The battle for Greenland; Illegal flags; Major changes to the driver’s license exam
Last Week in Denmark (05.01-12.01) Episode 1 Year 5
TOP 3 News
Donald Trump’s desire for Greenland has thrown Denmark into a political crisis.
Foreign flags on flagpoles are illegal once again.
The driver’s license exam is limited to only five languages.
Starting January 25, the Last Week in Denmark podcast is back! This time, it’s a 30-minute audio series where two co-hosts dive into the top three news stories from the newsletter. Episodes will drop simultaneously with the newsletter — perfect for staying informed on the go!
Editor HQ
State of Denmark
“All discussions about Greenland’s future start and end in Nuuk,” Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s Prime Minister.
Welcome to 2025! We’re stepping into a new chapter of global power dynamics — a modern era of imperial ambitions, where superpowers seem poised to reshape borders and throw humanity into a storm of uncertainty. First, Russia marched into Ukraine. Now, the USA is expressing ambitions for Greenland, Canada, and Panama. And on the horizon, China watches intently, seemingly biding its time to make a move on Taiwan. Buckle up — this ride could get bumpy!
One press conference, one pivotal moment, and a question that echoed across the globe: “Can you assure the world... that you’re not going to use military or economic coercion [to gain control of Greenland]?” The response left Europe stunned and pushed Denmark into an existential crisis: "No... I can’t assure you... We need [Greenland] for our economic security.” It wasn’t just an answer — it was a declaration that shook the foundations of international diplomacy.
The situation is far from rosy for Denmark. We’ve long considered the United States our closest ally — a cornerstone in defending Greenland from the looming shadow of Russian and Chinese ambitions. That’s why both Mette Frederiksen and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, are walking an impossibly fine line: preserving the critical relationship with the U.S. while ensuring Denmark’s and Europe’s interests remain safeguarded. An internal rift within NATO would be a dream come true for Russia and a moment zero for Europe — a grim reckoning where we stand alone, caught in the crosshairs of multiple superpowers.
Let’s hope that moment zero stays firmly in the realm of hypotheticals, allowing us to direct our collective focus toward the real enemy of humanity: climate change.
“Greenland belongs to Greenlanders,” Múte B. Egede, Greenland’s Prime Minister.
Images of the week
Earlier this week, we endured the wrath of Storm Floriane — those dark days filled with the relentless howling wind. Look at the pictures here.
2024 was a year of unprecedented weather extremes, including record-breaking temperatures, rainfall, and storms. Check out the pictures here.
…and something for the Northern Lights hunters.
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Danish Politics HQ
New laws
Starting January 2025, the driver’s license exam will only be available in five languages. Interpreters are permitted solely for German, Faroese, and Greenlandic — recognized minority languages. Apart from these, the exam can be taken in Danish or English.
The craftsman's tax deduction is making a comeback! You can now deduct up to 8,600 DKK for green renovations such as insulation, energy upgrades, or new windows. Additionally, the service deduction has been increased to 17,500 DKK and expanded to cover not just cleaning and childcare but also gardening and other outdoor home services. Good time to start a gardening side business!!!
Starting January, a new 37-hour work obligation will apply to people on kontanthjaelp (social benefits) who don't meet Denmark's residence and employment requirements. This includes those who haven't lived in Denmark (or European Union) for nine out of the last ten years or worked full-time for at least two and a half years during that period. Aimed at promoting self-sufficiency, the program covers 22,000 individuals, requiring them to engage in activities like internships, wage-subsidy jobs, society-useful activities, or Danish lessons.
As of January 1, the CO₂ tax on trucks is in effect. Trucks weighing 12 tons or more are now taxed per kilometer, with vehicles over 3.5 tons set to follow in 2027. The tax, averaging 1.3 DKK per kilometer is calculated based on the truck’s weight, CO₂ emissions, and where it operates.
The green tax reform introduces the long-awaited CO₂ tax on industry, effective from January. Companies outside the EU's emissions trading system will pay 750 DKK per ton of CO₂, while those within the system face a reduced rate of 375 DKK per ton. Businesses classified as “competition-exposed,” including those with mineralological processes, are granted an even lower rate of 125 DKK per ton.
Starting January 1st, flying foreign national flags on flagpoles in Denmark was made illegal, following an amendment to the Flag Act. Exceptions include flags from European Union, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. The Ministry of Justice may permit certain flags, like Ukraine's, in special situations.
