Learning Danish is about to get more practical and useful

Last Week in Denmark (07.12-14.12) Episode 44 Year 5

TOP 3 News

📘 Adult Danish classes set for overhaul as new report pushes for clearer learning paths.

💊 New rules from 2026 let international travelers bring in personal medicine. Antibiotics and euphoric drugs still strictly banned.

🦷 Free yearly dental checks proposed for all adults. Critics warn this could increase inequality in dental care.

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

As the year winds down, the political temperature rises: Denmark is now entering another election season. The next parliamentary vote must happen before October 2026 and after the recent local elections tilted slightly blue (right-wing), the political parties are already rearranging themselves. Everyone feels that a change of government is suddenly possible and the first moves have already begun.

Venstre (Liberals) sensed an opening and have jumped ahead of the pack by threatening to pull Denmark out of the citizenship convention, an international agreement that limits when a country can strip citizenship from dual nationals. It is a dramatic signal to the blue parties (right-wing) that Venstre is ready to return home and a not-so-subtle reminder to voters that the midterregering (across the middle government) has blurred their identity.

Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) reacted immediately because they know they cannot follow that path without losing the possibility of rebuilding a red alliance. Instead, they argued for remaining a party to the conventions and changing them from within, partly because Denmark depends on a stable international system and partly because their political survival now lies with the left.

That left flank is also shifting. Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) said they will not support Mette Frederiksen again unless she clearly commits to a red government. SF (Green Left) politely declined the idea of leading the bloc but encouraged Socialdemokratiet to return to the fold. The midterregering still functions on paper but every interview carries the tone of parties preparing for life after marriage.

And then there is the contrast that defines this moment. Mette Frederiksen is named the second most powerful person in Europe by Politico, praised for shaping the EU’s migration and defence agenda, while at home her party is polling at its lowest level ever. It captures the strange reality of Danish politics right now. The country is debating symbols and “outsiders” while real problems pile up in the background, from people unable to afford a home to the longest food bank queues in years.

As we head into 2026, the campaigns will only sharpen. The question is whether the election will be fought in the world Denmark imagines or the one people actually live in.

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🐦Every time I ask my Danish teacher a question and she responds using even fewer words I can understand I am reminded of the time that I was drowning and the lifeguard turned a hose on me. (Ryan)

Danish Politics HQ

Law proposals

🦷 Free dental check plan sparks big debate. The government wants to give every adult a yearly “tandkonto,” covering at least one free exam. They hope more people will catch problems early without worrying about cost. Clinics say it could get young adults back in the chair, but experts warn the plan may actually widen inequality because money is taken from treatment subsidies to fund universal checkups. Those with serious dental issues could end up paying more while healthier people get a discount. Negotiations in Parliament are ongoing.

Political scene

🇺🇸 Trump’s new security strategy rattles Europe. The latest United States national security strategy paints the European Union as a barrier to freedom, downplays Russia’s war in Ukraine, and signals support for a Europe built on sovereign nations rather than shared institutions. Analysts say it marks a historic break with decades of transatlantic cooperation and hints at US acceptance of some of Putin’s demands. At the same time, Denmark’s intelligence service now lists the US as part of the threat landscape for the first time, warning that shifting American priorities leave Europe facing a more insecure world and a tougher path to self-defence.

🚗 Government steps up fight with parking companies. After weeks of complaints from drivers who feel tricked, the tax minister now questions whether parking firms are even allowed to use the Motor Registry the way they do. New rules say fines must be placed on the car or handed to the driver, yet some companies skip this and send digital fines based on camera scans. Ministers call it unfair and warn that privileged access to public data cannot be used to mass-issue questionable penalties.

🧵 Breakthrough in the IUD case for Greenlandic women. After decades of silence and a long legal fight, around 4,500 women are now eligible for 300,000 DKK compensation for having an IUD inserted without consent between 1960 and 1991. The agreement follows September’s official apology. Many say the money cannot undo the damage, but the recognition finally allows them to breathe and feel heard.

👉 Read more from our reporters: Denmark and the Dark Shadow of FKU

🧨 DF isolated after push to cut Ukraine aid. DF (Nationalist Conservative) tried to halt future donations and turn support into loans, arguing the money should ease food prices at home, but every other party rejected the idea as irresponsible and dangerous. Critics say the move plays directly into Russia’s strategy by weakening Ukraine at a critical moment and signalling a retreat to Europe. Defence experts warn that supporting Ukraine is protecting our own security, not a budget trick. DF’s proposal is being called a political distraction rather than a serious plan.

