Thank you for building the future of Denmark
Last Week in Denmark (14.06-21.06) Episode 23 Year 6
Aalborg. What did we learn this week?
You are awesome. Never forget that.
Packages arriving from outside the EU will face a minimum charge of 22 DKK, even for low-value purchases.
Airline passengers keep their right to compensation, plus get guaranteed family seating and easier ticket corrections from 2027.
Letter from the editor
August 2009. That’s when I arrived in Denmark, in Aalborg. Not counting the years I spent in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Krakow (Poland), and Brussels (Belgium), I’ve lived in Denmark for nearly 15 years. I must say that I’ve never seen it as international as it is today. So, a deep heartfelt thank you to all the internationals who work every day for Denmark and the international community.
We might not be Danish, but we are Denmark. The New Denmark. We contribute; therefore, we belong. Many of us have even spent our youth here or have raised children here and left our own legacy to the benefit of society.
In 15 years, I have volunteered my free time for exactly 15 years. I remember when I arrived in Aalborg, we were only the second generation of international students to arrive (a tiny cohort of 300). Life outside university was virtually nonexistent. That feeling of being invisible motivated me to do something about it. I didn’t want language to be a barrier during the university years, so I worked for a really long time so that international students also have opportunities.
After university, I followed the same call - to make Denmark more welcoming for internationals. So I entered politics. The first ever DK political campaign in English was in Aalborg, and we were also the first to mobilize internationals to use their right to vote. It took until 2013, if you can believe it. We were alone then. Compare that to the most recent campaign in 2025. We’ve come a long way.
This is just a snapshot from my life in Denmark. If you look around, you will find hundreds of similar examples. Every time an international volunteers their time, a tiny brick has been added to the sturdiness of Denmark’s future. That’s why I am grateful to all of you. Your investment paves the way for a better country for my children, for all our children.
And here I am also referring to the more than 100 volunteers who help create the Last Week in Denmark universe. I might not have talked to all of you, but believe me: I see you. I see your amazing efforts, and I am humbled that you have chosen to build something together with us. I am humbled that we share the same mission: empowering internationals through information.
Now we are in the hundreds, but what if we were in the thousands? What could Last Week in Denmark become? A multilingual radio and TV station. Local newsletters. More languages. More original reporting on our website and social channels. Recognition from the Ministry of Culture as a public institution (that’s the final boss to slay). Dreams. Something to aspire towards.
Want to write history together with us? From August, we need a new leader for the reporter team. You’ll help decide which stories our writers focus on and coordinate the publishing of original articles. As a leader, you have power to shape the newsroom and leave your own legacy behind. Write to info@lwid.dk
Is audio more your thing? We still need a couple more audio editors for the weekly podcast team. You only need to contribute a few hours once or twice per month. Write to info@lwid.dk
Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!
Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID
Our long-form articles this week…
Ira Sylvester and the Rise of Copenhagen’s English Comedy Scene! by Ahmet Akkoç
The Cultural Explorer’s Diary: Six Copenhagen Museum Days to Add to Your Summer List by Paulina Stachnik
Tur-retur: Episode 16 – An Ode to the A (My Newfound Love of Buses) by Laura Matheson
The Tiny Alarm Inside Your Brain That Controls Your Life by Florina Lungu
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Image(s) of the Week
📸A spectacular “sausage cloud” rolled across the skies of North Jutland.
📸Spot one of the most beautiful summer phenomena: glowing noctilucent clouds, known in Danish as lysende natskyer.
📸The winner of the Danish Underwater Photography championship.
Danish Politics HQ
New laws
✈️ Air travel is getting a little simpler. The EU has agreed on new passenger rights that will require airlines to include both a personal item and a cabin suitcase in ticket prices from 2027. Families with children under 14 will be guaranteed seats together at no extra cost, and passengers will no longer be charged for correcting name mistakes on tickets. The deal also preserves compensation of up to €600 for major delays, despite pressure from some countries and airlines to reduce passenger protections.
Political scene
⚖️ A political controversy has sparked a wider debate about second chances after #MeToo. Following criticism of SF (Green Left) leader Pia Olsen Dyhr’s decision to hire a former adviser previously accused of misconduct, the adviser has now resigned. Beyond the political fallout, commentators say the case raises a difficult question we still struggle with: when has someone paid their social penalty, and when should they be allowed to return to public life? Others argue that any path toward forgiveness must also involve those affected by the original behavior, not just the person seeking redemption.
🚕 Taxi drivers could face new legal restrictions. Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) say they are ready to explore making it illegal for taxi drivers to have intercourse with passengers during a taxi ride. The proposal comes after a series of cases raised concerns about consent when intoxicated passengers are sent home by taxi. Supporters argue that existing laws leave too much uncertainty in situations where proving consent is difficult, while critics question whether consensual relationships between adults should be criminalized.
