4,000 more teachers will be needed from 2028
Last Week in Denmark (01.02-08.02) Episode 4 Year 6
What did we learn this week?
4,000 new teachers will be needed by 2028, as primary school classes will shrink. Time for a career shift?
Using company money for personal expenses just got riskier, as tax authorities are now investigating unusually low private spending.
New free national pharmacy hotline: 8282 4343. Call for info about medicine and side effects.
Illustration by Diana Bălașa
Letter from the editor
Winter is properly here, and it feels like the season finally matches the calendar. It is the perfect time to skate on frozen lakes (when allowed by the authorities) and to build snowmen with the closest people in your life. It is also the kind of weather that makes working from home feel like a small luxury. Staying inside, warm, with snow falling outside the window can sometimes do wonders for productivity.
Sometimes. Last weekend, for the first time in five years, I made a publishing mistake. The Polish newsletter was sent to the English audience, which led many people to unsubscribe, thinking they were opting out of the Polish edition. It resulted in the biggest subscriber drop we have ever seen. I am blaming the cold and the darkness. If you feel like helping us recover from this small bump, telling a friend, colleague, or family member about Last Week in Denmark would mean a lot.
Moments like these are also wake-up calls. I used this one to rethink and reorganize the newsletter format, with the goal of making it easier to skim and more pleasant to read in a busy week.
And there is also something new to share. We have launched a new website, designed to be a proper portal into the LWID universe and a clear upgrade from what we had before. The design was created by Elitsa Mineva and brought to life by Plamen Petkov, with generous support from Ali Lewis, Laura Matheson, Keith Machedo, and the rest of the team leads. I hope you enjoy both the new format and what is coming next.
Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!
Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID
Our long-form articles this week…
1. Parentlab, Copenhagen’s new community for new international parents, Emily Ritchie
2. Intent, the new ethical dating app where you’re seen not swiped, Ali Lewis
3. Big stories in a small-theatre setup, Paulina Stachnik
4. UdenUSA, protest Trump by taking a stand with your spending, 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.
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Did you know you can read Last Week in Denmark in eight other languages?
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Image(s) of the Week
📸See here the beauty of a frozen Denmark, where lakes turn into mirrors, fields disappear under frost, and winter slows everything down just enough to notice it.
📸A Danish photographer has been nominated for Wildlife Photographer of the Year. See the photo here.
Danish Politics HQ
New laws
🏛️ From today, municipalities get far more freedom to run job services under Denmark’s new employment reform. The reform removes many national rules and lets local authorities decide how to support unemployed and sick residents based on professional judgment rather than fixed checklists. Several schemes, including resource programs, revalidation, and job rotation, are being scrapped for new programs, with more changes phased in throughout 2026 and 2027.
🗳️ A broad political majority has agreed on eight new initiatives to better protect democracy by strengthening safeguards for politicians, public employees, and their families. The deal makes it a criminal offense to harass someone because of a relative’s public role and introduces tougher penalties for politically motivated crimes linked to a person’s job. Election candidates at all levels will now receive the same legal protection as elected officials during campaigns. Police will also get stronger tools to deal with online harassment and demonstrations that infringe on others’ rights.
🧒 The Ministry of Justice will roll out forensic medical screenings for children nationwide when there is suspicion of violence, making them a standard follow-up after police video interviews. From February 2026, the scheme starts in selected parts of the country, with full implementation by mid-2027. The screenings help document injuries and signs of neglect when children cannot speak for themselves. The government has set aside 16 million DKK per year through 2029 and will also propose new rules allowing examinations without parental consent in serious cases.
Law proposals
🏫 A radical school reset is on the table. Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) proposes a cap of 14 students per class in 0.–3. grade from 2028, aiming to reduce school refusal and learning gaps in the earliest years.
The proposal would cost around 5 billion DKK per year, plus major one-off investments in school buildings, and is set to become a core election promise. Teachers’ unions and many school leaders welcome smaller classes and more calm in the classroom but warn that schools already struggle with space and staffing. Around 4,000 additional teachers would be needed at a time when many positions already go unfilled, especially outside major cities.
