Nukes, Scams, Wolves
Last Week in Denmark (27.04-04.05) Episode 17 Year 5
TOP 3 News
Nuclear power is coming back to Denmark after 40 years.
6% of people in Denmark were victims of scams in 2024.
Volunteer wolf patrols to protect sheep.
Illustration made by Diana Bălașa
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Editor HQ
State of Denmark
Here’s something Denmark doesn’t usually shout about but maybe should: In between your recycling bin, your swimming class, and that half-eaten can of mackerel in the fridge, there’s a quiet message from the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA): be ready to take care of yourself for three full days in case of a crisis.
Why three days? Because in a real crisis (flood, storm, cyberattack, or blackout), the authorities need to focus on hospitals, vulnerable people, and public infrastructure. That means you’re the backup plan. Or rather, you are your own backup plan.
DEMA recently launched a campaign that sounds more like a wilderness survival guide than a message from a government agency: stockpile water (9 liters per person), keep canned food and crispbread around, and make sure you’ve got candles, blankets, and yes, even a battery-powered FM radio (remember those?). If you take prescription medicine, have at least three days’ worth. If you have a dog, baby, or kombucha habit, prep accordingly.
The tone is calm and rational — very Danish — but the reasoning is serious. Denmark’s National Risk Assessment is clear: climate change, war in Europe, cyber sabotage, and general technical glitches mean that what used to seem unthinkable might not be so unthinkable anymore. That’s not a call for panic. It’s a call for common sense.
Here’s the good news: prepping in Denmark doesn’t mean digging a bunker in the garden. It means slowly building up a “preparedness kit” by adding a few extra cans of food and batteries to your shopping list each week. You probably already have half of it lying around your house.
And before you roll your eyes and say, “But Denmark is so safe,” just think about how many times we’ve been surprised lately. COVID, Ukraine, power prices, flooding in Jylland. None of us saw them coming.
So yes, Denmark is asking you to be a bit more like your grandmother. Keep extra supplies. Know your neighbors. Write down important phone numbers and don’t rely only on Google Maps and MobilePay.
Because when things go wrong, it’s not just about being safe; it’s about being helpful. And that starts with not being the person who needs help first.
Would you make it three days on your own? Now’s the time to find out.
Want to check your own preparedness level? DEMA has a checklist in multiple languages right here.
Read our article about Denmark’s growing culture of preparedness.
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Danish Politics HQ
Law proposals
🚗 Should elderly drivers face medical checks? After a 75-year-old driver injured 12 people in Copenhagen, politicians are reconsidering a 2017 rule change that scrapped mandatory medical exams for older drivers. Currently, licenses are renewed at age 70 without a health check and stay valid for 15 years. Parties like the DD (Nationalist Populist) suggest shortening that to 5 years from age 75, while Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) want medical checks reinstated. All agree it’s time to gather data and review the risks because, as of now, it's up to individuals to choose when they stop driving, even if family or neighbors have raised red flags.
🚜 Dumping dirt for profit sparks political pushback. After reports revealed fields in Zealand buried by up to five meters of construction site soil, political parties are calling for stricter rules. Right now, farmers can legally accept clean soil with minimal oversight, and some even earn money doing it. Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) and SF (Socialists) want only certified fields to receive soil and propose banning payments to farmers altogether. Konservative (Conservatives) agree more control is needed but warn against red tape. The environment minister admits current rules are too weak and promises a proposal before summer.
🇩🇰🇬🇱 Time to rethink the Danish Realm. At a joint press conference, PM Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen agreed the rigsfællesskab (kingdom) needs modernizing. One idea on the table is letting Greenland take over more areas of responsibility, with Denmark still footing part of the bill. That would require changes to the 2009 Self-Government Act, which currently says Greenland must pay for any areas it takes over. Greenland says it wants more control, not more charity, and Denmark signals it’s ready to invest in a more equal partnership. Talks on revising the law are now underway.
Political scene
💥 Climate minister’s math mistake costs billions. After barely surviving a no-confidence vote, the climate minister is back in hot water. This time, for a 2.3 billion DKK miscalculation in the state-funded hydrogen pipeline deal from Esbjerg to Germany. The error stems from a miscommunication and has left opposition parties frustrated, calling it yet another sign of poor implementation. While the deal still stands and funding has been found, critics warn that Denmark can’t afford sloppy green planning, especially from someone who calls himself the “implementation minister.”
