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The Danish government has proposed a new law which would restrict the flying of foreign flags within the country’s territory.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Danish Ministry of Justice described the country’s national flag, the “Dannebrog”, as having “a very special significance for Denmark and the Danes.”
“That status will be established by the government with a new bill that the Minister of Justice has today sent in public consultation,” the statement read.
“The proposal is intended, among other things, to reintroduce a ban on flying other countries’ national and regional flags. The Act is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2025.”
Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard went on to describe the country’s national flag as “the most important national symbol we have in Denmark” and “a symbol that binds Danes together as a people.”
“The government believes that Dannebrog as a flag should enjoy a very special status in Denmark,” he said, adding that foreign flags should not be able to be “freely flown”.
“This has been the case for more than 100 years, and this should be the case again,” he said.
The bill proposes that flying flags from flagpoles with other countries’ national flags should be prohibited, which must be equated with these. The Act is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2025.
However, there will be a number of exceptions to the ban.
For example, the ban will not include flying flags of Denmark’s Nordic neighbours or the Greenlandic, Faroese, and German flags. Flying flags with flags representing international or regional associations will also not prohibited. In addition,
“In exceptional situations, the Minister of Justice will be able to exempt flags from the ban,” the Ministry of Justice continued.
“It could, for example, apply to the Ukrainian flag. Likewise, upon application, the police will be able to grant specific permits to flag.”
The proposed ban will also only apply to flying flags from a flagpole. This will mean that it will not be prohibited to use flags at demonstrations or sporting events, or other similar settings.
In Denmark, there have been rules about flying flags for over 100 years, including a ban on flying other countries’ national and regional flags. On June 22, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled on a case involving the American flag.
The Supreme Court found that the 1915 decree banning the flying of other countries’ flags did not have the necessary legal basis. Following the verdict, the Minister of Justice rescinded the order on the same day.
Since the Supreme Court ruling, there have been no rules prohibiting the flying of other countries’ national or regional flags.
This bill proposes to largely reinstate the ban that was in place before the Supreme Court’s judgement.
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