Teen tanban; Property boom; Charity powerhouse
Last Week in Denmark (11.05-18.05) Episode 19 Year 5
TOP 3 News
Denmark to ban tanning beds for under-18s.
Home prices hit record high.
712,000 people donated to charity last year at an average of 600 DKK each.
Illustration made by Diana Bălașa
The Last Week in Denmark podcast unpacks the top three news stories of the week through the international lens of two co-hosts. It’s personal, it’s global, it’s Denmark-ish. Listen now: Spotify. Apple Podcasts. YouTube. Amazon Music.
Editor HQ
State of Last Week in Denmark
📣 The results are in!
The recruitment campaign has officially ended. A massive thank you to everyone who made time to take part and a warm welcome to the 811 new subscribers who joined us. Step by step, house by house, we’re building a community in every internationally minded corner of Denmark.
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And finally, a reminder: Last Week in Denmark is a volunteer-driven media project. Our mission is simple – to empower people through information. Thank you for helping us grow.
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Images of the week
🌤️ A rare trio in the sky. We were treated to an unusual celestial show this week, with a halo, a sun dog (bisol), and a “smile in the sky” appearing all at once. The atmospheric phenomenon, caused by ice crystals in the air reflecting sunlight, created a breathtaking display above Denmark. See the images here.
🌾Unusually dry spring paints a worrying picture. Denmark is experiencing one of the driest springs in years, and meteorologists have noticed three unusual things: low rainfall, early drying of topsoil, and signs of stress in nature. The lack of water is already visible in fields and forests across the country. See the images here.
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Danish Politics HQ
New laws
⚽ Kids aren't factories; sports noise rules to change. Current noise rules treat football fields the same as factories, forcing some municipalities to build massive noise barriers or halt sports projects. After public outcry and legal cases, the environment minister has ordered a rule change to stop regulating sports noise like industrial noise. Updated guidelines will be sent to municipalities before summer.
🌡️ Menopause support for all in Capital Region. Doctors, nurses, and all staff will now get better support during menopause, following a unanimous vote by the Capital Region council. The new plan aims to address symptoms like hot flashes, sleep issues, and trouble concentrating. After debate over wording, the final decision avoids gender labels and focuses on inclusive care.
🤖 AI joins the classroom. Four new pilot projects will explore how generative AI tools like chatbots can improve students’ writing skills in high schools. The initiatives test how to structure assignments, assess work when AI is involved, and rethink teaching to focus more on writing processes than polished products. The goal? Smarter use of AI as a learning tool and better guidance for teachers in an AI-driven future.
☀️ No more tanning beds for teens. As part of Cancer Plan V, the government will introduce an 18-year age limit for using tanning beds. Denmark is one of the few Western European countries without such a ban, despite rising skin cancer rates and soaring use among young women. Tanning bed use increases the risk of melanoma by up to 60%, especially when started early. The plan includes updated laws, age verification systems, and public campaigns to warn about the dangers of artificial UV exposure.
Political scene
🗣️ Political push to protect Danish from English creep. Should it be cringe or tåkrummende? As more English slips into Danish, especially in public communication, parties like Dansk Folkeparti (Nationalist Conservative) and Konservative (Conservative) want a new language law to safeguard Danish. Proposals include requiring state institutions to use Danish in job ads, names, and official texts. Supporters say this defends cultural identity and taxpayer values, while critics see it as language policing in a globalized world. The debate is far from over.
🌍 Denmark takes the Arctic helm. Greenland's Foreign Minister, on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark, has officially taken over the Arctic Council chairmanship. The aim? To promote peace, indigenous rights, and sustainable development in a region increasingly pressured by climate change, U.S.–Russia tensions, and resource competition. For Denmark, this is a rare chance to shape Arctic diplomacy, spotlight Greenland’s voice, and reinforce the kingdom’s role in balancing security.
⚛️ Nuclear debate heats up, without answers on waste. Four opposition parties want to lift Denmark’s 40-year ban on nuclear power and restart research, but none will say where radioactive waste should go. Meanwhile, waste from old reactors still sits in temporary storage at Risø. Local leaders demand clarity before new plans begin. Without a final storage site, any move toward nuclear power risks stalling before it even starts.