🥕 Moderaterne hunt for attention with solo tax move. While Venstre (Liberals) and Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) gear up for an election showdown, Moderaterne (Social Liberals) are trying to stay relevant by proposing zero VAT on fruit and vegetables, a far bigger step than their original plan to halve the rate. The idea isn’t coordinated with their own government partners and comes with a 5.4 billion DKK price tag, triggering raised eyebrows and jokes from both sides.

👉 Read more from our reporters: We interview Moderaterne leader Lars Løkke Rasmussen

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🥕 Economic experts pour cold water on food VAT cuts. The country’s top economists warn that differentiated VAT is one of the most expensive and least effective tools available. The Economic Council says it doesn’t improve health, doesn’t help low-income families efficiently, and costs billions without creating value. If the goal is greener habits or support for vulnerable households, they argue that targeted income measures work far better than slicing VAT rates.

🛒 Food prices dropped for the fourth month in a row, with big falls in sugar, butter and beef. They’re still higher than last year, but economists expect more relief in 2026 as several taxes are removed.

🥫 Denmark makes it easier to donate surplus food. The government has scrapped a rule that limited how much unsold food could give to charities without triggering stricter regulations. The change means supermarkets can donate freely without navigating the old 1/3-rule paperwork, helping cut waste and supporting people struggling with high food prices.

🪙 Curious how coins have changed from Viking times to Frederik 10? Click here for a beautiful 1,000-year visual tour of Denmark’s money.

State of the markets

🏆 Nobel laureate praises Denmark’s labour model. This year’s economics prize winner Philippe Aghion says Denmark’s flexicurity system is “ahead of everyone” and a global example of how to balance innovation with worker security. The model, he argues, makes creative destruction socially acceptable and helps the economy adapt faster to new technologies.

🛡️ Denmark wins key EU deal to hold tech giants liable for online fraud. Under a new agreement landed during the Danish EU Presidency, major platforms like Facebook and Amazon must verify financial advertisers and can be forced to compensate users if they ignore scam warnings. The goal is to stop fake investment ads and impersonation schemes that trick thousands each year.

⚡ Dan Jørgensen launches major EU plan to cut electricity bills. The Commission wants a far more integrated energy grid, faster permits and a huge boost in investment to bring Europe’s sky-high power prices closer to US levels. The proposal centralises more coordination in Brussels and calls for billions in new funding, arguing that upgrading the grid and linking countries better will pay for itself.

🎄 Trump’s tariffs have opened a surprising new market for Danish Christmas trees, with exports to Dubai rising fast. For producers and exporters looking to diversify, niche markets in the Middle East and Africa are becoming an opportunity worth watching.

💡 A growing number of people are pooling money to buy small plots of farmland and turn them into nature, bypassing slow public processes. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a tiny piece of land for rewilding or community projects, this story shows how it can be done.

Entrepreneurship

🎨 Jeanett went from deep debt to earning over a million a month by spotting a trend and publishing simple “cozy girl” colouring books on Amazon. Her story is a reminder that niche digital products can create real income if you move fast and match what people are searching for.

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Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🍪 Cookies and handwritten cards are lifting spirits in Hjørring, where hundreds of locals bake and write personal messages for homeless and vulnerable residents. For people who spend Christmas alone, a single card can become a small lifeline, something to pin on the wall and reread when December feels heavy.

🎄 Kids say parents are too busy in December. A new survey shows more than one in four children notice how stressed adults get during the festive rush with cooking, school events, gifts, work deadlines and the pressure to make everything perfect. Experts warn that the overload often kills the cosy moments families actually want, and remind parents that children value calm company more than a flawless Christmas.

🍏 Buying local cuts pesticide exposure. A new food safety report shows Danish fruit and vegetables contain far fewer pesticide residues than imports with nearly eight in ten local vegetables completely clean and most findings still well below safety limits. Authorities say there is no health risk from anything sold on the market but choosing local can halve your overall pesticide residue intake and is an easy win for anyone who wants to keep things simple and fresh.

💊 New rules let travellers bring medicine from anywhere. From January 2026, private individuals may bring legally sold medicine into the country for personal use whether bought abroad or online, except for antibiotics, doping products and drugs with euphoric effects, which still have strict limits. The change comes after authorities stopped routine checks. Buyers must be extra careful to avoid unsafe or fake products and always keep documentation when required.

📱 New media ombudsman to police influencer behaviour. A new watchdog will oversee influencers and other alternative media actors who are not part of the official press system, aiming to protect ordinary people from being misrepresented or publicly shamed. The move follows several high-profile influencer controversies and gives the ombudsman power to demand corrections and pursue cases involving reputational harm, signalling a tougher line on online criticism and careless storytelling.

