Denmark

Maritime Spatial Plan(s) 

Status: Adopted

Denmark adopted and launched its maritime spatial plan in September 2023. The Danish MSP was issued as an executive order and is therefore legally binding. Denmark’s maritime spatial plan is based on the provisions of the Maritime Spatial Planning Act.

The Danish MSP, through the Geographical Information System (GIS), is available here

The Danish MSP is the first legally binding digital map of Denmark and the Danish waters. 

View the brochure on Legally Binding Digital Maps here (in English)

Prior to 2023, Denmark did not have a holistic spatial plan for the sea, however, a range of sectoral plans have been in use. These plans have provided key contributions to the MSP planning process in Denmark. 

Latest MSP developments

Amendment of the Executive Order on the Danish Maritime Plan of 28 June 2024: the national MSP was reviewed to raise Denmark's offshore energy and biodiversity targets. The Danish Parliament approved these new targets in summer 2023, and a public consultation on the draft MSP amendments and their environmental assessment ran from November 2023 to February 2024. The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the amendments was concluded in parallel, ensuring compliance with the Espoo Convention on transboundary environmental impact assessment. The revised MSP was officially adopted on 28 June 2024 through an amendment to the executive order.

In addition, an Amendment to the Act on MSP adopted by Parliament in 2025 introduces a scheme for temporary test and research projects outside designated areas. This amendment concerns the legal framework only, not the MSP itself.

MSP legislation

The EU MSP Directive is transposed into national legislation throught the Maritime Spatial Planning Act, which establishes the framework for spatial planning in the Danish marine areas. 

National MSP authority

Denmark's competent authority for MSP, Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs

Contacts:

The Danish MSP Secretariat
Danish Maritime Authority
E-mail: havplandma.dk (havplan[at]dma[dot]dk) 

For more information

For more information regarding the evolution of the MSP process in Denmark please see the dedicated country profile below.