The Øresund Bridge, a key link connecting Denmark and Sweden, marked its 25th anniversary on 1 July 2025 with a ceremony featuring both countries’ royal couples. The milestone highlighted not only the engineering achievement of the bridge itself but also its symbolic role in strengthening ties across the Øresund Strait.
Royal celebration on Peberholm
The anniversary was celebrated with a rare double royal visit. Denmark’s King Frederik X and Queen Mary began the day by meeting Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia on the Swedish side of the bridge. From there, the two royal couples travelled together in a convoy across the bridge, making a symbolic stop at Peberholm, an artificial island in the middle of the Øresund. Peberholm was also the site of the original inauguration in 2000, when the previous Danish and Swedish monarchs met to open the bridge.
Øresund Bridge’s impact after 25 years
Since opening, the Øresund Bridge (Øresundsbroen) has become a vital transport artery and an emblem of Nordic cooperation. The combined railway and motorway structure stretches nearly 16 kilometres, linking Copenhagen with Malmö and enabling daily commuting, tourism, and cross-border business.
Over the past quarter century, the bridge has supported the creation of a dynamic Øresund Region, fostering closer economic and social integration between eastern Denmark and southern Sweden. According to local analysts, the bridge now handles tens of thousands of vehicles and trains each day, underlining its significance in regional mobility.
Looking ahead
Officials from both countries praised the bridge’s role in bringing people and economies closer together. In remarks during the ceremony, Denmark’s Minister for Transport (Transportministeren) highlighted the bridge as “a landmark of cooperation that continues to shape our shared future.”
With 25 years behind it, the Øresund Bridge stands as a testament to long-term vision and collaboration across borders, promising to remain a crucial connector for decades to come.