📻 Emergency plans stuck in limbo. Nine months after getting a new ministry and a symbolic “prepper-radio,” Denmark’s first Minister for Civil Preparedness, Torsten Schack Pedersen, is under pressure. A blackout in Southern Europe that killed five has reignited criticism that Denmark is moving far too slowly on crisis planning. MPs across parties say no one knows what powers the minister actually has, and a promised commission to clarify his authority still hasn’t delivered.
⚛️ Blue parties push to lift 40-year nuclear ban. With Venstre (Liberals) and Moderaterne (Social Liberals) warming to the idea, opposition parties are calling for a vote to end Denmark’s 1985 ban on nuclear power. While Venstre wants a phased process, many see atomic energy as key to cheap, secure, and climate-friendly power. Industry leaders say the ban hinders innovation, and polls show public support is rising. Critics like Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) and Alternativet (Greens) remain cautious, arguing wind and solar are still Denmark’s strengths. A final decision may rest with smaller parties as debate heats up over how far, how fast, and on what terms nuclear power should return.
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
🧠 Your feelings spend your money. Whether it’s buying chocolate or refinancing a loan, emotions, not logic, are behind nearly every financial decision, says a brain researcher. From revenge shopping after a bad day to panicking over missing a deal, our brains are wired to act fast and feel first. But with some awareness, you can flip the script: use dopamine for long-term goals, delay purchases, and make savings more visible. Neuroeconomics shows that the key to smarter finances isn’t less feeling; it’s feeling with a plan.
🏦 Millions in limbo due to missing ID. The Tax Agency is searching for the owners of nearly 8,700 bank accounts and investment portfolios across 16 banks, worth a total of over 20 million DKK. Most accounts hold less than 10,000 DKK, but a few contain up to 217,000 DKK. The issue? Missing identification details like names or CPR numbers. If the rightful owners don’t come forward by April 30, 2026, the money goes to the state.
Entrepreneurship
🪖 Defense wants your ideas — and fast. As Denmark rebuilds its military, companies can now suggest equipment purchases directly to the Ministry of Defence via a new online proposal form. The goal is to speed up procurement using the Accelerationsfonden and tap into fresh tech from both Danish and international suppliers. The form, available on virk.dk in Danish and English, makes it easy for businesses to pitch solutions that boost military capability. Officials hope this will uncover unknown options and spark faster, smarter collaboration with the defense industry.
Want to know more about how you can become a supplier to the Danish military? Read our article.
🚀 The BoostUP Webinar Series is here to supercharge your entrepreneurial journey in Denmark with four free online sessions focused on social impact, sustainable branding, transparency, and purpose-driven business.
May 12, 19:00, Turning ideas into social impact with Elisabeth McClure. Sign up.
May 14, 17:00, Building sustainable brands with Elias Mølbæk. Sign up.
May 16, 17:00, Governance & Transparency for Startups with Travis James Mathers. Sign up.
May 17, 10:00, Building a business for a better world with Ilie Tomulescu. Sign up.
Danish Daily Life HQ
📱 Bye-bye plastic cards? From May 27, you can officially say “no thanks” to the physical yellow health card in Denmark. The government now allows you to opt out of receiving the plastic version if you prefer the digital card via app. The app updates automatically with changes like address or doctor and even lets you call your GP with one tap. With over 3.8 million downloads since 2021, it’s already a popular choice.
🕵️ Digital fraud hits 274,000 people. Nearly 6% of people in Denmark say they were victims of digital scams in 2024, with fake websites, phishing messages, and private sales traps becoming more common. One woman was nearly tricked by a scammer posing as MobilePay support until a barking dog in the background tipped her off. Experts warn scams are growing smarter, using AI and exploiting trust.
🐺 Volunteers vs. wolves. The government wants to let towns like Oksbøl set up volunteer wolf patrols to scare off wolves that wander too close to people and sheep. Locals like the idea. These groups can install flashing lights, make noise, and in some cases, allow licensed hunters to act if the wolf keeps coming. It’s part of a six-point wolf plan to boost safety, including better info campaigns, more support for farmers, and a push to ease EU protections so Denmark can manage its growing wolf population more actively.
