social media or unverified websites can pose serious health risks.

🌻 Children and pensioners are becoming garden buddies in Odense. Through a project called Bedste-haver, daycare children regularly visit the gardens of older residents to plant flowers and spend time together. Organizers say the initiative helps create meaningful connections between the youngest and oldest generations, while many pensioners describe the visits as a source of joy and energy. The project has been running for about a year and is now looking for more seniors willing to open their gardens to young helpers.

🎤 Nearly half of children feel uncomfortable presenting in front of their class. A new survey found that 47% of 9-14-year-olds have experienced significant anxiety when giving presentations, while more than one in four have tried to avoid one. Psychologists stress that nerves are normal and can even be helpful, but warn that repeatedly avoiding presentations may make the fear worse. Their advice to parents is simple: encourage children to face small challenges step by step, ask questions rather than immediately offering reassurance, and celebrate brave attempts, even when things do not go perfectly.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🏦 Interest rates are going up again. The European Central Bank has raised its key interest rate from 2% to 2.25%, the first increase since 2023, citing concerns that higher energy prices could fuel inflation. For many people, nothing will change immediately, but homeowners with short-term variable-rate mortgages such as F-kort loans may soon see higher monthly payments. Analysts estimate the increase could add around 150 DKK per month for every 1 million DKK borrowed.

🛒 Food prices are falling, even as inflation edges higher. Consumer prices were 1.9% higher in May than a year ago, driven mainly by more expensive hotels and electricity. At the same time, supermarket price wars helped push down the cost of food. Economists say rising energy prices could make more goods and services more expensive later this year, but for now, most people’s wages are still growing faster than inflation.

🏠 Higher commuting tax deductions on the way. The government wants to temporarily increase the commuting tax deduction (kørselsfradrag) for the rest of 2026, benefiting around 1.1 million people. A typical commuter could save about 2,300 DKK in tax, while low-income earners would receive additional support. The proposal is designed to offset higher fuel costs without cutting petrol taxes and is expected to be fast-tracked through Parliament before the summer recess. If you travel more than 12 km to work, this applies to you.

⚡ Your electricity bill could eventually go up again. The temporary reduction in the electricity tax, introduced to help households cope with rising living costs, is currently set to expire at the end of 2027. The government has not found the money to extend it, meaning electricity could become more expensive again unless a new agreement is reached.

State of the markets

👵 Denmark is getting older and more unevenly populated. New projections suggest that by 2040, 42 municipalities could lose residents. Only 11 are expected to grow by more than 10%, mainly around Copenhagen and in East Jutland. The country’s population is also aging, with the share of people aged 70 and over expected to rise from 16% to 19% over the next 14 years. The forecast highlights a growing challenge for many smaller municipalities as young people continue to move towards larger cities.

📈 The government wants more people investing in Danish companies. Following the stock market debut of juice company Bar Djus, ministers unveiled plans to make share investing more attractive. The proposal would raise the limit on the tax-advantaged Aktiesparekonto from 174,200 DKK to 500,000 DKK and reduce some tax burdens for investors. The hope is that more private investment will help startups and growing businesses access the capital they need to expand.

🤖 Companies are starting to ask whether AI is worth the cost. Several global firms have begun rethinking how they use AI after seeing costs rise faster than measurable benefits. The trend is also in Denmark, where some businesses are scaling back AI subscriptions introduced without a clear business case. Despite fears of widespread automation, a recent study found that only 7% of companies have fully autonomous AI systems in operation.

⚡ Former customers of electricity company Velkommen say they are receiving unexpected bills years after ending their contracts. Some of the payment demands contain little explanation of what the charges cover. The Utility Regulator is already investigating the company and has received nearly 1,000 complaints about Velkommen and related firms this year. Consumer groups advise people not to pay bills they do not recognize.

International Community HQ

💸 A man who sent a few hundred DKK to his mother in Sudan was told by tax authorities that he owed tax on nearly 3 million DKK. Police say his identity was stolen and used in a major money laundering scheme linked to several exchange offices in Copenhagen. The revelation came after he spent almost four years paying excessive taxes, trying to clear his name. The case is one of 70–80 similar identity theft cases being investigated as part of a money laundering scandal involving more than 1 billion DKK. After receiving new information from the police, the tax agency has now reversed its decision and will refund the money he overpaid.

Community Noticeboard

Breakfast Clubbing 📍Granola, Værnedamsvej 5 Copenhagen | 🗓 every other Thursday, 08:30 | Check for the next date here

Weekly Creative Writing Workshop ~ June Sessions📍Hosted at Artistic Square, Studsgade 17, Aarhus C 8000 | 🗓 June 20 and 27 from 16:30 to 18:00 | 200 DKK | sign up here

International Kite Flyers Meeting 📍 Fanø beach, South Jutland | Mid June | Free Read more here

Riverboat Jazz Festival 📍Silkeborg, East Jutland | Jun 24-28 | Some free Find out more here

Pop up Morning Yoga 📍Kongens Have, MHPJ+G5, Copenhagen | Jun 18, 9:00 - 10:00 | 125 DKk + service fee Find out more here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌍 “Denmark to buy long-range stealth cruise missiles from the U.S.” – UK Defence Journal

🐷 “How campaigners beat industrial farming in Denmark’s ‘pig election’” – The Guardian

🔌 “Ireland’s range anxiety: Denmark has a similar population, look at the amount of EV chargers there” – The Irish Times

🕳️ “Mysterious 2,500-year-old holes across Denmark leave archaeologists searching for answers” – Arkeonews

🐋 “Autopsy fails to find clear cause of whale death in Denmark” – AP News

1. A new government comprising Socialdemokratiet, SF, Radikale Venstre, and Moderaterne has been formed with Mette Frederiksen at the helm.

2. A key promise is to eventually offer free dental care.

3. They also aim to remove the 25% VAT on fruits and vegetables and halve the VAT on all other food.

Letter from the editor

It only took two months to end up with what was predicted on election night. We now have a center-left government made up of four parties: Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), SF (Green Left), Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), and Moderaterne (Social Liberals), with Mette Frederiksen remaining as prime minister in what will likely be her final term.

On paper, this should be good news for internationals. Several of the parties involved have historically supported a more open approach. Yet after reading the new 76-page government program, I was left with a different impression.

Internationals are barely mentioned.

In fact, references to us can almost be counted on one hand. The government confirms that the current immigration policy will remain unchanged and that there should continue to be control over how many people come here. It acknowledges that international workers have contributed significantly to the strong economic growth. And it includes a commitment to protect children with ethnic minority backgrounds from violence in schools.

That is essentially the extent of it.

There is nothing about citizenship reform. Nothing about permanent residence. Nothing about attracting international talent. Nothing about retaining international graduates after they finish their studies. Nothing about helping accompanying spouses enter the labor market. Nothing about improving inclusion or strengthening the sense of belonging among the hundreds of thousands of internationals who already call Denmark home.

This is strange because the government’s own economic vision depends heavily on a growing workforce. The document explicitly recognizes our contribution to recent economic success. Yet there is little discussion of how Denmark plans to remain attractive in the global race for talent.

The appointment of Morten Bødskov as Minister for Immigration and Integration offers some room for optimism. Unlike his predecessors, he has not built his political career around immigration policy. His background is largely in business and economic growth. That could lead to a more labor-market-oriented approach. At the same time, he is a close ally of Mette Frederiksen and has been entrusted with continuing the existing immigration model rather than reforming it.

And considering what was waiting if we’d gotten a right-wing government, I’ll take the status quo over reforms that would have made our lives in Denmark even more difficult.

It is unfortunate that the pro-internationals political parties couldn’t have a more significant impact on this issue, but at least we can hope that they will stop attempts to make it even harder for us. So that’s another positive outlook.

I hope with time, the focus will switch from how to punish “bad internationals” (whatever that means) to how to support internationals with building a dignified life in Denmark. I am honored that our effort has been recognized in economic growth, but they need to see us as more than dollar signs.

We take the most risky jobs in Denmark. We take most of the jobs that uphold the welfare system and also those that build our society. We prop up innovation by creating thousands of start-ups. We protect the cornerstone of Danish society by volunteering and joining organizations in decline. We spend most of our youth and adult lives here. Our children keep Denmark young.

For now, it seems the government sees us primarily as workers rather than future citizens. At the same time, a center-left government gives us the chance to at least have a dialogue with the people in power and try to make them see us. As more than just workers. So there is hope moving forward.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Finding a Voice in Local Politics as an International in Denmark by John Dixon

2. Denmark Saw the Autism We Couldn’t by Stephanie Lund

3. A Patient Tutor, a Complex Language, and a Lot of Vowels by Paulina Stachnik

4. You’re the Best-Kept Secret in Your Organization by Florin Lungu

🎙️ The Last Week in Denmark podcast is taking a summer break. After a busy season, we’re pressing pause until the first week of August. Thank you for listening and supporting the show. We’ll be back after the holidays with fresh episodes and new stories from around the country. ☀️In the meantime, feel free to check our episodes from Season 5 here.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Did you know that with your business in Denmark you can sell everywhere in the European Single Market without exporting? Join Keys to Europe’s Market event in Aalborg (Hadsundvej 25) on June 26 from 16 o’clock and find out everything you need to know about selling across the European Union. You will meet seven experts in the field and go home with a bag full of opportunities. Both entrepreneurs and wannabe entrepreneurs are welcome. Sign up here.

Are you planning to follow the FIFA World Cup? Join the “Last Week in Denmark” fantasy league where we play together and the best among us will there be prizes, among which I can already mention custom-made football balls.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 Photos from a very rainy week.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

So, what are the wishes of the new government?

DEFENSE

• Increase defense and preparedness spending to at least 5% of GDP by 2030.

EDUCATION

• Invest 5 billion DKK in the education system to recruit more teachers and renovate buildings.

• Raise the minimum age to use social media to 15, with no parental exemptions.

• Raise social assistance by at least 1,000 DKK per month for vulnerable young people with certain psychiatric diagnoses.

• The 100 public schools with the weakest results in Danish and mathematics will receive targeted support from 2027.

HEALTH

• Make dental care free for everyone over the next decade. The first to receive it will be vulnerable groups and disability pensioners.

GREEN TRANSITION

• Major reform of pig farming. Focus on improving animal welfare.

• New support for small-scale farms (especially organic production and plant-based agriculture). Make it easier to access loans and take over old farms.

• Increase domestic production of fruits and vegetables.

• Designate 30% of land for nature, including 10% under strict protection.

• Expand the marine protected areas and set stronger measures against pollution at sea.

• National ban on pesticides in vulnerable groundwater areas. Protecting drinking water is a key priority for the new government.

• Local residents and municipalities to receive a larger share of the benefits when renewable energy infrastructure is built nearby. This could include community funds for local facilities and additional money for municipalities that host wind farms or solar parks.

• Major expansion of renewable energy production and a mandate to replace fossil fuels with electricity wherever possible. Focus on transport, heating, and industrial production.

PROGRESS

• Use AI to improve public administration and free up the equivalent of 30,000 full-time positions. This doesn’t mean that they plan to fire 30,000 people, but rather to avoid hiring more people in the public system.

• Create a national AI strategy for schools and education.

• Increase public research spending to at least 1% of GDP.

🇪🇺 The government is betting on Europe. One of the clearest messages in the new government program is that Denmark wants closer cooperation with the EU and Nordic countries. The government argues that Europe must become less dependent on the United States, China, and Russia and plans to strengthen cooperation on defense, technology, energy, and foreign policy. Analysts describe it as one of the most ambitious pro-European shifts in decades.

🌾 Agriculture loses its dedicated ministry after 130 years. For the first time since 1896, Denmark no longer has a Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries. Its responsibilities will be split across several ministries, with nature, animal welfare, fisheries, food safety, and agriculture now handled separately. Supporters see the move as a sign that animal welfare should no longer be viewed only through the lens of agricultural production.

🌍 Two ministers with immigrant roots join the new cabinet. The new government includes Climate Minister Samira Nawa, whose family background is Afghan, and Social Affairs Minister Monika Rubin, who is the daughter of a Polish mother and Persian father. While Denmark has had ministers with immigrant backgrounds before, these appointments reflect a country whose political leadership is slowly beginning to look more like the society it represents.

👩‍⚖️ For the first time, women outnumber men in government. The new government includes 11 women and 10 men, making it the first in Danish history with a female majority among ministers. The milestone comes shortly after the election produced the most gender-balanced parliament ever, with women holding 48% of seats. While women remain underrepresented in some parties, the new cabinet reflects a long-term trend toward greater gender balance in Danish politics.

🏛️ Talk of life after Mette Frederiksen is growing. The appointment of Peter Hummelgaard as finance minister has sparked intense speculation about who will eventually succeed Mette Frederiksen as leader of the Socialdemokratiet. Several political commentators see the move as a signal that Hummelgaard is her preferred successor, a decision that created tensions inside the party. The debate has also revived rumors that Frederiksen could pursue an international leadership role before the next election.

• The Finance Minister is the second most powerful person in government after the prime minister. The position was held by another Social Democrat, Nicolai Wammen, for the previous Mette-led governments.

• Nicolai Wammen is from an opposing faction in the party, while Peter Hummelgaard is from Mette’s faction. As this is Mette’s last mandate, she is using the chance to point towards one of her own as the successor, or the “crown prince” as the Danish media calls it.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🍽️ Five restaurants earned their first Michelin star. Denmark added five new one-star restaurants to the Michelin Guide this year: Lille Mølle, Akmé, ESSE, Bach & Nurup, and Okê. The awards mean that Aalborg gained a new Michelin restaurant and Skagen received its first-ever Michelin star. At the top end of the guide, Kadeau joined Geranium and Jordnær in the exclusive three-star category, confirming the country’s position as one of Europe’s strongest food destinations.

🚴 A historic milestone for Danish cycling. By winning the Giro d’Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has now claimed victories in cycling’s three biggest races: the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and Giro d’Italia. Only a handful of cyclists have achieved the feat, often referred to as completing cycling’s Triple Crown. For many sports fans, it confirms Vingegaard’s place among the greatest riders of his generation and adds another chapter to Denmark’s remarkable success in international cycling.

🐦 More people are stopping to listen to the birds. Interest in birdwatching has surged across the country, particularly among young people. Experts credit a combination of nature-focused lifestyles and apps that can identify birds from their songs. The trend reflects a wider shift toward outdoor hobbies. For us, birdwatching may be one of the easiest ways to discover nature while meeting people with similar interests.

☀️ We lead Europe in skin cancer cases. A new report shows that Denmark has the highest rate of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in Europe. Experts point to a combination of fair skin and decades of tanning culture. Around one in four people will develop some form of skin cancer before the age of 80, and the number of cases continues to rise. Health organizations are now urging young people to take UV warnings more seriously and to rethink the idea that a summer tan is worth the risk.

🚲 A pedal boat went on holiday in Sweden. A yellow pedal boat from a campsite near Voerså in North Denmark somehow travelled around 100 kilometres across the Kattegat and washed up on a Swedish beach. The owner believes someone forgot to secure it after a trip, allowing currents to carry it all the way to Sweden. The boat, worth around 25,000 DKK, will soon be collected and brought home. Remarkably, this is the second time one of the business’ pedal boats has made the journey across the sea on its own.

🏫 A controversial “timeout school” has not received a single student. One year ago, Odense created a special school where disruptive students could be removed from their regular classes for up to 15 days. The initiative sparked national debate, but the classrooms have remained empty. Instead, a mobile team of psychologists, social workers, and education specialists has been sent directly to schools 16 times to help students before problems escalate.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

As this edition is focused on the political framework of the new government, let’s see what ideas they have relating to our pockets:

• Remove VAT (moms) on fruits and vegetables and reduce it by half on all other food. We should notice considerably lower prices (between 12.5% and 25%) once this is implemented.

• Temporary increase of the commuting deduction (befordringsfradrag). This tax deduction currently applies to people who live more than 12 km from the workplace. No specific amount has been mentioned.

• The 5% “top top skat” (tax) on personal income above 2.59 million DKK per year will be removed. It was barely introduced this year.

• The 7.5% mellemskat (tax) on personal income above 641,200 DKK per year will be abolished. It was also just introduced this year.

• Around 10,000 DKK extra per year for the poorest pensioners. Around 266,000 pensioners are in that category.

• A higher inheritance tax will be introduced. No further details yet.

• Free public transport for people under 22 years old and generally cheaper public transport for everyone. The timeline has not yet been announced.

• Lower energy costs are a political priority. This means there will be multiple measures to push the energy costs down.

Before you celebrate cheaper food on the way, keep in mind that introducing differentiated VAT will take a minimum of 2 years and can only be done if we reform the current digital systems used. If the similar update of property valuation systems is a sign, then we’re in for a long road.

Also, to pay for all the government proposals, more money will have to be collected. For you it means that tax deductions will be frozen for the next two years (instead of being adjusted to inflation), effectively meaning that you will have a higher income tax.

💰 A record 127,800 people in Denmark are now US dollar millionaires. The number of people with investable assets worth more than 1 million US dollars (around 6.5 million DKK) grew by 10,700 last year, according to a new report from Capgemini. Rising stock markets and higher property values helped drive the increase, making this the highest number ever recorded. The report also found that 420 people now belong to the ultra-wealthy category, with investable assets exceeding 30 million US dollars.

💰 Thousands of part-time workers are owed overtime pay. Following an EU court ruling, municipalities and regions must compensate part-time employees who worked extra hours but were not paid overtime under Danish rules. The bill is expected to exceed 3.3 billion DKK, including more than 850 million DKK in the healthcare sector alone. The challenge now is identifying who is entitled to compensation, meaning many workers may have to wait months before seeing any money.

State of the markets

What is expected on the markets from the new government?

• A tech tax will be introduced on large technology companies. No further details, besides the desire to collect 1 billion DKK per year in this way.

• Homeownership could become easier for first-time buyers as the government explores lower taxes, lower fees, and new financing options.

• New measures are planned to limit short-term rentals that remove homes from the regular housing market.

• Reduce waiting times for construction permits and simplify building regulations. The aim is to make it easier and quicker to renovate and convert housing across the country.

• Empty sites, underused buildings, attics, basements, and other existing spaces could be converted into housing as part of a broader effort to increase supply without relying solely on new construction.

• Remove landfill fees for asbestos waste and explore state-backed loans that would make it easier to finance roof replacement.

🥣 The great skyr shortage continues. If you’ve noticed empty skyr shelves at the supermarket, you’re not imagining things. Arla says sales have increased by 25% over the past two years. The boom is part of a wider protein craze, with skyr and protein drinks flying off shelves across Europe. Experts say social media recipes and a growing focus on high-protein diets are helping fuel demand.