The government argues better working conditions could lure some of the roughly 40,000 trained teachers currently outside the public school system back in, backed by 1.2 billion DKK for upskilling and new training paths. Critics call the plan unrealistic without a clear funding model and fear uneven implementation between municipalities.
Political scene
👤 We have a new elderly affairs minister, with Henrik Frandsen of Moderaterne (Social Liberals) taking over after Mette Kierkgaard resigned for family reasons. Frandsen brings decades of experience, from running a large pig farm in southern Jutland to serving as mayor of Tønder and later group leader for Moderaterne in parliament. Known for his deep roots in agriculture and a pragmatic political style, he has also surprised many by supporting greener policies, including cutting pig production.
🗳️ Blue parties (right-wing) look unprepared for an early election, as momentum has shifted back to the government and internal divisions weaken the opposition. Analysis points to three problems for the blue parties if Mette Frederiksen calls an election soon. They lack unity after splits over the food check; they depend heavily on Troels Lund Poulsen (Venstre leader), who may prefer staying in government; and Morten Messerschmidt (DF leader) has lost momentum after criticism of his ties to Trump. With the Greenland crisis rallying voters around the government, blue parties now face a tough uphill campaign.
⚖️ Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Minister of Foreign Affairs) has surged in popularity after his handling of the Greenland crisis, putting Moderaterne (Social Liberals) back above the electoral threshold and into a potential kingmaker role.
👉Read our interview with Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Latest on Greenland
🚢 Five new Arctic patrol ships will be built across the country and assembled in Frederikshavn as part of a push to replace aging naval vessels. The government has agreed on a model where production is spread across multiple sites, while the state will own a central assembly facility in Frederikshavn. The ships are meant to replace worn-out vessels that have struggled to meet rescue and patrol requirements around Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The new ships are planned to be ready by 2030.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
❄️ Walking on frozen lakes can be dangerous, and the rules vary by municipality, with fines if you ignore local restrictions. Some municipalities allow access only when ice reaches a certain thickness, while others ban it entirely, and police remain the final authority on public waters. In places like Copenhagen, ice must be at least 16 to 18 cm thick, and saltwater ice is always off-limits. If you go out without permission on public ice, you risk a 1,000 DKK fine.
☎️ A new national pharmacy hotline is launching to help health professionals and everyday people get answers about medicine use. From February 1, callers can reach trained pharmacy staff every day for advice on how to take medicine correctly and what side effects to watch for. The hotline is free to use. It is aimed especially at people supporting relatives with medication and staff in care and nursing settings. The number is 8282 4343.Opening hours vary by day.
🍽️ Eating meals in front of screens is becoming more common, and experts warn it can weaken both healthy habits and social connection. Research from Madkulturen shows that half of all dinners now involve a screen, with mobiles increasingly appearing at the table. Experts say eating on the sofa often leads to quicker, less balanced meals, especially for families used to eating together. Shared meals at home or work are linked to better well-being and stronger relationships.
🎰 More teenagers are getting pulled into gambling through online games, pushing local authorities to step in with guidance for parents. The problem often starts in gaming spaces where betting and virtual items overlap, making risks harder to spot. Aalborg municipality is working with the Center for Ludomani to host information meetings for families. The advice is to stay curious about online habits and talk openly about addiction.
📱 Folkekirken (the Danish Church) is turning to TikTok to reach young people who are curious about faith but increasingly leave the church. The new strategy responds to rising interest in Christianity alongside growing membership drop-offs among 15–29-year-olds. Short, playful videos are meant to lower the threshold before moving into deeper topics like belief and mental well-being. Church leaders say young people search for meaning online, not by knocking on church doors.
🍼 Several infant formula products are being recalled after a toxin was found in a raw ingredient, posing a higher risk to babies. The recall covers multiple NAN and Alfamino products sold nationwide with specific batch numbers listed by authorities.
