Public holidays in Denmark
The Danish flag, Dannebrog
Public holidays in Denmark are similar to those of the other Nordic countries, but there are some differences. Maundy Thursday, Easter Monday and Whit Monday are public holidays in Denmark, but not in all Nordic countries. Constitution Day is not a public holiday, but it is a ‘flag day’; most shops are closed, and many people have the day off.
Which days are public holidays in Denmark?
Many employees have the day off on public holidays, but this depends on your terms of employment, employment contract, staff handbook or collective agreement. If you work on public holidays, special rules may apply towards pay, allowances or compensatory time off.
- 1 January: New Year’s Day
- March-April: Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Whit Monday. Easter Sunday falls no earlier than 22 March and no later than 25 April.
- April-June: Ascension Day. Ascension Day falls 40 days after Easter Sunday, and always on a Thursday; no earlier than 30 April and no later than 3 June.
- May-June: Pentecost: Whit Sunday and Whit Monday. Whit Sunday is the seventh Sunday after Easter: no earlier than 10 May and no later than 13 June.
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Boxing Day
When must shops be closed in Denmark?
Retail outlets are not generally allowed to open on public holidays; however, this does not apply to all shops. Small grocery stores may for example be exempt. Shops must also remain closed on the following days:
- 5 June: Constitution Day
- 24 December: Christmas Eve
- 31 December: New Year’s Eve (after 3:00 pm)
From 1 January 2027, the Closure Act will be amended so that certain shops in the centres of towns with fewer than 16,850 inhabitants can stay open on the closing days covered by the Closure Act. The Danish Business Authority annually determines which towns are covered.
Days off other than public holidays
Some days may be days off at your workplace, even though they are not public holidays. This depends on your employment contract, staff handbook or collective agreement. It often applies to the following days:
- 1 May: International Workers’ Day
- 5 June: Constitution Day
- 24 December: Christmas Eve
- 31 December: New Year’s Eve
Other celebrations and special days in Denmark
- February-March: Shrovetide falls on the seventh Sunday before Easter Sunday; no earlier than 1 February and no later than 7 March.
- 2 February: Candlemas
- 23 March: Nordic Day
- 16 April: Birthday of H.M. Queen Margrethe II
- 5 May: Liberation Day
- Second Sunday in May: Mother’s Day in Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland. In Norway, Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in February, and in Sweden it is the last Sunday in May.
- 9 May: Europe Day
- 26 May: Birthday of H.M. King Frederik X
- 5 June: Father’s Day in Denmark. In Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, Father’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in November.
- 15 June: Valdemar’s Day
- 15 June: Reunification Day
- 23 June: Midsummer Eve
- 21 June: Greenland's National Day. The flag of Greenland, Erfalasorput, is flown.
- 29 July: National Day of the Faroe Islands, Ólavsøka. The Faroese flag, Merkið, is flown.
- 5 September: Flag day for Danish military personnel posted abroad.
- 10 November: Martinmas Eve
More information
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