Law proposals
The Danish Medical Association (Lægeforeningen) has proposed ten measures to curb smoking and nicotine use, including doubling the price of cigarettes to 120 DKK per pack. They highlight the severe risks associated with nicotine, such as permanent brain damage, reduced concentration, and a heightened risk of mental illness.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has strongly urged municipalities to stop using Google Translate in child-related cases, calling it deeply concerning and unfit for influencing life-altering decisions for families. While the tool currently exists in a legal grey area and isn’t explicitly prohibited, changes to address this issue are anticipated soon.
Denmark has expressed support for the Faroe Islands' bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) as an independent nation. Mette Frederiksen and the Faroese leader have jointly submitted a letter to the Danish Supreme Court, requesting the activation of Article 6 to explore the possibilities.
Political scene
Latest on the Greenland affair: On Friday afternoon (January 10), Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte B. Egede held a joint press conference addressing the week’s pressing issue. Egede emphasized that the Greenlandic people do not wish to be Danish or American but Greenlandic. There is a desire from Greenland for more foreign policy autonomy, like being able to negotiate independently without the presence of a Danish ambassador in the room.
Elon Musk vs. Democracy: The world’s richest man wants to disrupt politics by promoting far-right, anti-European parties in Europe. He is already heavily involved in the German and British parliamentary elections, and via his personal social media, he is swinging popular opinion in their direction. Now, Danish politicians are afraid he will do the same for Denmark, which could be disastrous for a country that has democracy in its bones.
Main points from the Prime Minister’s New Year speech:
Mette Frederiksen warned of growing threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. She calls the four “the Dark Axis.” She stressed the need for more defense spending and conscription to protect Europe from dangers like cyberattacks and sabotage.
She announced plans for significant investments in energy, technology, and defense, emphasizing the need for public and private support. Frederiksen urged a shift from Europe's regulatory focus toward innovation, stating, “We must rethink the European economy.”
She proposed that gang members or drug criminals convicted of serious crimes should lose their right to early retirement or disability pensions.
Danish Economics HQ
Our Money
1.9% rate of inflation in December 2024. The lowest rates of inflation in the European Union were in Ireland (0.5%), Lithuania, and Luxembourg (1.1%), while the highest were in Romania (5.4%), Belgium (4.8%), and Croatia (4%).
52.7 million DKK investment against negative social control—harmful or coercive measures, including intimidation and punishment, used to enforce social or cultural norms. The government will expand the safety consultant scheme, which offers specialized advice to people in cases of negative social control and honor-related conflicts. It will also fund three other related initiatives.
A new collective agreement for employees in the industry sector for the next two years. 850,000 people work in the industry sector (manufacturing and processing) and are covered by the collective agreement. The trade unions are negotiating with the employers’ associations on three main points: salary increases (4% predicted increase), better work-life balance (more money into the fritvalgskontoen), and pension (a higher contribution to pension from the employer side).
Over the past decade, the top 1% in Denmark have seen their income grow by 60%, compared to just a 9% increase for the middle class. In 2023 alone, the top 1% boosted their wealth by 14.8%, while the middle class experienced a 0.6% drop in income.
State of the Markets
2.9% unemployment rate in December 2024. 88,400 people are unemployed in Denmark, an increase of 100 since November. 75,800 people are on unemployment benefits, while 12,700 people are on kontanthjaelp (social benefits).
Denmark’s economy, heavily dependent on exports, is vulnerable to global trade disruptions caused by rising barriers and competition from China and the U.S., says National Bank Governor Christian Kettel Thomsen. With half of private sector jobs tied to exports and key materials coming from China, Denmark faces significant risks. Thomsen warns against too much protectionism and urges Europe to find a balance between strengthening its economy and keeping the benefits of free trade.
The Greenlandic GDP is 20.3 billion DKK (lower than Andorra and Djibouti), which is 125 times smaller than Denmark. Denmark contributes 5.5 billion DKK a year to the Greenlandic budget. The European Union also contributes 350 million DKK a year. 40% of the Greenlandic yearly budget comes from Denmark and the European Union.
Fishing is the cornerstone of Greenland’s economy, with fish products making up over 90% of the country’s 6.2 billion DKK exports in 2023. This reliance makes Greenland highly sensitive to international fish prices, catch quotas, competition, and labor shortages, leaving its economy among the most vulnerable in the world.
Increased tariffs for Danish companies on the US market would be severely damaging for our economy.
15% of all Danish exports go to the United States.
3,800 companies export there.
100,000 jobs are connected to US exports.