Read our in-depth article Is Denmark About to Go Nuclear Again?
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
💸 A croissant-sized step toward a better world. 712,000 people in Denmark donated to charity last year, with the average contribution at just 600 DKK. Yet most people can give more, and the impact is real. Donations support sustainable projects and vulnerable communities, and they’re tax-deductible too. It can start with a small amount, such as the money you'd otherwise spend on coffee or fastelavnsbolle. If you have the means, set up a small monthly gift. It’s easy, meaningful, and makes a difference far beyond your budget.
📈 Denmark upgrades economic forecasting. After years of record employment, strong exports, and repeated budget surpluses (even amid global crises), Denmark is revising how it predicts the future. The Finance Ministry will launch a new forecasting model in June 2025, backed by expert dialogue and scenario planning. The goal is more accurate projections, especially as public finances look much healthier than expected.
💰 Pay matters most at work. A new survey across 34 countries shows that workers in Denmark, like everyone else, value salary above all when choosing or leaving a job. One in three people switch jobs simply because they get a better offer. Many feel underpaid, and while not great for individuals, experts say it's a sign of a healthy economy. It shows workers know their worth and the job market is strong. Surprisingly, hybrid work isn’t a major priority anymore.
💸 New tax tiers coming in 2026. Today, over 600,000 people in Denmark pay 15% in top tax on income above 665,000 DKK a year. But that system is about to change. A new reform will scrap the current top tax and replace it with three levels: a 7.5% middle tax for income over 665,000 DKK, an extra 7.5% top tax over 806,739 DKK, and a 5% “top-top tax” for income above 2.7 million DKK. All of us will still pay a base tax of 37.8%. The goal? A fairer, more gradual system.
Stay on top of tax matters in 2025 - read our article
🎰 Fighting gambling addiction. Denmark has allocated over 80 million DKK in 2025–2026 to tackle problem gambling, with 70 million DKK for treatment and 10 million DKK for prevention. Twelve initiatives across the country will receive funding for anonymous therapy, online support, school programs, and nationwide counseling.
📚 More teachers, fewer students per class. A long-term government investment in public schools (over 2 billion DKK since 2020) has led to the hiring of 1,493 more full-time teachers in just three years, surpassing expectations. The student-to-teacher ratio has improved from 12.1:1 to 11.7:1, particularly as student numbers declined. For Denmark, this marks a successful boost in teaching capacity.
State of the markets
🏠 Record-high home prices in Denmark. Housing prices are now at their highest since 2011. The average house costs 2.5 million DKK, while apartments have jumped over 11% in a year, topping 60,000 DKK per m² in Copenhagen. Strong wages, lower interest rates, and rising employment have driven the boom. Good news for homeowners gaining wealth through equity; tougher for first-time buyers. See the map of house prices here.
Read our in-depth article on home ownership as an international in Denmark.
Our complete guide to getting a mortgage as an international in Denmark.
🏡 We keep moving to the cities. New figures show that 376,000 more people live in big cities than a decade ago. Roskilde, Herning, and Silkeborg now have over 50,000 residents each, while smaller towns like Støvring and Ry also grew over 25%. Meanwhile, rural areas lost nearly 27,000 people. Only 11% of people in Denmark now live in the countryside.
Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, and Esbjerg are the five largest cities in Denmark.
Randers, Horsens, Kolding, and Vejle are challenging Esbjerg for the fifth place, as they are growing in population at a much faster rate.
📉 Pension dip reversed, but expect more swings. After a dramatic 9% drop triggered by Trump’s trade war and global instability, most people’s pensions have nearly bounced back. But analysts warn it’s not over. With stock-heavy investments and geopolitical tension, more volatility is likely. Experts suggest talking to your pension provider if you're worried.
💊 Trump targets drug prices and calls out Denmark. A new executive order aims to slash U.S. drug prices by up to 90%, targeting medicationss like Ozempic from Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk. Trump criticized Novo directly, highlighting the high U.S. price of the diabetes and obesity drug. For Denmark, this signals mounting pressure on export-driven pharmaceutical companies.
