Is there a food check coming your way?

Last Week in Denmark (25.01-01.02) Episode 3 Year 6

TOP 3 News

1. Almost 2 million people will get a tax-free food check soon. Are you among them?

2. Large off-shore wind projects in the North Sea and Bornholm will bring us closer to energy independence.

3. All internationals sentenced to at least one year in prison will be deported.

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.

Remember to check out our New Reporting in International Community HQ, further down the newsletter. These are original articles in English by our own Last Week in Denmark reporters.

Editor HQ

State of Denmark

“It’s about those who ruin it for the rest of us”, Danish Government

Winter has only just arrived, but the political climate already feels harsher. Across Europe, being an international is getting harder as unkind rhetoric about “foreigners” and “outsiders” moves from the margins to the mainstream. When times get tough, belonging becomes conditional, and the idea of a narrow, ideal society starts pushing anyone who does not fit toward the exit.

That mindset sits behind the plan to appoint a deportation ambassador in Denmark and to expand deportations, even as this conflicts with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights. The logic is simple and troubling. Contribute and you are welcome. Get convicted and you are someone else’s problem. What gets ignored is that many of those targeted have paid taxes and built lives here for years, often contributing more to this country than to the one they are being sent to. Some were even born here and will be deported to places they barely know, turning punishment into forced exile.

The debate also raises wider questions about fairness and proportionality. Legal systems rely on clear distinctions between administrative status and criminal responsibility, and concerns have been raised about whether deportation risks becoming an alternative to serving a sentence locally. The real question is what kind of country emerges when pressure rises, because the choices made now will shape belonging long after this winter ends.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Image of the week

🏖️ Nature’s pop-up art gallery. Beach walkers along the West Coast were treated to a rare sight this weekend as wind and weather sculpted the sand into delicate, almost ceramic-looking formations. Spotted near Husby Klitvej, the shapes only lasted a day before disappearing again.

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Danish Politics HQ

New laws

🍎 Who gets the food check and when. In 2026, the government will pay out a tax-free food check worth 4.5 billion DKK to groups hit hardest by food prices. Pensioners with liquid assets under 350,000 DKK will receive 2,500 DKK in May. People who received public benefits last November get 2,500 DKK in May. Students on SU (not living at home) and other education benefits get 1,000 DKK in May. Families with children can receive up to 5,000 DKK, paid out in June, as long as each adult earns no more than about 500,000 DKK, meaning a couple can earn up to around 1 million DKK combined and still qualify. The money is extra, tax-free, and does not reduce other benefits and can be spent on anything.

• Check out this calculator to see if you qualify.

🤝 A softer approach to addiction. A new political deal means the most vulnerable people with severe drug addiction will no longer have their drugs for personal use confiscated by police when stopped. The government says punishment and seizures only push people deeper into crime and instability, so the focus will shift to dignity and support instead of sanctions. Around 12,000 people are expected to be covered by the change.

Read more: Growing underground use of psychedelics in Denmark

🌱 Crackdown on toxic soil scams. After several high-profile fraud cases, a broad political agreement will tighten tracking and inspections of polluted soil and construction waste. Environmental groups welcome stronger control but warn the deal does not go far enough to safeguard drinking water in vulnerable areas.

🐺 Easier rules for dealing with wolves. New regulations will allow hunters and livestock owners to shoot wolves without prior permission if they enter wolf-proof fences or pose an immediate threat to animals. The government says the change is about protecting people and livestock as the wolf population grows, while still requiring reporting and valid hunting licenses. The new rules will take effect from July 2026.

Law proposals

🧾 VAT on food may be cut from 2028. The government and a broad group of parties have agreed to set aside six billion DKK a year to lower food prices in the long term, either by reducing VAT on all food or removing it entirely on fruit and vegetables. The final model will be decided after a two-year review to limit bureaucracy for businesses, with the goal of making groceries cheaper once the change kicks in after the next election.

The latest on Greenland

❄️ Greenland trips surge amid political tension. Travel companies report rising interest in trips to Greenland, with some seeing bookings jump by more than 25% and search traffic doubling. Industry insiders say the timing is no coincidence, pointing to Trump’s recent remarks about Greenland as a trigger for an “inverse boycott.” While the geopolitical situation is tense, many people now seem more curious than ever to experience the island up close, and travel firms expect demand to stay high throughout 2026.

👉Read more: The history of Greenlandic/Danish/American relations

👉 Read more: Proud, powerless, uncertain: Greenlanders tell us how they feel right now

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Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🚨 Extra billion for crisis readiness. The government plans an emergency package of one billion DKK this year to strengthen preparedness, focusing on backup power and emergency services. The move comes after new vulnerability analyses and recent outages highlighted how exposed key systems like electricity and health services can be in an increasingly tense security situation.

🔐 Millions to boost cyber safety. A broad political agreement will invest over 200 million DKK in a new cyber and information security strategy, strengthening help for citizens and small businesses hit by online fraud and attacks. The plan includes a cyber hotline, clearer guidance on where to get help, and new training programs as cyber threats increasingly affect everyday life and smaller companies.

State of the markets

🔐 Life beyond big tech is possible. Experts say it is easier than many think to reduce reliance on major US platforms by switching parts of your digital life step by step. European alternatives exist for browsers, search, maps, AI tools, social media, messaging, cloud storage and even operating systems, often with stronger privacy protection and fewer addictive features.

💰 America’s debt hits record levels. The US national debt has grown so large that it now exceeds the value of everything the country produces in a year, with interest payments overtaking military spending. Economists say the situation makes the US more vulnerable, especially as political gridlock and unpredictable leadership unsettle markets.

