It’s illegal to do this now, right?
Yes, mostly. On 1st January this year, a law came into effect in Denmark making it illegal to fly any other national flag apart from the flags of Denmark itself, Danish territories and the country’s closest neighbours. Therefore the flags of Greenland, The Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Germany can be flown but no others. The law also bans flags that are the equivalent of national flags, such as the Palestinian flag.
In extraordinary circumstances, the justice minister is allowed to exempt flags from the ban, as recently has been the case with the Ukrainian flag. You’ll be relieved to know it is legal to fly rainbow flags, pirate flags, and flags with various logos or trademarks.
However, the law only refers to flags flown from flagpoles, not flags displayed in any other way, for example held up at sporting events or demonstrations. Foreign embassies or consulates in Denmark can still fly their nations’ flags.
The police may also be able to give individuals or businesses special permission to fly a national or other flag.
So before January this year, you could legally fly other national flags?
It’s complicated. Technically, it was legally possible to do so for an 18-month window between 22nd June 2023 and 31st December 2024.
Since 1915, a directive had been in place in Denmark banning other countries’ flags from being flown. This was because parliament didn’t want to jeopardise Denmark’s position as a neutral state during World War One. The directive forbade “using the flag of warfaring nations for decoration or in other ways”.
The directive was descended from a royal order issued by King Frederik VI in 1833. The King issued the order in response to requests from Russia and Prussia to fly their flags at their consulates in Denmark. The king refused and doubled down by issuing an order stating that “no private man may let any flag fly from their properties in the towns or the countryside”.
In 2018, the 1915 directive was legally tested for the first time when Martin Hedegaard, a Dane from Kolding in Jutland, was prosecuted for flying the US flag from the flagpole in his garden. Hedegaard argued he was simply passionate about US culture and flying the flag reflected that keen interest. He was found guilty of breaking the law but in June 2023 the Supreme Court upheld his appeal. The court ruled that the historic 1915 directive had no standing in modern law. It also noted that flag-raising was protected by free speech rights. The landmark judgement in effect made it legal to fly other nations’ flags in Denmark from the court’s judgement on 22nd June 2023 until the new law was brought in on 1st January this year.
Announcing the new law, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said: “That’s how it was for more than 100 years and that’s how it should be again.”
The Danes really love their flag, don’t they?
You could say that. Anyone who has lived in Denmark knows you will see the Danish flag – the red and white Dannebrog, which translates as “Danish cloth” – everywhere. You’ll see it on birthday cakes, gift wrapping, greetings cards, garden decorations, restaurant tables and many other places. If you arrive at a Danish airport, you will be greeted by people enthusiastically waving the flag to welcome you as you exit the baggage claim hall. Danish clubs and associations can even use the flag on their websites and Facebook pages, adding their own logos if they want to. There is even a Danish flag society – the samfundet – an independent society established in 1908 dedicated to promoting and ensuring the correct use of the flag. Here you can also pay 100 DKK to download an electronic version of the flag for your personal use or attend a course on flag-bearing if you wish.
All this is of much curiosity to many internationals, who may have come from countries where flag-loving is regarded with suspicion, seen as a symbol of fascism or may even be illegal. However, in Denmark, the flag is only associated with joy and sometimes sorrow, in the case of mourning.
This wide usage means Denmark’s flag is the oldest national flag in continuous use. It is unique in terms of individuals’ personal use of the flag. It is regarded as a festive symbol first, and then a national symbol.
Passing the new law banning national flags, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said: “Dannebrog is the most important national symbol we have in Denmark. It is a symbol that unites Danes as a people and should have a very special status in Denmark. That’s why I am pleased that parliament has supported this special status by reinstating rules on flagging.”
Where did the Dannebrog come from?
Legend says the Dannebrog fell from the sky in 1219 during a battle between Denmark and what is now Estonia. It is said the red and white cloth helped Valdemar the Victorious, the then king, lead the Danish army to victory. It subsequently became the Danish flag. The legend was first noted in Danish historical records in the early 16th century.
For centuries, the Dannebrog was in fact a royal flag. In 1834, ordinary citizens were prohibited from using it, which might not seem very Danish when we think about it now. The ban was lifted after the first Schleswig War. Returning home, soldiers were greeted with it The ban was formally lifted several years later in 1854.
Since 1913, the flag – and the legend of its origin – has been celebrated annually on June 15, which is named Valdemar’s Day after the late king. That day, as on many other days, the flag is raised across the country.
That story sounds a bit far-fetched.
It is, says Torben Kjersgaard Nielsen, a historian at Aalborg University and the author of a book on the Dannebrog. But “what matters is that it’s a good story. The mythological and religious elements only make it better. So does its old age.” In other words, the story of the Dannebrog is inextricably bound up with the story of Denmark itself.
So what do Danes and internationals think about national flags being banned?
Unsurprisingly, there are different views, amongst Danes as well as internationals. Dennis Nordstrøm, a Dane living in Jutland who also lived in the US for a number of years, disagrees with the new law: “There are so many people here who feel pride in several countries. I personally don’t see why it’s an issue to let them fly flags for other countries too. When we lived in Los Angeles I flew the Danish flag! Our neighbours flew the Swedish flag and we would have a bit of a fun Nordic competition going between us!” He adds: “For a country that is so firm on freedom of religion and freedom of speech, the new law does seem a little counterintuitive to me.”
Blair Elton, a writer and tech worker from Australia who lives in Copenhagen, also sees the new law as a “stifling of free expression”. He believes, “If Denmark wants to see itself as a modern, cosmopolitan society, it should drop these essentially new-age blasphemy laws” providing the choices of individuals “don’t infringe on the freedom, safety or security of others”.
Native Dane Kenneth Skovgaard, a supply chain director from Hørsholm, is in favor of the new law: “We want to protect and care for our traditions. We have a Danish saying: ‘Skik følge, eller land fly’, which translates as ‘Adapt to customs and traditions, or find another place to be’. There are many important Danish traditions connected with the flag. Also, it’s important to remember the law only relates to flagpoles. Other national flags are still allowed at events, demonstrations, on private property other than flagpoles, and so on.”
Anna Wilson, a financial services analyst from Scotland now living in Aalborg, also supports the banning of national flags: “I’ve grown up to associate flag-flying with negativity and even fear. Glasgow, where I come from, has a lot of historic divisions along religious lines and flags can often symbolise bigotry and fascism. When I moved to Denmark I was surprised by how differently flags are viewed. It’s about welcoming and celebrating people rather than oppressing them. And it’s about connection with Denmark’s closest neighbours. For me, it makes sense to limit what flags can be flown. It celebrates tradition and connection while minimising conflict.”
