The Kvindeligaen () is the top professional league for Danish women's handball clubs. It is administered by the Danish Handball Federation, and the winners are recognized as Danish champions. The league was previously called Bambusa Kvindeligaen for sponsorship reasons. It has previously been known as HTH GO Ligaen, Primo Tours Ligaen, Boxer Dameligaen, TOMS Ligaen and GuldBageren Ligaen. The current title holder is Team Esbjerg (2026). The European Handball Federation (EHF) ranks the Danish league 4th in the coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the past seasons.
History Prior to 1964, Danish handball were organized into regional leagues, where the Danish Champion were decided in an end-of-season play-off between the four winners of the regional divisions. The championship in 1945 was cancelled due to the German occupation of Denmark. In 1961-62 the format was changed to 2 regional leagues, and in 1965-66 the first proper women's league was created. Just a year before, in 1964-65 European Cup, Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening had become the first Danish team to win the premier continental tournament.1964-65 European Cup Results in todor66.com Later, both Viborg HK and Slagelse DT has won the tournament as well.
From the 1998–99 season the Kvindeligaen was created and the 1st Division was relegated to being the second tier. In 1999, Viborg HK became the first Danish club to turn their first team into a stock-based corporation.
Competition format The Kvindeligaen shares the season style with the men's league. It consists of 14 teams, each playing 26 regular season games. The eight best teams of the regular season advance to further games, where they are divided into two groups of four teams each. No. 1 and 2 from the regular season start with 2 points. No. 3 and 4 start with 1 point, while no. 5–8 start with no points. After these six games the two top teams in each group will play semifinals. No. 1 from one group is up against no. 2 from the other. The winners will meet in finals, while the losers will play against each other for the bronze medal. Semifinals, finals, and bronze games are all played in best of 3.
The lowest placed team of the regular season is directly relegated to the second-best division, and replaced by the winner of this. The teams finishing as 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are put in a group where they will play against each other. In the second-best division, the teams that end up 2nd and 3rd will play against each other in best of 3. The winner of those games will get to meet the lowest placed team from the 9-13 group from the top league, yet again in best of 3. The winner will get to play in the top league next season, while the loser plays in the second-best division.
Seasons
Current teams (2026/27)
The fourteen teams of the 2026/27 season are:
Team Finishing pos.in last season 2025/26 First season ofcurrent spell intop division Top divisiontitles Nordvestjysk Elite 1st in (1st division) 2026–27 0 EH Aalborg 12th 2024-25 0 HH Elite 7th 2019-20 0 Ikast Håndbold 4th 1991-92 4 København Håndbold 6th 2013-14 1 Nykøbing F. Håndbold 2012-13 1 Odense Håndbold 2009-10 3 SønderjyskE Håndbold 8th 2022-23 0 Ringkøbing Håndbold 11th 2021-22 0 Skanderborg Håndbold 13th 2018-19 0 Silkeborg-Voel KFUM 10th 2014-15 0 Team Esbjerg 2007-08 6 HØJ Elite 9th 2025-26 0 Viborg HK 5th 1988-89 14
Champions The complete list of champions since 1936:
