Home › Denmark
Excellent: 961Good: 52Sufficient: 4Not classified: 21Poor: 2
⚠️ Rated Poor in Denmark — think twice
A Poor classification means persistent contamination across recent seasons. Authorities must advise against bathing, or ban it, at these sites.
- Hjarbæk Fjord, Hjarbæk Strandpark Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Praestoe Fjord Strand Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
✅ The safest bets in Denmark
Sites that have held the top rating five seasons in a row — not a one-year fluke.
- Flæng Sø Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Dragør Søbad, Nord Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Sjørup Sø Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Thorsøbadet Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Varna Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Moesgård Strand Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Mariendal Strand Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Karl Sø, Vindbjergvej Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Ore Strand V. Badeanstalt. Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Ring Sø, Opholdsareal Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Andkær Vig Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Gniben,sejerø Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
📈 Turned around
These were rated Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago and are Excellent today.
- Sanddobberne Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Hostrupskov Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Strandvejen Strand Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Burvænget Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Nørhede Bådplads Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Båring Ege Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Haslevgaarde Strand Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- 100 M. N. For Gl. Løgten Strandkro Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Gals Klint Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Vrinners Strand Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
📍 Destinations in Denmark
- Copenhagen
103 excellent of 124 within 35 km - Aarhus
62 excellent of 71 within 35 km - Aalborg
33 excellent of 36 within 35 km - Bornholm
20 excellent of 25 within 35 km - Skagen
17 excellent of 17 within 35 km
Common questions about swimming in Denmark
Is it safe to swim in Denmark?
Mostly yes. 94% of Denmark's 1,040 officially monitored bathing sites hold the top "Excellent" class in the 2025 assessment, but 2 sites are rated Poor — bathing there is advised against or banned all season.
Which beaches in Denmark should I avoid?
The 2 rated Poor: Hjarbæk Fjord, Hjarbæk Strandpark, Praestoe Fjord Strand. Poor means the site failed the minimum standard across four seasons of sampling.
Where is the water cleanest in Denmark?
858 sites have held the top rating five seasons running — a far better signal than a single good year. Around Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg you will find the densest clusters.
How often is water quality tested in Denmark?
Through the whole bathing season. National sanitary authorities sample each official site for E. coli and intestinal enterococci, report to the European Environment Agency, and the published class reflects the last four seasons combined.
Ratings are the official season-long classification, computed from the last four seasons of sampling — not a live reading. After a storm any site can be temporarily worse; local advisories win.