Language: Danish
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
Calling Code: 45
Denmark is a sovereign country member of the
European Union located in northern Europe. It is the southernmost of
the Nordic countries and also the smallest. Officially, the Kingdom
of Denmark - in Danish: Kongeriget Danmark or Danmarks Rige - is a
community made up of three autonomous parts, Denmark itself and its
two overseas territories or dependent territories, Greenland and the
Faroe Islands. Its capital and most populous city is Copenhagen,
which is located on the island of Selandia. Denmark is the least
corrupt country in the world (2010) and, according to studies, the
country where the inhabitants are happiest and one of the best in
the world to live.
Denmark is part of Scandinavia and only
has a land border with Germany, although since 1999 it has been
linked to Sweden by road and rail, via the Øresund bridge. The
Danish territory consists of the Jutland peninsula (Jylland) and 407
islands, of which 79 are inhabited (2009), Denmark has 7314 km of
coastline and is completely surrounded by the North Sea and the
Baltic Sea, except for Jutland, which links it to the European
continent. The main Danish islands are Zealand (Sjælland), Fyn
(Fyn), Vendsyssel-Thy, Lolandia and Bornholm, the furthest from the
Danish archipelago. This position has given Denmark, historically,
control over access to the Baltic Sea.
Since 1849, the year
in which the absolute monarchy that had ruled the country since 1660
was abolished, it became a parliamentary monarchy in 1901. In terms
of permanence, the Danish monarchy can be considered the oldest
monarchy in the world, having existed for at least one millennium.
Denmark is part of the European Union (but does not use the euro).
When the country joined the EEC in 1973 it did so without the Faroe
Islands, while Greenland chose to separate from the EEC in 1985. It
also became a founding member of NATO in 1949, ending the
traditional policy of neutrality that I had held until then.
Due to its poor nature in geological resources, Denmark sustained
its economy in agricultural activity, thanks to its farms, fishing
exploitation and the naval industry. In the last century, the Danes
have promoted the industrialization of their country and have
favored the establishment of a welfare state, guaranteeing access to
public services since the signing of the Kanslergade agreement in
1933. Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Copenhagen is a delightful experience that combines seamless modern infrastructure with the city’s enchanting blend of historic charm and cutting-edge Scandinavian design. Most international visitors arrive at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), one of Europe’s most efficient and passenger-friendly hubs, located just 8 km from the city center. From there, you can reach the heart of Copenhagen in 15–20 minutes via the direct metro line (M2), regional train, or a quick taxi/Uber ride. The city is compact and incredibly bike-friendly, with extensive cycling paths, efficient public transport (buses, S-trains, and harbor buses), and a user-friendly metro system—making it easy to explore without a car.
Frilandsmuseet
(The Open-Air Museum)
Located in Kongens Lyngby, just
north of central Copenhagen, Frilandsmuseet is one of the
world’s oldest and largest open-air museums. Founded in 1897
and part of the National Museum of Denmark, it spans a large
scenic area with over 100 relocated historic buildings from
across Denmark, southern Sweden (Skåne), and the Faroe
Islands.
Wander along gravel paths past fully furnished
farmhouses, windmills, cottages, and workshops that vividly
illustrate rural Danish life from the 17th to the early 20th
century. You can step inside peasant homes, a wealthy
miller’s residence, a village weaver’s workshop, or even a
poorhouse. The museum often features living history
demonstrations, seasonal events, and hands-on activities —
perfect for families or anyone wanting an immersive
experience of traditional Danish customs and architecture.
Practical info:
Address: Kongevejen 100, 2800 Lyngby
Easy access by S-train to Sorgenfri station + short walk, or
direct bus from central Copenhagen
Open Tue–Sun
(typically 10:00–16:00); closed Mondays
Admission: Adults
~150 DKK (discount online), free for under 18s
Jægerspris Slot
(Jægerspris Castle)
Situated on the Hornsherred peninsula
west of Copenhagen in Jægerspris, this elegant manor house
is one of Denmark’s oldest royal residences. Parts of the
castle date back to the 13th century, with its current
Baroque form completed in 1722.
