Heavy traffic expected as Pentecost holiday ends and Royal Run disrupts routes

Danish roads will face severe congestion on Monday as the Pentecost holiday weekend draws to a close and the annual Royal Run event draws record participation, the Danish Road Directorate has warned.

Traffic is expected to peak between 14:00 and 18:00, particularly on routes heading east from Jylland across Funen toward Zealand. The Road Directorate anticipates delays on Route 21 between Sjællands Odde and Holbæk, Route 11 between Ringkøbing and Ribe, and Route 40 between Skagen and Ålbæk.

The congestion coincides with this year’s Royal Run, which has attracted 112,450 participants across five host cities: Randers, Ringkøbing, Middelfart, Helsingør, and Copenhagen. In Middelfart, the Old Little Belt Bridge will close to vehicles from 12:00 to 14:15 as runners cross, diverting traffic to the New Little Belt Bridge and adding to delays.

“This is a time when many are returning after the holiday, so expect heavy traffic and potential queues,” said Tor Jakobsen, duty officer at the Road Directorate’s Traffic Centre. He advised drivers to allow extra time, monitor updates on Trafikinfo.dk, and follow reports on P4 radio.

Road closures and diversions will also affect the other host cities during the event. King Frederik will open the festivities in Randers, arriving aboard the royal yacht Dannebrog at 10:15, before appearing in Middelfart at 14:00 and running in Copenhagen around 19:00. Crown Prince Christian will participate in Ringkøbing, while Queen Mary joins the run in Helsingør.

The Royal Run, first held in 2018 to mark then-Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th birthday, offers distances of one mile (1,609 metres), 5 km, or 10 km.