Entrepreneurship

Let’s see what they plan for business owners. These are just proposals and not yet passed laws.

• Reduce corporate tax from 22% to 19%, gradually over the next three years.

• Reduce the administrative burdens of companies by an amount equivalent to 1% of GDP until 2035. Expect less reporting and faster approvals.

• Future business policy will increasingly focus on technologies and industries considered strategically important for European independence, including green energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technology, AI, and critical infrastructure.

International Community HQ

📝 More than 6,500 people took the citizenship test this week. Across 46 language centers, applicants for Danish citizenship faced 45 questions covering history, culture, current affairs, and Danish values. To pass, applicants must answer at least 36 questions correctly and get at least four out of five value-based questions right. At the last test, 47% of the participants passed. Try the test here. Meanwhile, thousands are awaiting response on their previous applications, after processing was paused for the two months of government negotiations

Community Noticeboard

IHC — Renting a Home in Denmark 📍Online | 🗓 Thu Jun 18, 12:00–13:15 | Free, requires sign up

IHC — International Café (Welcome Ambassadors) 📍Ørestad Library, Copenhagen | 🗓 Thu Jun 25, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign up

Copenhagen Expat Meetups 📍Copenhagen | 🗓 Thu Jun 11, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign up

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🐋 “Dead whale towed ashore in Denmark ahead of autopsy” – BBC

🇮🇷 “Denmark warns of growing terror threat linked to Iran” – Arab Times Kuwait

🚀 “One of Denmark’s biggest pension funds blacklists IPO of Elon Musk’s SpaceX” – Times of India

🇬🇱 “Greenland is part of Denmark… ‘for now’, Rubio says” – Politico

🏛️ “New Danish government vows to resist Greenland pressure and tackle cost of living” – The Guardian

👩‍💼 “Denmark PM presents new government, with majority of women” – South China Morning Post

1. Your children can get “mother tongue education” from the municipality.

2. Look out for the health bus checking for type 2 diabetes. 100,000 live with this disease unknowingly. Early detection is gold.

3. Denmark wants you to be able to swim at least 200 meters without stopping. Check the first-ever national recommendations on drowning prevention.

Letter from the editor

Tomorrow is International Children’s Day, and it feels like the perfect excuse to talk about something many international families wrestle with: What languages should our children speak?

We have many situations. Two parents from the same language background, where the child learns that language and Danish in the educational system. Two parents from different language backgrounds, where they speak Danish or English to each other, and their own languages to the child. Sometimes they only speak Danish to the child, or they replace the parent’s language(s) with English as the common language of the family.

The consensus from the experts and pedagogues is that giving your child multiple native languages is like giving them a superpower.

Why? Beyond being able to speak with more people, multilingual children often become more comfortable switching between different ways of thinking and understanding the world. Researchers have linked bilingualism to stronger problem-solving skills and greater mental flexibility. In short, speaking more than one language can be a real advantage later in life. The challenge is not convincing parents that it is worthwhile. The challenge is actually making it happen.

Here is my situation. I am Romanian, my children are half-Polish, and at home we speak European English as our common language. From the beginning, we wanted our children to grow up with all three languages (Romanian, Polish, and English) while learning Danish through school. So far, Polish and English have developed at a great pace. Danish has taken off even faster. Romanian, however, has fallen behind.

The culprit? Me. I work more than 50 hours a week, and when I come home, English is often the easiest option. It is the language we already use as a family, and I often catch myself forgetting to switch to Romanian.

That brings me to another concern. My oldest daughter has developed Danish much faster than her other languages. When she plays by herself, she talks almost entirely in Danish. And that makes me wonder.

Will she one day be more comfortable speaking Danish than speaking with us in our own languages? Will we still be able to share what Danes call *hjertesproget* – the language of the heart?

Because language is not just how we exchange information. It is how we comfort our children when they are upset. How we tell them we are proud of them. How we share family stories, jokes, traditions, and memories.

So should we simply switch to Danish as a common language in the family? Some educators would say no. They argue that parents should provide a flawless language model. If you don’t speak “perfect Danish” (and rarely does anyone), you will only be a stumbling block. Others argue that modeling mistakes and perseverance can be positive for children, but that’s no way to teach fluency. Furthermore, speaking a less comfortable language could lead to rigid conversations without emotional depth. The communication deficit can affect the child’s emotional security.

So my only solution will be to take the children to the “Romanian” and “Polish” language schools for children, hoping that professionals will do a better job than me. If you’ve never heard of it, search for “Modersmålsundervisning” and your municipality. If you are lucky, there is already such an offer. If not, you can make it happen.

If 12 children aged 6-15 want “mother tongue education,“ then the municipality is obliged to hire a teacher and provide such education for a few hours per week. Unfortunately, this is limited only to EU languages. However, some municipalities (mainly Copenhagen) have found a way to support other languages too.

What is your experience? Share your story on our social media so that others can learn from it.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. You’re the Best-Kept Secret in Your Organization by Florin Lungu

2. Sofar Sounds Arrives in Vejle to Connect Cultures by Cecilia Mena Garrido

3. The Cultural Explorer’s Diary: Power, Sisterhood, and Survival in The Daughters of Lear by Paulina Stachnik

4. The Little Viking Saga – Episode 12 – Treasures from the vacuum bag by Emily Ritchie

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

⚡ The electricity grid is struggling to keep up. Some of the biggest projects now face waits of 5–10 years before they can connect, after Energinet (the national electricity transmission operator) extended a pause on new applications. Demand is coming from data centers, large batteries, and green fuel plants. Energinet says there is currently more demand for grid access than the system can provide. They are now asking politicians to intervene and prioritize which large projects should come first in line.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🩺 Around 100,000 people may have type 2 diabetes without knowing it. To help find them, the Diabetes Association is sending a health bus around the country this summer, offering quick risk assessments and blood sugar tests at public events. The idea is simple: catch the disease before it causes serious problems. The last time the bus toured the country, it identified more than 150 people with undiagnosed diabetes and hundreds more with early warning signs.

🏊 We have the first national recommendations for what children and adults should be able to do in water. For adults, the minimum goal is swimming 200 meters without stopping, including 25 meters on your back, plus basic rescue skills like helping an unconscious person with a floating device. The recommendations come after reports that around 100 people drown every year. If you haven’t been in a swimming pool since school, this may be your sign to test whether you remember more than just the doggy paddle.

🤖 Companies increasingly expect new hires to know how to use AI tools, and schools are scrambling to adapt. Several IT and web development programs now teach students how to use AI and allow it during exams if they can explain their process. Teachers say the bigger fear is graduating students into a market where AI already handles many of the simpler junior tasks. One student put it simply: why spend twenty hours fixing coding mistakes when AI can do it in seconds?

🏕️ More parents are creating their own clubs for children who struggle to go to school. In places like Aalborg, families meet around campfires and creative activities instead of in classrooms. Their children deal with anxiety or other challenges that make school feel overwhelming. Parents say the clubs are the first places where their children feel relaxed around other people again. Families searching for similar support often use the Danish term “skolevægring” (school refusal).

💙 A man who died last autumn left 1.3 million DKK to Frederikshavn Municipality to help the Skagen area he cared deeply about. He had no children and spent years discussing local politics with friends and neighbors. Now a small group of locals, including one of his closest friends, must decide how to spend the money. Such a story is more common than you might expect in Denmark. There are hundreds of private funds established for the good of the society, which you can find in the book “Legathåndbogen” (at your nearest library).

🧳 What started as a hobby collecting souvenirs from flea markets has turned into one of the most unusual museums in the country. For more than 30 years, Hans Rossen has filled a former theater building on Langeland with around 3,000 holiday memories from around the world, everything from snow globes to a space shuttle model. Now he hopes someone else will take over the collection and continue the dream. In a time where people travel across the country just to visit quirky little museums and nostalgic experiences, the idea may still have more life in it.

🐭 Researchers are asking us to help look for signs of one of the rarest animals in Denmark: the hazel dormouse (hasselmusen). The tiny rodent has almost disappeared in recent years, but a surprise discovery in South Denmark gave researchers hope there may be unknown populations still out there. Families are now encouraged to search forests and gardens for hazelnuts with strange bite marks and/or tiny nests. This may be one of the few times in life where finding half-eaten nuts is considered scientific research.

💍 A groom lost his wedding ring in the water at Nordhavn just hours after getting married. After giving up on finding it himself, he asked for help in a local Facebook group. The next morning, a stranger arrived with a snorkel and wetsuit and found the ring in under six minutes. A good reminder that the internet is occasionally useful for something beyond arguing with others.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🏠 Alexander Mustafa Sethi from Amager has won a complaint case against the tax authorities after being charged interest on a tax mistake. The new housing tax system had calculated around 19,000 DKK incorrectly, which led to interest charges. After the homeowner complained, the interest was refunded, something a tax expert described as close to a “100-year event” because these kinds of interest repayments almost never happen. The case gives hundreds of thousands of other homeowners in similar situations the chance to recover their money.

⛽ Denmark’s independent economic advisers, often called the country’s financial watchdogs, are warning that the Iran conflict could push inflation up to 4.7% next year if oil prices remain high. Despite rising prices at the pump, they do not support cutting fuel taxes, arguing that cheaper petrol would only increase demand for oil when supplies are already under pressure. They also expect housing prices to keep rising, although higher interest rates could eventually slow the market down.

🍽️ Restaurants across North Jutland say they have plenty of customers but not enough staff. Some cafés have started closing several days a week because they cannot find kitchen workers, even during the busy summer season. Restaurant owners in Aalborg have now turned to job centers for help, something that was almost unheard of a few years ago. Back then, a Facebook post or a sign in the window was often enough to fill a vacancy.

State of the markets

🎮 A Danish game studio just released a James Bond game after spending around 1.3 billion DKK to produce it. That makes it the most expensive cultural production ever made in the country. People in the gaming industry hope the launch could push Denmark onto the global gaming map in the same way Minecraft helped Sweden years ago. The company behind the game, IO Interactive, started in Copenhagen in 1998 and now has more than 500 employees across Europe.

📈 We got our first new stock market listing in more than three years. The company is BioMar, one of the world’s largest producers of fish feed, with factories across the world and revenue of 16.5 billion DKK last year. The listing also comes at a time when the Danish stock market has become much smaller, with the number of listed companies falling from 204 in 2007 to just 114 today. Now investors are watching to see whether companies like Leo Pharma and WS Audiology could be next.

🧀 The EU has approved Arla’s takeover of the German dairy giant DMK, clearing the way for what will become Europe’s largest dairy cooperative. Together, the companies will unite more than 12,000 farmers and generate close to 19 billion euros in annual revenue. The deal had raised concerns about competition and milk prices, especially in Northern Germany, but the EU concluded there was still enough competition in the market.

🛒 The EU has fined Temu 200 million euros after investigators found unsafe and potentially illegal products on the platform. Mystery shopping tests showed that many chargers failed basic safety checks, while some baby toys were considered a high safety risk. The EU says Temu has not done enough to assess the risks of products sold through its marketplace. Temu now has until August 28 to present a plan explaining how it will fix the problems.

Entrepreneurship

🐟 A 27-year-old entrepreneur in Thy looked at piles of discarded fish skin and thought: what if this could become chips instead of waste? Now he runs a small company from a basement at the Hanstholm harbor, turning leftover fish skin into crunchy snacks that local shops and restaurants have already started selling. The idea sounds slightly insane at first. Then again, so did oat milk a few years ago.

🌍 Want to grow your business beyond Denmark? The Keys to Europe’s Market is a free event for entrepreneurs interested in reaching customers across the EU. Hear from experts on internationalization, partnerships, and market access, and be among the first to receive the new guide, The Keys to Europe’s Market. The event takes place on June 26, 16:00–19:00, in Aalborg, with food and drinks included. Registration required.

International Community HQ

🏗️ Romanian and Italian construction workers have restarted a blockade at the new super hospital in Odense, saying they are still missing around a month’s worth of wages after their employer went bankrupt. The workers rejected an offer from the main contractor that would have paid part of the money later and offered new jobs in two weeks. Instead, they returned to the gates with signs asking a simple question: “Where is our money?”

💒 Thousands of international couples who got married in Copenhagen are receiving refunds after the city discovered it had been charging wedding fees it was not legally allowed to collect. The practice affected around 12,000 couples over seven years and will cost the municipality up to 23 million DKK. The story is also a reminder of how big wedding tourism has become: around 5,000 international couples choose Copenhagen each year to tie the knot.

Community Noticeboard

Danish Pedagogy & Social Values 📍Kulturhuset Vartov, Copenhagen | 🗓 Tue Jun 9, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign up

Greater Copenhagen Neighbourhoods: Stories by the Water 📍Orientkaj Metro Station, Copenhagen | 🗓 Thu Jun 11, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign

Copenhagen Photo Festival 📍Multiple venues across Copenhagen | 🗓Jun 11-21 | Free (outdoor/street exhibitions) / ticketed (festival center) Read more here

3daysofdesign📍Showrooms across Copenhagen | 🗓Jun 10-12 | Free | Read more here

Free workshop for middle managers. Former Volvo and Renault project manager Florin Lungu is hosting a 90-minute online workshop on managing from the middle. Participants will complete a self-assessment, compare experiences with others, and leave with practical tools for handling everyday leadership challenges. June 10, 17:00–18:30.

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌷 “Queen Margrethe of Denmark hospitalized again less than 2 weeks after heart attack” – People

🏛️ “Denmark’s Frederiksen gets a second chance to form next government” – Politico

📉 “Denmark expects slower growth over next two years due to Mideast tensions” – HurriyetDailyNews

🧊 “Greenland talks with US and Denmark remain deadlocked after four months” – ArcticToday

1. The center-right government proposal failed. Mette Frederiksen called again to form what will most likely be a center-left government.

2. Thousands of Ukrainian refugees are still working in low-skilled jobs after four years in Denmark, despite labor shortages.

3. Nature is back: more wolves. Rescued bears from South Korea. A campaign to reintroduce the wild boar. A new way to look at spiders.

Letter from the editor

One of the biggest misunderstandings in Denmark’s integration debate is the belief that the story ends once a person gets a job. It doesn’t.

This week, TV2 Fyn told the story of a Ukrainian woman with 13 years of experience as an emergency doctor who now works cleaning rooms at an asylum center on Langeland. Not because she wants to, but because that was the first available job. And once she entered the system, the system considered the mission accomplished.

On paper, this is often presented as a success story. You arrive, find work (if lucky), become self-sufficient. Politicians point to employment statistics. Municipalities celebrate quick job placement.

But beneath the statistics hides a question: what happens to a society when highly educated people stop believing their skills matter?

Denmark often talks about labor shortages. About needing more workers. About needing more doctors, nurses, specialists, and qualified professionals. At the same time, many internationals with years of education and experience end up trapped in survival jobs with very little support to move forward.

And to be clear: there is absolutely nothing wrong with cleaning or practical jobs. Society depends on them. The problem begins when people are permanently locked below their abilities.

The difficult reality is that many internationals never truly escape their first job in Denmark. Once you enter low-skilled work, it becomes harder to continue language classes, harder to build professional networks, harder to navigate the recognition of qualifications, and harder to find the energy to start over again after a day of hard work.

Eventually, many simply give up.

Not because they lack motivation. But because rebuilding an entire professional identity in a new country while raising children, learning Danish, and trying to financially survive are exhausting.

The irony is that Denmark may already have part of the workforce it says it is missing.

Not outside the borders. But already here.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Tur-retur: Resettling in Denmark by Laura Matheson

2. A Patient Tutor, a Complex Language, and a Lot of Vowels by Paulina Stachnik

3. Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Denmark’s National Treasure by Gosia Kozlowska

4. Furnishing Your Apartment for Free at the Local Recycling Center by Daniel Sfita

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Opportunity: Join our weekly news commentary podcast team as the Podcast Manager. If you have around four hours a week and want to prove your skills as a podcast manager, email info@lwid.dk. What is expected? Mainly coordination of a well-running team. There will be a lengthy transition period with the current manager. Be a part of an award-winning podcast project!

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

🏛️ Mette Frederiksen has been called back to the table. The proposal from Troels Lund Poulsen to form a minority government between his party - Venstre (Liberals), Liberal Alliance (Libertarian Conservative) and Konservative (Conservatives) with support from the right-wing parties has failed. Why? Moderaterne (Social Liberals) refused to back a government where they would have to co-exist with the right-wing. As a result, Mette Frederiksen has been called back to form the government, which most likely will be a center-left government, between Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), SF (Green Left), Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) and Moderaterne.

🇺🇸 The US has opened a new 3,000-square-meter consulate in Nuuk, replacing its much smaller office at the harbor. American officials describe the building as a future meeting place for researchers, students, artists, and business leaders from Greenland and the US. But the opening comes amid continued tension over Trump’s repeated comments about taking control of Greenland, with protests planned outside the new consulate and Greenlandic leaders refusing to attend the inauguration.

🇪🇺 European leaders are concluding that the old relationship between Europe and the US will never return under Trump. According to a new analysis, Europe is increasingly acting independently on defense, trade, technology regulation, and foreign policy, while trust in the US as a stable ally continues to weaken. European leaders are now openly discussing the need for Europe to defend itself, regulate American tech giants more aggressively, and build a stronger geopolitical identity without relying on Washington.

👶 Politicians want to fix a gap in the parental leave system that can leave entrepreneurs with little or no income after having children. Under current rules, people who combine freelance work, self-employment, and part-time jobs cannot combine their incomes when parental leave payments are calculated. Some entrepreneurs say they are receiving almost nothing during maternity leave despite paying taxes like everyone else, forcing them to borrow money from family to survive the first months with a newborn.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

📱 A new study suggests social media algorithms shape people’s views more than we realize. Researchers found that even small changes in how social media platforms rank content can increase political polarization and make users more resistant to facts. But the study also found that alternative algorithms focused on “bridge-building” content or correcting misinformation could actually improve public debate and reduce division online.

🥩 We are still eating far more meat than health authorities recommend. The average person now eats around 805 grams of meat per week, more than double the official recommendation of 350 grams. Researchers found that fatty meat remains especially popular among younger and middle-aged men, while eating habits are also closely linked to education and lifestyle patterns. Despite years of climate and sustainability debates, researchers say meat consumption habits have changed very little over the past decade.

🐺 Wolves are continuing to spread across Jutland, with researchers now confirming at least 49 wolves living in 11 territories around the peninsula. New figures show the number of established wolf pairs has grown from seven to ten over the past year, with several already producing pups. Two new territories have also appeared, including a lone male wolf near Hanstholm in North Denmark. Researchers expect the wolf population to grow further in 2026 as all ten pairs are expected to attempt breeding.