SeasonGoldSilverBronze1935–1936 K.I.1936–1937 K.K.G.1937–1938 K.I.1938–1939 R.H. 331939–1940 K.K.G.1940–1941 K.K.G.1941–1942 AGF1942–1943 K.I.1943–1944 K.I.1944–1945Didn't take place1945–1946 K.K.G.1946–1947 K.I.1947–1948 K.I.1948–1949 AGF1949–1950 K.I.1950–1951 H.G.1951–1952 V.R.I.1952–1953 H.G.1953–1954 K.I.1954–1955 USG1955–1956 FIF1956–1957 H.G.1957–1958 H.G.1958–1959 FIF1959–1960 H.G.1960–1961 Svendborg HK1961–1962 FIF1962–1963 Helsingør IF1963–1964 H.G.1964–1965 H.G.1965–1966 FIF H.G. IK Skovbakken1966–1967 FIF H.G. IK Skovbakken1967–1968 H.G. FIF K.I.1968–1969 H.G. FIF K.I.1969–1970 H.G. FIF Glostrup IC1970–1971 FIF H.G. Glostrup IC1971–1972 FIF Glostrup IC Hørsholm-Usserød IK1972–1973 FIF Funder GF Næstved IF1973–1974 FIF H.G. Glostrup IC1974–1975 H.G. FIF Helsingør IF1975–1976 FIF AIA-Tranbjerg H.G.1976–1977 H.G. FIF Svendborg HK1977–1978 FIF AIA-Tranbjerg Svendborg HK1978–1979 Svendborg HK FIF AIA-Tranbjerg1979–1980 FIF Helsingør IF Greve IF1980–1981 FIF IF Stjernen Svendborg HK1981–1982 AIA-Tranbjerg Svendborg HK FIF1982–1983 Helsingør IF Holstebro KFUM FIF1983–1984 Helsingør IF AIA-Tranbjerg Rødovre HK1984–1985 FIF Helsingør IF IF Stjernen1985–1986 IF Stjernen Rødovre HK GOG1986–1987 Rødovre HK Lyngså BK NNfH Lemvig1987–1988 Lyngså BK Rødovre HK GOG1988–1989 FIF AIA-Tranbjerg GOG1989–1990 GOG FIF Lyngså BK1990–1991 GOG Viborg HK FIF1991–1992 GOG Viborg HK FIF1992–1993 GOG Viborg HK FIF1993–1994 Viborg HK GOG Ikast FS1994–1995 Viborg HK GOG Ikast FS1995–1996 Viborg HK GOG Ikast FS1996–1997 Viborg HK Frederikshavn fI GOG1997–1998 Ikast FS Viborg HK FIF1998–1999 Viborg HK Ikast FS Frederikshavn fI1999–2000 Viborg HK FIF Ikast-Bording EH2000–2001 Viborg HK GOG Ikast-Bording EH2001–2002 Viborg HK Ikast-Bording EH Randers HK2002–2003 Slagelse FH Ikast-Bording EH GOG2003–2004 Viborg HK Slagelse FH Ikast-Bording EH2004–2005 Slagelse DT Aalborg DH Viborg HK2005–2006 Viborg HK Slagelse DT Aalborg DH2006–2007 Slagelse DT Viborg HK Aalborg DH2007–2008 Viborg HK Ikast-Bording EH FCK Håndbold2008–2009 Viborg HK Aalborg DH FCK Håndbold2009–2010 Viborg HK Randers HK KIF Vejen2010–2011 FC Midtjylland Håndbold Randers HK Viborg HK2011–2012 Randers HK Viborg HK FC Midtjylland Håndbold2012–2013 FC Midtjylland Håndbold Team Tvis Holstebro Viborg HK2013–2014 Viborg HK FC Midtjylland Håndbold Randers HK2014–2015 FC Midtjylland Håndbold Team Esbjerg Team Tvis Holstebro2015–2016 Team Esbjerg FC Midtjylland Håndbold Team Tvis Holstebro2016–2017 Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub København Håndbold FC Midtjylland Håndbold2017–2018 København Håndbold Odense Håndbold Viborg HK2018–2019 Team Esbjerg Herning-Ikast Håndbold Odense Håndbold2019–2020 Team Esbjerg Odense Håndbold Viborg HK2020–2021Odense HåndboldViborg HKHerning-Ikast Håndbold2021–2022Odense HåndboldTeam EsbjergHerning-Ikast Håndbold2022–2023Team EsbjergOdense HåndboldHerning-Ikast Håndbold2023–2024Team EsbjergNykøbing Falster HåndboldklubOdense Håndbold2024–2025Odense HåndboldTeam EsbjergIkast Håndbold2025–2026Team EsbjergOdense HåndboldNFH
Medal table The all-time medal table for the women's championship is as follows:
TeamGoldSilverBronze Viborg HK 14 6 4 FIF København 12 8 6 Team Esbjerg 6 3 7 HG København 5 4 1 Herning-Ikast Håndbold 4 7 13 GOG 4 4 0 Odense Håndbold 4 3 2 Slagelse DT 3 2 0 Helsingør IF 2 2 1 IF AIA-Tranbjerg 1 4 1 Randers HK 1 2 2 Rødovre HK 1 2 1 Svendborg HK 1 1 3 Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub 1 1 1 IF Stjernen 1 1 1 Lyngså BK 1 1 1 København Håndbold 1 1 0 Aalborg DH 0 2 2 Glostrup IC 0 1 3 Holstebro 0 1 2 IK Skovbakken 0 1 2 Frederikshavn f.I. 0 1 1 Funder GF 0 1 0 Holstebro KFUM 0 1 0 K.I. København 0 0 2 FCK Håndbold 0 0 2 Hørsholm-Usserød IK 0 0 1 Næstved IF 0 0 1 Greve IF 0 0 1 NNfH Lemvig 0 0 1 KIF Vejen 0 0 1
