#TheForgottenGold; 20% tariffs; Change your insurance
Last Week in Denmark (30.03-06.04) Episode 13 Year 5
TOP 3 News
A movement is born: #TheForgottenGold.
20% tariffs on EU products imported to the U.S.
Change your insurance company every three years to avoid overpaying.
Illustration made by Diana Bălașa
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Editor HQ
State of Denmark
The talent is here. Why can’t Denmark see it?
There’s a strange kind of silence in Denmark’s job market. You won’t notice it in official reports or LinkedIn posts celebrating new hires. But if you talk to internationals who’ve lived here for years — those who speak the language, raised families here, and built lives — you’ll hear it loud and clear: it sounds like frustration. It sounds like resignation. It sounds like people quietly giving up.
Two years ago, Lyndsay Jensen (editor of the online magazine The International Denmark) gave this silence a name: #TheForgottenGold. It’s the hidden workforce of highly educated internationals who came to Denmark full of promise, only to find themselves invisible. People with PhDs, EU Commission experience, and global networks. People who were celebrated when recruited from abroad but suddenly overlooked once they arrived. And for those who came as spouses, the path is even harder — especially for women, whose careers often spiral into endless internships, part-time gigs, or roles far below their qualifications.
Meanwhile, Danish cities are investing millions to attract more international talent. Aarhus wants 7,500 new international workers by 2030. But here's the uncomfortable question: what about the skilled people already here, knocking on the same doors that remain shut?
It’s not just unfair; it’s inefficient. Every international who leaves Denmark takes not only their talents, but their taxes, their ideas, and their future contributions. It’s a loss that shows up in pensions, in innovation, in missed chances to build truly diverse workplaces. And the numbers back this up. Almost half of international graduates leave Denmark within six years. Not because they want to, but because they feel they have to.
Culture plays a role, of course. As researchers like Dr. Julia Jones and professionals like Nanna Hauch explain, Danish work life is built on deep trust, tight networks, and shared values. That’s beautiful — until it becomes a wall. One you can’t see. One you can’t climb.
So what now? Keep recruiting abroad while the gold we already have slips through our fingers? Or start listening to the people who’ve built lives here and still want to contribute? Because they’re not asking for special treatment. Just a fair shot. A chance to be seen.
If you’re reading this and feeling invisible — you're not alone. You’re not the problem. You’re the potential. You are, quite literally, the gold. It’s time Denmark learned to spot it.
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Danish Politics HQ
New laws
🧠 From 2026, young people aged 18–24 with anxiety or depression must be offered treatment within 30 days or be referred to a private psychologist, paid by the state. Today, the average wait is 185 days. The government will more than double funding and shift responsibility to the regions to make access faster and more equal, especially for those without private insurance.
⚡ The government is cracking down on shady electricity providers with a new consumer protection package. Companies that break the rules, like failing to refund customers or sending inflated bills, could face fines up to 500,000 DKK and be banned from gaining new customers during a “quarantine” period. The plan also includes monitoring customer calls, MitID verification for contracts, and more transparency on elpris.dk. With over 60 players in a lightly regulated market, authorities hope this will bring order to what’s been called the “Wild West” of energy.
Law proposals
🚲 A digital bike registry may soon become reality. SF (Socialists) and the Konservative (Conservatives) want a national register to tackle Denmark’s 48,000+ yearly bike thefts. Their plan? QR codes on bikes that buyers can scan to check if a bike is stolen. The justice minister agrees in principle but says the government’s version is still in the works. The proposal has support from Cyklistforbundet and Forsikring & Pension, and companies like Bikekey are already testing similar systems.
Political scene
🛡️ With war back on Europe’s radar, four right-wing parties are calling on Denmark’s emergency minister to stop municipalities from shutting down bomb shelters. While an official analysis is still underway, the parties want an immediate halt to closures to avoid future regret. There are 3.6 million shelter spots for nearly 6 million people — a number that’s been dropping. Minister Torsten Schack Pedersen says the rules are already under review and agrees that reducing shelters in today’s climate makes little sense.
🛡️ NATO may be heading for a future without the U.S., say Danish experts. With American commitment to Europe in doubt, analysts argue that Denmark and the EU must start planning for self-reliant security. Ukraine, with its large and battle-tested army, could play a central role in a new European defense structure. Meanwhile, EU-based cooperation, possibly even involving nuclear discussions, is emerging as a realistic framework for future alliances.