⚡ Electric cars drive Denmark past its climate goal. Thanks to soaring EV sales, Denmark is now on track to cut greenhouse gas emissions 72% by 2030, beating the official 70% target. Last year alone, nearly 150,000 electric cars hit the roads, far surpassing expectations. Experts credit falling prices, better range, and EU regulations that are phasing out fossil cars. But not all is green and glowing; progress on wind and solar is far too slow, and some warn that much of the climate plan still rests on promises, not results.
🕊️ Denmark wins gold in... seagull screaming? 21-year-old Anna Brynald just became European champion in seagull imitation at a quirky contest in Belgium. What began as a curious talent rooted in her impressive vocal range turned into a form of healing after the loss of a close friend. For Anna, screaming like a bird is both a coping mechanism and a joyful rebellion. She told Aftenshowet she hopes it reminds people to live freely and laugh loudly. Her story has flown across the globe, picked up by CNN, BBC, and India Today.
⚓ Danish slave ships found in Costa Rica? After years of speculation, researchers say they’ve confirmed that two mysterious shipwrecks off Costa Rica’s coast are actually the lost Danish slave ships Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, which vanished in 1710. The smoking guns? Timber from southern Denmark, yellow bricks made in Flensburg, and 300-year-old clay pipes. The discovery is also significant for Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean population, offering a deeper connection to their ancestors.
International Community HQ
🦓 Puppet stampede hits Europe in 2025. From Lagos to Lapland, life-sized puppet animals will parade through cities in THE HERDS, a massive public art project turning streets into stages from April to August 2025. These creatures won’t just entertain; they’re a moving alarm bell about nature’s power and fragility, meant to shake us out of climate indifference. Expect elegance, fear, beauty, and awe as they roam uninvited into urban life, from Kinshasa to Copenhagen and beyond.
New reporting
Laura Matheson’s article on how to Shop European is our most read article recently. This week, she takes a deeper dive into how you can protest against Trump by taking a more conscious stand with your spending.
Denmark was voted the best country to be a woman in 2023, but with the rise of incel culture and the persistent gender pay gap both in the Danish news recently, all is not as perfect as it seems. Ali Lewis meets the makers of “The Nicest Men on Earth”, a new Danish documentary coming to DR examining unspoken tensions with men and masculinity, while some Danish men give us their perspectives.
Our “How to…” articles are always popular. This week we’re bringing you 4 new ones!
Do you know what tax deductions and financial supports you’re entitled to in Denmark in 2025? Sudaay Tat Haznedar has all you need to know.
Navigating property ownership can be a minefield in a new country. Sebastian Florian has a quick guide to the rules for owning property in Denmark as an international.
Have you heard of the RKI register, Denmark’s register for bad debtors? Ali Lewis finds out all about the place you don’t want your name mentioned in Denmark, and how to keep it that way!
Finally, it’s PD3 season in Denmark! As lots of internationals across the country prepare to sit the Danish language exam that opens doors to careers, higher education and permanent residency here, Brooke Fossey, aka Instagram’s Nearly Danish Dame, has your essential guide to passing with flying colours!
Read our recent interview with Brooke about her journey and inspiring thousands to learn Danish through her Instagram account.
New columns
Continuing our look at Denmark and gender, in this week’s Being Danish, Josephine Basthof tells us what it means to her to be a woman in Denmark, and it’s not as wonderful as it’s painted in the international media.
And Florin Lungu is back with his regular leadership column. This week he’s looking at why trust is the operating system in Nordic workplaces. Join Florin for a free, live session on this on May 6 - sign up below.
🤝 Struggling with building trust in the Danish workplace?
Join leadership strategist Florin Lungu on May 6 for a free, live session on The Trust Gap—why even strong teams stall when trust is assumed but not built. Walk away with actionable steps to lead more effectively in flat, Nordic workplaces. Register here
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International media about Denmark
The Scandinavian nation named Europe’s most ‘culturally rich’ country (TimeOut)
Greenland strengthens ties with Denmark amid Trump's interest in controlling territory (ABC News)
I was looking everywhere for my bank account with 217,000 DKK on it. Here you are!
PS. Denmark reaching its (very low) climate goals is of course a lie. Most of the stuff is produced abroad from-with-and-by fossil fuels, while folks use planes like they are chasing Tylor Swift.