We choose the Kingdom of Denmark
Last Week in Denmark (11.01-18.01) Episode 1 Year 6
TOP 3 News
Greenland has become the center of global politics.
Tap water quality questioned - pesticide found in 55.7% of tested samples.
Food vouchers for people with low incomes under discussion.
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. P.S. - Congratulations to the podcast team on winning the “Best News Podcast” award and being the runner-up for the “Podcast of the Year” award! Read more here.
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
Happy New Year and welcome back. Somehow, we are starting our sixth year of running this newsletter, which still feels slightly unreal. The world feels louder and more tense, and staying informed has turned from a good habit into something that can exhaust you. Our weekly rhythm is meant as a middle ground. Enough to know what matters, not so much that it eats at your nerves. Sometimes reacting a little later makes the news less sharp and easier to digest.
If the first 18 days of the year tell us anything, it is that 2026 will be interesting in every sense of the word. Big developments are lining up, and everyday life will feel their effects. That does not mean panic is required. Humans are remarkably good at adapting. This year, our focus will be on understanding that most of us cannot change the direction of history, but we can decide how prepared we are and what role we choose to play when changes arrive. That awareness alone does wonders for mental health.
In the coming editions, we will also share small tips and practical ways to prepare ourselves and our families for an uncertain world, so that being informed does not come at the cost of enjoying the present. Thank you for staying close to us for another year.
State of Denmark (the kingdom)
“We choose the Kingdom of Denmark” Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s leader
The past weeks have pushed Greenland from distant geography into the center of global politics, and for people living here it suddenly feels very close to home. What began as renewed talk from Donald Trump about taking control of Greenland has triggered a coordinated defensive response built less on military muscle and more on exacting political cost. The core idea is simple. Make it so expensive diplomatically and economically that any hostile move becomes unrealistic.
That strategy is already visible. Denmark and Greenland are speaking with one voice, rejecting separate talks and stressing international law, while lining up support across Europe. The increased military presence around Greenland, including allied ships, planes and small troop deployments, is not about preparing for war but about deterrence. The signal is that any move would not be a bilateral issue but one involving multiple allies and shared commitments through NATO.
What makes this moment different is that pressure is no longer coming only from Europe. Inside the US, public opinion and parts of Congress are also starting to push back on Trump’s plans, with many lawmakers seeing Greenland as not worth risking NATO or wider instability. At the same time, the debate has exposed another layer. Powerful tech and investment interests are circling Greenland’s minerals, energy and data potential, showing that security arguments often sit alongside very concrete economic ambitions.
For us watching here in Denmark, the takeaway is that this is less about an imminent crisis and more about a long geopolitical stress test. Greenland has clearly stated where it stands, Denmark is anchoring the response in alliances rather than force, and the next phase will more likely play out in diplomacy and parliaments rather than on the ground. What happens next will shape how small countries protect their autonomy in a world where power politics is very much back in vogue.
💬 Europeans rally behind Greenland online. A Facebook group called “Europeans support Greenland” has surged past 60,000 members in just days as people across Europe show solidarity with Greenland. Members from Sweden to Romania say the idea of powerful countries taking what they want feels like a step backwards for democracy, while experts warn that this kind of “clicktivism” merely raises awareness unless it is followed by real-world action.
🧠 What if one NATO country attacked another. Experts say that if the US used force against Greenland or Denmark, NATO would likely freeze rather than respond, because decisions require consensus and the attacking country can block action. Article 5 would still exist on paper, but shared command structures and joint assets could be paralyzed, forcing allies to act outside NATO if they choose to respond at all. Researchers warn that such paralysis would weaken collective security and create openings for other powers to test Europe’s defenses elsewhere.
Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!
Image of the week
❄️ Denmark in deep freeze. Temperatures dropped hard this week, and people sent in photos of frozen fields and towns wrapped in white silence. It’s the kind of cold that hurts your face a little, but makes the country look quietly magical.
✨ A glowing surprise in the sky. An unusual luminous cloud drifted across the evening sky, stopping people mid-scroll and mid-walk.
