Denmark mentions Spain and Catalonia as examples of its ban on foreign flags

These days, some Spanish media have published that it will be prohibited to raise the Spanish flag in Denmark from January 1, 2025.

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As you may know, I like to go back to the sources in cases like this. In October, a law was passed in Denmark (see PDF) that prohibits the flying of foreign flags (Chapter 2). This is a curious rule aimed at protecting the status of the Danish National Flag, the Dannebrog.

The same law makes some exceptions in Chapter 2, Paragraph 2: the flags of Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark may be flown. The law allows the use of the national flag of each country in its diplomatic representations.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice and the Police may grant other exceptions. Specifically, the Ministry states:

"Flags that the Minister of Justice determines in exceptional situations should be exempt from the ban. For the time being, this will apply to the national flag of Ukraine."

The Danish Ministry of Justice has published some clarifications on this law, stating the following:

"The ban will only apply to flags flown on a flagpole. This means, among other things, that it will not be prohibited to display flags or banners in any other way. This can be done on house facades, from balconies or in connection with demonstrations and sporting events."

The most curious thing is to read what the Danish Ministry of Justice points out as examples:

"The ban will include flying the following flags on a flagpole:

National flags of other countries, e.g. the Russian, American or Spanish national flag.

Area flags of other countries, e.g. flags of American states, the flag of Catalonia or the flag of Tibet.

Flags that can be equated with the national or regional flags of other countries, e.g. the Palestinian flag".

Even more striking is that the Danish Ministry of Justice points out these other exceptions:

"Flags other than national flags of other countries, regional flags or flags that can be equated with this one. This applies, for example, to rainbow flags, pirate flags and flags with various logos and trademarks."

I confess that I have a hard time understanding a country in the European Union that prohibits flying the flag of Spain (which is also an EU country) on a flagpole, but not a pirate flag, that is, a type of flag historically used by criminals who dedicated themselves to assaulting and plundering ships on the high seas. Perhaps this paradox is due to the fact that Denmark has a centre-left government headed by the Social Democrats.

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Photo: Jacob Bøtter.