The following lists events that happened during 2008 in Denmark.
Incumbents
* Monarch –
Margrethe II
Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark from 14 January 1972 until her abdication on 14 January 2024. Having reigned for exactly ...
* Prime minister –
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen (; born 26 January 1953) is a Danish politician who was the prime minister of Denmark from November 2001 to April 2009 and the Secretary General of NATO, secretary general of NATO from August 2009 to October 2014. He became ...
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
's waterfront is inaugurated with the play
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
, featuring
Nicolas Bro
Nicolas Bro (born 16 March 1972) is a Danish actor born in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Background
Bro grew up in a family of actors; his mother is Danish actress Helle Hertz and father is the actor Christoffer Bro.
His brother Anders Peter Bro is a ...
Marie Cavallier
Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, (born Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier; 6 February 1976) is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the second wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, the younger brother of King Frederik X of Denmar ...
in
Møgeltønder
Møgeltønder () is a small town in Denmark, located in Møgeltønder Parish, Tønder Municipality, in the southwestern corner of the Danish peninsula of Jutland 5 kilometres north of the Danish-German border and 4 kilometres west of Tønder ...
.
June
* 2 June – A suicide bomber strikes outside the Danish embassy in the
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
i capital
Islamabad
Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
with at least eight people dead.
* 4 June –
al-Qaeda
, image = Flag of Jihad.svg
, caption = Jihadist flag, Flag used by various al-Qaeda factions
, founder = Osama bin Laden{{Assassinated, Killing of Osama bin Laden
, leaders = {{Plainlist,
* Osama bin Lad ...
claims responsibility for the 2008 Danish embassy bombing stating it was revenge for the
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Muhammad cartoons controversy (or Muhammad cartoons crisis, ) began after the Danish newspaper published twelve editorial cartoons on 30 September 2005 depicting Muhammad, the founder of Islam, in what it said was a response to the deb ...
* The 25 øre coin is demonetised as the lowest-denomination coin in the country. It has been in circulation since
1874
Events
January
* January 1 – New York City annexes The Bronx.
* January 2 – Ignacio MarÃa González becomes head of state of the Dominican Republic for the first time.
* January 3 – Third Carlist War: Battle of Caspe &n ...
, when it was introduced on the decimalisation of the krone.
The arts
Architecture
* 27 June –
Lundgaard & Tranberg
Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter is a Danish architectural firm, based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
History
Lundgaard & Tranberg was founded in 1985 by Boje Lundgaard and Lene Tranberg. In the 1990s, the firm gained a reputation as designers of heat ...
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...
' annual awards ceremony in London.
* 23 October –
Schmidt hammer lassen
Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL) is an international architectural firm founded by a group of Danish architects in 1986 in Aarhus, Denmark. It has offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus in Denmark, and Shanghai, China. In 2018, SHL became part of global arc ...
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Denmark, Danish town with a population of 52,571 (1 January 2025).5th LEAF Awards in London.
Film
* September –
Per Fly
Per Fly Plejdrup (born 14 January 1960) is a Danish film director, generally credited simply as Per Fly. He has made many films and television shows broadcast on Danish television. Per Fly's awards includes the Crown Prince Couple's Culture Prize ...
's film ''
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...
Berlingske Tidende
''Berlingske'', previously known as ''Berlingske Tidende'' (, 'Berling's Times'), is a Danish national daily newspaper based in Copenhagen. It is considered a newspaper of record for Denmark. First published on 3 January 1749, ''Berlingske'' is ...
'' wins 1st prize in the Sports Features Stories category in the 51st World Press Photo Contest for a photo series of exhausted runners in
Copenhagen Marathon
The Copenhagen Marathon is an annual marathon that takes place on the streets of Copenhagen, Denmark. Established on the 24th of May 1980, it is annually held in May and has around 10,000 participants. It is a World Athletics Bronze Label r ...
Ã…rhus
Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Ã…rhus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus municipality, Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and app ...
All England Open
The All England Open Badminton Championships is the world's oldest badminton tournament, held annually in England. With the introduction of the BWF's latest grading system, it was given Super Series status in 2007, upgraded to Super Series Premie ...
Herning
Herning () is a Denmark, Danish town in the Central Denmark Region of the Jutland peninsula. It is the main town and the administrative seat of Herning Municipality. Herning has a population of 51,782 (1 January 2025)
, Denmark. With three gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals, Denmark finishes as the best nation.
* 26 October
2008 Denmark Super Series
The 2008 Denmark Super Series is the ninth tournament of the 2008 BWF Super Series in badminton. It was held in Odense, Denmark from October 21 to October 26, 2008.
Final results
External linksDenmark Open Super Series 2008at ''tournamentsoftw ...
