Ministry of Transport (Denmark)

Danish Ministry of Transport
Department overview
Formed	1892
Preceding Department	Ministry of Interior ;
Jurisdiction	Kingdom of Denmark
Headquarters	Copenhagen
Employees	135
Annual budget	€18.77 million (current)
Department executives	Thomas Danielsen MP, Minister for Transport ; Jakob Heinsen, Permanent Secretary ;
Website	www.trm.dk/en

Last updated May 25, 2025

The Danish Ministry of Transport (Danish : Transportministeriet) is the Danish ministry in charge of coordinating and realizing the transport politics of Denmark.

The Ministry is headed by a Permanent Secretary. The Ministry of Transport employs approximately 140 staff. The daily administration and handling of tasks and assignments on transport are carried out by a number of institutions, executive agencies, corporations, councils and boards. Counting every institution and every corporation the Ministry employs around 40.000 people

History

The Ministry of Transport was founded in 1892 under the name Ministry for Public Works ("Ministeriet for offentlige Arbejder"). In 1987 it changed name to Ministry of Traffic ("Trafikministeriet"), though briefly known as Ministry of Traffic and Communication ("Trafik- og Kommunikationsministeriet") during 1988 to 1989. In 2005 the energy sector was detached from Ministry of the Environment and attached to the Ministry of Traffic. In turn, the name was changed to Ministry of Transport and Energy; the energy department was transferred to what is now known as the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy in 2007.

Agencies and Subsidiaries

The Ministry of Transport is the ressort ministry for these agencies:^[3]

Banedanmark – Agency for Railway infrastructure
Bygningsstyrelsen – Building and Property Agency
Færdselsstyrelsen – Road Traffic Authority
Accident Investigation Board Denmark
Trafikstyrelsen – Civil Aviation and Railway Authority
Vejdirektoratet – Danish Road Directorate

The Ministry also maintains state ownership of these state-owned companies:^[4]

Company	Ownership	Nationality
Sund & Bælt Holding A/S	100%	Denmark
DSB	100%	Denmark
Naviair	100%	Denmark
Metroselskabet I/S (Copenhagen Metro)	41.7%	Denmark
PostNord	40%	Sweden
By & Havn	5%	Denmark