🌬️ Europe doubles down on offshore wind. After Trump dismissed Europe’s wind turbines as “losers,” ten European countries including Denmark have signed a new declaration to massively expand offshore wind in the North Sea. The plan targets 100 gigawatts of capacity, enough to power around 143 million homes, with shared wind farms and undersea cables linking countries. Leaders say this time it is not just about climate but also reducing reliance on both Russian gas and unpredictable global partners.

⚡ Green light for the Energy Island. After years of negotiations, Denmark and Germany have agreed on Energiø Bornholm, the largest energy project ever planned here. Massive offshore wind farms south of Bornholm will supply power to around three million households. The project could cost hundreds of billions of DKK, with the two countries sharing the risk through price guarantees, and ministers say it will strengthen energy security and keep cooperation with Germany firmly on track for decades to come.

🌍 Trade deals everywhere. As relations with the US remain shaky, the EU is pushing ahead with major trade agreements elsewhere, most notably with India and South America. A new EU–India deal signed this week will phase out tariffs on over 90% of goods, opening a huge market of nearly two billion people combined. At the same time, the long-negotiated Mercosur deal with South American countries is still moving forward, though facing legal and political hurdles, while the EU–US trade agreement remains paused and uncertain.

💡 Who really funds the state. New figures let anyone see the 50 biggest corporate contributors to the national budget, revealing huge differences in how companies are taxed and sparking fresh debate about fairness and who actually carries the weight of public finances.

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🚧 Help fix potholes faster. Winter frost has caused sudden potholes on roads, and municipalities say they rely heavily on residents to spot them quickly. You can report holes directly from your phone using municipal websites or apps like Giv et praj or Borger Tip, which send photos and location automatically. Authorities say the reports go straight to road crews, and drivers are advised to document damage in case compensation is needed.

🗳️ Social Democrats win the school election. In the 2026 school vote, Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) became the most popular party among pupils in grades 8 to 10, reversing the result from 2024 when Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) topped the list. Around 70,000 students from almost all municipalities took part, giving Socialdemokratiet just over 23% of the vote, with Liberal Alliance falling to second place. The school election is a teaching exercise rather than a real vote, but it often sparks debate about youth politics.

🏺 Jaw-dropping archaeology finds. Authorities have released their annual top 10 list of archaeological discoveries, and 2025 delivered everything from the oldest known iron objects ever found here to a Viking silver hoard with 2,000 coins and a medieval cargo ship now considered the world’s largest of its kind. Highlights include a sun-worshipping wooden “henge,” a flooded Iron Age village nicknamed Atlantis, elite Viking graves, and signs of ancient trade links reaching Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean.

🧸 Language gaps start early. Researchers say differences in children’s language development can already be seen around age two and may grow to a full year by the end of daycare and even more by kindergarten. The good news is that everyday moments help a lot. Talking on the way to daycare, involving kids during grocery shopping, and chatting in the bath can all expand vocabulary and social skills. A new DR “language box” is now rolling out to thousands of daycare centers to support the effort.

🏝️ A whole island is up for sale. Flakfortet, a former sea fortress eight kilometres from Copenhagen harbour, has hit the market for 75 million DKK. The price includes 10,000 sq. m. of buildings, a marina for around 200 boats, restaurant facilities and even a helipad, all wrapped in a protected heritage site with strict rules on changes. Brokers say interest is huge.

🏥 Hospitals go greener. From reusing unopened cancer medicine to running on 100% green electricity and ditching single-use items, hospitals across the country are rolling out new climate-friendly solutions. The goal is to cut hospital CO2 emissions in half by 2035, with regions already sharing successful ideas so they can be scaled nationwide.

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International Community HQ

New reporting - original, long form reporting from our dedicated team

👉 Considering Danish citizenship? Read our “How to…” guide by Ali Lewis and professional citizenship consultant Miriam Thompson

👉 Laura Matheson reports on how the 2026 budget affects us as internationals

👉 John Dixon discusses what it feels like to be an American in Denmark right now

👉 Ali Lewis meets the founder of the revolutionary new dating app Intent

New columns - original voices on Danish politics, society and culture

Read Stephanie Lund’s reasons to stand shoulder to shoulder with all others at the “Hands off Greenland” protests held in Copenhagen, here.

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Community Noticeboard

💼 Networking the Danish way. A free online webinar on February 16 explains how jobs are really found through conversations, connections, and informal outreach. In English, with live Q&A. Registration required.

🇩🇰 Danish Language Café in Copenhagen. Practice Danish in a relaxed, friendly setting on February 12 at Caritas Migrant House. Open to all levels and completely free.

🎭 Improvised romantic comedy in Aarhus. A fun, no-script comedy night on February 9 at Turkis. Expect spontaneous laughs and a laid-back atmosphere. Free entry.

🐴 Free family event in Odense. The Scandinavia Jumping Tour runs from February 7-14 with show jumping, pony activities, and cosy indoor fun for all ages. Free to attend.

📚 Big Book Swap & Coffee. Bring a book and swap it for a new read on February 2 at Thiemers Antikvariat & Kaffebar in Copenhagen. Coffee, books, and good company included.

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

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌍 “How Trump’s designs on Greenland are testing the U.S.-Denmark alliance” – CBS News

⚓ “World’s largest medieval cargo ship emerges from its underwater grave off one country’s coast” – FOX News

📜 “Trump tells one history of Greenland. Historians tell another.” – The Washington Post

⚔️ “Danish troops who fought alongside US forces feel betrayed as Trump threatens Greenland and NATO” – CNN

🗺️ “These islands were bought by the US. Now they have a message for Greenland.” – USA Today

🔁 “‘Old wine in a new bottle’ Greenland negotiations resemble an earlier deal” – Politico