Top scorers The following list shows the top scorers since 1965/66: 1965/66: Birthe Hansen, FIF (80) 1966/67: Jytte Skøtt Mikkelsen, Hjallese GF (63) 1967/68: Ingeborg Jensen, Randers Freja (93) 1968/69: Aase Jensen, Glostrup IC (86) 1969/70: Birthe Hansen, FIF (85) 1970/71: Karen Rasmussen, H.G. (94) 1971/72: Tove Nielsen, V.R.I (88) 1972/73: Karen Rasmussen, H.G. (98) 1973/74: Jette Madsen, Næstved IF (97) 1974/75: Anne Grete Enggård, Funder GF (78) 1975/76: Bente Lauridsen, AIA-Tranbjerg (84) 1976/77: Ann Andreasen, Svendborg HK (87) 1977/78: Bente Lauridsen, AIA-Tranbjerg (101) 1978/79: Bente Lauridsen, AIA-Tranbjerg (87) 1979/80: Karen Rask, Ejstrupholm GF (91) 1980/81: Birte Carlsen, Helsingør IF (104) 1981/82: Karen Frandsen, Lynge-Uggeløse IF (107) 1982/83: Tove Okkerstrøm, Holstebro KFUM (103) 1983/84: Conni Olesen, NNNfH (105) 1984/85: Hanne Green, NNNfH (108) 1985/86: Anette Rytter, IF Stjernen (115) 1986/87: Anette Rytter, IF Stjernen (129) 1987/88: Vibeke Nielsen, AIA Tranbjerg (105) 1988/89: Helle Petersen, Helsingør IF (92) 1989/90: Helle Petersen, Helsingør IF (93) 1990/91: Gitte Madsen, Horsens HK (119) 1991/92: Betina Nørager, Svendborg HK (136) 1992/93: Lise Lotte Lauridsen, Lyngså BK (139) 1993/94: Sisse Bruun Jørgensen Virum-Sorgenfri HK (141) 1994/95: Heidi Astrup, Viborg HK (157) 1995/96: Mette Vestergaard, FIF (172) 1996/97: Merete Møller, Vorup FB (163) 1997/98: Camilla Andersen, FIF (188) 1998/99: Camilla Andersen, FIF (180) 1999/2000: Camilla Andersen, FIF (163) 2000/01: Mette Vestergaard, FIF (133) 2001/02: Camilla Andersen, Slagelse FH (181) 2002/03: Camilla Andersen, Slagelse FH (215) 2003/04: Bojana Petrović, Slagelse FH (175) 2004/05: Bojana Popović, Slagelse FH (174) 2005/06: Tanja Milanović, Ikast-Bording EH (172) 2006/07: Mette Sjøberg, FCK Håndbold (167) 2007/08: Nadine Krause, FCK Håndbold (153) 2008/09: Grit Jurack, Viborg HK (125) 2011/12: Mette Gravholt, Team Tvis Holstebro (141) 2012/13: Estavana Polman, SønderjyskE Damer (138) 2013/14: Estavana Polman, Team Esbjerg (152) 2014/15: Jette Hansen, Silkeborg-Voel KFUM (157) 2015/16: Nathalie Hagman, Team Tvis Holstebro (191) 2016/17: Trine Troelsen, Silkeborg-Voel KFUM (199) 2017/18: Ida Bjørndalen Karlsson, Team Esbjerg (168) 2018/19: Laura Damgaard Lund, EH Aalborg (158) 2019/20: Mia Rej, København Håndbold (170) 2020/21: Kristina Jørgensen, Viborg HK (180) 2021/22: Mathilde Neesgaard, Aarhus United (179) 2022/23: Henny Reistad, Team Esbjerg (204) 2023/24: Line Gyldenløve, Bjerringbro FH (173) 2024/25: Tabea Schmid, København Håndbold (287) 2025/26: Julie Scaglione, Ikast Håndbold (225)
Statistics
EHF coefficients
The following data indicates Danish coefficient rankings between European handball leagues.
Country ranking EHF League Ranking for 2022/23 season: (1) Nemzeti Bajnokság I (157.67) (5) Ligue Butagaz Énergie (118.50) (2) Russian Superleague (114.50) (3) Bambusa Kvindeligaen (109.00) (6) REMA 1000-ligaen (102.17) (4) Liga Națională (94.50)
Broadcasting rights TV2 Danmark TV2 Sport
In European competitions Champions League EHF Cup Challenge Cup Cup Winners' Cup winning year(s) winning year(s) winning year(s) winning year(s) Viborg HK 3 2006, 2009, 2010 2 1 3 1994, 1999, 2004 0 0 0 0 0 1 2014 1 0Slagelse FH 3 2004, 2005, 2007 0 0 1 2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0HG København 1 1965 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0FC Midtjylland (Ikast) 0 0 2 2 2002, 2011 1 2 1 1998 1 1 2 2004, 2015 0 1Team Tvis Holstebro 0 0 0 2 2013, 2015 1 0 0 0 0 1 2016 0 0Randers HK 0 0 0 1 2010 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0FC København 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2009 0 1Frederiksberg IF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Helsingør IF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0KIF Vejen 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0Aalborg DH 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Team Esbjerg 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0GK Svendborg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1AIA-Tranbjerg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Rødovre HK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Kolding IF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1TOTAL 7 title 5 6 9 title 3 4 1 title 2 1 5 title 2 7
See also
Women's sports Herreligaen Danish Women's Handball Cup Danish Super Cup (handball)
References