⚓ The Navy is trying to recruit former employees back. Facing growing staff shortages, the Navy has begun contacting former sailors in the hope of persuading them to return to service. More than one in 10 positions are currently vacant, while some units operating around Greenland and the Faroe Islands reportedly lack a quarter of their required personnel. Employee representatives welcome the initiative but say long-term solutions will require better pay and working conditions to attract and retain skilled staff.
🌍 Spain is taking a different approach to immigration than much of Europe. The Spanish parliament has approved a pathway to legal status for an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants already living in the country. Supporters argue the move will help fill labor shortages and bring workers from the informal economy into the tax system, while critics fear it could encourage more irregular migration. The decision stands in sharp contrast to the increasingly restrictive immigration debates taking place across much of Europe, including in Denmark.
🛂 Denmark is again pushing for asylum centers outside Europe. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and several European leaders have called for the rapid creation of migration and return centers in countries outside the EU. In a joint letter, they argue that Europe must do more to increase deportations of rejected asylum seekers and weaken human smuggling networks. The proposal builds on initiatives such as Italy’s agreement with Albania and reflects a shift in European migration policy.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
🧠 Many men struggle in silence. New figures show that one in four men report high stress levels, one in 10 experience loneliness, and more than twice as many men as women die by suicide. During Men’s Health Week, researchers say the problem is not a lack of friends, but a lack of close relationships where men can talk openly about worries and setbacks. The advice is simple: make time for friendships, build an identity beyond work, and be willing to start the difficult conversations yourself.
📱 Put your phone away; your child is playing. A new playground in Copenhagen is encouraging adults to stay off their phones while their children play. Signs around the playground ask parents to keep screens in their pockets and focus on being present, though there is no ban or enforcement. The initiative, created by Danica, aims to give families a break from constant notifications and social media.
⚔️ A medieval world championship has become bigger than expected. More than 900 armored combat matches will take place at Spøttrup Castle in Salling this July after registrations exceeded organizers’ expectations. The event, which features competitors fighting with swords and medieval armor, originally planned for around 160 matches. Organizers are now urgently looking for 30-40 additional volunteers to help run the four-day championship and ensure the battles do not continue late into the night.
🚢 Denmark and India are teaming up to search for a 400-year-old shipwreck. In September, researchers will begin looking for the remains of Øresund, the first Danish ship to sail to Asia, which sank off the coast of India in 1619. Historians believe the wreck could reveal new details about the earliest connections between Denmark and India and King Christian IV’s ambitions to establish trade with Asia.
🏆 Aarhus is now home to Europe’s Museum of the Year. Den Gamle By has won the European Museum of the Year Award, beating 33 other museums from across the continent. The open-air museum is known for bringing history to life through recreated streets and homes spanning more than 500 years of everyday life. Judges praised its ability to make history accessible, while also helping local communities connect with their own heritage.
🎨 Aarhus has a new cultural landmark. ARoS has opened As Seen Below – the dome, a spectacular new light installation by American artist James Turrell that has been ten years in the making. The giant 40-meter-wide dome invites visitors to experience the sky as part of the artwork itself, with changing views that shift throughout the day. ARoS describes it as Turrell’s largest and most ambitious Skyspace installation anywhere in the world.
🗿 Lolland’s answer to Stonehenge is finally complete. After nearly 20 years of construction, the final granite sculpture has been unveiled at Dodekalitten near Kragenæs, completing a circle of 12 giant stone figures overlooking the Småland Sea. The artwork combines landscape design and a unique sound installation that responds to nature’s rhythms. What began as a small art project in 2006 has grown into one of the country’s most distinctive landmarks, attracting up to 100,000 visitors each year.
🎨 A 50-meter-high silo is being transformed into one of the country’s largest artworks. Canadian street artist Emmanuel “Young” Jarus is painting a 2,300-square-meter mural on Esbjerg Harbor as part of the city’s street art festival. The artwork will wrap the entire silo in a scene of ocean water with a small rowing boat at its center, celebrating Esbjerg’s connection to the sea. The project is part of a 3.5 million DKK initiative to bring street art and museum culture together, and the finished mural is expected to become a new landmark for the city.
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
🏥 More money for healthcare. The government and Danish Regions have agreed on a new budget that will provide an extra 2.3 billion DKK for the healthcare system in 2027. A major focus is youth mental health, with a total of 1 billion DKK earmarked for psychiatry services between now and 2028. The agreement also includes 4.2 billion DKK for hospital construction. The deal comes as hospitals continue to face staff shortages, long waiting lists, and growing demand for mental health support among young people.
📦 Shopping from outside the EU is about to get more expensive. From July 1, all packages arriving from non-EU countries will be subject to a new minimum customs fee of 22 DKK, even for low-value purchases that were previously exempt. The charge applies per product category rather than per package, meaning mixed orders can trigger multiple fees.
