Conservation group warns 100,000 kroner fine may be ‘cheap’ for illegal cliff alteration

A 100,000 kroner fine—issued to the owner of a protected cliff near Vejle Fjord for illegally moving thousands of cubic metres of earth—is not severe enough to act as a deterrent, according to Denmark’s Nature Conservation Association.

The fine, confirmed by South East Jutland Police as a “substantial penalty,” follows illegal excavation work in spring 2025, when 7,600 cubic metres of soil were displaced without permission in a protected coastal zone. The unauthorised digging triggered a landslide that ruptured a sewage pipe, exposing the violation.

Lars Midtiby, CEO of the Nature Conservation Association, questioned whether the penalty was sufficient. “I fear this will be seen as a cheap way to get away with damaging nature,” he said, adding that while the case sets a precedent, the fine reflects outdated sentencing guidelines.

New legislation doubling fines for environmental crimes took effect in February 2026, but the cliff case was processed under the old rules, where penalties typically ranged from 5,000 to 30,000 kroner. Midtiby welcomed the upcoming stricter penalties, noting that such crimes are often deliberate and profit-driven at the expense of public nature.

The company responsible has paid the fine but declined to comment.

Tags: environmental crime, nature conservation, denmark