Vote now, speak louder, because silence isn’t neutral

Last Week in Denmark (02.11-09.11) Episode 39 Year 5

TOP 3 News

🚨 DF’s “remigration” plan sparks backlash – Party leader proposes deporting up to 100k internationals on benefits; idea condemned as unconstitutional.

📋 Job system reform in 2026 – Thousands of rules scrapped as municipalities gain freedom to focus on real results instead of endless paperwork.

⚖️ Obesity forecast alarms experts – By 2035, over half the population could be severely overweight, nearing very high levels in several municipalities.

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Are you prepared to vote for the local and regional elections? Are you considering running next time? Listen to the five episodes of #VOTEHOME season 2 to learn everything there is to know.

Remember to check out our New Reporting in International Community HQ, further down the newsletter. These are original articles in English by our own Last Week in Denmark reporters.

Editor HQ

State of Denmark

It’s election season, and this one matters more than most. Until November 14, you can still vote early (brevstemme). Just bring your yellow card, say you want to vote, and that’s it. No extra paperwork, no waiting for election day chaos. Then on November 18, Denmark votes officially in the local and regional elections, choosing the people who will decide on schools, healthcare, public transport, housing, and how your local taxes are spent. These are the decisions that shape your daily life far more than many national policies.

But this year’s campaign has come with an uncomfortable undercurrent. The political tone toward internationals has hardened. Words like “remigration” have been normalized in national debates, and even the idea of restricting voting rights for us has been floated. It’s easy to shrug this off as “just politics,” but rhetoric matters. It creates the atmosphere in which policies are later made.

The right for internationals to vote in local elections is not a gift. It was introduced 30 years ago, in 1995, after years of political work and civic pressure to recognize that those who live here, work here, and pay taxes here should also have a say in their local communities. That right is now being quietly questioned in some corners, and the only real answer is participation.

If you can vote, please do. Early, or on November 18, but do it. Because every ballot cast by an international resident sends a message louder than words: We are here, we care, and we belong! The more of us that take part, the harder it becomes for anyone to pretend that Denmark’s democracy only belongs to some of its people.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

Image of the week

🌕 Supermoon over Denmark. Stargazers across the country looked up in awe as a bright supermoon illuminated the November sky. The Moon appeared larger and closer than usual, glowing golden as it rose above rooftops and coastlines.

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Danish Politics HQ

New laws

👷 Easier rules for youth jobs. From January 2026, teenagers will be allowed to use machines like floor cleaners and lawnmowers at work, as we scrap the old “forbidden list” for under-18s. Employers must instead make risk assessments and ensure adult supervision. The goal is to attract more 13-17-year-olds into part-time jobs, especially in industry, where few currently work.

📋 Denmark cuts job system red tape. A major reform will simplify employment services from 2026, removing thousands of rules and giving municipalities more freedom. One in four jobseekers on the brink of employment and 70,000 people on sick leave will no longer need mandatory meetings. Programs like ressourceforløb (resource course), revalidering (vocational rehabilitation), and job rotation will be scrapped. Instead of checking boxes, municipalities will be judged on real results.

🎓 New grading scale on the way. The government wants to replace the current -3 to 12 academic grading system with a new 8-step scale from 0 to 12, including a 12* for “extraordinary performance.” The lowest grade, -3, will disappear, while 0 and 1 will both count as failing marks. The reform aims to reduce stress and focus more on what students do well rather than their mistakes. Experts welcome the update but warn that the 12* could worsen performance pressure instead of easing it. The new scale will apply from 2030.

Law proposals

👶 Debate on parents’ right to stay home with sick children. A citizen proposal inspired by Sweden’s “VAB” system would give parents 80% wage compensation when staying home with a sick child under 12. The idea quickly reached 50,000 signatures and is now being debated in Parliament. Opposition parties support it, calling it a matter of children’s rights and family well-being. Government parties sympathize but fear it could undermine the Danish labor model, where such rules are usually decided through labor agreements.

Political scene

🚨 Silence over DF’s “remigration” plan. DF (Nationalist Conservative) leader Morten Messerschmidt has proposed deporting up to 100,000 internationals who receive public benefits or detaining them in “departure centers” if they refuse to leave. The rest of the blue bloc (Liberal Alliance, Konservative, and DD) has refused to comment, despite their recent cooperation through the “Bourgeois Convention.” Venstre’s (Liberal) Jan E. Jørgensen called the idea incompatible with the constitution and rule of law, while Radikale’s (Social Liberal) Martin Lidegaard labeled it the most extreme proposal from a mainstream party in years.

🗣️ Social Democrat mayor slams party’s rhetoric on internationals. Ishøj’s mayor, Merete Amdisen, has openly criticized her party’s leadership for using what she calls “generalizing and stigmatizing” language about internationals and their children. She says the tone makes it hard to be a Social Democrat in the multicultural Vestegnen (western suburbs of Copenhagen), where nearly half the residents have international roots. Party leadership disagrees, insisting the rhetoric isn’t divisive, but Amdisen warns it risks alienating voters who already feel society is distancing itself from them.

