The Danish government’s recent decision to shift responsibility for registering buildings worthy of preservation to the individual municipalities is facing strong criticism. The move, driven by a desire to save approximately 2 million kroner in the state budget, is seen as a threat to Denmark’s cultural heritage.

Critics argue that this decentralization undermines the preservation of architectural treasures and weakens the connection to Danish history and identity. The current unified national database, FBB, provides a recognized and accessible platform for municipalities, professionals, and citizens. Fragmentation into 98 separate databases is expected to create uncertainty, confusion, and loss of crucial information.

The Minister of Culture maintains there is no legal obligation to maintain a national list. However, opponents view this as an abdication of responsibility that signals a lack of state priority for architectural preservation. Concerns are mounting that local preservation efforts will be disincentivized.

Furthermore, the practicality of municipalities creating and maintaining their own databases with limited resources is questioned. The lack of a national overview will exacerbate existing difficulties for citizens in determining if their property is subject to special regulations or conservation considerations. Responsibility is currently divided between multiple ministries and municipalities.

A proposed amendment to section 20(4) of the Building Preservation Act seeks to mandate the Minister of Culture’s duty to maintain a unified, nationwide, and publicly accessible database of both listed and preservation-worthy buildings. This action is urged to be taken before irreversible damage occurs. The cultural heritage is viewed as irreplaceable and vital to national identity.