Six Days of Copenhagen
The Six Days of Copenhagen is a six-day track cycling race held annually in Copenhagen, Denmark. The event was first held in 1934. The event is held at the Ballerup Super Arena
Ballerup Super Arena (formerly Siemens Arena) is a multi-purpose i ...
Brøndby IF
Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening (, usually abbreviated to Brøndby IF (), is a Danish professional Football club (association football), football club based in Brøndbyvester. Brøndby IF denotes the professional football section of Brøndbyernes ...
wins the
2007–08 Danish Cup
The 2007–08 Danish Cup was the 54th season of the Danish Cup. The first round were played about 6 August 2007 and the final was played on 1 May 2008.
The winner qualified for the UEFA Cup.
First round
In the first round 54 teams from the "serie ...
by defeating
Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber (; commonly known as Esbjerg fB or EfB in short) is a Danish professional Association football, football club based in Esbjerg, West Jutland, Jylland, that plays in the Danish 1st Division, 1st division, the sec ...
3–2 in the final.
* 6 September –
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
draws 0–0 in an away game against
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
in
Group 1 Group 1 may refer to:
* Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal
* Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport.
* Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...
of the
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
Qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation – the AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oc ...
.
* 10 September – Denmark defeats
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
3–2 in Lisbon in the second round of World Cup qualification.
* 11 October – Denmark defeats
Malta
Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...
3–0 at
Parken Stadium
Parken, currently known as Parken - Connected by 3 for sponsorship reasons, and as Telia Parken (2014–2020), is a Soccer-specific stadium, football stadium in the Indre Østerbro (''Inner Østerbro'') district of Copenhagen, Denmark, built from ...
, Copenhagen, in the third round of qualification.
Handball
* 27 January –
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
wins the
2008 European Men's Handball Championship
The 2008 EHF European Men's Handball Championship (8th tournament) was held in Norway from 17 to 27 January, in the cities of Bergen, Drammen, Lillehammer, Stavanger and Trondheim. Denmark men's national handball team, Denmark won the tournament ...
, arranged in Norway, after defeating
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
in the final.
Motorsports
* 19 July –
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
Vojens
Vojens () is a railway town in Denmark with a population of 7,424 (1 January 2025).Nicki Pedersen
Nicki Pedersen (born 2 April 1977) is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three time world champion having won the World Championship in 2003, 2007 and 2008. He has also won the World Cup with Denmark in 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014.
Car ...
2008 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2008 Speedway Grand Prix was the 63rd edition of the official World Championship and the 14th season in the Speedway Grand Prix used to determine the Individual Speedway World Championship, Speedway World Champion. It was the second under the ...
series.
Other
* 13–24 March
Lotte Friis
Lotte Friis (born 9 February 1988) is a Danish competitive swimmer from Allerød Municipality.
Career
Friis was born in Blovstrød. Finishing third in the 1500 metre freestyle competition at the European Championships 2008 in Eindhoven she w ...
wins a bronze medal in 1,500 m freestyle at the
2008 European Aquatics Championships
The 2008 LEN European Aquatics Championships were held in Eindhoven, Netherlands, from 13–24 March 2008. They were the European championships for swimming (50 m), diving and synchronised swimming for 2008. Two new events were contested: ...
.
* 8 June –
Matti Breschel
Matti Breschel (born 31 August 1984) is a Danish retired professional road racing cyclist, who competed between 2005 and 2019 for the , , and teams.
Career Junior career
Born in Ballerup, Breschel got his breakthrough with small Danish Team ...
Tom Kristensen
Tom Kristensen (born 7 July 1967) is a Danish former racing driver. He holds the record for the most wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with nine, six of which were consecutive (from 2000 to 2005). In 1997, he won the race with the Joest Racing te ...
wins
Le Mans
Le Mans (; ) is a Communes of France, city in Northwestern France on the Sarthe (river), Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the Provinces of France, province of Maine (province), Maine, it is now the capital of ...
for the 8th time when he wins the
2008 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 76th Grand Prix of Endurance, taking place on 14–15 June 2008 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The test day was on June 1. The race was atten ...
Matti Breschel
Matti Breschel (born 31 August 1984) is a Danish retired professional road racing cyclist, who competed between 2005 and 2019 for the , , and teams.
Career Junior career
Born in Ballerup, Breschel got his breakthrough with small Danish Team ...
2008 UCI Road World Championships
The 2008 UCI Road World Championships took place in Varese, Italy, between September 23 and September 28, 2008. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23.
Qualification
Participating nations
Cyclists fro ...
in Italy.
* 2 November –
Søren Kjeldsen
Søren Panum Kjeldsen (; born 17 May 1975) is a Danish golfer who currently plays on PGA Tour Champions.