List of ministers

No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Government
No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Political Party	Government
Minister for Public Works (Minister for offentlige arbejder)
1		Hans Peter Ingerslev (1831–1896)	15 January 1894	20 April 1896 †	2 years, 96 days	Højre	Estrup Cabinet Reedtz-Thott Cabinet
2		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	20 April 1896	23 May 1897	1 year, 33 days	Højre	Reedtz-Thott Cabinet
3		Christian Juul-Rysensteen [ da ] (1838–1907)	24 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 88 days	Højre	Sehested Cabinet
4		Viggo Hørup (1841–1902)	24 July 1901	15 February 1902 †	206 days	Venstre Reform	Deuntzer Cabinet
5		Christopher Hage [ da ] (1848–1930)	15 February 1902	14 January 1905	2 years, 334 days	Venstre Reform	Deuntzer Cabinet
6		Svend Høgsbro [ da ] (1855–1910)	14 January 1905	24 July 1908	3 years, 192 days	Venstre	Christensen I Cabinet
7		Jens Jensen-Sønderup [ da ] (1862–1949)	24 July 1908	16 August 1909	1 year, 23 days	Venstre	Christensen II Cabinet Neergaard I Cabinet
8		Thomas C. Larsen [ da ] (1854–1944)	16 August 1909	28 October 1909	73 days	Venstre	Holstein-Ledreborg Cabinet
9		Jens Jørgen Jensen-Onsted [ da ] (1860–1933)	28 October 1909	2 February 1910	97 days	Social Liberals	Zahle I Cabinet
10		Wilhelm Weimann [ da ] (1868–1942)	2 February 1910	5 July 1910	153 days	Venstre	Zahle I Cabinet
(8)		Thomas C. Larsen [ da ] (1854–1944)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days	Venstre	Berntsen Cabinet
11		Jens Hassing-Jørgensen [ da ] (1872–1952)	21 June 1913	29 March 1920	6 years, 282 days	Social Liberals	Zahle II Cabinet
12		N.C. Monberg [ da ] (1856–1930)	29 March 1920	5 April 1920	7 days	Independent	Liebe Cabinet
13		K. Riis-Hansen [ da ] (1876–1937)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days	Independent	Friis Cabinet
14		Marius Abel Nielsen Slebsager [ da ] (1874–1962)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 354 days	Venstre	Neergaard II Cabinet–III
15		Johannes Friis-Skotte (1874–1946)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days	Social Democrats	Stauning I Cabinet
16		Johannes Stensballe [ da ] (1874–1956)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days	Venstre	Madsen-Mygdal Cabinet
(15)		Johannes Friis-Skotte (1874–1946)	30 April 1929	4 November 1935	6 years, 188 days	Social Democrats	Stauning II Cabinet
17		Niels Peter Fisker [ da ] (1886–1939)	4 November 1935	15 September 1939	3 years, 315 days	Social Democrats	Stauning III Cabinet
18		Axel I. Sørensen [ da ] (1882–1947)	15 September 1939	8 July 1940	297 days	Social Democrats	Stauning IV Cabinet–V
19		Gunnar Larsen (1902–1973)	8 July 1940	29 August 1943	3 years, 46 days	Independent	Stauning VI Cabinet Buhl I Cabinet Scavenius Cabinet
No Danish government (29 August 1943^[a] – 5 May 1945). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
20		Carl Petersen (1894–1984)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days	Social Democrats	Buhl II Cabinet
Minister for Traffic (Trafikminister)
21		Alfred Jensen (1903–1988)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days	Communists	Buhl II Cabinet
Minister for Public Works (Minister for offentlige arbejder)
22		Niels Elgaard [ da ] (1879–1963)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 6 days	Venstre	Kristensen Cabinet
(20)		Carl Petersen (1894–1984)	13 November 1947	17 September 1950	2 years, 308 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft I Cabinet
23		Frede Nielsen [ da ] (1891–1954)	17 September 1950	30 October 1950	43 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft II Cabinet
24		Victor Larsen [ da ] (1890–1952)	30 October 1950	25 April 1952	1 year, 178 days	Conservatives	Eriksen Cabinet
25		Jørgen Jørgensen (da) (1891–1963)	25 April 1952	30 September 1953	1 year, 158 days	Conservatives	Eriksen Cabinet
(20)		Carl Petersen (1894–1984)	30 September 1953	1 September 1955	1 year, 336 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft III Cabinet Hansen I Cabinet
26		Kai Lindberg (1899–1985)	1 September 1955	28 November 1966	11 years, 88 days	Social Democrats	Hansen I Cabinet–II Kampmann I Cabinet–II Krag I Cabinet–II
27		Svend Horn [ da ] (1906–1992)	28 November 1966	2 February 1968	1 year, 66 days	Social Democrats	Krag II Cabinet
28		Ove Guldberg (1918–2008)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 251 days	Venstre	Baunsgaard Cabinet
29		Jens Kampmann [ da ] (born 1937)	11 October 1971	19 December 1973	2 years, 69 days	Social Democrats	Krag III Cabinet Jørgensen I Cabinet
30		Kresten Damsgaard [ da ] (1903–1992)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days	Venstre	Hartling Cabinet
31		Niels Matthiasen [ da ] (1924–1980)	13 February 1975	26 February 1977	2 years, 13 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
32		Kjeld Olesen (1932–2024)	26 February 1977	30 August 1978	1 year, 185 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
33		Ivar Hansen (1938–2003)	30 August 1978	26 October 1979	1 year, 57 days	Venstre	Jørgensen III Cabinet
34		Jens Risgaard Knudsen [ da ] (1925–1997)	26 October 1979	15 October 1981	1 year, 354 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen IV Cabinet
35		Knud Heinesen (1932–2025)	15 October 1981	30 December 1981	76 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen V Cabinet
36		J.K. Hansen [ da ] (1926–2023)	30 December 1981	10 September 1982	254 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen V Cabinet
37		Arne Melchior (1924–2016)	10 September 1982	14 August 1986	3 years, 338 days	Centre Democrats	Schlüter I Cabinet
Minister for Traffic (Trafikminister)
38		Frode Nør Christensen [ da ] (born 1948)	14 August 1986	3 June 1988	1 year, 294 days	Centre Democrats	Schlüter I Cabinet–II
39		H.P. Clausen [ da ] (1928–1998)	3 June 1988	10 January 1989	221 days	Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet
40		Knud Østergaard [ da ] (1922–1993)	10 January 1989	18 December 1990	1 year, 342 days	Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet
41		Kaj Ikast (1935–2020)	18 December 1990	25 January 1993	2 years, 38 days	Conservatives	Schlüter IV Cabinet
42		Helge Mortensen [ da ] (born 1941)	25 January 1993	28 January 1994	1 year, 3 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet
43		Jan Trøjborg (1955–2012)	28 January 1994	30 December 1996	2 years, 337 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet–II
44		Bjørn Westh (born 1944)	30 December 1996	23 March 1998	1 year, 83 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III Cabinet
45		Sonja Mikkelsen (born 1955)	23 March 1998	23 February 2000	1 year, 337 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet
46		Jacob Buksti (1947–2016)	23 February 2000	27 November 2001	1 year, 277 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet
47		Flemming Hansen (1939–2021)	27 November 2001	18 February 2005	3 years, 83 days	Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet
Minister for Transport (Transportminister)
(47)		Flemming Hansen (1939–2021)	18 February 2005	12 September 2007	2 years, 206 days	Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen II Cabinet
48		Jakob Axel Nielsen (born 1967)	12 September 2007	23 November 2007	72 days	Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen II Cabinet
49		Carina Christensen (born 1972)	23 November 2007	10 September 2008	292 days	Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen III Cabinet
50		Lars Barfoed (born 1957)	10 September 2008	23 February 2010	1 year, 166 days	Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen III Cabinet Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet
51		Hans Christian Schmidt (born 1953)	23 February 2010	3 October 2011	1 year, 222 days	Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet
52		Henrik Dam Kristensen (born 1957)	3 October 2011	9 August 2013	1 year, 310 days	Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet
53		Pia Olsen Dyhr (born 1971)	9 August 2013	3 February 2014	178 days	SF	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet
54		Magnus Heunicke (born 1975)	3 February 2014	28 June 2015	1 year, 145 days	Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt II Cabinet
Minister for Transport, and Building (Transport- og bygningsminister)
(51)		Hans Christian Schmidt (born 1953)	28 June 2015	28 November 2016	1 year, 153 days	Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet
Minister for Transport, Building, and Housing (Transport-, bygnings- og boligminister)
55		Ole Birk Olesen (born 1972)	28 November 2016	27 June 2019	2 years, 211 days	Liberal Alliance	Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet
Minister for Transport (Transportminister)
56		Benny Engelbrecht (born 1970)	27 June 2019	4 February 2022	2 years, 222 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen I Cabinet
57		Trine Bramsen (born 1981)	4 February 2022	15 December 2022	314 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen I Cabinet
58		Thomas Danielsen (born 1983)	15 December 2022		2 years, 160 days	Venstre	Frederiksen II Cabinet