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Danish Politics HQ
New laws
🎒 Parents will now be contacted earlier if a child is often absent from school. A new agreement means schools must reach out to parents when a pupil has more than 10 days of combined sick leave and unexcused absence within a single term. The goal is to catch problems sooner and support children who struggle socially or academically. The deal also makes it easier to access special education and reduces paperwork for schools, freeing up time for early help.
Law proposals
🛒 Talks are underway on a new food allowance. Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen says negotiations have begun on a proposed food voucher worth 4.5 billion DKK for people with low incomes. Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) and DF (Nationalist Conservative) are critical, arguing the help is too small and favor cutting food VAT instead. All parties are still at the table, and the government hopes to reach a deal soon.
👉Read our article: Goma - The App that Slashes your Food Costs
Political scene
💧 A fight over clean tap water is turning into a full political storm after a new Environment Ministry analysis concluded that the cheapest and most effective way to protect drinking water is a national ban on spraying pesticides and spreading fertilizer in vulnerable groundwater areas.
The report is a bit of a “how did we get here” moment. After 27 years of plans and voluntary agreements, only 1.5% of the at-risk areas identified back in 1998 have actually been protected. Meanwhile pesticide residues were found in 55.7% of the tested water supply boreholes in 2024, and more than 14% had levels above quality limits.
The money question is brutal. The ministry estimates it could cost 6 to 18 billion DKK per year to clean water if contamination continues, while a spraying ban would cost agriculture around 360 million DKK per year in losses. Experts say farmers could be compensated and it would still be far cheaper than building a permanent national water cleaning system.
The left wing parties are pushing for a fast law, calling it the best “business deal” to avoid future bills and health risks linked to pesticides and nitrate. Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats) and Moderaterne (Social Liberals) lean toward a ban, while Venstre (Liberals) is delaying taking a position. Several Venstre mayors warn it would hit farming too hard and argue pollution has multiple sources. Outside the government, DD (Nationalist Populists) rejects a ban and prefers tree planting and forestry, warning against what they see as de facto expropriation.
For residents, the debate is not abstract. In Aalborg, nitrate pollution is already expected to add around 1,000 DKK per household per year if cleaning becomes necessary.
🧊 The Greenland drama is not slowing down, but the tone is shifting from loud statements to tightly managed meetings and visible military signals. A group of US senators visited the Parliament this week to meet members of the Foreign Policy Committee.
At the same time, several European NATO countries have started sending military personnel to Greenland after a request from Denmark. The move is tied to a boosted Arctic exercise called Operation Arctic Endurance. The numbers remain small, reported in the dozens, but the mix is diverse, including French, German, and Swedish forces, two from Norway, and even one British officer. DR’s defense coverage frames it as a forward team that can grow later, and as a political message that any US move would instantly involve more allies, not just Denmark and Greenland.
The diplomatic center of gravity was an “historic” meeting in Washington between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Denmark and Greenland, Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Vivian Motzfeldt on one side, and US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the other. Løkke called it constructive but said there is a fundamental disagreement. The parties will set up a working group in the coming weeks to discuss how they can address American security concerns without crossing Denmark’s red line (Greenland joining US). Motzfeldt told Greenlanders the meeting was respectful and the priority is getting back to a normal relationship with the US.
👉 Curious about the history of Greenland/Denmark/US relations? Our reporter Christian Green has put together a timeline.
💡Why Greenland is linked to Denmark. Check out this explainer that walks you through how Greenland’s ties to Denmark go back more than 1,000 years, from Viking settlements and vanished Norse communities to colonization, Cold War defense deals and today’s self-rule. The short version is that control shifted through Nordic unions, church missions and trade monopolies, often without much say from local people, before Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and self-rule in 2009.
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
🛒 Grocery prices have fallen for the fifth month in a row, easing pressure on household budgets. Food prices dropped by 4.5% over the past five months, driven mainly by cheaper butter and falling beef prices, although shopping is still around 3.5% more expensive than a year ago. Inflation overall is now down to 1.9%, and economists expect it to fall further this year. That could mean more room in everyday budgets, even if disappearing January discounts may slow the trend.