🐻 Six rescued “bile bears” from South Korea are set to arrive at Knuthenborg Safaripark next month as part of an international animal rescue effort. The Asian black bears spent years living in small cages on bear farms where bile was extracted for traditional medicine, a painful practice recently banned in South Korea. For the first time, rescued bile bears will come to Europe, where they will live in large natural areas.

🐗 A new debate is emerging over whether wild boars should return after being wiped out decades ago. Organizations like Danish Society for Nature Conservation argue the animals could strengthen biodiversity by naturally disturbing soil and creating habitats for insects and plants. But farming organizations strongly oppose the idea, warning that wild boars could spread African swine fever to the pig industry. The discussion comes as Denmark remains the only country to actively eliminate a native wild animal species because it was considered too problematic.

🕷️ A spider researcher wants people to stop fearing spiders and start naming them instead. Researchers from the Natural History Museum say only around one-third of the roughly 600 spider species living in Denmark currently have Danish names, making them feel distant and unfamiliar to the public. A scientific committee is now working on giving more species names based on their appearance and habitat, including rare Bornholm spiders like the newly proposed “Klippesortspringer” (“black rock jumper”). Researchers hope the effort will make people more curious about biodiversity instead of running away from spiders.

🗣️ A new language debate is bubbling up after a study from Dansk Sprognævn found there are far more insulting words for women than for men. The discussion gained attention after rapper Per Vers proposed a series of modern “male insults” aimed at mocking toxic masculinity instead of sexuality or femininity. The debate highlights how language continues to shape ideas about masculinity and femininity in everyday life.

🩺 Young people in Region Zealand can now order free at-home STI tests directly to their door instead of visiting a doctor. The new service allows 15-29-year-olds to test themselves for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other STIs, with results delivered digitally through e-Boks or sundhed.dk.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🏠 Tensions around the Hormuz Strait are now hitting homeowners through higher mortgage rates. Analysts warn that rising oil prices are increasing fears of inflation, pushing interest rates upward at a difficult moment for many households refinancing older loans. Around 11,000 homeowners with F5 loans at Totalkredit are expected to see sharp increases in monthly payments, with costs rising by roughly 1,830 DKK per month after tax for every million kroner borrowed.

🤒 Public employees in Jutland continue to take fewer sick days than workers in the capital, according to new municipal data. Researchers say municipalities like Lemvig have consistently reported some of the country’s lowest sickness absence rates for years, while several municipalities around Copenhagen score much higher. Experts believe workplace culture and local attitudes toward sickness all play a role in the regional differences. See the map here.

State of the markets

🌍 Growing instability in the Middle East is pushing more companies in Denmark to scale back operations in the region. A survey from Danish Industry found that many businesses are either reducing activities or considering leaving the region entirely after the conflict disrupted shipping routes and damaged confidence in markets like Dubai. Companies report concerns about employee safety and the long-term stability of investments in the area.

🚛 DSV has launched its first self-driving trucks on roads in Texas, marking a major step toward autonomous freight transport. For now, the trucks still operate with safety drivers behind the wheel due to US regulations, but the company expects fully driverless operations to become possible later this year. The Danish company says the technology could help tackle driver shortages and allow trucks to operate far longer distances each year than traditional vehicles.

🔋 Massive battery parks filled with container-sized batteries could soon become a common sight as the country searches for ways to store excess green energy from wind and solar power. Experts say the facilities could play a key role in stabilizing electricity prices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels by storing cheap electricity when production is high and releasing it later when demand rises. Several large projects are already being planned, including a controversial 120-container battery park near Silkeborg.

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

Mastering CVs & LinkedIn Profiles 📍Online | Tue Jun 2, 10:00–11:30 | Free 🔗 Sign up here

Distortion — Vesterbro Street Party 📍 Vesterbro, Copenhagen | 🗓 Thu Jun 4, 16:00–22:00 | Free, requires sign up🔗Sign up here

Distortion — Havnefest (Harbour Party) 📍Copenhagen Harbour | Fri Jun 5, 16:00–22:00 | Free 🔗Sign up here

Sofar Sounds - Vejle. 📍Secret concerts in intimate locations. June 20th. 🔗Further details and tickets here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌊 “Danes try to tow dead whale from island beach after failed German rescue” – BBC

🇬🇱 “Trump’s Greenland envoy faces uphill battle on mission to make ‘friends’” – BBC

🧊 “US and EU officials converge on Greenland as Denmark stays away” – Euractiv

🤝 “Greenland says US talks make progress but island is not for sale” – Reuters

1. 62% of the jobs created in Denmark in 2025 went to internationals.

2. Foreign Ministry warns of major flight disruptions this summer.

3. Police are under fire after 13,000 cases were closed without investigation.

Letter from the editor

There is something almost ironic about the immigration debate in Denmark these days. On one hand, we are still often spoken about as a problem to manage. On the other hand, the economy is increasingly being held together by us.

This week, Dansk Erhverv published a report showing that internationals contributed 386 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP in 2025. A record. But the number that really stayed with me was something else: 62% of all new jobs created last year went to internationals. For four years in a row now, more than half of Denmark’s job growth has come from us.

Just pause for a second and think about that.

More than half.

And yet, if you followed parts of the political debate without looking at the numbers, you would think we were sitting somewhere on the edge of society instead of helping keep entire sectors running.

The truth is that internationals are no longer some temporary workforce filling random gaps here and there. We are nurses keeping hospitals functioning. We are people pouring concrete on construction sites in the rain at six in the morning. We are IT specialists, cleaners, chefs, researchers, warehouse workers, drivers, and entrepreneurs. We are also parents at school pick-up, volunteers at local events, and people trying to build a life here, just like everyone else.

And Denmark needs us more than many are willing to admit publicly.

The report makes that very clear. The country is facing a demographic reality where there will simply be fewer working-age people in the years ahead. That is not ideology. That is mathematics.

What I sometimes find missing from this conversation is honesty. If internationals contribute hundreds of billions to the economy, if we drive most of the recent job growth, and if businesses openly say they cannot find enough workers without international recruitment, then maybe the national conversation should start reflecting that reality a bit more clearly.

Not because internationals need applause every morning before work. Most people did not move here to become heroes of the labor market. They moved for opportunity, safety, love, stability, or simply a better future.

But perhaps it is time for Denmark to stop speaking about us mainly as people who are “allowed” to be here and start recognizing us as people actively helping build the country’s future alongside everyone else.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

P.S - Come to Aalborg next Saturday (May 23) for the biggest street party/carnival in Scandinavia. The theme for the party is “Without You there is no Us”.

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. The Cultural Explorer’s Diary: Power, Sisterhood, and Survival in The Daughters of Lear by Paulina Stachnik

2. Sankt Hans Aften: a summer tradition by Sigga Hansen

3. Uncovering Denmark’s Viking Past: Five Forts To Explore by Sudaay Tat Haznedar

4. Becoming a Tour Guide in Denmark: Internationals can do it too! by Daniel Sfita

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Opportunity. Join our weekly news commentary podcast team as the Podcast Manager. If you have around four hours every week to spare and want to prove your skills as a podcast manager, send an email to info@lwid.dk What is expected? Mainly coordination of a well-running team. There will be a lengthy transition period with the current podcast manager. Be a part of an award-winning podcast project!

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 The week in images from the weather photographers.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

🚔 A major investigation into police practices has triggered unusually harsh criticism from state auditors, who warn that the mishandling of thousands of criminal cases risks damaging public trust in the justice system. The investigation found that around 13,000 cases were closed without any investigative steps, even though victims were told investigations had taken place. Auditors also found examples of serious crimes being registered under milder legal categories, making them easier to close quickly. Politicians are now demanding reforms.

🛸 More than six months after the “drone panic” around airports and military sites, politicians are demanding answers that still have not arrived. A government report meant to explain the drone incidents was delayed just before the election and has still not been published. Critics now accuse the government of intentionally burying the report, especially after ministers previously used dramatic language like “hybrid warfare”. Some politicians are questioning whether there were any hostile drones at all, while others want clarification on reports that the military may have fired at what later turned out to be a passenger plane. The Defense Ministry says the report will only be released once a new government is formed.

📱 Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has apologized after saying at a conference on children and AI that she “would rather have her children smoke than be alone on social media.” The comment quickly sparked backlash from health experts and anti-smoking organizations, who argued the comparison downplayed the dangers of smoking. Frederiksen later clarified that she wanted to provoke a debate about how harmful social media can be for children and teenagers, not to encourage smoking.

🏛️ Lars Løkke Rasmussen is floating a new center coalition made up of the Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), Venstre (Liberals), Moderaterne (Social Liberals), Konservative (Conservatives), and Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals). The proposed government would hold 93 seats and exclude both the far-left and DF (Nationalist Conservative), with Løkke explicitly ruling out governing alongside Morten Messerschmidt. Political commentators say this would be Løkke’s “dream government,” but doubts remain about whether such a broad centrist alliance can actually survive negotiations. For now, coalition talks continue.

💧 Venstre (Liberals) has made a major U-turn by backing a national pesticide spraying ban to protect groundwater, despite campaigning against the idea during the election. Troels Lund Poulsen said he had “reflected” after the poor election result and was now willing to “bend” politically to secure cleaner drinking water. The move is widely seen as an olive branch to the Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) during coalition talks. Critics, however, accuse Venstre of hiding its real position from voters before the election, while farming-friendly parties are already demanding compensation for affected farmers.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🌍 The government’s latest climate forecast says Denmark is still on track to meet its major 2030 climate target, but only by the narrowest margin. According to the new projection, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by just over 70% compared to 1990 levels, leaving almost no room for delays or failed projects. Experts point to setbacks in large-scale CO₂ capture projects, higher gas consumption, and increased agricultural emissions as major problems, while the growing number of electric cars is helping pull emissions down.

🐴 Wild ponies have moved in near the Great Belt Bridge as part of an ambitious nature restoration project. Thirteen Exmoor ponies are now grazing a large protected area near Korsør to help transform former farmland into nature. The animals will help create better conditions for other species by naturally controlling vegetation, a method increasingly used across Europe to boost biodiversity. The area will remain open to visitors, with future plans including hiking trails and shelters.

🧃 Nicotine pouches are becoming deeply embedded in youth culture, and health experts are increasingly worried. A new study shows around 160,000 young people aged 15–29 use nicotine pouches or snus, with nearly 80% saying they feel addicted. Some young users are reportedly even sleeping with nicotine pouches under their lips to avoid withdrawal symptoms overnight. Researchers say traditional stop-smoking programs do not work well for teenagers, and new support models are now being tested directly in schools instead of municipal offices.

🏫 Bullying in schools is rising again, with 5% of pupils now saying they are often bullied, almost double the level from ten years ago. As thousands of children prepare to start school after summer, experts warn that bullying today is often subtle and hidden in social dynamics rather than obvious insults or fights. Researchers point to warning signs like exclusion, fear of making mistakes, closed friend groups, silent hostility, and stories that justify why certain children are treated badly.

😴 Nurseries are starting to abandon the long-standing “never wake a sleeping child” rule. New research suggests that very long daytime naps can actually harm children’s nighttime sleep, leaving families stuck with late bedtimes and exhausted toddlers. Some nurseries now wake certain children after around 90 minutes if parents report sleep problems at home. Sleep experts say the goal is not to wake children unnecessarily but to help restore a healthier sleep rhythm.

🏥 After 13 years of construction, delays, water damage scandals, and a 1.5 billion DKK budget overrun, Aalborg’s new university hospital has officially opened with Queen Mary cutting the ribbon this week. But behind the celebration, staff unions warn that serious problems remain inside the brand-new building. Employees have reported broken ventilation, overheating rooms, malfunctioning patient alarms, lack of privacy, and technical systems that still do not work properly. Several unions have now filed complaints with the Danish Working Environment Authority and the Patient Safety Authority, saying the situation risks both staff well-being and patient safety. Hospital leadership says the problems are known and being addressed.

⚽ Aarhus turned into one giant football party after AGF won the national championship for the first time in 40 years. Streets filled with white flags, beer, songs, and emotional fans hugging strangers as the city celebrated what many describe as more than just a sports victory. Even people who normally do not follow football joined the celebrations, as AGF’s long history of heartbreak suddenly transformed into a shared story of triumph.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💼 International workers are playing an increasingly important role in keeping the economy running. A new analysis shows that international employees contributed a record 386 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP in 2025, accounting for 62% of all new jobs created last year. There are now more than 425,000 international employees in the country, with the largest groups coming from Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. Business groups warn that as the local workforce ages and shrinks, internationals will become even more important for filling labor shortages in the years ahead.

💸 Inflation is creeping up again, mainly because of higher fuel and energy prices. Consumer prices in April were 1.4% higher than a year ago, up from 1.2% in March, and economists warn this may not be the peak yet. While wages are still rising faster than inflation for now, experts say a longer conflict could start eating into people’s purchasing power again.

💰 More young people are rethinking how they save for retirement. Instead of locking money into traditional pension schemes, some are choosing to invest independently through stocks and index funds to gain more flexibility earlier in life. Experts say the trend reflects growing frustration with Denmark’s rising retirement age and a desire for financial freedom rather than waiting until old age to enjoy life. Economists still warn against abandoning pensions entirely.

🏎️ Southern Jutland could one day become home to Denmark’s answer to Formula 1. Plans for a new 3.8 billion DKK motorsport complex near Padborg were presented this week, with ambitions to eventually host international racing events, including Formula 1. Supporters say the project could create hundreds of local jobs and bring nearly 400,000 extra tourist overnight stays each year.

State of the markets

✈️ Summer flying could get bumpier. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that fuel shortages linked to the Hormuz Strait crisis may affect flights and local transport, especially outside Europe. Travelers are advised to stay flexible, check insurance coverage for delays and cancellations, bring essential medicine and supplies, and follow updates from airlines and travel authorities. In Europe, experts warn that jet fuel stocks are nearing critical levels, meaning some cancellations could come from actual fuel shortages, not just higher prices.

🚗 Used electric cars are suddenly getting more expensive again. After years of falling prices, growing demand across Europe is now pushing prices up by as much as 10–15%, according to market analysts. Higher petrol and diesel prices are driving more people toward electric vehicles, while new subsidy schemes in countries like Germany, France, and Spain are increasing competition for used models. Popular cars such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, and BMW iX3 are expected to see some of the biggest price jumps.

🏠 Housing prices continue to surge, especially in the biggest cities. In Copenhagen, the average price of an 80-square-meter apartment has jumped from 4.8 million DKK to 6 million DKK in just one year, while Aarhus has also seen sharp increases. Across the country, prices for houses and apartments are all rising as strong demand collides with limited supply. Economists say the market remains unusually “hot,” though a growing number of homes being listed for sale could eventually slow the pace of price increases.

Entrepreneurship

Opportunity. Do you advise people to expand/sell from Denmark to other European Union countries? We want people to know your services exist as part of our “Keys to Europe’s Market” project that we do with AMIS. Let us know about your expertise at info@amis.dk

🧽 A growing debate is emerging around youth entrepreneurship after a 20-year-old, who started a window-cleaning company at 16 and now employs five full-time staff, called for schools to teach young people how to actually start a business. Business groups say young people avoid entrepreneurship because they lack practical knowledge and mentors. Their proposals include entrepreneurship classes in schools, dedicated funding at vocational schools, and local startup environments.

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

This is Denmark: Danish Culture & Traditions 📍 Online | 🗓 Tuesday May 19, 16:30-17:30 Free, requires sign up🔗 Sign up here

Copenhagen Expat Meetup 📍Copenhagen (Main Library) | 🗓Thursday May 21, 17:00 | Free 🔗 Sign up here

Curious Minds📍Spinderihallerne, Vejle| 🗓 Thursday May 21, 18:30 | Free 🔗 Find out more here

International Café (Welcome Ambassadors)📍Ørestad Library, Copenhagen | 🗓 Thursday May 28, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign up🔗 Sign up here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌍 “US in closely guarded talks to open new bases in Greenland” – BBC

🇬🇱 “Greenland’s leader says US military presence part of talks with Trump’s diplomats” – Reuters

👑 “Denmark’s Queen Margrethe hospitalised in Copenhagen with chest pain, royal court says” – Euronews

☀️ “The sunny Danish island that’s a poster child for the good life – and perfect for a spring break” – The Guardian

1. Venstre (Liberals) Troels Lund Poulsen appointed to try to form a new government after Moderaterne (Social Liberals) Lars Løkke Rasmussen switched sides to the blue (right-wing) bloc.

2. Most people in Denmark still have not prepared emergency supplies at home, despite warnings from the emergency agency.

3. A new supermarket price war is breaking out, making hundreds of everyday products much cheaper.

Letter from the editor

Although you are reading this on Sunday (May 10), I wish you Happy Europe Day (May 9)! For me, this is the most important day in the year, above Christmas (can you imagine?). As a European patriot, I have spent most of my youth active in the federalist movement promoting the idea of a United Europe, a federal one. I owe the union for who I am today. It took me from a small poor village to see the world and expand my views on humanity and gave my life purpose.

For that, every Europe Day, I happily raise the EU flag in my garden.

Speaking of blue flags, it seems our friend, the leader of Moderaterne (Social Liberals), Lars Løkke Rasmussen put the idea of a center-left government into the grave when he switched sides to the right-wing bloc. With the switch, the king invited the parties to express who they want as “kongelig undersøger” (king-appointed to lead negotiations for a new government), and Troels Lund Poulsen (the leader of Venstre—Liberals) got the spot. Now Mette Frederiksen will have to wait on the sidelines to see if the blue parties, together with Moderaterne, can form a center-right government (blue-purple).

To be honest, it will be very, very hard to find a common ground. Already, DF (Nationalist Conservative) has conditioned their support for Troels Lund Poulsen by asking for no negotiations with Socialdemokratiet and Moderaterne. Unless they are able to attract another red party to switch sides, there is no way to create a blue government without Moderaterne. So my estimation is that these negotiations will also fail in the end.

I believe that Lars Løkke Rasmussen is trying to force the center-right (Venstre and Konservative) and the center-left (Socialdemokratiet, SF, and Radikale) to govern together. First, he tried to show the center-left how difficult it is to govern with the far-left (Enhedslisten and Alternativet). Now, he will show the center-right how difficult it is to govern with the far-right (DF and DD). In the end, we will most likely end up with a third visit to the king to reappoint Mette Frederiksen to form an across-the-center government.