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
🪙 Fake 20 DKK coins dated 2021 are circulating, and police are warning us to pay closer attention. The coins have been found in several parts of the country and have been used to try to buy expensive items. According to the police, fake coins often feel lighter or appear unusually shiny for their age. Stores are allowed to refuse large payments made with many identical coins. The advice is simple: if something feels off, take a closer look before accepting the coin.
State of the markets
✉️ If you need to send an important letter right now, experts advise avoiding standard mail while Dao struggles with major delivery delays. Since Dao took over letter delivery at the start of the year, thousands of letters have been delayed, with normal service only expected to return in about a month. The safest option is to send the letter as a parcel, which includes tracking and is handled more reliably. Registered letters are another option but are much more expensive.
⚡ A local grocery store has introduced a 16+ age limit on energy drinks after seeing very young children try to buy them. Brugsen Gl. Rye decided to act despite no national age rule, citing concerns for children’s health and for young staff being put in awkward situations. Labels already warn against energy drinks for children, and staff say the trend is fuelled by social media. Other retailers have previously done the same. The move adds pressure to an ongoing debate about whether a national age limit should be imposed.
🌬️ A US federal court has ruled that Ørsted can resume construction of its Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm, handing the company another legal win in the US. The decision lifts a building halt and also clears the way for Ørsted’s Revolution Wind project. Courts have now rejected five attempts by the Trump administration to stop offshore wind projects. The ruling is financially significant, as delays cost millions DKK each day. A separate court case on alleged radar and security risks is still pending.
📉 Investors reacted harshly to several big company results, sending major stocks down after weak outlooks for 2026. Shares in Novo Nordisk fell sharply after the company warned of lower sales ahead, partly due to price pressure in the US. Demant and A.P. Møller-Mærsk were also hit as they flagged job cuts and weaker market conditions. The common issue was not 2025 results but gloomy expectations for the year ahead. One exception was Rockwool, which was rewarded by investors after reporting strong momentum in the US market.
Entrepreneurship
💰 The tax authority is targeting company owners who report low personal spending despite profitable businesses, suspecting private expenses paid through companies. Skattestyrelsen says some majority shareholders appear to live on almost nothing while their companies hold cash, which can signal illegal arrangements. The issue is linked to an estimated tax gap of 3.1 billion DKK in small and medium-sized companies. Selected owners will receive letters urging them to review past tax returns and prepare documentation.
International Community HQ
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Community Noticeboard
🌈 Winter Pride 2026 – Copenhagen - 📅 February 16-22 | ⏰ Various times | 📍 HUSET & other central venues, Copenhagen | 💸 Free - Read more here
🎷 Winter Jazz Festival – Nationwide - 📅 January 30 – February 28 | ⏰ Various times | 📍 Across Denmark | 💸 Free options available - Read more here
💃 Free Dance Social – Kom og Dans (Aarhus) - 📅 February 9 | ⏰ 18:30–21:30 | 📍 Preben Hornung Stuen at Studenterhuset, Nordre Ringgade 3, 8000 Aarhus C. | 💸 Free - Read more here
🤹 Vinterferie i Absalon – Winter Holiday Activities (Copenhagen) - 📅 Starting February 9 | ⏰ 10:00–14:00 | 📍 Folkehuset Absalon, Sønder Boulevard 73, Copenhagen | 💸 Some activities are Free - Read more here
➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk
Denmark in Global Headlines
❄️ “‘Under pressure’: Greenland’s PM gains fans at home and abroad after his rebuke of Trump” – The Guardian
🎖️ “Thousands join Danish war veterans’ silent march after Trump ‘insult’” – France24
💊 “Why Denmark can’t use Ozempic as a trump card with the US in Greenland talks” – Euronews
🧬 “Denmark has become a cancer pioneer – this is why the UK is lagging behind” – Sky News
💰 “$100,000 for Greenlanders isn’t much compared to what Denmark offers” – Forbes
☕ “This city in Denmark is paying people to return used coffee cups – and the reason is surprising” – Times of India