It served as a hunting
lodge and summer residence for Danish royalty for centuries.
Today, it operates as a historic house museum dedicated
primarily to King Frederik VII and his morganatic wife,
Countess Danner. Visitors can explore the beautifully
preserved interiors, learn about their unconventional love
story, and see how the Countess later transformed parts of
the estate into an asylum for women. The surrounding park
and gardens are lovely for walks, with ancient oak trees and
monuments adding to the serene atmosphere.
Practical
info:
Address: Slotsgaarden 20, 3630 Jægerspris
About 45–60 minutes’ drive from Copenhagen; accessible by
public transport + local connections
Seasonal opening
(typically late March to late October); check for exact
days/hours
Combines well with a visit to the nearby park
and café
East Jutland
Aarhus: Denmark’s second-largest city and a
dynamic cultural hub. Known for its historic old town (Den Gamle By),
world-class museums like ARoS Art Museum, a lively harbour front, and a
thriving university atmosphere.
Billund: Home to the original Legoland theme park,
making it a dream destination for families. The town also features
Lalandia water park and the nearby LEGO House, an interactive experience
centre celebrating the iconic Danish toy.
Ebeltoft:
A picturesque coastal town with charming half-timbered houses, a
historic glass museum, and the famous Fregatten Jylland – the world’s
longest wooden warship. It serves as a gateway to the beautiful Mols
Bjerge area.
Fredericia: A historic fortified
town with impressive 17th-century ramparts, now turned into pleasant
walking paths. It offers a relaxed vibe, good shopping, and serves as an
important transport hub.
Grenaa: A lively
harbour town on the east coast with beautiful sandy beaches, a large
marina, and excellent opportunities for windsurfing and coastal walks.
It’s also the main ferry port to Anholt island.
Horsens:
A former industrial city that has transformed into a cultural hotspot,
famous for its vibrant music scene, modern theatre, and the Horsens
State Prison museum, which offers fascinating (and slightly spooky)
tours.
Jelling: The spiritual heart of Viking
Denmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to the famous Jelling
Stones, two massive 10th-century runestones, and the burial mounds of
King Gorm the Old and Queen Thyra.
Randers:
Known for its large rainforest zoo (Randers Regnskov), a historic
merchant town centre, and the impressive Randers Bridge over the Gudenå
River.
Silkeborg: Located in the scenic Lake
District, this town is surrounded by forests and lakes. It’s a paradise
for outdoor enthusiasts with hiking, cycling, canoeing, and the famous
Himmelbjerget (Sky Mountain), one of Denmark’s highest natural points.
Skanderborg: A peaceful lakeside town popular with
locals for its beautiful nature, summer festivals, and easy access to
both Aarhus and the surrounding countryside.
Vejle:
A charming fjord town with striking modern architecture, including the
Vejle Fjord Bridge. It offers great shopping, art galleries, and easy
access to the Legoland region.
Viborg: One of
Denmark’s oldest cities, boasting a magnificent cathedral, scenic lakes,
and a rich medieval history. It’s a great base for exploring the central
Jutland countryside.
Mols Bjerg National
Park: A protected area of rolling hills, heathland,
forests, and dramatic coastline. Ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and
wildlife watching, it offers some of the most varied and beautiful
landscapes in eastern Jutland.
North Jutland
North Jutland (Nordjylland) is Denmark’s northernmost region, known
for its dramatic coastline, wide sandy beaches, windswept dunes,
charming fishing villages, and rich Viking and maritime history. It
offers a perfect mix of vibrant city life, peaceful countryside, and
spectacular nature.
Main Towns & Villages
Aalborg:
The lively capital of North Jutland, a modern waterfront city famous for
its historic old town, the iconic Aalborg Tower, Utzon Center (designed
by the architect of Sydney Opera House), and buzzing nightlife. It’s
also home to one of Europe’s largest annual carnivals.
Aars: A friendly inland market town known for its
attractive town center, nearby prehistoric burial mounds, and as a
gateway to the scenic Rold Forest.
