Denmark is preparing for a winter of energy austerity due to rising electricity prices.

The festive lights will be less visible (Tønder, which calls itself Denmark’s most welcoming Christmas town, will only have its lights on for six hours a day), many ice rinks will not be in use (for example, Horsens will not be opening theirs this winter), heating will be limited, and some saunas and even a few indoor swimming pools will be closed due to the rising costs.

With no sign of the inflation decreasing anytime soon, more venues are expected to follow suit.

Three museums to close
Just recently, three museums in southern Jutland announced they cannot afford to stay open.

Sønderjylland Museum blames rising prices for closing three of its nine museums: Kulturhistorie Aabenraa, Drøhses Hus in Tønder and Cathrinesminde Teglværksmuseum.

The museum expects its total energy costs to increase from 2.5 to 6.5 million in 2023, which will take 10 percent of the museum’s total budget. No date for the reopening of the three museums has yet been given.

And a street food market too
And Aalborg Streetfood is also closing for the same reasons, although it has said it intends to reopen again next year.

“In collaboration with the kitchens, we have discussed what would be more responsible,” says owner Toni Jørgensen.

“If you have a variable called the electricity bill that you can’t control, you have to navigate as best you can.”