Denmark Headlines for Wednesday: A recap of today's news developments
In the heart of Denmark, Copenhagen is experiencing a significant housing crisis, with rapidly rising property prices and a shortage of housing supply leading to affordability challenges, especially for urban residents.
According to recent data, house prices in Copenhagen are increasing at an annual rate exceeding 6%, outpacing the national average rise of 5.7%. This growth is driven by strong demand, a 27% drop in new housing completions in 2024, and sharply falling building permits, intensifying the supply shortage in the capital city.
Rents are also climbing strongly, with rental prices across Denmark increasing by 7.1% over the past three years. In Copenhagen, rents are notably high, reflecting the city's urban housing shortages. Over the last decade, the price per square meter in Copenhagen has risen nearly 70%, raising concerns about the city becoming unaffordable for ordinary residents, including middle-income workers.
The housing market remains highly competitive in Copenhagen, with homes often selling close to or above the asking price within around 40 days on average, and multiple offer situations common. Buyers face tougher conditions with increasing prices and reduced property sizes, resulting in shrinking purchasing power despite rising costs.
The need for over 16,000 new homes by 2030 in Copenhagen highlights the scale of the supply challenge.
Meanwhile, the Copenhagen City Court is hearing a robbery trial against unlicensed taxi drivers, with more than 50 victims involved. Prosecutors claim the accused targeted intoxicated people late at night and stole victims' phones or payment cards. Nine men are on trial, charged with scamming and in some cases robbing passengers.
In a less serious note, Maxime Soulas, a defender for Sønderjyske, made headlines after receiving 55 kilograms of potatoes as a player of the match award. Maxime, originally from Montpellier in southern France, moved to Denmark in 2020 to play for Amager in Copenhagen. He donated the potatoes to his club's cafeteria and a soup kitchen.
Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are also joining a new scheme to purchase weapons from the United States on behalf of Ukraine. The details of the scheme were launched on Monday.
References: [1] Boligsiden, "Copenhagen's housing market: a crisis of affordability and supply", 2025. [2] Danish Statistics, "Danish housing market trends", 2025. [3] Boligsiden, "Copenhagen housing market competition remains high", 2025. [4] Copenhagen Municipality, "Addressing Copenhagen's housing crisis", 2025. [5] Danish Bankers' Association, "Impact of rising property prices on purchasing power", 2025.
Articles in 'general-news' and 'crime-and-justice' sections are covering the ongoing housing crisis in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as a robbery trial involving unlicensed taxi drivers in the city. In sports news, Maxime Soulas, a soccer player from Montpellier, France, playing for Sønderjyske in Denmark, received an unusual player of the match award – 55 kilograms of potatoes, which he donated to his club's cafeteria and a nearby soup kitchen. In the realm of international politics, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are joining a new arms purchase scheme for Ukraine, with details announced on Monday.
