The paper reviews the system of popular education in Denmark in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Emphasis is made on the conservative and liberal trends in European education. Scientific and specialized literature on the research topic was used as materials. Methodological basis of the study consisted of the traditional historiography principles, historicism, scientific objectivity and consistency. Methods used in the course of work are as follows: comparative method. It enabled a comparison of the Danish popular education system with similar experiences in other countries. It also helped identify general European trends in education and highlight local features. In conclusion, the authors note that Denmark's system of popular education experienced a dynamic transformational journey in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This period marked ups and downs, such as confrontation among followers of the liberal and conservative concepts in European pedagogy, which culminated in productive activity based on regional conditions. An important note should be made that Denmark was very close to the Russian Empire in areas related to popular education, because both countries were dominated by the German pedagogical system and were about to introduce universal primary education.