Am I allowed to pick mushrooms and berries in nature in Denmark?
Yes — on public and state land you may gather nature's fruits for personal use. You may pick berries, mushrooms, nuts and flowers for private use in moderate amounts; the old rule "what fits in a hat" is read today as roughly what fits in an ordinary bag. Commercial gathering is forbidden — if you sell what you picked, it is no longer personal use. In private forests you may only forage from paths and roads, and only between 6am and sunset; step in among the trees and it becomes illegal access, and the landowner may also post stricter rules. You may not dig up, uproot or prune the plants, and protected species may never be picked, wherever they happen to grow.
📋 The rules
- Allowed to gather berries, mushrooms, nuts and flowers for personal use
- "What fits in a hat" — moderate amounts
- Commercial gathering is forbidden
- Private forests: only from paths and roads, 6am to sunset
- Protected species may never be picked
🔓 Exceptions
- The private landowner can post stricter or more lenient rules
- Some nature reserves restrict or ban gathering
- You may not dig up, uproot or prune the plants
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Commercial gathering or damage to protected plants can bring a fine under the Nature Protection Act, and gathering on private land off the paths is illegal access. The line is easier to cross than people think. If you sell what you picked — or gather for a stall or a restaurant — it is no longer "personal use" but commercial gathering, however little you took. On private land, one step in among the trees moves you from lawful access on the path to unlawful access, and the landowner can also post stricter rules that you must follow.
📎 Official sources
- Nature Agency · What may I gather →
- SGAV · Rules for access in nature →
- Nature Protection Act · Retsinformation →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I pick mushrooms and berries in nature?
Yes. On public and state land you may pick berries, mushrooms, nuts and flowers for personal use. It must be in moderate amounts and for private use — commercial gathering is forbidden entirely.
How much can I gather?
Moderate amounts for private use. The old rule "what fits in a hat" is read today as roughly what fits in an ordinary bag, and you must pick in moderation so there is something left for the next person.
Can I forage in private forests?
Only from paths and roads, and only between 6am and sunset. If you step in among the trees to forage, that is illegal access, and the landowner can also post stricter rules that you have to follow.
Can I dig up plants?
No. You may not dig up, uproot or prune the plants — only pick in moderation. Some nature reserves restrict or ban gathering altogether, whatever it is that you are hoping to collect there.
Can I pick protected species?
No. Protected species may never be picked, wherever they grow, including on public land where almost everything else is free. Damage to protected plants can bring a fine under the Nature Protection Act.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I pick mushrooms berries denmark”
- “foraging nature rules”
- “what fits in a hat”
- “forage private forest paths”
- “commercial gathering forbidden”
- “protected species picking”