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Does Denmark have daylight saving time?

Summer time, the same dates as the rest of the EU.

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Short answer

Yes, Denmark has daylight saving time, called sommertid in Danish. It runs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, the same dates as in all EU countries since 1996. In 2026 summer time began on Sunday 29 March and ends on Sunday 25 October. The rest of the year Denmark uses standard time, which people often call vintertid (winter time).

Weather and seasons

Why

  1. Clocks go forward one hour in spring and back one hour in autumn.
  2. The aim is to use more of the evening daylight and save electricity for lighting.
  3. The dates are the same in all EU countries, so Denmark, Sweden and Germany always change on the same night.

Details

Denmark first had summer time in 1916, used it again from 1940 to 1948 and brought it back in 1980.

Tip

A Danish memory rule: the clocks follow the garden furniture, out in spring (forward) and in for autumn (back).

What may differ

The EU has discussed ending the clock changes since 2018, but as of November 2026 the twice yearly change still applies.

Common misconception

Many think "vintertid" is a separate official time that Denmark switches to in winter.

What actually happens

Vintertid is only an everyday name: in winter Denmark simply goes back to normal standard time.

People also ask

  • When do the clocks go back in Denmark in 2026?
  • What time zone is Denmark in?
  • Will the EU stop changing the clocks?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the DMI forecast before you travel.

Weather and seasons
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