Blokhus: A
popular seaside resort with one of Denmark’s widest sandy beaches,
famous for its annual sand sculpture festival and relaxed holiday
atmosphere.
Dronninglund: A peaceful town featuring the elegant
Dronninglund Castle (now a hotel and conference center) and beautiful
surrounding woodlands.
Fjerritslev: A small,
authentic market town surrounded by farmland, ideal for experiencing
genuine Danish rural life.
Frederikshavn: A
major ferry port and bustling coastal town with excellent seafood
restaurants, a large marina, and easy access to the nearby islands of
Læsø and Hirsholmene.
Hanstholm: A dramatic coastal town perched on high
cliffs, known for its large fishing harbor, the impressive Hanstholm
Fortress from World War II, and as a starting point for exploring Thy
National Park.
Hirtshals: Famous for its busy
fishing port, the ultra-modern North Sea Oceanarium (one of Europe’s
largest aquariums), and as a departure point for ferries to Norway.
Hjallerup: A small town best known for its
massive annual market and horse fair, one of the largest in Northern
Europe.
Hjørring: An ancient market town with a charming
pedestrianized center, beautiful churches, and close proximity to the
fantastic Lonstrup and Rubjerg Knude cliff areas.
Hobro:
Located at the head of Mariager Fjord, it features a reconstructed
Viking longhouse and museum, and is close to the Viking center at
Fyrkat.
Hadsund: A pretty town on the Mariager
Fjord known for its bridges, marina, and surrounding hilly landscape.
Løkken: A classic Danish beach town with a lively
summer vibe, colorful wooden beach huts, and excellent surfing
conditions.
Mariager: One of Denmark’s most
picturesque towns, often called the “Rose Town” for its flower-filled
streets, timber-framed houses, and idyllic setting on the calm Mariager
Fjord.
Skagen: Denmark’s northernmost town,
world-renowned for its unique light that inspired the Skagen Painters,
dramatic beaches where two seas meet (Grenen), and a relaxed, artistic
atmosphere.
Sæby: A delightful coastal town
with a well-preserved old quarter, a pretty harbor, and a beautiful
beach promenade.
Thisted: The main town of the
Thy area, offering good shopping, a historic church, and easy access to
the wild North Sea coast and Thy National Park.
Highlights &
Attractions
Thy National Park (Nationalpark
Thy): Denmark’s first national park, a vast and wild landscape of dunes,
heathlands, forests, and long sandy beaches. Perfect for hiking,
birdwatching, surfing, and experiencing untouched nature.
Voergård Castle (Voergård Slot): A
magnificent Renaissance castle from the 1500s, known for its elegant
architecture, impressive art collection, beautiful gardens, and ghost
stories. One of the finest castles in Northern Denmark.
South Jutland
South Jutland (Sønderjylland) is the southernmost part
of Denmark's Jutland peninsula, a historic borderland region blending
Danish and German influences. It features diverse landscapes—from the
wild Wadden Sea National Park and sandy beaches in the west to gentle
fjords, islands, and fertile countryside in the east—along with a rich
heritage of castles, Viking history, and cultural traditions.
Key
towns and cities in the area include:
Esbjerg:
The largest city and a major commercial port in southern Denmark, known
for its maritime heritage, the iconic "Men at Sea" sculpture, and the
Fisheries and Maritime Museum.
Christiansfeld:
A charming UNESCO-listed Moravian Church settlement founded in the 18th
century, famous for its well-preserved historic buildings, unique
gender-segregated cemetery, and delicious local honey cakes.
Haderslev: An old trading town established in
the 1100s, centered around education and administration in an
agricultural area, with a picturesque location by the fjord and a
notable cathedral.
Højer: A small, atmospheric
town in the southwest near the marshes, offering views from its water
tower and insights into traditional marshland life and dykes.
Kolding: A vibrant city with the historic
Koldinghus Castle (over 700 years old), modern design institutions, and
a lively cultural scene; it serves as a dynamic hub in the region.