Pharma is the largest sector in regards to US exports.
Danish Daily Life HQ
Welcome, Generation Beta! Children born between 2025 and 2039 are part of Generation Beta. To put things in perspective, the youngest Gen Z today is 15 years old, while the youngest and last Gen Alpha is less than a month old.
Key health trends in 2025 according to a Danish futurologist
Running clubs will become even more popular. As more adults live alone, these clubs provide not just exercise but vital social connections, fulfilling the need for community outside the home.
More focus on self-improvement, competing with themselves rather than others, while embracing flexible, personalized approaches to work and life.
Sleep becomes a health priority. Practices like meditation and mindful walks will also gain traction, emphasizing the importance of presence and recovery.
Three tips to get kids to eat more vegetables
Blend mild vegetables like cauliflower and mix them into sauces, pizza toppings, or curry dishes to sneak in nutrient-rich greens without kids noticing.
Let kids help prepare meals, like adding fruits and veggies to smoothies. They’re more likely to eat what they’ve helped make, especially on less hectic weekends.
Serve raw veggies as an afternoon snack instead of piling them on the dinner plate. This reduces sugar intake and avoids mealtime battles.
“Food quality in supermarkets has declined." Alfred Josefsen, former CEO of Irma.
In 2024, we exceeded the 1.5-degree target set by the Paris Agreement for the first time. Only a decade ago, we passed the 1-degree limit. For the past four decades, the temperatures have been on the rise. Not only the air, but the ocean is also getting warmer. Parts of the Earth where many people live today risk becoming uninhabitable in the future due to extreme heat.
Padel is on the way to becoming a recognized sport in Denmark. Read more here.
From refugee to Olympic medalist for Denmark. Read the story of Turpal Bisultanov.
Guest column by Catalina Anapios
Dear reader: You might be tired of reading about Greenland this week. However, we think it’s appropriate to dedicate this section to looking at Greenlandic identity and their relationship with Denmark, as this part of the Kingdom is at centre stage for the time being (and is therefore also a key insight into Danish life).
The average Dane (or citizen of Denmark) does not know nearly enough about Greenlandic identity, which is amplified by how different life is in both countries. Here are some basic facts that most readers likely don’t know: Greenland’s national dish is “suaasat,” a traditional soup made from seal, whale, reindeer, or seabirds with potatoes and onions. Common hobbies range from kayaking and fishing to dog sledding, and they often use names of Inuit heritage such as Malik, Paninnguaq, or Nivi. Danes, on the other hand, love their cycling and their smørrebrød, and chances are there are at least Mads, Rasmus, Anne, and Cecilie in your apartment building.
In deeper things, the concerns that Danes and Greenlanders have are broadly different. While Danish leaders spend most of their time discussing sustainability, social welfare, and immigration, Greenlanders are concerned with the preservation of Inuit language and culture, gaining increased economic independence, and addressing structural problems with domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health.
A 2019 survey indicated that over two-thirds of Greenlanders aspire to independence from Denmark in the future; in the poll, one third supported immediate independence, and one third opposed it. In the eyes of Greenlanders, the economy would benefit from independence, although well-founded concerns express that Greenland is currently highly dependent on Danish support and could face big challenges.
However, history ties the two countries together (and so does the political framework, which makes both nations part of the Kingdom of Denmark). Today, Danish society is deeply driven towards renewable energy, aligning with Greenlanders’ worry about protecting the Arctic. This becomes particularly important in the face of a Trump presidency that stands strongly misaligned with the EU values around climate change. In terms of defence, Denmark has admitted to neglecting having the right amount of investment into protecting the whole Kingdom, while the USA has a significant military presence that makes some Greenlanders feel protected and others feel like their autonomy is being infringed.
International Community HQ
New features
We published more original writing than ever before in 2024, and we’re looking forward to bringing you even more great writing in 2025!
Brooke Fossey, aka Instagram’s Nearly Danish Dame, speaks to our lead reporter, Ali Lewis, about her passion for Danish, how running a social media account helped her find a sense of community here, becoming a local celebrity in Copenhagen, and how it all started with a used Christiania bike.
Brooke Fossey, better known to her 17,000 Instagram followers as the Nearly Danish Dame, doesn’t like to think of herself as an influencer. This is understandable: the words “Instagram” and “influencer” have certain negative associations: unattainable glamour, pushing products we don’t need, ego, fakery. All this couldn’t be further from what the Nearly Danish Dame account embodies. Fossey’s posts, delving into her love of the Danish language, its history, fascinations, and quirks, feel like spending time at your local cafe, chatting to a regular.