💡Help us shape better opportunities for young migrant workers. Aalborg Institute for Development just launched the Career Compass project to understand how young internationals in Denmark (aged 16–30) access jobs, education, and career growth. If you work in a low-skilled or entry-level job, your experience can make a real difference. It only takes 5 minutes to share your story and it’s fully anonymous. 👉 [Take the survey here] It is in multiple languages.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

💶 Government backtracks on welfare cuts. After months of criticism over the new cash benefit reform, the government will allocate 15 million DKK in 2026 to help families and individuals at risk of homelessness due to reduced welfare payments. The move aims to support those hit hardest by the cuts. Social workers and aid groups welcome the step but call it a short-term fix, urging for affordable housing and long-term safeguards against poverty.

🏙️ Nine municipalities to lower taxes in 2026. From next year, residents in nine municipalities, including Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Aarhus, and Gentofte, will pay less in local taxes, cutting a total of 356 million DKK. Copenhagen will now have the lowest municipal tax rate at 23.39%, while ten municipalities, including Lolland and Svendborg, remain at the highest rate of 26.3%.

State of the markets

🍫 Chocolate without cocoa. The team behind Copenhagen’s Michelin restaurant Alchemist has invented a “non-chocolate” made from spent grain (a byproduct of beer brewing) instead of cocoa beans. The sustainable treat looks and tastes like real chocolate but costs a fraction to produce and spares forests from cocoa farming. Chef Rasmus Munk hopes the innovation will ease pressure on the chocolate industry.

🤖 Meet Neo, your future housemate. A new home robot from Norwegian-American company 1X promises to empty the dishwasher, water plants, and take out the trash for around 130,000 DKK. The robot still needs human operators to guide it remotely when it gets stuck, but experts say it’s only the beginning. AI specialist Anders Bæk predicts such robots will be as common as cars within 15 years, once they learn to handle chores safely and independently.

💡Are you aware of what it means to be a European Union Citizen? Join an AMIS online free course on European Citizenship, rights and opportunities to learn more about what paths it opens for you. Sign up here.

Entrepreneurship

💰 Free course: Master your business finances! Want to finally understand your company’s numbers? This four-part online workshop will teach you bookkeeping, taxes, budgeting, and financial planning, all in clear, practical language. You’ll learn how to report VAT, read financial statements, and use budgets to make smarter business decisions. Perfect for entrepreneurs who want control over their company’s finances. 📅 Tuesdays, Nov 11–Dec 2, 17:00–20:00 | 💻 Online | 👉 Register here

🚀 Final stop: Aarhus! After successful editions in Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Odense, the Business Support Event: EU Funding & Mentorship series ends in Aarhus on November 22. The event brings together entrepreneurs and mentors for a practical afternoon of insights on EU funding, small-group mentorship, and networking. If you’re running a small business or startup in Denmark, this is your last chance in 2025 to join the series and grow your business. 📅 Sat Nov 22, 13:00–17:00 | 📍 LYNfabrikken, Vestergade 49B, Aarhus C | 👉 Register here

Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🎬 Danish crime series tops Netflix worldwide. The new Danish thriller Legenden (The Asset) has become the most-watched non-English series on Netflix in its first week, racking up over 11 million views globally. The show follows a young PET (Danish intelligence service) trainee who goes undercover to expose a criminal network and has earned glowing reviews from international media. Critics praise its strong female leads and gripping storyline, confirming Denmark’s knack for global TV success.

🎨 Anna Ancher’s art shines in London. Ninety years after her death, the Skagen painter is finally getting international recognition. A major exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery has earned five-star reviews from The Guardian and The Observer, which praised her luminous depictions of light as “buttery and full of tenderness.” British critics are discovering that Anna Ancher’s quiet interiors and everyday scenes belong among Europe’s great art treasures.

🍰 Search for Denmark’s national cake. Radio hosts from DR’s WeekendMorgen have launched a public vote to find the country’s most Danish cake, with contenders like jordbærtærte, brunsviger, and wienerbrød in the mix. The Food Minister isn’t planning to make it official but says he’ll follow the poll “with great interest.” Listeners can vote this weekend to help decide which sweet treat best represents the nation.

🏹 Royal hunt, same elite. King Frederik hosted the annual royal hunt in West Jutland, joined by politicians, business leaders, and local elites; a guest list experts say “could have been the same 100 years ago.” Researcher Christoph Ellersgaard calls it “the old, rich Denmark” on display, though a few women were included this time. The event remains a powerful symbol of status, where proximity to the royal circle still carries quiet influence.

🍽️ Dinner parties disappearing. A new survey shows that one in four people rarely or never invite guests for dinner outside holidays or birthdays. Researchers say social life has moved out of private homes and into public spaces like cafés and community dinners. Once a symbol of hospitality and culture, the dinner table has become more private, while social media now replaces much of the old tradition of showing off one’s home.

