Foreign flags in Denmark – the Flag Act

Denmark is one of the few countries where raising another country’s flag on one’s own flagpole is prohibited as a rule. The ban goes back to 1915, was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2023 and was reintroduced by law from 1 January 2025. This guide describes what the Act says, which flags are exempt and when the police can grant permission.

The Flag Act

Section 2 of the Flag Act prohibits flying other countries’ national and regional flags and flags that are equivalent to them. The ban has these exceptions:

According to Den Store Danske, the exception for German flags reflects consideration for the German minority in Southern Jutland. Breaches are punishable by a fine under section 7. The Act does not apply in the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Flags not covered

The police list these as flags that need no permission:

• flags of international and regional organisations, for example the UN, the EU, NATO, the OSCE and the Nordic Council
• flags of regions in the exempt countries, for example the Sámi flag, the Åland flag and the flag of Bavaria
• fantasy flags, for example rainbow flags and pirate flags

According to Den Store Danske, the Ministry of Justice also regards company flags, the Olympic flag and flags of political movements that do not represent a territory as fantasy flags.

When the Act applies

According to the police, the Act covers cloth flags of ordinary size raised on a flagpole of ordinary height, about 4 metres, that is fixed to the property, for example with a base or a tilting bracket in the garden, on the roof or on the façade. Smaller poles are covered if they are not intended to be held in the hand, for example in a row of flags along a street. Flags in windows, on balconies, on cars or on hand-held poles are not covered.

Police permission

Under section 5 of the Act, the police can grant permission in special cases and set conditions. According to the police, permission can be granted:

• when foreign nationals visit people living permanently in Denmark
• to hotels, campsites, marinas, larger businesses, museums, sports grounds and border crossings, also as a permanent permission
• for international congresses, exhibitions, rallies and inaugurations
• as part of a political statement or an artistic work

As a rule, no permission is given to fly other countries’ flags on national flag days, and a permission can include a condition not to fly the flag on days of extraordinary flag flying. According to the police, a new application is made if a permission was granted before. Under section 6, police decisions cannot be appealed to the National Police Commissioner or the Ministry of Justice.

The history of the ban

• 1915: During the First World War, an executive order from the Ministry of Justice prohibited flying foreign flags.
• 1957–1989: It became permitted to fly the Nordic flags, the UN flag and the EU flag without permission.
• 22 June 2023: The Supreme Court acquitted a citizen who had raised the American flag, because the ban had no basis in statute. According to Bolius, it was then lawful to raise other countries’ flags.
• 1 January 2025: The Flag Act reintroduced the ban, now with a statutory basis.

According to Den Store Danske, insulting a foreign flag in Denmark is a criminal offence under section 110 e of the Criminal Code, while there is no equivalent rule for Dannebrog.

Placement next to Dannebrog

When a foreign flag is raised together with Dannebrog, Dannebrog has the place of honour according to Dannebrogs-Samfundet. More in the guide to flag protocol, and about flags at hotels and businesses in the guide to flagpoles for businesses.