Denmark struggles to find parents for children removed for forced adoption

Fewer families are willing to adopt Danish children removed from their biological parents by court order, according to a report by national broadcaster DR. Legal disputes over visitation rights and ongoing conflicts are discouraging potential adoptive parents, leaving some children in temporary care for years.

The Danish Board of Adoption has repeatedly warned since 2020 about the difficulty in finding suitable adoptive families. Despite a government push to increase forced adoptions—doubling their number since 2020—five children with special needs have remained unadopted and were instead placed in foster care, per data from the National Social Appeals Board.

Children face prolonged instability
DR’s documentary series When the State Adopts reveals that most infants removed for adoption first enter temporary placements. Over half wait between one to three years before finding a permanent family, and one in ten are moved between three different homes.

Social worker Sandra Abild, who runs a social services consultancy, said potential adoptive parents are hesitant due to the children’s complex needs. “Adopters withdraw because many of these children come with significant challenges,” she told DR. “People are nervous about what kind of child they’re taking in and under what conditions.”

Calls for reform
Sanne Vindahl Nyvang, chair of the advocacy group Adoption and Society, argued that reducing conflict with biological parents could help. Currently, forced adoption severs all contact, unlike foster care, where visitation is often supported. “We’ve seen a tendency to demonise biological parents and overlook their potential,” she said. “Even if they can’t be full-time parents, they may still contribute to the child’s life through supervised visits.”

In 2025, Denmark’s Supreme Court ruled that a biological mother could have limited contact with her child even after adoption, setting a precedent that has led to further legal challenges. Some lawyers warn that the risk of visitation disputes is now deterring adopters.

Karina Adsbøl, social affairs spokesperson for the Denmark Democrats party, called for a complete overhaul of the system. “Children aren’t goods to be moved around,” she said. “We need to scrutinise forced adoptions—legal safeguards are lacking, and the current approach is fundamentally flawed.”

The outgoing government declined to comment. The Board of Adoption stated that minimising changes in caregivers is critical for children’s well-being but did not address specific cases.