If Lars Løkke Rasmussen ends up agreeing with the right-wing parties and forming a government with them, he will have to sacrifice his pro-migration stance and probably disappoint a lot of internationals who look up to him. Let’s hope it will not go that way.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. The Cultural Explorer’s Diary: Inside Copenhagen Occult Club with Mariia Snebjørk Damkjær by Paulina Stachnik

2. This Danish-ish Life: 5 Things Internationals Need to Know About Applying for Danish Higher Education by Stephanie Lund

3. The Danish Chapter of My Life: Spring in Copenhagen Comes With a Colorful and Delicious Touch of Japan by Poornima Choudhary

4. The Little Viking Saga – Episode 12 - Treasures from the vacuum bag - Last Week in Denmark by Emily Ritchie

5. The Loudest Silence in the Room by Florin Lungu

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Opportunity. Join our weekly news commentary podcast team as the Podcast Manager. If you have around 4h weekly to volunteer and want to prove your skills as a podcast manager, send mail to info@lwid.dk. What is expected? Coordination mainly of a well-running team. There will be a lengthy transition period with the current podcast manager. Be part of an awards-winning podcast project.

Public hearing. Let us know what you think about the six barriers identified that keep some migrant workers trapped in low-skill, low-pay jobs and the potential policy solutions. Say your opinion here.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

⚖️ The European Parliament has voted to push for a common EU definition of rape based on the absence of consent, arguing that “only yes means yes” should apply across all member states. MEPs say silence, lack of resistance, previous relationships, or earlier consent should never be interpreted as agreement to sex. The proposal also calls for stronger victim support and EU-wide education campaigns about consent and online misogyny. Countries like France, Finland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands have already introduced consent-based rape laws in recent years, while the EU Parliament is now pressuring the European Commission to create legislation that would apply across the union.

Political scene

💣 Denmark’s government negotiations have taken a dramatic turn after Lars Løkke Rasmussen suddenly walked away from six weeks of talks with Mette Frederiksen. The Moderaterne (Social Liberals) leader says the negotiations are stuck in a “straightjacket” because the proposed center-left coalition would depend on support from parties on the far left. Instead, Løkke now wants Venstre (Liberals) leader Troels Lund Poulsen to become the new royal investigator tasked with exploring a broader government across the political middle. The move completely reshuffles the political chessboard after weeks where a center-left deal looked almost certain. Despite the split, Løkke says he still does not rule out Frederiksen remaining prime minister in a future compromise government.

🏛️ Mette Frederiksen has officially broken her own record for Denmark’s longest government negotiations. The current talks have now lasted 45 days, beating the previous 44-day record set after the 2022 election, which eventually produced the unpopular but historic SVM coalition between the Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), Venstre (Liberals), and Moderaterne (Social Liberals). The unusually long process reflects how fragmented Danish politics has become, with parties struggling to bridge major differences.

🌱 Three climate activists linked to the grassroots movement “Jordskred” have now entered Parliament after being elected through Alternativet (Greens) and Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance). The newly elected politicians previously took part in civil disobedience actions, including protests inside government buildings, hunger strikes and blockades connected to climate policy. They argue that activism and democracy can go hand-in-hand, especially during what they describe as an ecological emergency.

🏛️ Borgernes Parti (Anti-establishment far-right) is continuing to unravel only weeks after entering Parliament, as Nadja Natalie Isaksen has now left the party to become an independent member. That means three out of the party’s four elected members of the Parliament have either resigned or been expelled since the election, leaving party leader Lars Boje Mathiesen alone in the parliamentary group.

🎮 A Danish member of the European Parliament is pushing for an EU ban on “loot boxes” in video games after a new survey found that more than half of children aged 11–16 in Denmark have bought them. Loot boxes are virtual mystery packs in games, where players pay for random rewards without knowing what they will receive. Social Democrat MEP Christel Schaldemose says the systems resemble “digital casinos” designed to keep children spending money repeatedly. The European Commission is expected to present new rules later this year.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🤖 A philosopher is warning that people are becoming too emotionally dependent on AI chatbots for life advice. Pia Lauritzen says tools like ChatGPT may be useful for practical tasks, but they cannot answer deeply human questions about love, purpose, or difficult choices. A new study found many young adults already use AI as a kind of emotional confidant when life feels overwhelming. Lauritzen argues this risks weakening our ability to think independently and sit with uncertainty.

🥾 A new national network of scenic hiking routes called “Danmarks Naturstier” is being rolled out to make nature walks easier to access and navigate. The first official route is the 27-kilometer Amarminoen trail through Nature Park Amager. The routes will feature better signage, online information, toilets, and points of interest along the way. More certified trails are expected across Zealand, Lolland-Falster, Djursland, and Viborg as hiking and outdoor life continue to grow in popularity.

🚐 Frustration is growing in the coastal areas as more tourists in camper vans park and camp illegally near beaches and nature spots instead of using official campsites. A campsite owner says the problem has become far more common, with temporary “weekend camps” appearing in protected nature areas despite rules banning camping in tents or camper vans outside designated sites. Politicians say they are now looking into the issue, including whether better information or parking restrictions are needed.

🧯 A new survey shows that most people in Denmark still have not prepared emergency supplies at home, despite warnings about cyberattacks, extreme weather, and other major crises. Emergency officials say households should be able to manage on their own for several days with water, food, batteries, and basic supplies, since authorities would need to prioritize vulnerable groups like hospitals and care homes first. The debate around “prepping” remains divided, however, with some seeing it as common sense and others arguing they do not want to live in constant fear.

🚗 Thinking of giving your car a quick wash in the driveway this spring? Municipalities are warning people to think twice, as washing cars at home can send pollutants directly into waterways. In many areas with separated rainwater systems, the water is not cleaned before reaching nature, meaning a simple car wash can harm local ecosystems. Vesthimmerlands Municipality has now launched a campaign encouraging residents to use commercial car washes instead, where wastewater is properly treated before being released.

💼 Some healthcare workplaces are now letting people apply for jobs without writing a traditional application. Facing major nurse shortages, home care services in Herning Municipality and several hospital departments in Gødstrup have started offering informal “drop-in interviews,” where candidates can simply show up and talk about the job face-to-face. Managers say the approach feels more personal and helps them avoid generic AI-written applications, while also making the hiring process less intimidating and more flexible for applicants.

👶 Researchers warn that Denmark uses forced adoption far more aggressively than other Scandinavian countries, with biological parents often permanently losing contact with their children. According to new research comparing Denmark and Norway, around two-thirds of forced adoptions here are anonymous, meaning children grow up without any relationship to their biological family. The debate has returned after a DR documentary series highlighted several controversial cases and growing criticism of the system.

🏫 Long-term school absence among children has nearly doubled in five years, raising alarm among child welfare organizations. More than 12,000 students missed at least 50 school days during the last school year, meaning they were absent for roughly a quarter of the academic year. Children’s advocacy group Børns Vilkår warns that such high absence is often a sign of serious well-being problems, yet schools failed to report concerns to municipalities in most cases. Experts are now calling for the issue to be treated as a major national challenge.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💶 The first “food checks” are now being paid out to around two million people, with pensioners, students, people on benefits, and lower-income families receiving up to 2,500 DKK tax-free to help cover rising living costs. But economists believe much of the money may end up in savings accounts rather than supermarket baskets, as many households are still recovering from years of inflation and higher energy prices. The scheme has also sparked criticism over fairness, since some recipients have large savings while many low-income workers without children do not qualify at all.

🏠 Around 20,000 homeowners may be charged interest on unpaid property taxes they were unable to pay because of errors inside the tax system itself. The issue is linked to ongoing problems with Denmark’s new property valuation system, where some owners never received proper tax bills for property value tax or land tax. Despite this, interest continues building on the debt while people wait for the authorities to fix the mistakes.

🔥 Interest in heat pumps is surging again as higher oil and gas prices push households toward more stable heating options. In just the first four months of 2026, more people applied for the heat pump subsidy than during all of last year, leaving the support pool close to empty already. Experts say rising geopolitical tensions are making many homeowners nervous about relying on imported gas and oil for heating.

State of the markets

🛒 A new supermarket price war is breaking out, as Lidl and Netto sharply cut prices on hundreds of everyday products. Lidl says some items will become more than 20% cheaper. Netto quickly responded with its own reductions, even after warning about rising prices just a week earlier. Retail experts say the battle is really about winning market share in a time when many households remain highly sensitive to grocery costs. Coop announced it will launch its own response soon.

⛽ Shipping giant Mærsk says the conflict around Iran and disruptions in the Hormuz Strait are now costing them around 3 billion DKK per month, with much of the bill expected to hit consumers. CEO Vincent Clerc warns that higher oil prices affect far more than fuel, since oil is used in everything from plastics and electronics to food production and transport. The company says the extra costs are already feeding into global inflation, meaning households could continue seeing higher prices in supermarkets and everyday goods in the coming months.

🏭 Aalborg Portland has won a major state-backed contract to capture and store CO₂ as part of Denmark’s climate strategy. The cement producer, which is also the country’s largest single CO₂ emitter, is expected to capture and store 1.25 million tons of CO₂ per year using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The project will receive support from the state’s 28.7 billion DKK CCS fund and is considered important for reaching the 2030 climate targets.

Entrepreneurship

Opportunity. Do you advise people to expand/sell from Denmark to other European Union countries? We want people to know your services exist as part of our “Keys to Europe’s Market” project that we do with AMIS. Let us know about your expertise at info@amis.dk

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

Master compelling cover letters 📍 Online | 🗓 Tuesday, May 19, 10:00-11:30 | Free, requires sign up 🔗 Sign up here

Mastering CVs & LinkedIn Profiles📍 Online | 🗓 Tuesday, May 12, 13:00 -14:30 | Free, requires sign up 🔗 Sign up here

Connect & Learn 📍Pakkeriet, Spinderigade 11, 7100 Vejle | 🗓 Tuesday, May 12, 17:00 - 20:00 | Free, requires sign up 🔗 Sign up here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

⚡ “Denmark faces data center reckoning as power grid overwhelmed by surging demand” – CNBC

💸 “Denmark’s FSA asks police to probe Nordea Finans Danmark’s compliance on money laundering” – Reuters

⛵ “Gilleleje: The pretty Danish seaside town that saved 1,300 Jews” – The Telegraph

🪙 “Major Viking Age gold hoard unearthed in Northern Denmark” – HeritageDaily.com

👨‍👩‍👧 “Denmark’s ‘hands-off’ approach to parenting could offer a blueprint for raising more resilient, self-reliant kids” – The Conversation

💉 “Inside the town Ozempic built” – CNN

1. More people will be able to qualify for compensation after workplace injuries. Higher insurance costs for employers.

2. All dogs and cats in the European Union will have to be microchipped and registered in connected national databases.

3. The barter economy is becoming more commonplace, pushing the tax authorities to warn against business-like bartering.

Letter from the editor

Spring seems to have arrived not only in the parks, but also inside Christiansborg. After weeks of political drama, negotiations are finally beginning to move toward what increasingly looks like a red-purple coalition between Mette Frederiksen’s Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), Moderaterne (Social Liberals), Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), and SF (Green Left), with support from Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance). The biggest sign came during the May 1st speeches, when Frederiksen officially dropped the proposal for a 0,5% wealth tax on fortunes above 25 million DKK, after failing to secure enough support. At the same time, SF (Green Left) also signaled willingness to let go of the fight to restore the national holiday Store Bededag (The Great Prayer Day), showing that compromise is slowly replacing campaign slogans.

For us this matters more than it may seem at first glance. Since the election, much of the public debate has revolved around who gets to define what being “Danish” means. That conversation has helped push support toward Morten Messerschmidt and DF (Nationalist Conservative), now the largest blue (right-wing) party (2.7% increase since the elections to 11.8%).

As someone who arrived in Denmark back in 2009, I have seen several different versions of this country. I have seen a Denmark that felt open and optimistic about the world, but also periods where fear and uncertainty made the country turn inward. The truth is that Denmark has always been both at the same time. Maybe that is why so many internationals develop such a complicated relationship with this place: we fall in love with the openness, while constantly trying to navigate the walls that sometimes appear around it.

Still, one thing gives me hope. Danish politics, despite all its chaos, usually ends in compromise. And compromise, while rarely exciting, is often healthier for society than permanent political warfare. Especially in a country that increasingly depends on internationals not only to grow its economy, but also to keep its communities alive.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. The Unwritten Rules of Getting Hired in Denmark: An Interview with Leslea Petersen of English Job Denmark. Paulina Stachnik.

2. Tips for the Prøve I Dansk 3 Reading and Writing exam. Brooke Fossey.

3. Succeed in the Prøve I Dansk 3 Oral Exam. Brooke Fossey.

4. Don’t Lose Yourself in the Process of Integration: An interview with author Keri Bloomfield. Ali Lewis.

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Opportunity. Join our team as Reporter Team Lead. We are looking for someone to help shape LWID’s reporting direction, lead a team of 6–8 volunteer reporters, assign stories, manage workflows and deadlines, and work closely with our editorial team. Send a mail to info@lwid.dk if you are interested.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 A rare “dust devil” spun across the harbor in Esbjerg this week, sending sand and dust swirling high into the air.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

New laws

🐶 The European Parliament has approved new EU-wide rules requiring all dogs and cats to be microchipped and registered in connected national databases. The goal is to crack down on illegal puppy mills and cross-border pet trafficking, a billion-euro market long criticized for poor animal welfare. The rules also introduce minimum standards for breeding, housing, feeding, and veterinary care across the EU, while banning practices like permanent cage keeping and extreme breeding traits linked to health problems.

📱 The European Union has launched a new age-verification app designed to help keep children off platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The app works like a digital ID wallet, allowing users to prove they are old enough for social media without sharing extra personal information. Countries can choose themselves whether to introduce age limits and whether to use the EU system, but Denmark is among the countries pushing hardest for stricter rules, including a possible ban for children under 15.

Political scene

🛢️ Rising oil prices are hitting rural areas especially hard, as thousands of households still rely on oil heating instead of district heating. The price of 1,000 liters of heating oil has jumped more than 26% since February, leading researchers to warn about “energy poverty” in parts of the country. Places like Læsø are among the hardest hit because many homes still use oil boilers, while switching to a heat pump can cost more than 100,000 DKK per house. Economists are now calling for greener subsidy schemes to focus more on lower-income households who cannot afford the transition on their own.

🐟 Fish farms could soon face much stricter environmental regulation after a ruling from the Østre Landsret. The court backed a decision to revoke a fish farm permit near Lolland because the environmental assessment was not considered thorough enough. Environmental groups say the ruling could force more sea-based fish farms to prove they do not damage protected marine areas. The aquaculture industry warns the decision could create wider consequences for industries operating in nature areas, including offshore wind projects, and is now considering an appeal.

🇪🇺 Ditte Juul Jørgensen has been appointed the new Director-General for Trade at the European Commission, meaning she will help lead negotiations on trade agreements and disputes with countries like the US and China. She previously worked closely with Margrethe Vestager during the EU’s battles with American tech giants.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

📰 Denmark remains one of the best places in the world for press freedom, ranking fourth globally in the latest Reporters Without Borders index. The report says that journalists here generally work freely, though debates around sexism in media workplaces and hostility linked to immigration coverage prevented a top-three finish. Across much of the world, however, conditions for journalists are worsening rapidly, with more countries seeing threats and even anti-terror laws used against the press.

🌳 Looking for new places to explore this spring? Check out four modern urban parks worth visiting around the country. Recommendations include the transformed Thomas B. Thriges Gade in Odense, Copenhagen’s waterfront Operaparken, Aalborg’s lively harborfront near Musikkens Hus, and the colorful Superkilen park on Nørrebro.

🏝️ Mandø has been named Denmark’s Island of the Year, beating Læsø and Bågø, with its tiny population of just 34 residents and unique location in the Wadden Sea. The island is only reachable by a gravel road during low tide, adding to its reputation as a “hidden pearl” rather than a mass tourism destination.

🔬 The biggest science talent competition for young people has crowned its winners after 100 student projects competed in the Unge Forskere finals. The senior prize went to three gymnasium students from Roskilde who designed a smarter recycling system that can identify damaged cans and recover more unreturned deposit bottles and cans. In the junior category, a 14-year-old student won with a screening tool aimed at helping detect endometriosis earlier, a painful disease that takes many women years to be diagnosed with.

🧬 More women are choosing “social freezing,” the process of freezing unfertilized eggs for non-medical reasons, as family planning increasingly happens later in life. Fertility clinics report a sharp rise in treatments after Denmark removed the old five-year storage limit in 2024, allowing eggs to remain frozen until age 46. Doctors say many women see it as a way to reduce pressure from the biological clock while waiting for the right partner or life situation.

🚲 Young people are increasingly abandoning the bicycle, with new research showing a sharp drop in how many cycle regularly to school or work. Among 15 to 19-year-olds, cycling at least three times a week has fallen by 16% since 2020. Researchers and cycling organizations warn this could weaken both public health and the cycling culture long term, as more families now rely on cars.

🎒 Starting school can feel bigger for parents than for children, according to a psychologist who has followed school transitions for more than 15 years. She warns that talking too much about how “big” and “important” school is can unintentionally create pressure and anxiety for children. Her advice is surprisingly simple: visit the school playground beforehand, give children small responsibilities at home, and spend time reading books together to build focus and familiarity with routines.

👶 A new app called Poppy is trying to reinvent the classic “mødregruppe” by matching parents based on interests and lifestyle instead of just postcode. The app was created after one couple’s municipal parent group quickly fell apart. Sociologists say the trend reflects a growing desire for emotional safety and stronger personal compatibility during early parenthood, but warn that building communities only around like-minded people could also make society more socially divided over time.

🐶 Vets are warning dog owners to stay extra alert this spring as more dogs across the country are being infected with French heartworm, a potentially deadly parasite spread by slugs and snails, which dogs may lick and then become infected.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

⚖️ A major Supreme Court ruling could reopen thousands of old workplace injury cases and cost insurance companies billions. The case began with a woman who suffered long-term injuries after being hit in the head by a car trunk at work in 2000. Until now, compensation was usually only granted if a person lost at least 15% of their ability to work, but the court ruled that even a 5% loss can qualify. Insurance giants like Tryg and Alm. Brand are already lowering their financial forecasts, while the state estimates the total compensation bill could reach 10–30 billion DKK if thousands of past cases are reopened.

🔄 The old-fashioned barter economy is making a comeback, especially on social media, where people swap everything from ceramics and tattoos, to plants and photography instead of using money. Supporters say it feels more sustainable and social during a time when many are watching their spending more carefully. But experts warn there can be tax complications if swapping becomes systematic or business-related, as SKAT may still treat exchanged goods and services as taxable income.