🏠 Fewer surprise tax adjustments for homeowners. Parliament has agreed on a temporary shortcut that will allow property valuations in 2026 and 2027 to be calculated using average local housing price trends rather than individual reassessments. The move is designed to reduce years of delays and prevent old tax statements from being reopened when new valuations arrive. While the system may be less precise for some properties, housing experts say it should give most homeowners certainty.
🚗 Planning a road trip this summer? Experts say a typical self-drive holiday can easily cost 20,000-25,000 DKK, but a few simple choices can make a noticeable difference. Bringing your own food for the journey can save hundreds of DKK, while driving 110 km/h instead of 130 km/h may cut fuel consumption by up to 20%. Motorists are also advised to plan refueling stops a bit further from the highways, ideally in the morning or between 6-10PM.
🏖️ Check if Denmark owes you holiday money. If you have worked in Denmark and changed jobs, you may have unused holiday pay waiting for you. Through Borger.dk, employees can view and request holiday pay earned from previous employment. If not claimed, the money will go towards a holiday fund.
State of the markets
🇪🇺 A major battle over Europe’s future budget is beginning. EU leaders have started negotiations on the bloc’s next seven-year budget, worth an estimated 13 trillion DKK. Denmark is among the countries pushing for more money to be spent on defense, while other member states want to preserve agricultural and regional development subsidies. Mette Frederiksen has called the current proposal “unacceptable,” arguing that Europe’s security challenges require new priorities. The negotiations are expected to be one of the EU’s biggest political battles over the coming months.
🔓 Hackers are reportedly demanding 160 million DKK from Novo Nordisk. The pharmaceutical giant has confirmed that cybercriminals gained access to internal systems and copied non-public data, including some personal information. The ransomware group FulcrumSec claims it stole more than a terabyte of data and spent over two months inside company networks before demanding payment.
🏖️ Should some of your taxes follow you to your holiday home? The government is exploring whether municipalities with large numbers of summer houses should receive a share of the municipal taxes paid by the owners. Supporters argue that tourist destinations spend millions maintaining nature areas and public facilities used by seasonal visitors, while receiving little extra tax revenue in return. The idea is still under review, but if adopted, it could become part of a reform of municipal finances scheduled for 2029.
International Community HQ
⚠️ Authorities are monitoring a small rise in far-right extremism among some young Ukrainian refugees. Several municipalities have reported cases involving extremist symbols and contact with far-right groups. Officials stress that the issue concerns only a small minority of the more than 65,000 Ukrainians who have arrived since the war began. Researchers point to trauma and difficulties adapting to a new country as possible factors and say early intervention is important to prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into extremist environments.
⚽ From Bornholm to the World Cup. Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder Amir Hadžiahmetović could make his World Cup debut this week, but his journey began in the small town of Nexø. Born on Bornholm to Bosnian refugee parents who arrived during the Balkan wars, he spent his childhood playing football on the island before moving to Bosnia at age 12. Now a professional player for Hull City, Amir remains a source of pride for both Bosnia and Bornholm.
Community Noticeboard
🔥 Sankt Hans Eve (Danish Midsummer)📍Nationwide | June 23 | One of Denmark’s most beloved traditions. Expect bonfires, speeches, live music, picnics, and communities gathering by beaches and parks.
📻 Skagen Music Festival. Denmark’s oldest music festival returns to Skagen July 2–5 with folk music and a cozy atmosphere. A perfect excuse to explore Denmark’s northernmost tip while enjoying live music by the sea. Ticket required.
🎻 Hindsgavl Festival — International Chamber Music. One of Europe’s leading chamber music festivals takes place at Hindsgavl Castle near Middelfart from July 1–8. Expect world-class musicians in beautiful historic surroundings. Ticket required.
🎖️ 6 July Days — Battle of Fredericia Celebrations. Fredericia commemorates its historic 1849 battle on July 5–6 with military parades, cannon salutes, jazz concerts, guided walks, street food and living history events across the city. Most activities are free.
⛵ Tall Ships Races 2026. Some of the world’s most beautiful sailing ships will dock in Aalborg Harbor from July 30 –August 2. Expect ship visits and a festive atmosphere along the waterfront. Free to attend. Also in Aarhus this week.
➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk
Denmark in Global Headlines
🌍 “We’re not safe’: Denmark warns Trump’s Greenland ambitions remain” – Turkiye Today
🪨 “Japan to send delegation to Greenland to evaluate rare earth extraction, Nikkei says” – Japan Today
🌱 “Denmark drops staggering $2.5B lifeline to trap factory pollution” – dagens.com
🚜 “Denmark scraps agriculture minister after 130 years” – The Scottish Farmer
👴 “The 3 best countries in Scandinavia for American Retirees” – Investopedia
🪖 “Denmark says its military will deploy battalion in Latvia” – Reuters
What is needed to have LWID also in Portuguese? I’m Brazilian and for months I’ve been flirting with the idea of presenting and reading in Portuguese :)