🪖 New conscripts, new rules. From August 2025, Denmark’s military conscription gets a major upgrade: longer service (11 months instead of 4), full gender equality, and more operational duties. All 18-year-olds will be called to Forsvarets Dag (Recruitment Day) and may be selected, even if they didn’t volunteer. Recruits will now work directly with professional soldiers and handle tasks like preparing artillery, guarding military bases, and even helping equip F-35 fighter jets.
🚨 Crisis ready… or not? A new survey shows 60% of the people doubt the state can handle major crises like war, terror, or climate disasters. While Denmark has created a new Ministry for Civil Preparedness and issued crisis guides, experts say a clear, unified emergency plan is still missing. Some citizens are prepping on their own, stocking up food and planning on retreating to a camper in case of collapse.
Read more: Ensure you’re crisis prepared as an international here
🧵 Space tech meets surgery. In a first for Europe, hospitals in Region Midtjylland are testing a reusable surgical gown called the “Multikittel” made from breathable, water-repellent material originally designed for spacesuits. Unlike the single-use gowns tossed after each operation, this one can be washed and reused, potentially saving 244 tons of CO₂ and 30 tons of waste every year. If rolled out nationally, the savings could jump to 1,800 tons of CO₂ and nearly 1,000 tons of waste.
🐶 No more “designer dogs” with health issues. From July 1, Denmark bans breeding dogs with traits that cause serious health problems like breathing difficulties, bad hips, or weak hearts. New rules set age limits for breeding female dogs, cap the number of litters, and require health checks for at-risk breeds like flat-faced or short-skulled dogs. Whether you’re a hobby breeder or a kennel owner, all dogs now need a clean bill of health before making puppies.
🧳 Denmark receives few asylum seekers in EU ranking. Denmark ranks near the bottom among EU countries when it comes to the number of asylum seekers per capita, landing in 20th place in 2024. A decade ago, Denmark was among the top five. The government sees this drop as a result of strict immigration and return policies, which other EU countries are now looking to replicate.