💶 The European Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2% for the seventh meeting in a row, despite inflation in the eurozone rising to 3%. Economists expect rate hikes later this year, especially as higher oil prices continue pushing up costs across Europe. For us, this could eventually mean more expensive mortgages and loans again, although experts disagree on whether raising rates could risk slowing the economy too much. Several major banks expect the first increase could already come this summer.

State of the markets

✍️ Writing schools and creative writing courses are booming, giving aspiring authors far more options than the once-dominant state-run Forfatterskolen in Copenhagen. New schools have appeared in cities like Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense, and Næstved, while small independent publishers are also multiplying. Experts welcome the growing diversity in voices and backgrounds entering literature.

🤖 AI tools may save time at work, but researchers are now warning about a new phenomenon called “AI brain fry.” A recent study found that heavy AI users often experience mental fog, headaches, slower decision-making, and difficulty focusing. Workplace researchers say the issue is less about the technology itself and more about how intensively it is used, with some workers feeling their professional pride and concentration slowly erode when AI handles too much of the creative process.

🚗 Tesla drivers in Denmark may soon be allowed to use the company’s “self-driving with supervision” system after Dutch authorities approved the technology following extensive testing. If the EU gives broader approval later this year, Tesla cars in Denmark could gain the feature through a software update. Experts describe the experience as surprisingly relaxing, but stress that drivers must still stay fully alert at all times, as the system is considered advanced driver assistance rather than true self-driving.

Community Noticeboard

🏡 Buying a Home in Denmark 📍 Online / International House Copenhagen | 🗓 Thursday May 7, 17:00–19:00 | Free English-language session covering the Danish property market, mortgages, and what internationals should know before buying a home. 🔗 Sign up here

🎪 Diplomatic Bazaar 2026 📍 Gentofte City Hall | 🗓 Saturday May 9, from 11:00 | Entry: 50 DKK Fourth edition of the international bazaar organized by the Ambassadors’ Spouses Group, featuring crafts, food, cultural performances, children’s activities, and representatives from more than 20 countries. Proceeds will support Kalaallit Meerartaat/Grønlandske Børn. 🔗 Read more here

🇩🇰 This is Denmark: Danish Culture and Traditions 📍 Online / International House Copenhagen | 🗓 Tuesday May 19, 16:30–17:30 | Free introduction to Danish culture, traditions, and everyday social norms for internationals living in Denmark. 🔗 Sign up here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🇬🇱 “Danish treatment of Greenlandic mother may be ‘ethnic discrimination’, says UN” – The Guardian

🪖 “Denmark to procure state-of-the-art Canadian assault rifle before Canada does” – National Post

🐋 “Rare discovery of ambergris on Denmark beach excites scientists and historians” – ABC News

🎡 “This year Copenhagen’s best dining experience is inside an amusement park” – Conde Nast Traveler

1. Long-haul flights and food prices rising. We might run out of jet fuel soon so prepare a plan B vacation.

2. If your child has any registered income, they will also receive a tax statement from now on.

3. Most adults should get tested at least once for lipoprotein (a), a hidden blood fat that is as risky as cholesterol.

Letter from the editor

If you look at the statistics in Denmark, you will notice an overrepresentation of Eastern and Southern Europeans and non-Europeans in low-skill, low-pay jobs. Through the Nordplus project “Career Compass,” Aalborg Institute for Development took a closer look at migrants working in these jobs and identified three main groups: skilled workers whose qualifications are not recognized, international graduates who cannot find jobs in their field despite having a Danish higher degree, and unskilled migrant workers.

While the first and second groups have been discussed before, the project looked deeper into the third. Many of these unskilled workers share a similar story. They left their home country before completing education or training, moved from country to country in search of better pay, and remained in low-skill jobs. Now in their mid- to late-thirties, many express a strong desire to exit this cycle but face structural barriers that make it difficult.

The Career Compass project is now preparing a policy report to bring this issue in front of decision makers and support organizations working with internationals. The report identifies six key barriers and proposes a set of policy recommendations. Through a public hearing, we invite you to share your views on both the barriers and the proposed solutions, and maybe even propose others. Join the conversation and help shape what comes next.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Denmark’s growing body positive moment by Hannah Mildner

2. How to…buy a car in Denmark by Sudaay Tat Haznedar

3. How to… Speak Real Danish by Maja Christiansen Cawthra

4. The International Diaries: Angela Namere’s Journey of Starting MyBelly by Elena Shpileva

5. Tur-retur: Episode 14 - PSA for tourists to Denmark: There’s life beyond Nyhavn! by Laura Matheson

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

🍽️ The organization nabo is looking for volunteers across Central Denmark, North Denmark and Zealand to join Taste of Fællesskab, a nationwide project bringing internationals and locals together through shared meals and stories. Volunteers will receive free training in community organizing, help run three local food events in 2026, and join a growing national network focused on belonging, with a chance to be featured in a cookbook. Reach out at projects@mynabo.dk. Deadline is May 1.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Law proposals

🏡 A proposal to change the Planning Act could make it easier to turn farms into tourism and business projects in rural areas. Right now, strict rules limit what can be built on agricultural land, often blocking ideas like hotels or event spaces. Supporters argue that loosening the law could create jobs and new income streams as traditional farming declines. The proposal is still at an early stage, but it reflects growing pressure to rethink how the countryside can develop beyond agriculture.

Political scene

🚗 Road pricing could become the next big shift in how driving is taxed, replacing parts of today’s fixed car taxes with a system where you pay based on how much and when you drive. Tests show it could reduce traffic significantly, especially in major cities. But many local politicians are pushing back, warning about higher costs for commuters and lack of alternatives like public transport. A final proposal is expected this year.

🚆 Calls for safer local trains. After a new collision on the Gribskovbanen left several people seriously injured, mayors are demanding action on rail safety, pointing out that many local lines still lack automatic braking systems that can stop trains if drivers miss a signal. The system was introduced on some lines after past fatal accidents, but large parts of the network never got it. Now, pressure is building for a political decision to upgrade safety nationwide, though it could come with a significant price tag.

⚡ The EU is proposing new subsidies to help households and businesses switch from gas and oil heating to greener options like heat pumps and solar panels. The plan comes as rising energy prices push the bloc to speed up its transition away from fossil fuels. Alongside subsidies, the proposal includes energy vouchers and lower electricity taxes for vulnerable households. It is not a law, but a toolkit for member states, meaning Denmark could expand existing support schemes if they choose.

📜 A proposal to abolish the “Quran law” is back on the table, which would once again make it legal to publicly burn or desecrate religious texts. The law was introduced in 2023 to prevent international tensions after a series of protests. While there is now a parliamentary majority that previously opposed the law, key parties are hesitating, warning that removing it could trigger a new diplomatic crisis.

⚖️ DF (Nationalist Conservative) is proposing a change to criminal law that would allow 15-year-olds to receive life sentences for serious crimes. Today, people under 18 cannot be given these maximum penalties, as age is taken into account. Supporters argue that extreme crimes should be punished equally regardless of age, but the proposal is still at an early stage and likely to spark strong debate.

Updates from the government negotiations

🏛️ Government talks are moving again after a tense standoff over the welfare deal that links pension age to longer life expectancy. Lars Løkke Rasmussen and the blue parties feared Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) wanted to weaken it, while Mette Frederiksen refused to settle the issue before a new government was formed. That clash froze negotiations for days, until a new working life commission helped push the pension fight into the future and got Moderaterne (Social Liberals) back to the table. So the talks are alive again.

At the same time, pressure is rising inside Venstre (Liberals). After a very poor election, especially in the big cities, more party voices are warning against joining another government with Mette Frederiksen. They say Venstre needs time in opposition to rebuild its profile and reconnect with urban voters.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🌼 Pollen season hits hard. Pollen count has surged far above normal levels, and with around 1 million people affected, allergy hotlines are seeing a spike in calls as symptoms like itchy eyes and breathing issues intensify. Experts advise tracking daily pollen levels, getting proper medical treatment instead of relying only on over-the-counter meds, and adjusting routines like airing out your home at the right time.

🧠 Stress is hitting every fourth person, with experts warning it is becoming a shared societal issue rather than just an individual problem. New figures show stress-related absence costs workplaces at least 16.4 billion DKK per year, equal to around 37,000 full-time jobs. A leading psychologist points to factors like constant pressure and blurred work-life boundaries. While physical movement and small daily changes can help, he argues that employers and society also carry responsibility.

🫀 A hidden blood fat could be as risky as cholesterol, and experts say most adults should get tested at least once. Around one in five people in Denmark may have high levels of lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor for heart disease that does not change with lifestyle. While there is currently no treatment to lower it, knowing your level can help you manage other risks like blood pressure. Researchers expect testing for it to become a standard part of health checks in the near future.

⚰️ “Death doulas” are starting to appear in Denmark, offering emotional and practical support to people facing the end of life. Unlike doctors or nurses, they guide both the dying person and their family before and after death, helping with difficult conversations and preparation. The role is not officially regulated yet, but interest is growing as more people feel that death has become too institutionalized. Supporters say it fills a gap by bringing a more human, open approach to dying and grief.

💬 Talking about salary is still one of the biggest social taboos, especially in casual settings like dinner parties. Asking “what do you earn?” can create discomfort, even though some see it as a way to spark honest conversations. Experts say the tension comes from deeper cultural norms around success and fear of judgment. The debate shows a small shift, as more people begin to question whether keeping income secret actually helps or just reinforces awkwardness around money.

💪 A growing trend among young men puts extreme focus on appearance, sparking debate. The so-called “looksmaxxing” culture pushes everything from gym routines to more extreme methods to improve looks, driven largely by online influencers. Critics argue it reflects deeper insecurities and unrealistic ideals, warning that confidence and social skills matter far more in real-life relationships.

🦊 A niche online subculture is gaining ground among youth, where participants create animal alter egos and sometimes dress up as them in public. Known as the “furry” community, it offers a sense of belonging and self-expression, especially for those who feel outside mainstream social norms. While often misunderstood and sometimes stigmatized, members say it is less about performance and more about identity and community.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

⚠️ Check your drawers now. Old banknotes and 1,000 DKK bills will become worthless after May 31, with 3.3 billion DKK still unreturned.

🧾 Even babies get tax statements now. The Tax Authority has introduced a new system where children automatically receive annual tax assessments if they have any registered income, including small interest or investments, reflecting how digital data from banks is now fully integrated into the tax system. Around half a million children were included this year.

💻 Digital fraud is rising sharply, with cases increasing by over 140% in recent years. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using trust and manipulation to convince people to transfer large sums of money. Experts warn that anyone can be targeted, regardless of age or background, and that victims often feel too ashamed to speak out. Beyond financial loss, the psychological impact can be severe, making this one of the fastest-growing and most serious forms of crime.

🛒 Food prices may be heading for another increase as global tensions start to ripple through the economy. After fuel prices jumped, supermarkets now expect a second wave where higher energy costs push up the price of everyday goods. Because energy is tied to everything from transport to production, companies often pass most of these costs on to consumers. While inflation is still relatively low for now, experts warn that a sharper rise could be felt in household budgets later this year.

Read more: the app that can slash your food bill cost

✈️ Long-haul flights are becoming significantly more expensive, with prices rising over 20% compared to last year. The increase is driven by a mix of higher fuel costs and reduced flight capacity, especially on routes around Iran. Experts say this is likely just the beginning, with even higher prices expected during the summer travel season.

✈️ If your flight gets cancelled this summer due to fuel shortages, you have passenger rights under EU rules. You can choose between a new flight or a full refund, and in some cases you may also be entitled to compensation if the cancellation happens close to departure. Airlines are also required to assist you during delays or disruptions.

State of the markets

✈️ A small regional airport in Karup (Central Denmark) is reopening after years of ups and downs, now backed by a billionaire investor. The airport, originally built during World War II and later run by local municipalities, has seen everything from record passenger numbers during the low-cost airline boom to near closure in recent years. With flights now restarting, it is trying to secure its role as a fast link between western Denmark and Copenhagen.

💰 Danish companies can now reclaim money from tariffs imposed by the US that were later ruled illegal. A new system from US authorities allows businesses that imported goods to apply for refunds, with processing expected to take 60 to 90 days. The tariffs had generated over 1,000 billion DKK before being struck down by the Supreme Court. For Danish firms operating in the US, this could mean a significant financial boost.

👵 Many older workers are leaving the job market earlier than they want, mainly due to lack of flexibility. New data shows that up to half of retirees would have stayed longer if they could work fewer hours or under more flexible conditions. A proposal now suggests allowing seniors to work up to 15 hours a week without financial penalties, making it easier to stay connected to work. With labor shortages ahead, keeping older workers active is increasingly seen as a missed opportunity.

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

Healthcare in Denmark 📍 Online / International House Copenhagen | 🗓 Tuesday April 28, 17:00–19:00 | Free English-language session on navigating the Danish healthcare system. 🔗 Sign up here

Mastering the Job Interview (City of Aarhus) 📍 Online | 🗓 Tuesday April 28, 10:00–11:30 | Free 🔗 Sign up here

International Café: Crafts & Conversation 📍 Ørestad Library, Copenhagen | 🗓 Wednesday April 29, 17:00–19:00 | Free 🔗 Sign up here

Surviving the AI Jungle 📍 Huset-KBH, Copenhagen | 🗓 Wednesday April 29, 16:00–19:00 | Free event exploring how AI is shaping studies and careers, with speakers from art, media, and consulting plus networking and drinks after. 🔗 Sign up here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🛡️ “Denmark chooses Europe’s Patriot rival air defense system” – Reuters

⚽ “Midtjylland footballer Alamara Djabi seriously injured after stabbing in Denmark” – The Guardian

🍺 “Archaeologists discover 4,000 year old beer receipt” – The New York Post

🌊 “Why Denmark is choosing ‘strategic retreat’ to save its coastline from rising seas” – Forbes

🚆 “Five people critically injured in Denmark train crash” – Sky News

1. Forced adoptions questioned after a “hard to watch” documentary on national TV.

2. You can now pay even if the internet goes down.

3. Most people in Denmark will have more money in 2026 as real wages outpace inflation.

Letter from the editor

You might be wondering about the title of this week’s edition. It’s a reference to the current debate over who can use the label “Danish” and who cannot. A member of the far-right party, Borgernes Parti, said that being Danish means being able to drink a glass of milk as you have the right enzymes to process it. He then referenced his previous Inuit girlfriend, who couldn’t tolerate milk.

If this was the only situation, we might have laughed it off. However, many others much stronger in argumentation have started to promote this idea of “Danish genes,” making those advocating for assimilation seem moderate by comparison. Look, such a situation was expected to happen as Denmark moves towards being a multi-ethnic society. Transition is not an easy process and there will be excesses on both sides.

For me, it’s important that our leaders acknowledge that we exist and when they address the nation, they use “people of Denmark” instead of “Danish.” We can belong to Denmark without becoming Danish. Why? Because when needed, Denmark will be protected by those who truly love it, regardless of genes.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

P.S. - My latest watch on DR TV is the Icelandic show “The Danish Woman.” An amazing experience.

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Your essential guide to passing the PD3 Danish exam, Brooke Fossey

2. How to pass the PD3 Oral exam, Brooke Fossey

3. Navigating the Danish Citizenship labyrinth, Miriam Thompson

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 Ice crystals from a space rocket over Denmark.

📸 An event from nature that is sad to watch.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

👶 Denmark’s use of forced adoption is under scrutiny. A new documentary has reignited debate over a system meant to give vulnerable children stability, after showing cases where children were forcibly taken away from their parents and moved between temporary families for years instead of getting a permanent home. At the same time, 42 of the 98 municipalities have not used forced adoption at all in the past five years, raising concerns about unequal practice depending on where a family lives. Several parties now want political action, and a review of whether the system is protecting children or failing them.

🌍 Mette Frederiksen makes Time Magazine list of the world’s 100 most influential people. She appears alongside figures like Pope Leo, Victoria Beckham, and MrBeast, with the magazine highlighting her firm stance on Greenland and strong support for Ukraine. Time even compares her leadership style to Margaret Thatcher, pointing to her decisiveness on the global stage.

🏛️ Morten Messerschmidt takes a central role in Parliament leadership. The leader of DF (Nationalist Conservative) has become vice-president of the Folketing’s presidium (the supreme governing authority of Parliament), breaking with tradition where party leaders usually stay out of this role. He says the goal is to strengthen oversight of the government and give Parliament “more muscle.” Some observers raise concerns about his perceived closeness to Russia-friendly narratives and the Trump/MAGA movement.

🏠 Emilie Schytte cleared despite residency confusion. Questions about whether the independent member of the Parliament actually lived in Denmark, despite having an apartment in Sweden, briefly delayed the approval of the election. Authorities confirmed she met the legal requirement of having an address in the country shortly before the vote.

Updates from the government negotiations

🏛️ Government talks stall as pressure rises. Mette Frederiksen says a new government could be formed “now” and urges Lars Løkke Rasmussen to return to negotiations, after he stepped back and called for broader talks including right-wing parties. More than 30 meetings have already taken place, but no clear majority has emerged, especially after Konservative (Conservatives) signaled it will not continue negotiations.

🏛️ Konservative (Conservatives) under pressure despite rejecting Frederiksen talks. While party leader Mona Juul has ruled out continuing negotiations with Mette Frederiksen, several Konservative mayors are openly pushing for a broad government anyway. They argue the current political situation calls for pragmatism over promises, even if it is not their preferred outcome.

🔵 Alex Vanopslagh fears a broken blue bloc (right-wing). The Liberal Alliance (Libertarian Conservative) leader warns that if Venstre (Liberals) and Konservative (Conservatives) join a government with Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), it could split the right-wing bloc for years. With a broad blue government now unlikely, he is already looking ahead to the next election and pushing for a tighter alliance between LA, V and K to rebuild trust and eventually challenge Mette Frederiksen’s hold on power.

Updates from Greenland

🌐 Inatsisartut (Greenlandic parliament) wants more English and Greenlandic in schools. Lawmakers have agreed to strengthen both languages, with a plan to be ready by next spring, while Danish remains mandatory for now. The move reflects reality on the ground, where many students already perform better in English than in Danish and often use it as their main foreign language. The change could gradually shift the balance away from Danish.

🧭 US interest in a Greenland base is becoming more concrete. An American military visit to Narsarsuaq suggests plans to potentially reopen a former base, with experts calling it a positive shift from political rhetoric to practical cooperation. The discussions involve coordination with Denmark and Greenland. Beyond military strategy, a revived base could also bring jobs and infrastructure to a small local community.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

💳 You can now pay even if the internet goes down. A new national backup system means card and mobile payments will still work in most supermarkets for up to seven days during outages. The move reflects how dependent people have become on cashless payments, with nine out of ten preferring cards or phones. The system is already active in major chains and will expand further.