Ribe: Denmark’s oldest town, dating back about
1,300 years, celebrated for its beautifully preserved medieval
half-timbered houses, romantic alleys, Viking history, and cathedral.
Sønderborg: The cultural capital of the
borderland, built around a royal fortress from the 1100s, with strong
historical sites, beautiful surrounding countryside, and a focus on arts
and events.
Tønder: A former maritime and
trading town known for its lace-making heritage, charming old center,
and proximity to the Tøndermarsken marsh area.
Åbenrå
(Aabenraa): Once a small fishing village that grew into an important
maritime trade center, featuring a scenic harbor and historical
significance as a former county seat.
Vejen: A
town in the eastern part of the region, often linked to cultural and
agricultural activities within the broader South Jutland landscape.
West Jutland
West Jutland is a scenic and windswept region on the western coast of
Denmark, known for its wide sandy beaches, dramatic North Sea dunes,
heathlands, fjords, and traditional farming communities. It offers a
perfect mix of nature, history, and small-town Danish charm.
Key
Towns & Locations in the Region:
Herning – A
modern inland hub famous for its textile and design heritage, large
exhibition centres (like the HEART Museum and MCH Arena), and vibrant
cultural scene.
Holstebro – A lively town with
a strong arts focus, home to the Holstebro Kunstmuseum and excellent
theatre. It serves as a gateway to the western coast.
Lemvig – Picturesque coastal town situated on the
Limfjord, popular for its marina, hilly landscape, and relaxed
atmosphere.
Ringkøbing – Charming historic
market town beside the beautiful Ringkøbing Fjord. Known for its
well-preserved old centre, sailing, and birdwatching opportunities.
Hvide
Sande – A classic Danish seaside resort on the North Sea
coast, renowned for its wide sandy beaches, excellent surfing and
kitesurfing conditions, and traditional fishing harbour.
Skive – Located at the head of the Skive Fjord,
this friendly town is a good base for exploring the fjordlands and
nearby nature reserves.
Skjern – A small but
active town near the Skjern River, one of Denmark’s most important
wetland and bird habitats (Ringkøbing Fjord area).
Struer – Known as the “City of Sound” because it
is the home of Bang & Olufsen (B&O). It lies on the Limfjord with
pleasant waterfront areas.
Ulfborg – A quiet
inland town close to large areas of heath and forest, including the
beautiful Ulfborg Plantage.
Varde – One of the
oldest market towns in the region, with a historic centre and proximity
to the impressive Varde River valley and coastal attractions.
Videbæk – A small town famous for its art museum
(Museum for Kunst) and as a gateway to the surrounding countryside.
Highlighted Attraction:
Hjerl Hede Frilandsmuseum
An excellent open-air museum
(frilandsmuseum) near Vinderup/Holstebro that recreates 19th- and early
20th-century rural Danish life. Visitors can explore original buildings
(farmhouses, windmills, a school, smithy, etc.), watch living-history
demonstrations, and experience traditional crafts, farming, and daily
life from the past. It is one of the largest and most authentic open-air
museums in Denmark, set in a beautiful heathland landscape.
Funen, known in Danish as Fyn, is one of Denmark’s
largest and most picturesque islands, often called the “Garden of
Denmark” for its fertile landscapes, rolling hills, orchards, and
charming coastal towns. Located in the central part of the country
between the islands of Zealand and Jutland, it offers a perfect mix of
cultural heritage, historic architecture, and natural beauty.
Main Towns and Cities of Funen:
Odense – The
island’s capital and largest city, famous as the birthplace of Hans
Christian Andersen. It features a vibrant old town, excellent museums,
the impressive Odense Cathedral, and a lively cultural scene.
Assens – A picturesque port town on the western
coast, known for its well-preserved historic buildings, marina, and
pleasant waterfront promenade.
Bogense – A
small, idyllic coastal town on the northwest shore, popular for its
medieval center, sandy beaches, and relaxed atmosphere.
