Final ferry link between Denmark and the UK closes

DFDS calls final journey between Esbjerg and Harwich “the end of an era”

Sep 27, 2014

The DFDS ferry link between Esbjerg and Harwich in England sails for the last time today. The company called the closing of the 140 year-old route "the end of an era”. The final crossing will mark the end of all passenger ferry services between Denmark and the UK.

The company said that the route had been “struggling for a long time” and blamed the loss of tax-free sales and increasing competition from low-cost airlines for a drop in passenger numbers that have plummeted from a peak of about 300,000 to around 80,000 customers annually.

New EU regs behind closure
The death knell for the route were the new sulphur emission regulations due to come into force in January 2015. DFDS said they would have resulted in 2 billion kroner annual increase in costs.

“The new rules will considerably increase the costs operating the Esbjerg-Harwich route, making it no longer sustainable,”said chief executive of DFDS Seaways, Niel Smedegaard, in a statement. "The route is of particular historical significance to DFDS so it's a very sad day for us all to see the last passenger ferry route between the UK and Scandinavia close.”

READ MORE: DFDS closes Esbjerg to Harwich route

DFDS tried several strategies including combining freight and passenger services, aggressive marketing and cutting crew size and departures to rescue the historic route, but Smedegaard said the company had not been able to reduce costs enough to enable the route to bear the extra charges.

Tunø: An island running out of time

The island of Tunø harbors a community of 74 adults and one child. There are no cars and only one connection to the rest of the world. Now, climate change threatens it
Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

The number of relocations across the Øresund Region is rising. As highlighted by 2023 numbers, Sweden benefits from a growing interest, especially among younger generations.
In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish
Here Comes The Sun…

I escaped from Denmark this winter to the south of France, where I was convinced that the sunshine would inspire me to write this year’s Crazy Christmas comedy show.
Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark
The international who shaped Copenhagen

Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Career

Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO
International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

Many internationals come to Denmark to work as designers, but the field appears to be one of the hardest to break into. The Copenhagen Post spoke with two internationals struggling to find their way into the industry.
This rural town in Denmark has a 17 percent international workforce — Here’s how

With a low unemployment rate and aging population, the municipality is actively recruiting workers from abroad to fill essential roles and support long-term growth

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Jobs

Business analyst- Scoutz