💻 The pushback against screens is reaching schools. As the broader “war on screens” continues, some schools are now locking away computers and bringing back pen and paper to improve focus and learning. Experts say digital tools may have taken over too quickly, and it is time to rethink when they actually add value. The goal is not to remove technology, but to use it more intentionally.

Read more: how one Danish school banned phones and transformed its culture.

🐄 Watching cows jump is becoming a spring tradition. Thousands gathered across the country for the annual “Økodag”, where organic cows are released onto grass after winter, turning a farming routine into a national event with around 100,000 visitors. The moment has become a symbol of spring and animal welfare, but it also sparked debate, as advocacy groups now push to extend grazing rights to all cows.

🛍️ Why flea markets are everywhere this time of year. With spring comes the return of outdoor “loppemarkeder,” a deeply rooted part of everyday life where people hunt for second-hand treasures and socialize. The appeal goes beyond bargains, as it mixes nostalgia and a love for unique items you cannot find in stores. This year, older styles from the 1920s and small statement pieces like brooches are trending.

Read more: furnish your apartment for free at your local recycling centre!

🎒 A 1,100-day journey with no phone and no plan. A young craftsman from Bornholm has set off on “the vals,” a tradition where newly trained workers travel across Europe for three years and one day, taking jobs along the way. The ritual includes giving up your phone and living a nomadic life with strict rules. Once common across Northern Europe, the tradition still survives as a unique rite of passage focused on independence and personal growth.

🎶 Danish music is turning inward. The biggest earning songs of 2025 are almost all in Danish and focus on close relationships, showing a clear shift toward local language and emotions. Artists like Blæst and Lukas Graham dominate the list, with nine out of ten songs sung in Danish.

🏠 Asbestos roofs are becoming a ticking time bomb. Around 400,000 homes still have them, and while the safest option is to remove them completely, many homeowners simply cannot afford it. Experts say cheaper alternatives like cleaning, painting, or covering the roof only delay the issue and may soon become harder, especially with new rules banning high-pressure cleaning from July.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🚆 If your train is late, here is what you can actually claim. After major disruptions caused by a technical fault, thousands have applied for compensation, and many are eligible without realizing it. If your train is delayed by more than 30 minutes, you can apply for partial compensation through DSB Rejsetidsgaranti. After 60 minutes, you may also get up to 75 DKK refunded for food and drinks if you keep your receipt. If your train is cancelled, you can take the next available public transport or get a refund, but taxis and hotels are not automatically covered, so check with DSB first.

💸 The price panic may be bigger than the problem. Despite all the talk about rising fuel costs and inflation, several economists say most people in Denmark will actually have more money in 2026, as wages are growing faster than prices. Even the recent jump in petrol prices only adds a fairly small extra cost for the average driver so far. The bigger picture, they argue, is that this year looks much better for household finances than the crisis years, especially for people on public benefits.

🛒 Food prices may be next in line. Experts warn that higher energy costs linked to tensions in the Middle East are likely to reach supermarket shelves within three to six months, with food prices potentially rising by 5 to 10% depending on how long the disruption lasts. Because energy affects everything from transport to packaging and production, the impact would spread throughout the whole shopping basket.

Read more: the app that helps you slash your food bill

State of the markets

🤖 AI could reshape one in five jobs. New analysis shows around 20% of jobs could be affected by automation, as more companies use tools like ChatGPT to handle tasks once done by humans. Some businesses are already running almost entirely on AI, with one company reaching tens of millions in revenue without employees. At the same time, we are among the fastest in Europe to adopt AI, and experts say strong digital systems and flexible job rules could help workers adapt.

Read more: 20 essential apps to make daily life in Denmark easier!

⚡ Thousands still waiting for their electricity refunds. Two companies, Velkommen and Nettopower, are under fire from Forsyningstilsynet for failing to return money to customers on time, with delays found in over 6,000 cases. By law, final bills and refunds should be settled within four weeks after switching providers, but some customers have waited years and faced long call queues just to claim what they are owed. Consumer group Forbrugerrådet Tænk warns many people may not even know they are owed money and reminds that you can claim interest on late payments.

💼 Two of the world’s richest families are teaming up. The family behind LEGO bricks and the Walton family (of Wal-Mart fame) are each investing around 640 million DKK into a new fund focused on education and learning tools for children. It marks a shift from pure philanthropy to impact investing, where returns are combined with social goals. The move could help bring LEGO further into classrooms, but also raises questions about balancing profit with purpose in the long run.

International Community HQ

Community Noticeboard

Parenting Across Cultures Creative Writing Workshop 📍Cafe Sweet Surrender, Copenhagen | 🗓Tuesday April 21, 10:00-11:30 🔗Sign up here

IT-DAY Career Fair – Aalborg 📍 CREATE, Aalborg University | 🗓 Thursday April 23, 10:00–15:00 | Free 50+ tech companies, free entry, open to all IT-interested profiles 🔗 Find out more here

Mastering Compelling Cover Letters 📍 Online | 🗓 Thursday April 23, 13:00–14:30 | Free English-language webinar on writing cover letters for the Danish job market. 🔗 Sign up here

SPOR Festival – Contemporary Music & Sound Art 📍Aarhus | 🗓 April 22-26 | Ticketed events 🔗Check out the program here

Mums (and others) Disco 📍Kulturkapellet (Elisabeth Houes Gade 3) Aarhus | 🗓 Friday April 24, 18:30-21:00 |🔗Find out more here

Career Journey: Navigate Your Path to Success in Denmark! 📍Kulturhus Bunkeren Olof Palmes Allé 11, 8200 Aarhus N. | 🗓 Friday April 24, 09:00-13:00 | Free 🔗Sign up here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🤝 “Kingmaker Rasmussen pauses work with Frederiksen in Danish government talks” – Politico

💊 “Life sciences lawyer warns of potential product exodus from Denmark after Trump price offensive” – MedWatch

📬 “How to save Europe’s postal services – or let them die like Denmark’s” – EUobserver

🚆 “More than 30 trains damaged in Denmark after traction system fault upends traffic” – RailTech

🧾 “Fact Check: Denmark did not announce the building of 30,000 new mosques, says government” – Reuters

🇺🇦 “What happened after Denmark adopted a ruined city in Ukraine” – The New York Times

1. Moderaterne (Social Liberals) leader rejects talks unless a government across the middle is considered. Venstre (Liberals) is open.

2. Denmark is going offline: running events are booming, backyard saunas are popping up, and even dating is getting fresh air again.

3. The ceasefire eased oil prices, but was too late to prevent higher construction costs. Expect to pay more for spring projects.

Letter from the editor

Today we hope for good news from Hungary. The pro-European forces are battling the pro-Russian forces that have ruled the country for the last 16 years. This election is not only important for Hungarians, but for all of us, as it can either strengthen or further weaken Europe. So, I hope to see victory tomorrow morning.

Also, I want to wish Happy Orthodox Easter to everyone celebrating. I know the struggle of choosing whether to celebrate Easter twice, and for nearly a decade I managed to celebrate on both occasions. Now, to be fair, I celebrate neither - only the Bunny and its chocolate egg hunt.

Further, I want to thank everyone who was patient during the situation with the newsletter last Sunday. Substack kinda pulled the rug from under us by using a sending server tainted by spammers. If this ever happens again, please check your “SPAM” folder and press “Not Spam” so we can teach the algorithms to trust us. Unless we announce a break, always expect a newsletter edition sometime between 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Not to forget, a deep reverence to the hundreds of kind messages.

In political Denmark, not much is happening. The new Parliament kickstarted, but as many members are new, there will be a learning curve before we see them in action. The government negotiations are stalled as Moderaterne (Social Liberals) do not want to play with Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) and Alternativet (Greens), therefore pushing Mette Frederiksen to bring Venstre (Liberals) and Konservative (Conservatives) to play. As mentioned before, a red-purple (left-wing + centrist) government would be ideal for us, however a government across-the-middle would still be better than new elections.

The movement that aims to unite internationals, Our Voice, has launched a new challenge. They want 80% voting presence from internationals living in Denmark at the local and regional elections in 2029. A great goal to have and one that I definitely share, as I have worked since 2013 to encourage internationals to vote. After more than a decade, I would say that even 40-50% would represent a victory for us, considering we are hovering at 20-30% today. In the same line, InDe is inviting internationals to come together and understand how to influence policymaking on April 16 in Copenhagen.

If you want to meet in Copenhagen, I will be there on April 23 for the Stakeholder Policy Lab on Migrant Career Development, to which you are also invited.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

P.S - This week humanity made a great step forward in space. Thanks to the success of the Artemis II mission we might soon see a human base on the Moon. It only took 50 years to send people back to the Moon. Let’s hope it will be faster next time.

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. A Political Request: Fairer Taxes for Internationals, by Juan Álvarez

2. Denmark’s Saunagus Culture, by Daniel Sfita

3. Furnish your apartment for free at your local recycling centre, by Daniel Sfita

4. 20 AI Tools to Help You Navigate Danish Life, by Daniel Sfita

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Call for volunteers. Do you have 2-4 hours per week? Do you support our mission to empower people with information? Then join one of our teams here.

• Youtube Team (Video Content Producer, Copywriter)

• Podcast Team (Transcript Editor)

• and many other positions across the LWID universe.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 Check out pictures of the Earth and the Moon from the current NASA space mission.

📸 The photos nominated for the World Press Photo award.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

🏛️ Government talks have hit a new breaking point, as Moderaterne (Social Liberals) leader Lars Løkke Rasmussen refuses to negotiate with Mette Frederiksen unless centre-right parties are included. He is pushing for Venstre (Liberals) and Konservative (Conservatives) to join the talks and focus on economic reforms, warning he will walk away otherwise. The move increases pressure on Frederiksen to change strategy and signals growing frustration with negotiations focused on the red bloc (left-wing). If no compromise is found, talks may have to restart with a new setup altogether.

🏛️ Venstre (Liberals) now says it will not rule out working with Mette Frederiksen. Deputy leader Stephanie Lose confirmed the party is open to negotiations across the political middle if economic policy aligns, even if it means Frederiksen remains prime minister. Venstre still prefers to try forming a centre-right government first, but signals it will join talks in any format.

🗳️ Support for a government across the middle is rising after the election, as no clear majority has emerged. A new poll shows 42% now prefer a red-purple-blue (center) government, up from 35% during the election, reflecting what many see as the only realistic option. Still, voters remain divided, with similar shares backing traditional red (left-wing) or blue (right-wing) governments. At the same time, Mette Frederiksen remains the preferred prime minister for about half of voters, well ahead of her rivals.

🌍 Donald Trump has again criticized NATO and brought up Greenland, calling it “a large, poorly managed piece of ice” and linking it to tensions around Iran. Analysts say the repeated mention reflects ongoing frustration after allies rejected his earlier attempts to gain control over the island. His comments come amid broader criticism of NATO’s role and hints that the US is reconsidering its position in the alliance. NATO leadership describes the talks as open, but the situation adds new uncertainty to transatlantic relations.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

💘 A new dating trend where friends “pitch” their single friends on social media is gaining attention and could take off locally as people grow tired of dating apps. In one case, a man received over 100 messages after his friend posted a short video presenting him, leading to real-life dates and eventually a relationship. Experts say the concept feels more authentic and fits well with local culture, where self-promotion is often frowned upon, and say it could signal a shift toward more social, offline dating experiences.

Read more: Intent - the ethical dating app where you’re seen not swiped

🏡 A Danish film director is pushing back against “perfect home” culture by refusing to tidy up before appearing on TV, highlighting growing frustration with unrealistic standards. Anna Emma Haudal says years of pressure to maintain a spotless home led to stress and anxiety, until she consciously chose to accept the mess and prioritize well-being and social life instead. Her approach reflects a broader shift, where more people question idealized lifestyles seen on social media and instead embrace realistic, lived-in homes.

🏃 Running events are booming across the country as more people turn exercise into social experiences rather than just fitness routines. From themed runs with music or costumes to intense long-distance challenges, running has become an “event” in itself. A philosopher explains the trend as a response to modern stress and constant digital distraction, with running offering a rare mental break where you cannot scroll or multitask.

🛁 More people are turning their gardens into private wellness spaces, with demand for outdoor spas and saunas rising sharply again after a post-pandemic dip. Companies report strong sales across all price ranges, from 25,000 to 250,000 DKK, driven by a focus on health and spending offline time with others. Experts say the trend reflects both lifestyle priorities and disposable income among some households.

⛪ Many teenagers are choosing to be baptized later in life in order to take part in confirmation, with the number rising by around 70% over the past five years. Many were not baptized as children and now make the decision themselves, often motivated by a mix of personal belief and the desire to be part of a shared experience with classmates. Churches are adapting by organizing group baptisms to handle the growing demand, highlighting how confirmation remains a strong social tradition.

Read more: Coming of age the Danish way - Konfirmation

🧑‍⚖️ Men are reaching out for help with partner violence, with inquiries to support centers rising by 30% in 2025. Experts link the increase partly to a 2024 law change that gave men equal access to shelters and support services, making it easier to seek help. At the same time, stigma and gender norms still prevent many from coming forward, meaning the real number of cases is likely higher.

🏠 Homeowners are rushing to clean and paint asbestos roofs before a July 1 ban ends the practice, causing a surge in demand for roof services. The ban aims to reduce health risks from spreading asbestos dust, but industry groups warn it could leave especially rural homeowners stuck with aging roofs they cannot afford to replace, as full replacement can cost up to ten times more.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

📚 A newly translated book challenges the role of debt in modern life, arguing that it is not just financial but deeply tied to power and social relationships. Anthropologist David Graeber’s work questions why debt is seen as a moral obligation when it is a human-made system, and suggests society could rethink it entirely. Researchers say the book invites reflection rather than offering concrete solutions, but highlights how deeply debt shapes everyday decisions.

🚴 Wolt couriers in Copenhagen are striking over falling pay, pointing to a gap between official figures and real earnings. The company says riders earn over 200 DKK per active hour, but this only counts time spent on deliveries, not waiting between orders. Couriers say actual earnings can drop closer to 100–160 DKK per hour when all time and costs are included. The dispute reflects broader concerns about gig work, where income depends heavily on demand and conditions.

State of the markets

🏗️ Building materials prices are rising sharply again, pushing some people to delay construction projects and forcing companies to tighten conditions. A roofing company reports price increases of 12 to 16% on materials like roofing felt, driven by higher oil and plastic costs linked to global tensions. Some projects could become significantly more expensive, with full house work rising by up to 50,000 to 60,000 DKK. In response, companies now shorten the period for how long their offer remains valid and advise customers to lock prices in quickly to avoid further increases.

⛽ Oil prices dropped sharply after a temporary Middle East ceasefire, but fuel prices at the pump are only falling slightly for now. While global oil fell by around 13%, petrol prices dropped by just 30 øre and diesel by about one DKK, mainly due to refining delays and supply issues. Diesel remains unusually more expensive than petrol because Europe depends on imports affected by regional tensions. Experts say it could take several months before lower oil prices fully reach consumers.

🪖 Companies are increasingly targeting Greenland as billions are poured into Arctic defense, creating new business opportunities linked to military buildup. A Danish firm traveled there to showcase all-terrain vehicles designed for extreme conditions, hoping to secure contracts with the armed forces. Industry groups say around 65% of defense-related companies now have an Arctic focus, reflecting growing geopolitical attention on the region.

International Community HQ

🌆 An international couple who moved to Copenhagen for its “perfect city” image left after 1.5 years, saying reality did not match expectations. They praised work-life balance and city design, but struggled with social integration, high living costs, and job access without higher education. They describe people as distant and rule-focused, with difficulty building friendships and adapting to social norms, especially as new parents. Their story highlights a gap between Copenhagen’s global image and everyday life.

Community Noticeboard

Groove – Dance for Fun with Anne Kragelund 📍 Roberta’s Society, Aarhus | 🗓 Monday, April 13, 19:00 | Free (book in advance) A fun, no-pressure dance class 🔗 Find out more here

Children & Language: Helping Your Child Thrive in Denmark 📍 Online (International House Copenhagen) | 🗓 Tuesday, April 14, 16:30–17:30 | Free 🔗 Sign up here

Parenting Across Cultures 📍Cafe Sweet Surrender, Copenhagen | 🗓️ Wednesday, April 15, 10:00-11:30 🔗 Sign up

RAMA Festival Aalborg 📍Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium, Aalborg | 🗓 Friday & Saturday, April 17-18 | Two days of free concerts, installations and performances by music students in Aalborg. 🔗Find out more here

Copenhagen Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival 📍Langelinie Park, Copenhagen | 🗓 Saturday & Sunday April 18-19, all day | Free 🔗 Find out more here

Danish Science Festival (Forskningens Døgn) — Nationwide 📍Universities, libraries & institutions across all of Denmark | 🗓 April 17-26 | Mostly free. Runs across Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg and beyond. Check the program for English-language events. 🔗Read more here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

⚓ “Archaeologists discover wreck of Danish warship sunk by Admiral Nelson 225 years ago” – The Guardian

🪖 “US begins secret talks for new military bases in Greenland” – The Telegraph

🔥 “My NATO rage began with Greenland, Trump says” – Politico

🧊 “‘We are not some piece of ice’: Greenland hits back at Trump’s Arctic insult” – Reuters

🗳️ “‘I want to make myself obsolete’: the MP fighting for Greenland’s self-governance” – The Guardian

I’m reaching out because many of you reported that our latest newsletter was marked as “dangerous” or sent to spam.

This was a technical error on the Substack delivery side, but it affects how you receive our news moving forward. To ensure you don’t miss future episodes, please:

1. Find the last email in your Spam folder.

2. Mark it as “Not Spam” (this is the most important step!).

3. Reply to this email with a quick “Received” or “Hi”—this tells your email provider that you know and trust me as a sender.

I’ve been writing this newsletter for 5 years now, and your support in “teaching” the spam filters that we are safe means the world to me.

All the best,

Narcis George Matache

Executive Editor

Last Week in Denmark

1. Days after elections, two members of Parliament were expelled from their parties, triggering a debate about candidate screening.

2. According to a new member of Parliament, only people with “Danish genes” can be called Danish.

3. Public shelters in nature see historic use, birdwatching is on the rise, and summer houses rarely go up for sale.

Letter from the editor

“A cat does not become a horse just because it is born in a horse stable” Nadja Isaksen, Member of the Danish Parliament.

Happy Easter to those celebrating, and well, happy vacation time for the rest of us.