Danish Daily Life HQ
🥯 Hveder rise again, even without the holiday. Despite Store Bededag (Great Prayer Day) no longer being an official holiday, bakeries and supermarkets once again see sky-high demand for hveder (traditional wheat buns). Some see it as a quiet protest: “You can take the day, but not the buns.” Companies are even handing out hveder to staff to keep the tradition alive. While this year’s vibe is less rebellious than 2023’s post-abolition rush, demand is still massive – on par with fastelavnsboller or Christmas cookies.
🕊️ Storks make a comeback. After vanishing from Denmark in 2008, white storks are nesting here again. Thanks to warmer weather, 12 breeding pairs have settled across the country, including in places where storks haven’t nested since the 1970s. The live camera in Smedager has become a hit as viewers follow storky love triangles. Once a symbol on old Danish banknotes and a fabled bringer of babies, the stork is returning as wetlands are restored and climate change shifts migration patterns.
🍯 Herning bees stir up buzz and debate. Herning Shopping Center now hosts 120,000 rooftop honeybees as part of sustainability efforts. The bees are meant to promote biodiversity and reconnect city life with nature. But experts disagree. A senior researcher from Aarhus University warns that honeybees may actually harm wild insect populations by monopolizing nectar and pollen. Still, the center plans to sell rooftop honey with their own label this June.
👮 Aalborg gets safer, but crime goes digital. Reported crimes in Aalborg have dropped by over 13% in one year, including fewer cases of violence and burglaries. Even nightlife on the party street Jomfru Ane Gade has calmed, thanks to better coordination between bars, police, and safety groups. But while classic crimes are down, digital scams are on the rise, prompting police to shift focus to online fraud and new threats.
📚 Dua Lipa makes reading cool again. The pop icon is not just topping charts; she’s also winning hearts in the literary world with her book club and YouTube interviews with global authors. Critics praise her authentic, personal interview style and say she may inspire more young people to read. It seems to be working. Book sales are rising, young people flaunt paperbacks on TikTok, and libraries in Copenhagen report a boom in youth-led book clubs. In an era of fast content, slow reading is making a comeback.
🤯 AI meets nonsense in “Italian brainrot”. A viral TikTok trend is sweeping youth culture with absurd AI-generated cartoons speaking fake Italian. Characters like Tung Tung Sahur and Ballerina Cappuccina live in surreal, ever-evolving storylines shaped by users’ imagination. Experts call it a global storytelling game and a humorous escape from a serious world.
🏞️ British press crowns Silkeborg a “hidden gem.” The Telegraph has named Silkeborg one of the top summer getaways in Europe, praising its lakes, forests, and outdoor charm. Locals and the mayor agree, the East Jutland town “has it all.” The international spotlight follows branding efforts to market Silkeborg as Denmark’s “Lake District” and “outdoor capital.” Tourism officials hope the attention will boost visits, support local shops, and bring new life to the town. Even Vogue has previously noticed Silkeborg.
International Community HQ
New reporting
Did you know we’ve now published well over 100 original articles and columns, all written by our dedicated team?
The nuclear debate once again dominates headlines in Denmark, with the government announcing last week that it will launch a study into the viability of a new generation of reactors. But why was nuclear power banned 40 years ago, and why do some political parties now want to overturn the ban? What is the nuclear picture across Europe? Ali Lewis finds out more.
Mental health and well-being are key issues for internationals. With such a big life change, there can be many reasons why internationals need help. But finding the right professional support and knowing your entitlements can be a minefield in a different country. Sudaay Tat Haznedar speaks to experts for answers.
With the Danish Citizenship exams fast approaching, here’s Ahmet Akooç’s guide to passing, in case you missed it last month!
New columns
Trish Knudsen is back with a new Culture Shock, the column focusing on arts and culture in Denmark. This week, the column focuses on ArkBooks, the not-for-profit bookshop in Copenhagen. She pays tribute to the haven that bookshops can offer and the lifeline that volunteering can give internationals.
And Rasna Kaur Mistry brings another installment of her regular column. This week she writes about traditions and how her family has merged the traditions of their own multicultural and multi-faith heritage with Danish traditions they’ve discovered here.
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