As of Jan. 1, 2025, it will once again be illegal to raise foreign flags in Denmark without special permission, after the Folketing passed a new regulation on Tuesday.
The decision follows a Danish Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that invalidated a 1915 prohibition, allowing individuals to fly foreign flags on private property.
The new legislation reinstates restrictions but includes several exceptions, such as flags of Nordic countries, Germany, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, as well as allowances for specific contexts like sporting events and demonstrations.
Applications for permits to fly other foreign flags can also be approved by the police, while the minister of justice retains the authority to grant exemptions in exceptional circumstances, such as the current allowance for the national flag of Ukraine.
Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard defended the new restrictions, emphasizing the cultural and symbolic importance of Denmark’s national flag, the Dannebrog.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, he said: “The Dannebrog is the most important national symbol we have in Denmark. A symbol that binds the Danes together as a people, and which should enjoy a very special status in Denmark.
“That is why I am also happy that the Danish Parliament supports this special status with the adoption, in that there must now again be rules on flying the flag so that we ensure that in Denmark the only flag that can be flown is the Dannebrog.”
The law gained broad support, particularly from conservative opposition parties, reflecting a consensus around preserving the Dannebrog’s status as a unifying symbol of Danish identity.
The issue gained traction after a family in Jutland was taken to court for flying the American flag on their property. When the Supreme Court ruled that there was no legal basis for the authorities to intervene, the government sought to reestablish control over the matter through new legislation.
Critics of the bill argue that it unnecessarily limits personal freedoms, while supporters say it safeguards Danish cultural heritage.
The exceptions for specific flags and contexts are seen as a compromise to address concerns about the law’s practical application.
