German-Danish border minorities host Day of Minorities

National minorities in the German-Danish border region are hosting the ‘Day of Minorities’ in Niebüll, North Friesland. The event, held alongside the Frisian ethnic group, aims to showcase the history, culture, and contemporary life of these communities.

The current border configuration dates back to 1920, when the boundary between Germany and Denmark was redrawn following plebiscites based on the Treaty of Versailles. This resulted in a German minority in Denmark and a Danish minority in Germany. Today, approximately 50,000 people identify as part of the Danish minority in Germany, while about 15,000 identify as the German minority in Denmark.

Under local principles, individuals have the right to declare their minority status without official verification. These communities maintain their own distinct infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, churches, cultural institutions, and political parties to preserve their unique identities.