Working Days – Denmark
Denmark has a system of official public holidays that are statutory days off for most employees. The standard working week is 37 hours, which is among the shortest in the EU, and there are no substitute days for public holidays that fall on weekends.
Annual summary
| Other year | Working days | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 253 | |
| 2026 | 254 | |
| 2027 | 255 | |
| 2028 | 253 |
Need to calculate business days between two specific dates? Denmark business days calculator
Frequently asked questions
Which days are statutory public holidays in Denmark?
Statutory public holidays include New Year's Day, Easter (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday), Ascension Day, Pentecost (Whit Sunday and Whit Monday), and the Christmas period (Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Constitution Day (June 5) is a half public holiday, where most employees receive the afternoon off.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, no substitute day off is provided on a weekday. Therefore, the employee has no entitlement to an additional day off in connection with the public holiday. This is an important distinction compared to some other countries.
Are there regional or local variations in public holidays?
No, Denmark has no regional or local public holidays. All public holidays apply nationwide and are the same for all employees, regardless of where they live or work in the country.
How many hours per week should an employee work in Denmark?
The standard working week in Denmark is 37 hours, which is significantly fewer than the 40 hours that are standard in many other European countries. This must be taken into account when calculating wages and overtime on payslips and in time records.
How is pay handled if an employee works on a public holiday?
If an employee works on a public holiday, this is typically compensated with overtime pay or a day off at a later time, depending on the employment contract and industry practice. It is important to review the individual employment contract and applicable collective agreements for specific provisions.