🚲 Rural e-bike trial boosts freedom but not commuting. Nine villages around Aalborg tested cheap e-bike rentals and many residents loved them enough to buy their own, yet most rides happened in free time rather than on the way to work. Local groups say e-bikes could replace a second car in smaller towns.

🔥 Be careful when recycling batteries. Waste centres warn that lithium batteries thrown into metal or electronics containers can ignite and cause dangerous fires. Several fires have already started this way because many people forget to remove them beforehand. Staff urge everyone to check their old devices, take the battery out, and hand it in as hazardous waste so it can be handled safely.

💡A national map helps men find local communities where they can connect, join activities and build supportive networks, making it an easy place to discover new friendships right in your own area. Initiative by the Forum for Men’s Health.

International Community HQ

🤝 A debate about handshakes is turning into something darker. After a member of the Parliament described a classroom incident where a few boys refused to shake her hand, several politicians used the story to frame entire groups as unwilling to integrate, fuelling suspicion instead of dialogue. School leaders stress that only a tiny minority hold these views, yet the political reaction risks inflaming division.

📘 A new government report says Danish classes for adult internationals need a major overhaul because the system is too fragmented and confusing. Different rules, funding models and providers make it hard for learners to progress smoothly, and the quality varies widely. The working group proposes clearer pathways and better coordination so adult learners can actually benefit and use Danish in work, education and daily life.

🌍 Denmark signs its first international recruitment deal to ease the severe shortage of elder-care workers, partnering with the Philippines to bring trained staff to municipalities in the coming years. Demand for SOSU workers is rising fast and the agreement will include language training, upskilling and a structured support system to help new employees settle in so the sector can keep up with an ageing population.

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

👉 For international families, choosing between a Danish or international education is always a dilemma. Maja Christiansen Cawthra, half Danish and a graduate of the IB system, talks to her old classmate Elias about his experiences of both systems and which one is better preparation for adult life in the modern world. ✍️ Maya Christiansen Cawthra 👉 Read the article

Also this week:

👉 Elena Shpileva highlights where SIRI’s practices can differ from Danish law, vital reading for any long-term resident in Denmark.

And we continue to embrace the Christmas spirit at Last Week in Denmark!

👉Confused by all the Danish traditions your child is experiencing at kindergarten and folkeskole? John Dixon brings you an A-Ø guide!

👉Sudaay Tat Haznedar delves into how the Danish Christmas has been shaped by international traditions over the years.

👉 Kalpita Bhosale raises a glass to Gløgg, the drink that epitomises Christmas hygge in Denmark.

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

Laura reflects on her cherished tradition of sending holiday cards across borders, contrasting international postal costs and services, while noting Denmark’s shift from PostNord to Dao for lettermail in 2026, in her Tur re-tur column - read it here.

Community Noticeboard

🧑‍💼 Job search workshop on cover letters – Odense. Learn why cover letters still matter in the Danish job market and how to write one that actually gets read. Part of an open job search series designed especially for internationals navigating local hiring culture. 📅 Thu Dec 18, 09:00–11:00 | 📍Borgernes Hus, Odense | 👉 Free with registration

🌊 Søndervig Winter Bathing Festival – West Jutland. End the year the very Danish way with a cold plunge into the North Sea, followed by free champagne and New Year’s cake. Cold, joyful, and surprisingly social, with no signup and plenty of cheering from the beach. 📅 Dec 31, 11:00 | 📍Søndervig Beach | 👉 Free

🎬 Film night: The Great Gatsby – Copenhagen. Celebrate 100 years of Fitzgerald’s classic with Baz Luhrmann’s glittering film adaptation and a short literary intro from Brønshøj Library. A cozy cultural evening for book lovers and movie fans alike. 📅 Mon Dec 15, 19:00–22:00 | 📍Brønshøj Library | 👉 Free, ticket required

🎤 Mastering the job interview – Online. You made it to the interview stage, now learn how to shine when it really counts. This free session focuses on preparation, confidence, and how Danish interviews actually work. 📅 Tue Dec 16, 10:00–11:30 | 💻 Online | 👉 Free with registration

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

Denmark in Global Headlines

🧬 “Nearly 200 children conceived from sperm donor with increased cancer risk” – ABC News (Australia)

🌍 “Greenland hosts annual talks with the US after renewed takeover rhetoric from Trump” – AP News

🧭 “Denmark goes from EU migration pariah to standard-bearer” – Politico

🛡️ “Denmark now sees the US as a potential security concern” – CNN

🚪 “UK and Denmark push for overhaul of European immigration laws” – DW