As spring arrives and the days get longer, there is a sense of a fresh start. A shift in mood. Maybe even a bit of hope. It feels like the perfect time to focus on building community and spreading joy, and not to focus on people like the newly elected member of Parliament, Nadja Isaksen, who recently decided to give voice to what can only be described as a “genetic theory” of belonging, arguing that one cannot become Danish unless they inherit it through blood.

To see someone with these views elected into Parliament raises uncomfortable questions about democracy and participation in a country that often prides itself on being among the strongest in the world. This is not new to me. During the local election campaign, she targeted me directly, posting pictures of my posters and questioning my role in politics simply because I am not, in her view, Danish.

What makes it even more striking is that her own background is far from the narrow definition she promotes. With roots in multiple countries, she herself does not fit the standard she tries to impose on others. Yet her public communication consistently focuses on who looks or feels “Danish enough.” Scientists have a saying for this kind of thinking: Biological Racism.

I am not claiming to be Danish. I am European, and that is enough for me. But for many people, it matters deeply to be able to call themselves Danish and to be seen that way. We do not have the right to deny that. Identity is not a fixed box. It is layered, evolving, and often shaped by the places we live and the people around us.

Have I adopted Danish values? Of course. Anyone who spends enough time in a society will absorb parts of it, whether they intend to or not. At the same time, I carry values and traditions from other cultures I have lived in or been exposed to. And I continue to be curious, always open to learning from different ways of living and thinking.

In international forums where I have represented Denmark, I was often perceived as Danish, and I accepted that role, even if internally I felt more connected to Aalborg (proudly calling it Paris of the North, whenever I had the chance). Yet in those same spaces, when I met other Romanians representing different countries, I naturally returned to that part of my identity.

Culture is a human construct. It is shaped and reshaped by people over time. It is not static, and it is not owned by anyone.

In the end, this is not about one politician or one statement. It is about what kind of country we want to live in: a place where belonging is limited by blood, or one where people can grow into it over time? Denmark has never been just one story. It has always been shaped by the people who choose to be here.

P.S. No updates on the government formation. The ball right now is with Moderaterne (Social Liberals) who insist on a government across the middle.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. The law proposal that will limit international students’ options in Denmark, by Ahmet Akkoç.

2. Furnish your apartment for free at your local genbrug, by Daniel Sfita.

3. A Political Request: Fairer taxes for internationals, by Juan Álvarez.

4. Decoding reality at CPH.DOX 2026, by Daniel Sfita.

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Call for volunteers. Do you have 2-4 hours per week? Do you support our mission to empower people with information? Then join one of our teams here.

• Youtube Team (Video Content Producer, Copywriter)

• Podcast Team (Transcript Editor)

• Linkedin Team (Community Manager)

• and many other positions across the LWID universe.

Are you interested in the situation of migrant workers trapped in low-skill, low-pay jobs? Or maybe you already are working with it? Join us at the Stakeholder Policy Lab on Migrant Career Development on April 23 (13:00 to 16:00) at 3F Forbund (Kampmannsgade 4, Copenhagen). Sign up here.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 A house in Aarhus known as “maybe Denmark’s strangest” is now for sale. Built with crooked walls, tilted windows, and a keyhole-shaped layout, it was designed to “look like a human.” Take a look.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

🏛️ New MP keeps three political roles after sudden expulsion from party. Cecilie Liv Hansen made headlines by holding seats at municipal, regional, and national level at the same time, a rare “triple mandate” that gives her 1.7 million DKK per year. Only a few days after the elections, she was expelled from Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) due to revelations about her partner’s involvement in illegal drug sales, which the party said damaged trust and credibility. She remains in all three positions as an independent.

🏛️ Borgernes Parti (far-right) lost one of its four seats just days after the election as newly elected MP Jacob Harris was expelled over allegations linked to a bankrupt company. Harris had already gone on leave after reports that a bankruptcy trustee wanted police to investigate possible financial misconduct, which he denies. The party says he broke its declaration of trust and failed to give truthful information, while Harris accuses leader Lars Boje Mathiesen of first backing him, then pressuring him to quit. He now plans to stay in Parliament as an independent.

🏛️ Another Borgernes Parti MP is under scrutiny after questions emerged about both her CV and political past. Emilie Schytte Pedersen, elected with just 533 personal votes, claimed on her CV to have taught AI at Roskilde University for two years, but the university says she was only a teaching assistant on one course for three months. New reporting also says she was previously on her way out of Liberal Alliance after internal conflicts before switching to Borgernes Parti, while older stories about her unusual art project and self-presentation continue to attract attention.

🏛️ A fresh row in Parliament has put Borgernes Parti (Anti-Establishment) under even more pressure after Nadja Natalie Isaksen said Samira Nawa of Radikale (Social Liberal) is not really Danish, despite her citizenship and upbringing in Denmark. The comment triggered a strong backlash across party lines, with politicians across the spectrum publicly defending Nawa and calling the statement racist, or simply unacceptable. Borgernes Parti leader Lars Boje Mathiesen backed his MP and argued that citizenship does not automatically make someone Danish in a cultural sense, but the fallout has widened the split inside the blue bloc (right-wing) and added another controversy to the party’s chaotic first week in Parliament.

🏛️ Pressure is growing inside Venstre (Liberals) to join a government with Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) despite leadership resistance. While party leader Troels Lund Poulsen has ruled out another S-led coalition, many local members argue that governing with Social Democrats is the best way to maintain influence, even if it costs votes. Around half of surveyed party representatives support this option, citing responsibility in uncertain times.

📱 European Union stops scanning private messages for child abuse material after vote against extension. Tech companies can no longer scan messages in Europe under a temporary scheme, as lawmakers rejected prolonging it. Child protection groups warn this will make it harder to detect abuse and help victims, while critics say the system risked mass surveillance of private communication.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🛰️ Danish student-built satellite launched into space for climate research. A small satellite developed by students from three universities was successfully launched with a SpaceX rocket and will now begin sending data from orbit. The satellite will capture 3D images of glaciers in the Arctic and Greenland to help researchers track climate change and temperature differences. Around 70 students contributed to the project.

🌲 More people chose nature over comfort despite the coldest winter in 16 years. A record 11,700 overnight stays were booked in public shelters around Copenhagen this winter, more than 2,000 higher than last year, even as temperatures dropped significantly. Many urban residents are increasingly seeking nature for calm and a break from city life, with shelters now used year-round. The growing demand means spots are often fully booked, showing a clear shift towards outdoor experiences regardless of the season.

🐦 Birdwatching is booming as more people turn to nature for connection and meaning. Thousands across the country are taking up birding, supported by large online communities and easy access to migration hotspots like Skagen and Amager. For many, it offers both a social activity and a deeper way to understand nature, though growing popularity also raises concerns about disturbing wildlife.

🪨 Retired archaeologist searches West Jutland for evidence that could rewrite Denmark’s history. A former archaeologist is spending his retirement scanning fields for signs of Neanderthals, believing humans may have lived here far earlier than the current estimate of 14–15,000 years. If proven, it could push the timeline back up to 100,000 years or more, though no evidence has been found yet. Despite health challenges, he continues the search, driven by decades of research and personal conviction.

🪑 Iconic Danish designer Hans J. Wegner gets his own museum in Tønder. A new museum dedicated to the world-famous furniture designer has opened in his hometown, showcasing hundreds of his chairs and other designs. Wegner’s work is internationally recognized and played a key role in shaping modern Danish design, with pieces used in historic events like the Kennedy-Nixon debate. The museum aims to attract visitors from around the world and strengthen Tønder as a cultural destination.

🍺 Hobby brewers can no longer enter beer competitions without registering as businesses. Authorities have clarified that homemade beer can only be shared privately with friends and family, and participating in public competitions requires a CVR number. The rule is not new but is now being enforced more strictly, affecting popular events like DM in Håndbryg. Industry groups warn this could limit innovation and make it harder for hobby brewers to transition into professional microbreweries.

🥕 Commercial food waste has dropped significantly, even as demand for donated food remains high. The amount of surplus food collected by charities has nearly halved over the past ten years, as supermarkets improve stock management and discount hard-to-sell items more effectively. At the same time, more people are willing to buy discounted food close to expiry, partly due to rising prices. While less food is wasted overall, there is a cost, as organizations rely on donations to distribute large quantities during holidays like Easter.

📱 Consumer and child protection groups warn against using popular video app CapCut over data concerns. Red Barnet, Børns Vilkår and Forbrugerrådet Tænk have filed a complaint, saying users may unknowingly give the app broad rights to use their content, including for AI training and marketing. Experts worry this could expose children’s data or even allow reconstruction of images or voices. The case is now with the Data Protection Authority.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

⛽ Fuel taxes could be lowered quickly even without a new government in place. As rising oil prices push up costs at the pump, several countries are already cutting fuel taxes, and experts say the Danish parliament could do the same if there is political agreement. A proposal could be passed rapidly, even as government negotiations are ongoing, though it would be an unusual move. For now, no decision has been made, but the option is on the table.

State of the markets

🛒 Cheaper groceries in Sweden may not always mean real savings for Danish shoppers. Sweden has cut food VAT to 6%, making many products noticeably cheaper than in Denmark, but travel costs can quickly cancel out the benefit. A typical trip across the Øresund Bridge can cost 400 to 700 DKK, meaning you need to shop for large amounts to break even. For most people, cross-border shopping only pays off for bigger purchases, while smaller trips may end up costing more overall.

🏡 Summer house prices hit record highs as supply drops across the country. Fewer than 5,000 holiday homes are currently for sale, far below normal levels, while demand continues to rise, pushing prices above even the pandemic peak. Buyers now face fast-moving deals and bidding competition, with homes selling quickly across all regions. The trend reflects a growing desire for lifestyle investments, but makes it harder to enter the market unless you are ready to act fast.

• The number of summer houses has increased by less than 1% in five years, despite record tourism and growing interest in holiday rentals.

👉Read more: What is it with Danes and their Summerhouses? By Sigga Hansen.

⚡ Vestas to cut around 440 jobs at Lindø after scaling down production needs. The layoffs will mainly affect night and weekend shifts as the company adjusts after a period of expansion, with management saying staffing must now match current demand. Local officials in Kerteminde warn of serious impacts, as many workers live in the area and may need support to find new jobs or retrain. Vestas says it will try to relocate some employees within Denmark.

Entrepreneurship

Do you spend time on upskilling when you already have a job? Together with the Aalborg Institute of Development, we are developing a project to convince companies to integrate learning spaces and motivate employees to engage in upskilling. Help us by completing this survey.

International Community HQ

Have a business that’s doing good for internationals here? Let us write about it and help us while we’re helping you! We’re committed to keeping our newsletter, podcast, and website paywall-free. Sponsoring content with us helps keep the LWID universe going!

Read about other businesses we’ve worked with here.

Want us to publish a sponsored content article about your business? Get in touch here.

Community Noticeboard

Children & Language: Helping Your Child Thrive in Denmark 📍 Online | 🗓 Tuesday April 14, 16:30–17:30 🔗 Sign up

Volunteer Night 2026 📍 Copenhagen University Library | 🗓 Wednesday April 15, 17:15–20:00 | Meet a broad range of organizations offering volunteer positions in Copenhagen. Good for networking. In-person and free. 🔗 Sign up

Parenting Across Cultures 📍Cafe Sweet Surrender, Copenhagen | 🗓️ Wednesday, April 15, 10:00-11:30 🔗 Sign up

Launch Circles: April Breakfast 📍 Zoku Copenhagen | 🗓 Thursday April 9 9:00 - 11:00 | Fee: DKK 280 (incl. VAT) | We create collaborative spaces where new and aspiring entrepreneurs can connect, and support each other’s journeys. 🔗 Find out more here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

📍 “Dispute escalates as Taiwan warns Denmark over ‘China’ label” – ScandAsia

🧭 “Denmark’s politics is all a bit chaotic right now — but Danes like it that way” – Monocle

💻 “Northern nations start to pull plug on US tech giants” – Bloomberg

🪤 “Denmark’s velvet trap has been exposed” – The Spectator

📉 “Denmark’s unique political model is in crisis” – The Guardian

1. New Parliament is the youngest (average age 43.9 ) and the most gender equal (48% women) in Danish history.

2. Neither of the two sides secured enough votes for a majority, so Moderaterne will decide who gets to govern. If no decision can be reached, new elections will be organized.

3. For 16 years in a row, Denmark also ended 2025 with a budget surplus of 88,5 billion DKK, totaling 1 trillion DKK surplus since 2010.

Letter from the editor

Want some good news? 34% of eligible voters supported a party positive towards internationals, while only 17.3% voted for a far-right, anti-internationals party.

From our perspective, the result of the parliamentary elections is a positive one. Relative to today, there is a chance, there will be not one but four parties supporting internationals, to form a government with Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats). If only Moderaterne (Social Liberals) would solve their beef with Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance), then we could truly celebrate a period of progress for our situation in the next four years.

To be honest, a Red-Purple government (left-wing parties plus Moderaterne) or a Red-Purple-Blue government (left-wing and right-wing parties plus Moderaterne), would both be net positive for us. The worst that can happen is to have elections again.

We may not realize it yet, but the war in Iran is actually affecting the world economy on a scale similar to the pandemic, and unfortunately, prices are likely to keep rising in the coming months. Guess who benefited from the spike in gasoline prices? DF (Nationalist Conservative). They tripled their support in a matter of weeks, boosted by a campaign to lower gasoline prices (with a little help from the Facebook algorithm), and their leader got the most personal votes in the entire country.

Another election in June could be devastating for us, as the tone will get even worse, amid the international unrest. DD (Nationalist Populist) lost momentum and could escalate the whole “let’s push internationals to the brink” to another level to regain relevance. Not only that, but the more moderate blue parties could be pushed into more extreme positions on internationals, seeing how popular DF has suddenly become.

Let’s hope they find agreement quickly. Otherwise my advice to you is this: don’t ignore the risk of an eventual repeat of the parliamentary elections. Look, I get it. Many of us simply do not have the time or energy to get involved in public life. Between work that often stretches beyond hours, family responsibilities, and trying to maintain some form of social life, there is very little left.

However, for our sake and our children’s, we must all get involved. You can only get so far by hoping others will fix it or that time will take care of it. For the price of a few hours, you can change the outcome of an election. So when needed, do not hesitate to answer the call.

To end on the same positive note we started, I can already see multiple initiatives from internationals trying to have a bigger impact on the society around us. Like for example the platform Our Voice launched by Simone Uggeri.

There is hope.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. Rethinking careers and entrepreneurship in Denmark: a conversation with Valeria Kadelski, by Paulina Stachnik

2. Why the PD3 exam may not be enough for your career in Denmark: language teacher Daniela Hummelgren talks to reporter Anna Łęcka.

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Are you interested in the situation of migrant workers trapped in low-skill, low-pay jobs? Or maybe you already are working with it? Join us at the Stakeholder Policy Lab on Migrant Career Development on April 23 (13 to 16) at 3F Forbund (Kampmannsgade 4, Copenhagen). Sign up here.

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸Pictures from Election Night. See here how each party received their results.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

Parliamentary election results (out of 179 mandates total; % change since 2022 election)

• Red (left-wing) parties:

• Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) 21.8% (38 mandates; -5.7%)

• SF (Green Left) 11.6% (20 mandates; +3.3%)

• Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) 6.3% (11 mandates; +1.2%)

• Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) 5.8% (10 mandates; +2%)

• Alternativet (Greens) 2.6% (5 mandates; -0.7%)

• Total: 84 mandates.

• Blue (right-wing) parties:

• Venstre (Liberals) 10.1% (18 mandates; -3.2%)

• Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) 9.4% (16 mandates; +1.5%)

• DF (Nationalist Conservative) 9.1% (16 mandates, +6.5%)

• Konservative (Conservatives) 7.6% (13 mandates; +2.1%)

• DD (Nationalist Populist) 5.8% (10 mandates; -2.3%)

• Total: 73 mandates.

• Purple (center) parties:

• Moderaterne (Social Liberals) 7.7% (14 mandates; -1.6%)

• Anti-system parties:

• Borgernes Parti (Anti-Establishment; Far-right) 2.1% (4 mandates)

🏛️ Government coalition suffers historic election loss. The Socialdemokratiet, Venstre, and Moderaterne coalition lost 19 seats compared to 2022 and now hold only 70 mandates, marking one of the worst results for a sitting government since 1973. Voters never fully accepted the cooperation between traditional rivals, especially after controversial reforms.

• Socialdemokratiet recorded its worst result since 1903, while Venstre dropped to its lowest level ever. Both parties lost significant support across the country and now face internal pressure to rethink their political direction. The election signals a major shift away from the dominance of the traditional power parties.

• Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s party went slightly backwards but now holds the balance of power with 14 seats, as neither left nor right bloc has a majority. This gives Moderaterne a decisive role in forming the next government. Løkke Rasmussen now finds himself in the central position he has aimed for since founding the party.

📈 DF stages major comeback. DF increased its vote share three times compared to last elections, recovering from its near-collapse in 2022. The party gained support across all constituencies and is now one of the biggest winners of the election. Its leader has positioned the party as a strong opponent to any government involving Moderaterne.

🌱 SF becomes second-largest party for the first time. SF achieved its best result in nearly 20 years and is now the second-largest party in Parliament. The party aims to translate this momentum into government participation. Its rise reflects growing support, especially among younger and climate-focused voters.

🧩 Record fragmentation makes government formation harder. All 12 parties on the ballot crossed the 2% threshold and entered Parliament, which hasn’t happened since 1953. With many mid-sized parties and no clear majority, forming a stable government will be more complex. Negotiations will now determine who becomes prime minister.

🏛️ Government talks begin after election. Mette Frederiksen has invited seven parties across political blocs to start negotiations on forming a new government. The meetings begin this week and will continue over the coming days, with no clear outcome yet.

👩‍⚖️ Younger women reshape parliament. The new parliament now has a record 48% women and the lowest average age ever at 43.9 years old, with several young women in their early 20s entering politics. Candidates like 23-year-old Sofie Therese Svendsen (the youngest member of the Parliament) highlight a shift towards younger representation.

Latest on the Faroe Islands

🐟 Faroe Islands push for independence faces fishing dilemma. Growing support for more independence is driven by a desire to control the economy and make international agreements without Denmark, especially in the fishing sector, which makes up 95% of Faroese exports. However, continued cooperation with Russia on fishing rights could create political tension with Denmark and the EU. Experts warn that the more independent the Faroe Islands become, the harder it may be to balance economic interests with geopolitical expectations.

🗳️ Conservatives win Faroe Islands election and eye power shift. The party Fólkaflokkurin secured 9 out of 33 seats, making it the largest party and putting 29-year-old leader Beinir Johannesen in a strong position to become the youngest prime minister ever. The result reflects gains for parties favoring more independence, while the previous governing party lost support. Coalition talks will now decide the final government, with both narrow and broad alliances on the table.