📵 Sweden may ban paying for online sex content. The Swedish government wants to expand its sex purchase ban to include online porn, meaning buying access to videos on sites like OnlyFans could become illegal by summer. Supporters say it will help protect vulnerable youth from digital exploitation. Critics, including OnlyFans creators, argue it misunderstands safe, legal, online work and threatens their livelihoods.
Eyes on Greenland
🇬🇱 “We decide our own future.” That was the clear message from Greenland’s new leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after Donald Trump once again claimed the US would “get Greenland, 100%.” In a calm but firm Facebook post, Nielsen rejected the idea, saying Greenland belongs to no one else. The statement comes just ahead of Danish PM Mette Frederiksen’s visit to Greenland.
🇩🇰🇬🇱 Denmark is ready to talk. After Greenland’s new government called for a roadmap to revise the Self-Government Act, which defines its relationship with Denmark, the Danish government confirmed it is open to discussions. “The strongest union is built on equality,” they said, adding that global challenges and Greenland’s new coalition are reasons to reexamine the partnership with fresh eyes.
🇩🇰🇺🇸 Denmark to the U.S.: Friends, not pressure. In a powerful message, PM Mette Frederiksen reminded the U.S. that Denmark has always stood by its side, from WWII to NATO. “You know us. You know we don’t give in,” she said, pushing back on any suggestion of taking over Greenland. Sovereignty isn’t negotiable. But security in the Arctic? Let’s strengthen it together. “If you want to do more in Greenland, we're ready.”
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
⚡ From April 1, 800,000 electricity users in Jutland will see lower grid fees during peak hours. The cost of transporting electricity to your home will drop by over 50% between 17:00 and 21:00, making evening laundry or EV charging much cheaper. Prices will stay lowest from midnight to 06:00, so night owls and smart plugs win again. Using power outside peak hours not only saves money but also supports the green transition by easing pressure on the grid.
💸 Demand for debt help is surging at Settlementet in Vesterbro, where some callers now wait over a week for a reply and up to four weeks for an appointment. Rising living costs and stricter debt collection rules mean more people, often vulnerable people, are seeking guidance. Many face wage deductions from the Danish Tax Agency, leaving them with less to live on. The center can’t erase debts but helps people make budgets, avoid further debt, and find options like repayment plans or debt relief.
🛡️ Loyal insurance customers in Denmark are paying the price — literally. A major new report finds that customers who stay with the same insurer for years often pay hundreds more annually than those who switch to new ones. The industry routinely raises prices without warning, especially for older clients and those with less education. Regulators call it “silent price coordination” and warn it’s hurting competition. Experts now urge customers to shop around every 3–5 years to avoid being penalized for loyalty.
🐾 Pet insurance premiums are soaring in Denmark, with some owners seeing price hikes of up to 100%. Tryg customers report sharp increases despite healthy pets and few or no claims. The company blames rising vet costs, but many customers aren’t buying it and some are switching providers or dropping coverage entirely. Critics say it’s unfair for insurers to post record profits while pushing loyal pet owners to the brink.
State of the markets
📚 In a twist to the digital trend, sales of printed books in Denmark rose 3.4% in 2024, while ebooks and audiobooks dropped by 3.5%. Paper still rules, especially with non-fiction and children’s books like “Ternet Ninja 3” and “Kongeord” boosting the numbers. Despite the digital shift in everyday life, 58% of the people still prefer reading on paper — maybe because you just can’t sniff an ebook.
📉 Danish stock market sees second-worst drop ever. The C25 index plunged 6.2% on Friday, marking its second-biggest drop in history. The slump follows escalating global trade tensions after China hit back at U.S. tariffs with a 34% duty on American goods. Investors fear a full-scale trade war, which analysts warn will slow economic growth. All C25 stocks fell, with banks hit hardest: Sydbank dropped 12% and Danske Bank 11.7%. Not since the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 has the index seen a worse day.
Entrepreneurship
A new session for the “Business Economics for Entrepreneurs” online course starts on May 6. You can learn how to use a bookkeeping system, create invoices and bookkeep expenditure, and report VAT and taxes. You can also learn about budgeting and financial planning. Sign up here.
Danish Daily Life HQ
🚗 From October, Vesthimmerland Kommune will scrap parking enforcement as a trial. The decision comes after complaints from local shop owners in towns like Aars, where visitors were getting fined for minor mistakes like forgetting to set the parking disc. The system also ran a deficit, with the municipality losing over 84,000 DKK in recent years. The trial will run for six months and be evaluated in May 2026.
