Last Week in Denmark is back from vacation!
Last Week in Denmark (02.08-09.08) Episode 25 Year 6
What did we learn this week?
Online violent extremist networks are becoming an issue for our children.
The Ceuta crisis has deepened the divide between EU countries on how to handle migration.
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
Our long-form articles this week…
Roskilde Festival 2026: The Mechanics of a Temporary City by Daniel Sfita
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.
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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.
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
❤️ Esther