State of the markets
🏙️ Apartment prices in Copenhagen jumped by more than 23% in 2025, the biggest annual increase ever recorded. A flat worth three million DKK at the start of the year gained around 700,000 DKK in value, according to housing data. Prices also rose across the country, but nowhere near as fast as in the capital. Economists point to strong employment, rising wages, and lower interest rates, while regulators warn the pace is unhealthy and could increase the risk of sharp price drops later.
⚡ Consumers warned about the electricity company Velkommen after watchdogs raised serious concerns about its business model. A professor from Aalborg University says the company’s use of large advance payments has “the character of a pyramid scheme,” as some former customers wait months to get money they are owed. Forbrugerrådet Tænk advises consumers to avoid the company, while regulators are investigating its billing practices. Velkommen denies wrongdoing and says delays are unintentional.
💡 We are looking for people who feel left behind by the AI revolution. Please complete this 2-minute survey in English and help us identify which tools/solutions could support people who need extra help keeping up with technological progress. For a Danish version, click here.
Entrepreneurship
Are you interested in the use of AI in education? Aalborg Institute for Development is building a pan-European LinkedIn community of people working with / interested in AI in education to facilitate sharing best practices. Although the group is just forming, there will soon be plenty of interesting posts. Join here.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
🛂 Passport checks at the German border have now lasted ten years, even though they were meant to be temporary. The checks were introduced in 2016 and have since been extended repeatedly, most recently until May 2026. While the government argues they help fight cross-border crime and terrorism, several researchers call the controls ineffective and mostly symbolic. They say police resources would work better elsewhere.
🔭 A long-standing space mystery has been solved by researchers from Copenhagen University. The strange “little red dots” spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope are not galaxies but young black holes in a rapid growth phase. These medium-sized black holes existed very early in the universe and help explain how supermassive black holes formed so quickly after the Big Bang. The discovery fills a missing link in our understanding of how the universe evolved and has just been published in the scientific journal Nature.
🧸 Mattel has launched a new autistic Barbie to improve representation, but reactions are mixed. Autism groups welcome the doll as a positive step that helps some children see themselves reflected in toys and opens conversations about difference and belonging. A psychologist, however, warns that autism is so diverse that turning it into a single doll risks reinforcing stereotypes, even if intentions are good.
🗳️ Around 70,000 students aged 13–17 are taking part in Skolevalg (School Election) 2026, as schools across the country run three weeks of hands-on democracy training. About 700 schools have signed up, with a record number hosting live debates with youth politicians before students cast mock ballots on 29 January. The program aims to build political confidence and respectful debate skills, especially in a time of heated online discussions. The goal is to let young people experience democracy in practice before they get the opportunity to really vote.
International Community HQ
👵 Denmark is looking abroad to fix a growing staff shortage in elderly care. A new partnership with the Indian state of Kerala will allow qualified care workers to train and later work in elderly services, as demand is expected to exceed supply by around 24,000 workers by 2035. The agreement follows a similar deal with the Philippines and could bring up to 100 workers per year at first. Elderly Minister Mette Kierkgaard says international recruitment is needed to secure quality care, with language training and equal working conditions included.
New reporting - original, long form reporting from our dedicated team!
👉 With all eyes on Greenland this week, our reporter Christian Green takes a closer look at the history of relations between Greenland, Denmark and the US. Check out his detailed timeline.
Also this week:
👉 As the cost of food continues to rise, Daniel Sfita tries out Goma, the app that allows you to compare prices across different supermarkets.
👉 Everyone’s talking about longevity, but is it really a health revolution or just another fad for the rich? Daniel Sfita wants to find out.
👉 And Gosia Kozlowska spends the day celebrating Brazilian culture in Odense, with the Association of Brazilian Entrepreneurs in Denmark.
New columns - original voices on Danish politics, society and culture
When you return from the holidays to your home country, it feels like resettling. Read Laura’s Tur-retur episode 11, where she shares tips to settle into the winter.
Similarly, in The Little Viking Saga, Emily parallels her journey in learning the Danish language with her son’s. Read about all the fun and struggles they both overcome here.