⚽ Denmark’s youngest are getting active. A new survey shows that 78% of children aged 3–6 are now part of a sports club, up from 65% in 2020. Gymnastics, football, handball, and swimming are the top favorites, helped by child-friendly programs like “Trille-Trolle” handball. Experts say early sports habits boost health and social skills, though kids from less active or lower-educated families still join far less often.

⚖️ Obesity rising to U.S. levels. A new forecast warns that by 2035, over half of the country could be severely overweight, with 58 municipalities expected to cross the 30% mark. Some, like Guldborgsund and Læsø, may reach nearly 40%, close to American levels. Experts call the trend alarming and point to social inequality and cheap unhealthy food as key drivers.

💡How long will you live in your municipality? A new forecast reveals a growing health gap across the country, with up to six years’ difference in life expectancy depending on where you live. Children born in Odder in 2035 are expected to reach 87 years, while those born in Lolland may live to 81. The map from Forebyggelsesalliancen shows that wealthier municipalities like Gentofte and Rudersdal live longest, while rural and lower-income areas lag behind.

International Community HQ

New reporting - original, long form reporting from our dedicated team!

With less than two weeks until the elections, we’ve been busy speaking to more international candidates seeking to represent you! This week:

👉 Laura Matheson meets Natalia Cernavin from Moldova, standing in Struer Municipality. Read interview

👉 Kalpita Bhosale meets Candice Progler-Thomsen from the US, standing in Lolland Municipality. Read interview

👉 Sudaay Tat Haznedar meets Valentin Vorobat from Romania, standing in Skive Municipality. Read interview

And Ali Lewis meets Martin Ebmark, the Danish candidate firmly focused on internationals in Billund Municipality. Read interview.

🫵 Get more elections coverage from our team, including many more interviews and guides to political parties and voting at our Elections 2025 mini site!

Also this week:

👉 Ahmet Akkoç reports from last month’s EU summit in Copenhagen.

👉 Ali Lewis meets Srishti Sabarinath, the young international using social media to promote reading, STEM and social justice.

New columns - original voices on Danish politics, society and culture

In ‘Election on the Posters‘, Kristine Ammitzbøll-Bille reflects on how campaign posters flood Copenhagen during elections and why they matter in reaching every eligible voter, including internationals.

In ‘Tur‑retur Resettling in Denmark Episode 9: A Society of Swearing and Unsanitized Song Lyrics’, Laura Matheson explores the quirky and candid aspects of Danish culture, like blunt language and unfiltered lyrics, as part of her return to life in Denmark.

Community Noticeboard

👔 Internationals in Copenhagen - Next Steps for Business and Politics. An open talk on the value of internationals, with Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and entrepreneurs Ritu Jain and Nico Blier-Silvestri, candidate for the Copenhagen municipal elections with Moderaterne. 📅 Tue Nov 11, 18:30-19:30 |📍Copenhagen - Venue revealed before event | 👉 [Sign up here]

🎻 European Evening Aarhus – Connecting People, Ideas, and Europe. An elegant evening where internationals and locals meet to explore Europe’s future through conversation, culture, and networking. Enjoy keynote talks on “The EU’s Path to Independence” and “Denmark’s EU Presidency,” live music, art, and light refreshments. 📅 Sat Nov 15, 18:00–21:00 | 📍Roberta’s Society, Møllegade 3A, Aarhus | 👉 [Sign up here]

🎄 Christmas Market at Storms Pakhus – Odense. Storms Pakhus turns into a festive Christmas wonderland with handmade crafts, decorations, gifts, and Danish holiday treats like æbleskiver and mulled wine. A perfect spot for family fun or a cosy date. 📅 Nov 15–16 & 22–23, 11:00–16:00 | 📍Storms Pakhus, Odense | Free

💰 The Danish Tax System – Live Q&A. Opening your tax notice shouldn’t feel like a horror movie. Join this free online Q&A to finally understand how the Danish tax system works. Watch the intro video before attending to make the session smoother. 📅 Thu Nov 20, 16:30–18:00 | 📍Online | 👉 [Sign up here]

🍻 Finally Friday – Aarhus. End your week with good vibes and new friends at this relaxed after-work social. Meet people from around Aarhus, grab a drink, and expand your circle. Free to join but sign-up is required. 📅 Fri Nov 14, 16:00–18:00 | 📍Roberta’s Society, Møllegade 3A, Aarhus | 👉 [Sign up here]

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌿 “Danish presidency backs away from chat control” – Euractiv

🧪 “Everfuel opens 20MW hydrogen plant in Denmark and ships first load” – H2 View

🚌 “Denmark rushes to close security loophole in Chinese-made electric buses” – The Guardian

🎓 “Government under fire over immigration loophole in student visa scheme” – Euractiv

🍲 “Noma launches new line of products for home cooks” – France24

🤖 “Denmark plans new law to protect citizens from AI deepfakes” – AP News

❄️ “Denmark reminds Trump: paws off Greenland” – Politico Europe