🚘 Varde Kommune is teaming up with the carpooling app Nabogo to boost ride-sharing. If your trip is over 5 km, the municipality will pay drivers 5 DKK per passenger. Students at Varde Gymnasium are already using it, and now Nabogo will show up in Rejseplanen alongside buses and trains. The goal is fewer cars, happier wallets, and a greener commute — especially in places where a 48-seat bus would drive around half empty.
🧠 Rebild Kommune is offering a free course to help parents survive the teenage years. With sessions on conflict, social media, and the mysterious teenage brain, the goal is to turn frustration into understanding. The course teaches that teens aren’t just moody; their brains are still under construction. More sessions are planned for spring.
🤖 Robots won’t be fixing your laptop just yet, but they’re learning. At the Danish Technological Institute in Odense, engineers are training robots to diagnose and repair used electronics like laptops, as part of an EU project called RENÉE. The goal is to extend product lifespans, cut CO₂ emissions, and support the circular economy. The tech isn’t fully ready, but early tests show big potential for combining AI with robotic arms to help where human technicians are in short supply.
🇺🇸 U.S. internationals in Denmark say attitudes toward them have changed since Donald Trump took office. Jennifer Burke-Hansen and James Howard Young, both living on Funen, feel increasing skepticism and even pity from Danes. Some locals are boycotting American goods over Trump's trade policies and Greenland remarks. While online comments call the U.S. a “terrorist state” or “backward,” both say they’re still treated kindly face-to-face. But the tension is growing.
In January we reported on the impact of Trump’s premiership on Americans living here: The US/Denmark conflict: How Americans in Denmark feel.
Want to learn more about how to Shop European? Read our reporter Laura Matheson’s article.
International Community HQ
New columns
Three regular contributors are back this week!
Denmark has just been ranked second in the 2025 World Happiness Report but are Danes really that happy? Josephine Basthof, our new native Dane columnist, gives an insider’s perspective in her latest Being Danish column.
Do you feel settled in Denmark yet? As an international, you’ve probably been asked this many times by many people. Rasna Kaur Mistry explores what it means to be “settled” and why we might be better to think of settling as a gradual process.
And Florin Lungu, our resident expert on leading effectively in the Nordics, takes a look at a key challenge in cultures with flat hierarchies and high levels of autonomy: how to bring your team on board with your vision.
Florin is offering LWID readers free access to a series of live online sessions he’s running on leadership. The first of these takes place on April 15th - details below. We’ll post details of future sessions here in the newsletter.
Want your team to move faster with less micromanagement?
Join leadership strategist Florin Lungu on April 15 for a free-to-attend, live session on The Vision Gap - why strategy fails when people can’t see themselves in it. You’ll walk away with a practical tool to turn vision into action. [Register here]
New reporting
We’re bringing you three new “How to…” guides this week!
The Danish citizenship exams can be confusing. What are they, why do you need to sit them, and what’s involved? Ahmet Akkoç has all you need to know about Medborgerskabsprøven (The Active Citizenship Exam) and Indfødsretsprøven (The Naturalization Exam)
Read Ahmet’s previous article about how to become a Danish citizen in 2025.
What is Change of Ownership Insurance (Ejerskifteforsikring) and why do you need it when buying a home in Denmark? Sudaay Tat Haznedar has the answers.
Did you know you can claim tax refunds for work you get done around your house? Gosia Kozlowska explains how the servicefradrag, or service deduction, works.
And in Untold Stories….
Hørsholm, a town near Copenhagen, was recently ranked second best in the country when it comes to quality of life. But what makes it so special? Stephanie Makison, who’s lucky enough to call Hørsholm home, has the insider info.
Did you know that Last Week in Denmark now offers the opportunity for sponsored content? If you have a business our readers should know about, let us write about it – support us while we help you! Get in touch with us here.
International media about Denmark
Shoppers in Denmark boycott American goods over Trump admin’s push to own Greenland (NBC News)
Læsø, recently ranked #1 for quality of life in Denmark, profiled (The Guardian UK)
JD Vance accuses Denmark of failing to keep Greenland secure as he slams European allies (CNBC)
The Forgotten Gold experience reminds me of linear economy stuff: extracting new resources and using them up/throwing them away. This idea of using the "resources" that are already here is more circular economy and inherently more sustainable. I hope employers figure it all out soon.