Local Round-Up: Tourist-shy Copenhagen hardest hit by pandemic

Elsewhere the police suffer blows separating hooligans, and it is becoming the norm, say inspector

Copenhagen’s economy shrunk by 4.4 percent in 2020 compared to a nationwide average of -2.1 percent, according to Danmarks Statistik. 

The sectors most hit were exports, transport, culture and leisure – most notably hotels and restaurants. 

Tourism factor
“The capital has been particularly hard hit by the closures, because the tourism and experience industries take up a lot of space,” commented Dansk Erhverv senior economist Kristian Skriver, according to DR. 

Elsewhere, Greater Copenhagen (13 municipalities), which is less dependent on tourists, got off the lightest at just -0.5 percent. 

Bornholm also affected
Outside the capital, Bornholm (-3.7 percent) and Funen (-3.1) were the hardest hit. 

For the purpose of the findings, Danmarks Statistik assesses Copenhagen to include three other municipalities: Frederiksberg, Dragør and Tårnby.


Glasgow not the only city over-ran by climate activists
Ahead of COP26 officially kicking off in Glasgow yesterday, climate activists have been taking to the streets in Denmark – most notably outside the Climate Ministry at the beginning of last week. Scientists Rebellion, which is part of the climate movement Extinction Rebellion, organised a protest at how the government, for all its good intentions to cut emissions by 70 percent by 2030, is not listening enough to the science community. The protests coincided with an event at the ministry where 11 speakers from the community had the chance to directly address politicians about climate change measures. 

Hooliganism back with a vengeance: New Firm and new rivalries
Following an incident in which a police officer had to pull out his gun outside the New Firm Derby at Brøndby Stadion on October 24, Inspector Mogens Lauridsen has told BT that the hooligan element in football is back larger than ever pre-corona. Five officers were injured during scuffles trying to separate rival supporters – one seriously. “We have also had challenges with fans in connection with matches where nothing usually happens,” he said. “I do not know if this pent-up energy built up during corona.” Lauridsen is based in Vestegnen, the Western Suburbs of the capital region, an area often associated with high crime and low vaccination rates. Brøndby won the game 2-1.

Anti-racist green party the 14th on the ballot sheet for next election
Frie Grønne, a new political party founded by several former members of Alternativet with an anti-racist, climate-friendly agenda, has secured the necessary signatures to contest the next general election, which will take place no later than June 2023. After reaching its goal of 20,182 voter declarations, it just needs the formal approval of the Ministry of the Interior and Housing. “We are incredibly happy and proud. And we are incredibly grateful that there are so many citizens who have supported us with signatures,” its leader Sikandar Siddique, an elected MP who was recently racially abused outside Parliament, told DR. Frie Grønne is the 14th party to secure approval, following Kristendemokraterne, Veganerpartiet and Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s new party, Moderaterne.

World’s largest skate park opens in suburb of the capital
The world’s longest skate park opened in the Copenhagen suburb of Høje-Taastrup yesterday. Its name, previously a secret, is Åbenheden (openness). Located in the district of Høje-Taastrup C, its 1 km course starts at Høje-Taastrup Station.  Professional skateboarder Rune Glifberg, the main initiator and designer of the park, was among the first to try it out. “This is the first time we are allowed to try it, and it is absolutely fantastic,” he told TV2. He is confident the skate park will attract a lot of visitors to the capital region. The skate park is climate-friendly: parts have been designed to divert excess rainwater.

Nine more recipients of city’s economic recovery pool confirmed
Nine applicants to the second round of City Hall’s business recovery pool, a boost for the community as it continues to recover following the pandemic, will share 3.1 million kroner, and some of the results will be seen before the end of the year, including an American food festival in Carlsberg Byen and a major winter swimming event in the harbour. It takes the spending of the business recovery pool to 10 million kroner after 16 applicants received 7.1 million kroner in June. In total, 17 applications were received.

Only 12! SF wants 100 streets to become traffic free
Red bloc party SF wants more streets closed off to traffic in Copenhagen. As part of the 2022 Budget for the capital, 13 million kroner has been set aside for making more streets traffic-free, but the current plans to convert one street in each of the 12 city districts is not enough, says SF, as it wants to convert 100. “Too many Copenhageners get sick and die every year from air pollution. If we are to eradicate pollution, we must have fewer cars in the city,” commented SF’s leading candidate Sisse Marie Welling, the healthcare mayor.

Co-operatives merge ahead of public housing project
There’s not much going on at Syrefabriksgrunden, an area of non-descript grassland across the road from Øresundsparken near Amager Strandpark, which might explain why the government intends to build new public housing there. In anticipation of the final green light to build, local housing association Tårnby Kastrup Boligselskab has merged with Boligorganisationen Tårnbyhuse.

Leaky tunnel repair will disrupt traffic for six months
Traffic disruption is expected on Sølvgade in the centre of Copenhagen for the next six months as work is carried out on fixing a leaky tunnel that passes under the road, connecting Rigensgade with Kongens Have. The road will become one-way only for motorists. The work should be completed by next May.




  • Young Copenhageners supply study grants by selling cocaine

    Young Copenhageners supply study grants by selling cocaine

    In recent years, the spread of cocaine has accelerated. The drug is easily accessible and not only reserved for wealthy party heads. Copenhagen Police have just arrested ten young people and charged them with reselling cocaine

  • 5 Mistakes I Made When I Moved to Denmark

    5 Mistakes I Made When I Moved to Denmark

    Here are five mistakes I made that helped me understand that belonging isn’t a strategy—it’s a practice. This isn’t a story of struggle—it’s a reflection on growth, told through the lens of emotional intelligence.

  • Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

    Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

    Earlier this year, the Danish government changed the law on access for people from third world countries to the Danish labor market. Yet, there may still be a shortcut that goes through universities

  • Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

    Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

    Queen Company, a Denmark-origin flower producer with pristine sustainability credentials, is under fire for alleged labor rights violations at its Turkish operation, located in Dikili, İzmir. Workers in the large greenhouse facility have been calling decent work conditions for weeks. The Copenhagen Post gathered testimonies from the workers to better understand the situation

  • Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

    Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

    Beginning this month, Expat Counselling will be contributing a monthly article to The Copenhagen Post, offering guidance, tools, and reflections on the emotional and social aspects of international life in Denmark. The first column is about Strategies for emotional resilience

  • New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

    New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

    Several mayors and business leaders across Denmark are not satisfied with the agreement that the government, the trade union movement and employers made last week. More internationals are needed than the agreement provides for

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


  • “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    Describing herself as a “DEI poster child,” being queer, neurodivergent and an international in Denmark didn’t stop Laurence Paquette from climbing the infamous corporate ladder to become Marketing Vice President (VP) at Vestas. Arrived in 2006 from Quebec, Laurence Paquette unpacks the implications of exposing your true self at work, in a country that lets little leeway for individuality

  • Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Agreement between unions and employers allows more foreign workers in Denmark under lower salary requirements, with new ID card rules and oversight to prevent social dumping and ensure fair conditions.

  • New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    Kadre Darman was founded this year to support foreign-trained healthcare professionals facing challenges with difficult authorisation processes, visa procedures, and language barriers, aiming to help them find jobs and contribute to Denmark’s healthcare system