Denmark Passes Law Restricting Foreign Flags on Flagpoles

DECEMBER 3, 2024 — The Danish Parliament has approved a new law prohibiting the display of most foreign flags on flagpoles taller than four meters, effective January 1, 2025, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reports.

Flags from neighboring countries such as Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark’s territories, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, will remain permitted.

Diplomatic missions are also unaffected, retaining the right to display their national flags on their premises.

Meanwhile, flags of international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union, are exempt from the ban.

Additionally, police can issue permits for specific cases, and the Minister of Justice has the authority to grant exceptions in extraordinary situations, as was recently done for the Ukrainian flag.

Non-national symbols such as rainbow flags, pirate flags, and those featuring logos or trademarks are not covered by the restriction.

“It deserves a very special status in Denmark,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stated, adding that the legislation ensures this by regulating the use of flagpoles across the country.

The move comes after a Supreme Court ruling in June 2023, which struck down a century-old ordinance restricting foreign flags due to insufficient legal basis. The case involved a Kolding resident who flew the American flag in 2018.

The new law reintroduces and formalizes those restrictions, with violations punishable by fines.

Image: Public domain

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