Calendar

Danish National Holidays and Flag Days to Know in 2020

What are the public holidays, flag days, and just good-to-know days of Denmark in 2020? From the days where offices are closed to important festivals, we have your full list here so you don’t miss out on anything!

 

What is a flag day in Denmark?

Flag days are days that have been decreed as dates on which to fly a specific flag – usually the national flag. On flag days in Denmark, businesses are not closed nor are there special hours. You’ll see flags flying from the front of buses across the country.

All national institutions must fly the flag on these dates, while private institutions and people are not obligated to do so (though many do). The flag must be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset, and must never touch the ground while being taken to the flagpole.

The birthdays of adult royals are flag days, as are dates that commemorate war or soldiers. Some public holidays are also flag days, such as Easter and Christmas.

 

What is a public holiday in Denmark?

Public holidays are national holidays when public offices, institutions, and administrative buildings are closed. Though in the past most private businesses were also closed, there are many that stay open these days including a fair number of restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. This changes frequently so check individual websites for holiday opening hours if you’re not sure.

Here are the public holidays, flag days, and important event dates to know in Denmark 2020.

Also, you can download all these dates for your iCal!

 

January in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 January New Year’s Day: Nyårsdagen
28 – 31 January Copenhagen Fashion Week AW20

 

 

February in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

5 February Crown Princess Mary’s Birthday
6 February Princess Marie’s Birthday
7 – 16 February Copenhagen Dining Week
23 February Fastelavn

 

 

March in Denmark

No holidays or flag days this year.

 

April in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

5 April Palm Sunday: Palmesøndag
9 April Occupation of Denmark
9 April Maundy ThursdaySkærtorsdag
10 April Good FridayLangfredag
12 April Easter SundayPåskedag
13 April Easter Monday2. påskedag
16 April Queen Margrethe II’s Birthday
23 April – 23 May Ramadan
29 April Princess Benedikte’s Birthday

 

 

May in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 May International Worker’s Day: Arbejdernes Kampdag (A holiday in certain sectors of the workforce).
4 May Light candles in windows to commemorate the liberation of Denmark in 1945
5 May Denmark’s Liberation Day
8 May Great Prayer Day: Store Bededag
10 May Mother’s Day: “Mors dag”
17 May Copenhagen Marathon
21 May Ascension Day: Kristi Himmelfartsdag
26 May Crown Prince Frederik’s Birthday
31 May Whit Sunday: Pinsedag

 
 

June in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 June Whit Monday: 2. pinsedag
3 – 7  June Distortion
4 – 6 June NorthSide Music Festival
5 June Constitution Day: Grundlovsdag. (Government holiday. Governments and bank have holiday. Optional in private sector.)
5 June Father’s Day: Fars dag
7 June Prince Joachim’s Birthday
11 June Prince Henrik’s Birthday
15 June Valdemar’s Day & Reunion Day
23 June St. John’s Eve (Midsummer): Sankthansaften
27 June – 4 July Roskilde Festival

 

 

July in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

3 – 12  July Copenhagen Jazz Festival

 

August in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

16 August Ironman Copenhagen
18 – 23 August Copenhagen Pride
21 – 30 August Copenhagen Cooking

 

 

September in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

5 September Day in honour of deployed Danish soldiers: Flagdag for Danmarks udsendte
9 – 25 September Golden Days Festival

 

October in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

9 October Culture Night: Kulturnatten
31 October Halloween: Allehelgensaften

 

 

November in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

11 November St. Martin’s Eve: Mortensaften
9 November J-Dag
29 November First advent

 

December in Denmark

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

6 December Second advent
13 December Third advent
13 December St Lucy’s Day: Luciadag
20 December Forth advent
24 December Christmas Eve
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Second Day of Christmas
31 December New Year’s Eve: Nytårsaften. (Banks are closed.)

Add all these dates for your iCal!