🗳️ Young voters shake up Faroe Islands politics with historic result. 20-year-old Bjørg Brynhildardóttir from the independence party Tjóðveldi became the youngest ever elected member of parliament and one of the top vote-getters, outperforming her party leader. Her campaign focused on giving young people a stronger voice and addressing issues like equality and opportunities. The result highlights a clear generational shift, with youth turnout and influence playing a decisive role in the election outcome.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🌊 Massive seabed extraction for construction is damaging marine life. Around 14 million cubic meters of sand and gravel were taken from the seabed around Denmark in 2024 alone, equivalent to 700,000 truckloads, as demand for infrastructure and building projects grows. Experts warn this process removes habitats for fish and marine ecosystems already under pressure. Several actors now urge the next government to finally deliver a national raw materials strategy to reduce environmental impact and rethink how building materials are sourced.

🐷 Pigs have become a political symbol in modern debates. While pork production was once a unifying source of national pride linking farmers and workers, it is now a dividing issue tied to animal welfare and the environment. Debates over farming practices and cultural issues like serving pork in public institutions have increasingly split political sides. Today, positions on pork often signal broader views on agriculture and what “Danish culture” means.

🥪 Smørrebrød is being rebranded as the “real” national dish. A new book argues that the classic open sandwich better represents food culture than stegt flæsk, highlighting its deep roots from Viking times to modern restaurants. After decades of decline in the 1960s and 70s, smørrebrød has seen a revival since the 2000s, with higher quality and renewed interest from both chefs and diners. Today, it remains a staple for both locals and visitors, mixing tradition with modern twists.

🍰 Veteran pastry chef wins national title after 40 years. Allan Colding-Andersen was named Denmark’s best confectioner for the first time, despite decades in the industry and never competing before. He impressed judges with a complex set of creations including a wedding cake and a 60 cm edible sculpture. The win marks a milestone in a long career.

📚 Books are becoming a fashion statement as much as a pastime. Celebrities and luxury brands are increasingly using books as visual props, turning reading into a symbol of intelligence and identity in a screen-heavy world. Social media trends and aesthetic book covers have helped boost the popularity of physical books again. Some critics say it is more about image than reading, but others argue it still helps bring literature back to the fore.

💇 Men’s hairstyles are shifting towards longer, retro looks. Influenced by celebrities, short fades are losing popularity as styles like mullets and 70s-inspired cuts gain traction. Hairdressers say more men are embracing personal style and are willing to spend more time on styling. The trend reflects a broader move towards individuality, where standing out matters more than following traditional grooming norms.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💰 Public finances outperform expectations year after year. The state recorded a surplus of 88.5 billion DKK in 2025, far above forecasts, marking 16 consecutive years where the economy did better than predicted, adding up to around 1 trillion DKK in extra funds since 2010. Economists say this gives strong financial flexibility for crises or one-off spending, but the government now plans to reduce the surplus through tax cuts and higher spending.

⛽ The central bank warns against cutting fuel taxes despite political promises. The central bank says lowering taxes on petrol and diesel or reducing VAT on food could fuel inflation and undermine the green transition, especially as energy prices remain volatile. It also stresses that many election promises, including pension changes, would require funding elsewhere as public spending has already increased significantly, including on defense. The message to politicians is simple: spend carefully and only introduce targeted, temporary support if needed.

📈 Inflation could spike to 4.5% if energy crisis worsens. A new forecast warns that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could push oil and gas prices higher, leading to broader price increases across the economy, although the main expectation remains a more moderate 1.8% inflation this year. The economy is still considered strong, with rising employment and wages, but growth may slow slightly. The key concern is whether rising energy costs start spreading into everyday prices again.

Entrepreneurship

Do you still spend time on upskilling when you already have a job? Together with the Aalborg Institute of Development, we are developing a project to convince companies to integrate learning spaces and motivate employees to engage in upskilling. Help us by completing this survey.

International Community HQ

Have a business that’s doing good for internationals here? Let us write about it and help us while we’re helping you! We’re committed to keeping our newsletter, podcast, and website paywall-free. Sponsoring content with us helps keep the LWID universe going!

Read about other businesses we’ve worked with here. Want us to publish a sponsored content article about your business? Get in touch here.

Community Noticeboard

Parenting Across Cultures 📍Café Sweet Surrender, Copenhagen | 🗓️ Tuesday, March 31, 10:00-11:30 🔗 More here

Mastering CVs & LinkedIn Profiles 📍 Online | 🗓 Tuesday April 14, 10:00–11:30 🔗Sign up here

Job Search Support - Vejle Kommune (Newcomer Service) 📍 Vejle Municipality - Skolegade 1, 7100 Vejle | 🗓 Starts April 15, 2026 🔗Sign up here

Newcomers’ Info Webinar (City of Aarhus) 📍 Online | 🗓 Thursday April 16, 10:00–12:00 A broad intro webinar covering life in Aarhus and Denmark — social networks, culture, practical info. 🔗 Sign up here

Aalboarding - Welcome to Aalborg! 📍 Folkestuen, Aalborg Hovedbibliotek | 🗓 Thursday April 16, 19:00–20:30 🔗Find out more here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

📉 “Denmark election: far right slowed under Frederiksen, but at what cost?” – The Guardian

🇺🇸 “Denmark turns its back on ‘bully’ Trump” – The Telegraph

💣 “Denmark sent explosives to Greenland runways amid Trump invasion fears” – Sky News

⚽ “Denmark’s World Cup bid gains new meaning after Trump’s Greenland focus” – CNN

1. Parliamentary elections on March 24. Our mini guide has everything you need to know about what’s at stake, even if you can’t vote.

2. Denmark won its first-ever Oscar for Best Documentary for “Mr. Nobody against Putin”.

3. Gas and oil prices will keep rising as long as the war in Iran continues, with clear impacts on daily life.

Letter from the editor

These past few weeks, my connection to life here has felt shaken. Whenever my mind slows down, one question keeps coming back. Is there really a future for my children here? And more importantly, is it worth exposing them to hardship just to prove a point? I believe this country will eventually accept its multicultural reality, but getting there may take longer than we expect, especially when so many of us remain politically passive.

People often say you should open your eyes to what’s happening around you. That may be true, but do it gently. Otherwise, it can feel like an emotional roller coaster. When you hear phrases like “pick up a shovel or go home” repeated enough times, it starts to wear you down.

Parliamentary campaigns are tough for internationals. In the race to capture the 22% of the voters that clearly do not want us here, political parties push the boundaries of the imaginable and create extreme instability for families. For me, every time we have such an election, my heart nearly stands still, to see what parties will get in power and how our next four years will look.

So, grab your popcorn for Tuesday night, March 24, when we will see the first results. Likely by the next day we will have an idea who will govern Denmark until 2030.

Want to know where the parties stand on citizenship, integration, English-language programs, and residence? Here’s a mini guide:

Alternativet (Greens) - Very positive towards internationals. Want to reform the citizenship law by having “education” count towards the “work years” requirement. They want a complete reversal of the 2021 cuts of English-language programs and to shut down the asylum centers and allow asylum seekers to work.

Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) - Very positive towards internationals. Want to give automatic citizenship to young people born and raised in Denmark. They also want to introduce a mandatory “ethnic personal policy” for all public workplaces to ensure staff reflects the diversity of the local population.

Moderaterne (Social Liberals) - Positive towards internationals, especially EU citizens. Their motto is “Denmark is too small to speak only Danish”. They are big supporters of EU workers and want to make it easier for them in Denmark. They want to remove “waiting times” for citizenship, which they see as an administrative failure. Strong supporters of bringing back the English-language education programs. They also want to move learning Danish from classrooms to workplaces.

Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) - Very positive towards internationals. The most “open-to-the-world” party. They also want to reverse the 2021 cuts on English-language education programs and make specific master programs free for non-EU students. They want to give asylum seekers the right to work. In regards to citizenship, they want to reduce waiting times and remove “symbolic requirements” like the handshake ceremony.

SF (Green Left) - Positive towards internationals. They want young people who completed a Danish education to have a “fast-track” to citizenship and to remove crazy rules from the legislation. They support the English-language programs but they want them combined with mandatory Danish language courses and automatic two-year job-search permit. They also want us to resume taking quota refugees.

Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) - Ambivalent towards internationals. They do not want to change the citizenship law. Are positive towards English-language programs but only in specific fields and outside of the big cities. They believe that integration happens through labor. They focus on deportations to keep right-wing parties from stealing their voters.

Venstre (Liberals) - On the plus side, they support English-language programs — though mainly outside Copenhagen — and propose limiting SU (monthly student grant) for EU students who do not commit to staying at least three years after graduation. On the other hand, they want to complicate citizenship by adding “value screening” to filter out “anti-democratic attitudes” and to prepare Ukrainian refugees to return home.

Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservatives) - As a positive, they support English-language programs (however in specific sectors only) and want to remove the salary threshold for non-EU workers (as long as they pay for their own private health insurance). But, they want to make citizenship harder to get by screening for anti-democratic values, increasing application fees and requiring more years of work (5-8 years up from 3.5 years). Also, they want EU citizens to only be eligible for Danish benefits after 5 years of work and to revoke residence from any non-citizens who are unemployed for more than three months.

Konservative (Conservatives) - As a positive, they support English-language programs (however in specific sectors outside of big cities). Yet, they perceive Danish citizenship to be a “sacred gift” and prefer assimilation over integration. They want to add mandatory screening for anti-democratic values and a ten-year probationary period for new citizens. Also, EU citizens who cannot find work after three months should be sent back home and only Danish-speakers should have access to benefits.

DD (Nationalist Populist) - Their motto is “if you can pick up a shovel, you can integrate.” They propose a mandatory 37-hour work week for all unemployed immigrants. They want to review all citizenship granted in the past ten years and add mandatory values screening for new applications, which should contain official recognition of Israel. They also want a ten-year probationary period for new citizens. And they want to send Ukrainian refugees home.

DF (Nationalist Conservative) - They aim to reduce the amount of non-ethnic Danes living in Denmark. Their proposals include reviewing all citizenships granted in the past 20 years, and requiring those who became citizens in the past eight years to retake the Danish language and citizenship tests, along with a mandatory personal interview with a police officer. They also want to ban applicants from Muslim-majority countries, remove English-language programs, ban public displays of religion, send Ukrainian refugees home and force unemployed non-Western immigrants to perform physical labor.

Borgernes Parti (Anti-Establishment) - Their motto is “Assimilation or Repatriation”. They want to ban muslims from getting citizenship and make it possible to remove citizenship. Also, they want to exclude international students from SU, the student grant.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID

Share Last Week in Denmark

Our long-form articles this week…

1. What if diagnosis is not the end of the story? By Florina Lungu.

2. The Little Viking is experiencing an immersive reset. By Emily Ritchie

3. The Street Art Mystery Hiding Among Copenhagen’s Walls . By Daniel Sfita.

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Share

LWID Universe

Linkedin - Instagram - Facebook - LWID App - Merchandise Store - Podcast - Website

Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian - Ukrainian

Image(s) of the Week

📸 Harbors clogged with sand after unusual winter winds. A rare wind has pushed large amounts of sand and debris into harbors along the east coast, leaving some entrances dangerously shallow for boats. In some places, water depth dropped to around 1.5 meters, forcing urgent dredging before the sailing season begins.

Subscribe now

Danish Politics HQ

Law proposals

🪖 Parties demand a clear plan for defense spending. Several parties across parliament are calling for a full strategy for rebuilding the military, arguing that the 356 billion DKK spent so far has been too fragmented and reactive. They want a long-term “master plan” similar to models in Norway and Sweden, instead of buying equipment piece by piece. Troels Lund Poulsen says such a strategy is already prepared but delayed by the election, making it one of the first major tasks for the next defense minister.

Political scene

🗳️ Vanopslagh’s cocaine admission splits voters. A new poll shows people are almost evenly divided on whether Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservatives) leader Alex Vanopslagh’s past cocaine use affects his ability to become prime minister, with 42% viewing it negatively and 45% saying it makes no difference. The impact is strongest among older voters, while younger groups are more forgiving. Despite criticism from several parties, support for Liberal Alliance remains stable at around 11%, suggesting the controversy has not significantly shifted voter support so far.

📊 Voters shift from Inger Støjberg’s DD (Nationalist Populist) to DF (Nationalist Conservative). A new poll shows Danmarksdemokraterne losing support, dropping to around 6%, while Dansk Folkeparti rises sharply to about 9.5%, suggesting a comeback after its poor 2022 result. Analysts say the shift likely comes from voters returning to DF, with nearly one in five former Støjberg voters now backing the party. With the election approaching, the right-wing bloc remains tightly contested, and these movements could prove decisive.

⛽ Venstre (Liberals) wants cheaper fuel for drivers. Venstre proposes cutting petrol and diesel taxes to the EU minimum for the rest of 2026, which could lower prices by around 2.50 DKK per liter for petrol and 1.80 for diesel. The move comes as global tensions push energy prices up and aims to ease pressure on households, though it would cost the state about 3.5 billion DKK. If passed, the proposal would need to be implemented by a new government.

Latest on Greenland

🪖 Denmark prepared for worst-case scenario in Greenland. What was presented as a military exercise was in reality a serious contingency plan, where authorities prepared to destroy runways and potentially shift to guerrilla-style resistance if an invasion happened. Soldiers were deployed with live ammunition, extra blood supplies were flown in, and standing orders allowed them to fight without waiting for political approval.

• Government says Greenland tensions are still serious. The prime minister confirmed that the US interest in taking control of Greenland has not disappeared, even as negotiations are now ongoing.

🛡️ Politicians call for stronger European defense after Greenland crisis. Following revelations that authorities prepared to resist a potential invasion, several party leaders now say Europe must be able to defend itself without relying on the US. The crisis has shaken trust in the transatlantic alliance, even if cooperation continues for now. Across the political spectrum, there is growing support for closer European and Nordic defense ties, with some warning that dependence on the US is no longer sustainable.

Read more: Greenland, Denmark & the US - A Historical Timeline

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🎬 First Danish documentary to win an Oscar. The film Mr. Nobody Against Putin” has made history as the first Danish-produced documentary to win an Academy Award. It follows a Russian teacher documenting growing militarization in schools after the Ukraine invasion. The win puts Denmark on the global film map in a new category after years of nominations. At the same ceremony, Danish-linked director Joachim Trier also won for best international film.

🎓 More students choose welfare careers. New application data shows a 5% increase in people applying to study nursing, pedagogy and social work, with social worker applications jumping by 18%. This is a positive shift after years of decline, but unions warn it is still far from enough to fix staff shortages in schools and care services.

🌱 Gardening without digging is gaining popularity. A growing number of people are trying a “no-dig” method where compost and plant waste are layered on top of soil instead of digging it. The approach helps the soil retain water, reduce weeds and better handle extreme weather, from heavy rain to dry summers. While it takes some effort to set up, it requires less maintenance over time. For many, it is a more climate-friendly and low-effort way to grow vegetables at home.

🎨 Small painting sells for big surprise price. A small work by artist Anna Ancher sold for 825,000 DKK at auction, far above its initial estimate of 100,000 to 150,000. The strong bidding reflects growing international interest in her work and in female artists from the early 1900s. Experts say the attention has increased in recent years, especially after a major exhibition in London.

🪑 Benches meant to improve streets spark backlash. Residents in central Copenhagen are calling for the removal of newly installed benches placed on former parking spots, saying they attract late-night noise and litter. While the benches were meant as a temporary step toward greener urban spaces, locals say weekend disturbances have worsened and disrupted sleep. Some politicians now support removing them, but no final decision has been made.

Danish Economics HQ

State of the markets

⛽ Energy prices surge after Middle East attacks. Oil jumped nearly 9% and gas more than 25% after drone strikes hit major energy facilities in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, creating market panic. Although prices have eased slightly, experts warn the situation remains unstable and could have long-lasting effects if supply is disrupted. For us, this could soon mean higher fuel and heating costs, as global energy shocks quickly feed into everyday expenses.

🏡 Summer homes put pressure on home care services. Municipalities with many holiday houses are preparing for a surge in demand as people receiving care bring their needs with them on vacation. In Odsherred, authorities are trying new approaches like recruiting staff via SMS, but still expect shortages during the summer. For internationals working in care, this highlights seasonal job opportunities.

🥤 First new stock market listing in three years. A juice company from Slagelse plans to go public this summer, marking the first IPO in Denmark since 2022. The move comes as concerns grow about weak investment in local businesses and a shrinking stock market, with far fewer listed companies than before. Experts hope this could inspire more entrepreneurs to follow.

⚡ Denmark’s power grid is full, and green projects are being delayed. Hundreds of energy projects are now on hold because the electricity network cannot handle more demand, meaning data centers and factories may have to wait years to connect. Some businesses also cannot switch from gas to electricity, slowing the green transition. Experts say political prioritization is now needed.

Entrepreneurship

Do you still spend time on upskilling when you already have a job? Together with Aalborg Institute of Development, we are developing a project to convince companies to integrate learning spaces and motivate employees to engage in upskilling. Help us by completing this survey.

International Community HQ

Have a business that’s doing good for internationals here? Let us write about it and help us while we’re helping you! We’re committed to keeping our newsletter, podcast, and website paywall-free. Sponsoring content with us helps keep the LWID universe going!

Read about other businesses we’ve worked with here. Want us to publish a sponsored content article about your business? Get in touch here.

Community Noticeboard

🥤International Easter Fair 📍Ostre Boulevard 10, Aars | Saturday, March 28, 12:00 - 16:00 | Read more

🌍Parenting Across Cultures 📍Café Sweet Surrender, Copenhagen | Tuesday, March 24, 10:00-11:30 🔗 More here

📚Friday Guided Tours – UN City Copenhagen📍51 Marmorvej 2100 København | 🗓 Various dates, starts at 2pm 🔗 Find out more and check availability here

📊The Danish Tax System – Q&A Webinar 📍Online (International House Copenhagen) | 🗓 Thursday March 26, 16:30–18:00 🔗 Find out more here

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🚢 “Denmark pushes for EU-wide response on Strait of Hormuz” – Reuters

💊 “Danish PM candidate admits to cocaine use” – Politico

👑 “Danish royals’ Australian visit blends symbolism and soft power” – The Guardian

🐖 “War, Trump and… pigs dominate Denmark’s election” – Euractiv

🛡️ “Canada and Nordic Five unite to protect Arctic sovereignty” – BNN Bloomberg

🛢️ “Fuel crisis pushes Denmark and Asia to rethink remote work” – ScandAsia