Professional career
Kjeldsen turned professional in 1995. Kjeldsen's success on the second tier Challenge Tour in 1997, which included his f ...
wins the 21st and final
Volvo Masters
The Volvo Masters was the concluding official money event of the European Tour season until 2009, when it was replaced by the Dubai World Championship. The event was founded in 1988 and held at Valderrama Golf Club in Andalusia, Spain, except fo ...
at
Valderrama Golf Club
The Real Club Valderrama (; "Royal Valderrama Club") is one of the best known golf clubs in the world. It is located in the Mediterranean resort of Sotogrande, San Roque in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, up the coast a few miles from th ...
in
Andalucia
Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It i ...
at eight under par.
Births
* 29 June – Prince Aristidis-Stavros of Greece and Denmark, youngest child of
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, Prince of Denmark (; born 20 May 1967) is a Greek financier who is the former heir apparent to the defunct throne of Greece, becoming the Head of the Royal House of Greece upon his father's death on 10 January ...
* 16 January – Otto Steen Due, classical philologist (born 1939)
* 10 February – Inga Nielsen, opera singer (born
1946
1946 (Roman numerals, MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1946th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 946th year of the 2nd millennium, the 46th year of the 20th centur ...
)
* 26 February –
Bodil Udsen
Bodil Birgitte Udsen (12 January 1925 – 26 February 2008) was a Danish actress.
She was a student at the Rysensteen Gymnasium in Copenhagen in 1944 and entered film in 1955. She also worked extensively in Danish theatre and appeared in the ...
, actress (born 1925)
* 28 February – Ove Guldberg, politician (born 1918)
* 27 March – Hans Chr. Ægidius, actor, writer and filmmaker (born 1933)
* 29 March –
Mette Koefoed Bjørnsen
Mette Margrethe Koefoed Bjørnsen (6 December 1920 – 29 March 2008) was a Danish author, conciliator and economist who was chair of the from 1988 to 1992. She worked as an education inspection at the Ministry of Trade's Supervision of the Busin ...
, author, conciliator and economist (died
1920
Events January
* January 1
** Polish–Soviet War: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20.
** Kauniainen in Finland, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its ow ...
)
* 29 April – Claus Nissen, actor (born 1938)
* 11 May –
Ole Fritsen
Ole Fritsen (18 July 1941 – 10 May 2008) was a Danish footballer and manager
Playing career
Ole Fritsen began his footballing career in Vejle Boldklub in 1963. Fritsen was the first Vejle Boldklub player to move abroad and become a professional ...
, footballer (born 1941)
* 21 May – Ernst Meyer, actor (born 1932)
* 1 July –
Mogens Glistrup
Mogens Glistrup (28 May 1926 in Rønne – 1 July 2008 in Virum) was a Danish politician, lawyer and tax protester. He founded the Progress Party, and was a member of the Folketing (1973–1983 and 1987–1990). He had his parliamentary immunity ...
, politician (born 1926)
* 5 July – Thomas Winding, author, radiohost and television producer
* 10 July –
Jakob Ejersbo
Jakob Ejersbo (6 April 1968, in Rødovre – 10 July 2008, in Aalborg) was a Danish journalist and writer. His work is considered modern and neorealistic. Authoring the immensely popular novel, '' Nordkraft'', which sold more than 100,000 copies, ...
, journalist and author (born 1968)
* 16 August – Otto Leisner, television presenter (born 1917)
* 11 September –
Preben Møller Hansen
Preben Møller Hansen (September 6, 1929 – September 11, 2008) was a Danish politician, trade unionist, writer and cook. As chairman of (the Danish Seamen's Union), he earned the nickname ('the Sailors' Boss') in Denmark and was well known for ...
, writer, cook, politician, and trade unionist (born 1929)
* 20 September – Kamilla Bech Holten, television presenter and actress (born 1972)
* 1 November – Eric Danielsen, news anchor (born 1920)
* 16 November – Hilmer Hassig, musician (born 1960)
* 28 November –
Jørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon (; 9 April 191829 November 2008) was a Danish architect. In 1957, he won an international design competition for his design of the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Utzon's revised design, which he completed in 1961, was the b ...
, architect (born
1918
The ceasefire that effectively ended the World War I, First World War took place on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of this year. Also in this year, the Spanish flu pandemic killed 50–100 million people wor ...
)
See also
*
2008 in Danish television
This is a list of Danish television related events from 2008.
Events
*4 January - Launch of the Danish version of ''The X Factor''.
*28 March - 15-year-old Martin Hoberg Hedegaard wins the first season of ''X Factor''.
*24 October - Male dan ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 In Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...