Notes

↑ On 29 August 1943, the Danish government resigned, refusing to grant further concessions to Nazi Germany. All government operations were assumed by the permanent secretaries of the individual departments, and this arrangement lasted until the Liberation of Denmark on 5 May 1945. Since King Christian X never accepted the resignation of the government, it existed de jure until a new cabinet was formed on 5 May 1945.

References

↑ http://www.ugebreveta4.dk/Undersoegelser/2011/~/media/UBA4/Undersoegelser/2011/20110117_Staten_ansaetter_ikke_seniorer_2011_02.pdf ^{[ dead link ]}
↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
↑ "Institutioner". Ministry of Transport of Denmark (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-06.
↑ "Selskaber". Ministry of Transport of Denmark (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-06.

External links

Official ministry website

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[August43-5] On 29 August 1943, the Danish government resigned, refusing to grant further concessions to Nazi Germany. All government operations were assumed by the permanent secretaries of the individual departments, and this arrangement lasted until the Liberation of Denmark on 5 May 1945. Since King Christian X never accepted the resignation of the government, it existed de jure until a new cabinet was formed on 5 May 1945.

[1] ttp://www.ugebreveta4.dk/Undersoegelser/2011/~/media/UBA4/Undersoegelser/2011/20110117_Staten_ansaetter_ikke_seniorer_2011_02.pdf ^{[ dead link ]}

[2] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[3] "Institutioner". Ministry of Transport of Denmark (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-06.

[4] "Selskaber". Ministry of Transport of Denmark (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-06.

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