DAWA

Denmark's Address Web Service — the official address API that shuts down on 1 July 2026.

What is DAWA?

DAWA (Denmark's Address Web Service) is a REST API that exposes Denmark's official address data — access addresses, unit addresses, street names, postal codes, municipalities and coordinates. It is free to use without authentication, and data is updated from the central address register every 15 minutes.

DAWA is hosted at dawa.aws.dk (formerly dawa.dk) and used by thousands of Danish systems: web shops, CRMs, public systems, GIS applications and research.

DAWA shuts down on 1 July 2026

The Datafordeler has announced that DAWA will permanently shut down on 1 July 2026. All systems using dawa.aws.dk must be migrated before then. The official announcement does not mention a direct 1:1 replacement product from the public sector.

What does DAWA's API contain?

  • /autocomplete — search suggestions with fuzzy match
  • /adresser — unit addresses (with floor/door)
  • /adgangsadresser — main addresses (without floor/door)
  • /vejnavne and /vejstykker — street data
  • /postnumre, /kommuner, /regioner
  • Reverse geocoding (coordinates to address)
  • Data washing (address validation and correction)

Alternatives after DAWA

DanskAdresseAPI is a drop-in compatible DAWA replacement — same endpoints, same response format, same data source (the Datafordeler). Migration only requires changing the base URL from dawa.aws.dk to api.danskadresseapi.dk/dawa and adding an Authorization header. See the migration guide for concrete examples.

For a feature and pricing comparison, see DAWA vs DanskAdresseAPI.

Why is DAWA shutting down?

The official explanation is that the Datafordeler is consolidating its APIs and moving functionality elsewhere. DAWA's drop-in JSON format with fuzzy autocomplete is no longer a core priority for the public register, and it is expected that private companies will provide such services going forward.

See also