🚿 Copenhagen risks running dry. If nothing is done soon, the Copenhagen area could face water shortages by 2040, meaning low pressure, usage restrictions, or even empty taps. The causes are many: polluted groundwater, leaky century-old pipes, rising temperatures, and poor water management. The environment minister says a national groundwater protection plan is underway, but individual action is also needed, like shorter showers and fixing dripping taps. The warning may soon apply to other big cities in Denmark too.
🚰 Aalborg will become the first place in Denmark to clean nitrate from its drinking water, with a 645 million DKK project approved by the city council. The cost will fall on residents, who face an extra 1,000 DKK per year on their water bill for the next decade. Nitrate, mainly from farming, poses cancer risks and has reached dangerous levels due to Aalborg’s chalk-heavy soil. Politicians admit it’s unfair for consumers to foot the bill, but current laws leave no other option. Experts say the health benefits outweigh the cost.
🌡️ New heat records likely ahead. There’s an 80% chance the world will break its hottest year record again before 2030, says a new five-year forecast from the UN weather agency. Even more worrying, there’s a 70% chance we’ll pass the 1.5°C global warming limit, pushing us into more extreme weather. For Denmark, this likely means wetter summers, shorter winters, and far fewer frost days. Scientists warn of rising risks: deadly heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and sea level rise.
📋 Could you pass the citizenship test? This week, over 6,000 people across Denmark took the official citizenship test, answering 45 questions in 45 minutes. To pass, you need 36 correct answers, including 4 out of 5 on Danish values. But passing isn’t enough to get citizenship; this is just one of several requirements. The full test is now public.
Prepping for the next test window? Read our recent article: How to pass the Danish citizenship exams
🥪 Free school lunch pilot kicks off. A new national experiment will offer free school lunches at 191 schools starting next school year, but interest is overwhelming. Out of 346 schools that applied, only a small portion were selected due to limited funding (854 million DKK from 2025 to 2028). The goal is to improve student health, well-being, and learning by replacing lunchboxes with hot meals at school. Schools were selected by lottery, and the full list is now public.
📚 Shorter school days, but at what cost? Schools can now reduce hours without giving a formal reason, worrying experts who fear it’s more about saving money than improving education. While some schools plan to reinvest in quality, like having two adults in classrooms, others may simply be trimming budgets. Parents’ and school leaders’ groups warn this could lower educational standards unless resources stay local.
🎶 Mission Morning Song hits the right note. More than half of all schools now start their day with morning singing, far exceeding the original goal of just a quarter. The initiative, launched by Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt and composer Phillip Faber, includes funding for instruments and training, plus live visits from famous musicians. With 100 schools already visited and more joining daily, the project is being hailed as a national success that boosts community and student well-being.
Read more about why communal singing is vital to Danish culture in our in-depth article
🕵️ Cases of sexual blackmail online, known as sextortion, have more than quadrupled since 2019, with 1,810 cases reported in 2024. Victims are pressured into sending intimate images or paying money under threats of exposure. Young men are often targeted for money, while women are pressured for more explicit content. Experts warn of growing professionalization in these crimes, with scammers working full-time from abroad, using AI and fake profiles to trap victims.
💊 Denmark leads in antibiotic resistance fight. Antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s biggest health threats, already killing 1.7 million people annually and possibly 10 million by 2050. But a new global study offers hope. Denmark stands out as a leader, praised for reducing antibiotic use and investing in prevention, hygiene, and research. Still, experts warn that no country can win this battle alone; resistant bacteria cross borders through food, travel, and trade.
🎪 Festival boom across Denmark. Since 2019, over 70 new music festivals have popped up across Denmark, and more are joining every year. From micro-festivals in forests to niche events for foodies, wellness fans, and indie lovers, the festival scene is more diverse than ever. Experts say festivals are no longer just about music; they’re mini-universes offering connection, identity, and curated escape from daily life. Many people now attend multiple festivals each year, helping turn live events into a cultural staple.