Read it here: https://lwid.dk/interview-brooke-fossey-aka-instagrams-nearly-danish-dame/
Feeling the winter blues? Gosia Kozlowska writes about why international residents can be particularly vulnerable to Seasonal Affective Disorder and how to beat it in her first piece for us!
Link here: https://lwid.dk/surviving-the-danish-winter-what-to-do-when-you-are-sad/
New columns
We’re thrilled to introduce the first in a new monthly travel column - Jeg Tog to Tog - by John Dixon. Each month, John will share insights into a new Danish destination, every one reachable on the DSB train network!
I must give credit to my five-year-old son, whose passionate interest in trains has inspired my family to explore Denmark via its phenomenal railway system. At the age of three, he would implore us to take him on “two buses and a train.” We would then take a bus to Vejle and literally get on the first train that arrived. He would gaze out the window with wonder and delight until he stated his decision that we should “get off here.”
Read it here: https://lwid.dk/jeg-tog-to-tog-til-middelfart/
Stephanie Mannings is back with the next in her monthly series How to Live Like a Local, this time writing about celebrating the Danish New Year!
Find it here: https://lwid.dk/how-to-live-like-a-local-episode-4/
Ali Lewis’s column Found in Translation returns, reflecting on a year in Denmark and what she’s loved, improved on, and failed to improve on in that time!
Find it here: https://lwid.dk/found-in-translation-issue-nr-8/
And Florin Lungu publishes another in his leadership-focused series, this time looking at the Nordic approach to setting and achieving goals for a new year.
Link here: https://lwid.dk/setting-and-achieving-goals-in-the-new-year-a-nordic-approach/
Announcement Board
Vejle Kommune has a range of events for internationals and Danes in January, including the Vejle Ambassador Network on January 29th; a celebration of Danish poet Inger Christensen’s 90th birthday on January 16th; Vejle ReFashion Week, beginning January 28th; and an informal Kaffe/Coffee drop-in on January 23rd. Find out more about all events and sign up here: What's on in Vejle? - Vejle Municipality
International media about Denmark
We Went to Greenland to Ask About a Trump Takeover (Politico)
What do Greenlanders make of Donald Trump’s advances for their home? (The Guardian)
Denmark 'open to dialogue' with US on Arctic amid Trump's bid to take over territory (France24)
King of Denmark trolls Trump by changing royal coat of arms to make Greenland prominent (New York Post)
‘It’s easy to call what she did evil’: inside Denmark’s Oscars entry, about a serial child murderer (The Guardian)
Very interesting newsletter again. Thank you!
I would also advise you a bit more to avoid whitewashing certain topics. And, please don't take it too harshly. I know you are volunteers working hard to get us some relevant news and I love you for that.
1. When you talk about territorial tensions in the world, you mention China. Not even in the context of South China Sea or other disputes, but Taiwan. Taiwan and China both have been claiming each other's territories since Americans gave control over Taiwan to Chinese fascists. There are plenty of claims like this around the world (e.g. India and Pakistan) and nothing new happened within the topic. So, not sure why you focused on this one.
At the same time, Israel is annexing parts of Syria, West Bank and Gaza, bombing Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran, committing genocide and you don't mention the country at all.
Turkiye as well occupies bigger and bigger parts of Syria. It would also be interesting to investigate the topic of Turkish settlers in Syria...
The US also threatens to annex Canada, Panama and occupy Northern Mexico.
2. I understand that you mention Russia and the US in the context of competition in the Artic and Greenland, but... China? Have some fact-checking on China, otherwise you sound very sinophobic and people will not trust you on other topics.
Good you got funding from the Danish government, but it doesn't mean you must share Mette's sinophobia and indifference to genocide.
3. When you discuss Greenland, especially Greenlandic-Danish relations, the key word is "colonialism". The crimes committed by Denmark on Greenlandic population deeply resonate on Greenlandic population. That's why many, if not most Greenlanders despise Danish language, culture and people...
Colonialism is also a reason, why police officers on Greenland are largely Danes on short-term contracts, paid a lot of money. Money, which is later billed to Greenland, with an attached complaint that Denmark is "helping" Greenland with money.
Understanding of Danish colonialism is also the key to understanding why so many of us, your readers, experience so much racism and different nuanced form of oppression that are often difficult to grasp, but always cause a very real pain.