Faaborg – A beautiful historic market town on the
southern coast, with colorful half-timbered houses, a medieval bell
tower, and a scenic harbor surrounded by hills.
Kerteminde
– A charming seaside town on the east coast, often called “the pearl of
Funen.” It is known for its sandy beaches, excellent seafood, the
Johannes Larsen Museum, and proximity to the Kerteminde Fjord.
Middelfart – Situated on the Little Belt strait,
this town is famous for its bridge views, historic center, and outdoor
activities like golf and sailing.
Nyborg – One
of Denmark’s oldest towns, located on the eastern side facing Zealand.
It boasts a well-preserved medieval castle (Nyborg Slot), ramparts, and
a lively harbor area.
Otterup – A peaceful
inland town surrounded by beautiful countryside, known for its golf
course and quiet rural charm.
Ringe – A
central market town that serves as a convenient hub for exploring the
rest of the island.
Svendborg – Funen’s
second-largest town and an important southern harbor. It has a vibrant
maritime atmosphere, charming streets, a large marina, and serves as a
gateway to the South Funen Archipelago (including islands like Ærø and
Langeland).
Langeland
Langeland is a beautiful, elongated island in Denmark's South Funen
Archipelago, known for its rolling countryside, scenic coastlines,
charming harbors, and relaxed atmosphere. It offers excellent
opportunities for cycling, hiking, beach visits, and exploring historic
manors.
Key towns and harbors on the island include:
Rudkøbing: The main town and administrative center
of Langeland, centrally located on the west side. It features a
picturesque old town with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets,
shops, cafés, and a lively harbor with a good marina for yachts.
Historically important as a market town, it's a hub for services,
culture, and events.
Spodsbjerg: A small, cozy
ferry and fishing harbor on the eastern coast. It serves as the main
gateway from Lolland via frequent ferries (about 45 minutes crossing).
The area boasts nice beaches, good angling spots, a pleasant harbor
café, and serves as a popular starting point for coastal hikes and bike
routes around the island.
Lohals: A charming
northern harbor town that comes alive in summer with ice cream shops,
bakeries, beach bars, and a lively atmosphere. It is ideal for day
trips, coastal walks, and enjoying the northern nature and views.
Bagenkop: Located at the southern tip, this
quaint harbor village has a Blue Flag beach, a relaxed vibe, and serves
as a ferry port (historically important for connections toward Germany).
Nearby Ristinge offers one of Langeland’s finest sandy beaches. The town
is popular for its harbor festivals and southern coastal scenery.
North Zealand (Nordsjælland), Denmark is a beautiful and historically
rich region located just north of Copenhagen. It offers a perfect mix of
charming coastal towns, rolling countryside, royal history, and easy
day-trip access from the capital. Here are some of its key destinations:
Elsinore (Helsingør): Famous worldwide for
Kronborg Castle, the majestic Renaissance fortress that inspired
Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The town sits directly across the narrow Øresund
strait from Sweden, with a lively old harbor, medieval streets, and
excellent museums.
Fredensborg: Home to
Fredensborg Palace, the beautiful Baroque summer residence of the Danish
royal family. The palace is surrounded by one of Denmark’s largest and
most elegant Baroque gardens, open to the public when the royals are not
in residence.
Frederikssund: A friendly town
at the mouth of the Roskilde Fjord, known for its Viking heritage and
the annual Viking Festival. It serves as a gateway to the scenic fjord
landscapes and offers good sailing and outdoor opportunities.
Frederiksværk: Denmark’s first industrial town,
founded in the 18th century around a large water-powered ironworks.
Today it features an attractive industrial heritage museum, a lovely
canal, and peaceful lakeside walking paths.
Hillerød:
The cultural heart of North Zealand, dominated by the spectacular
Frederiksborg Castle (see below). The town has a pleasant pedestrian
center, lakeside setting, and good shopping and dining.
Hundested: A picturesque fishing harbor on the
Kattegat coast, popular for its sandy beaches, fresh seafood
restaurants, and the dramatic lighthouse at Spidsodde. It’s also the
departure point for ferries to the island of Rørvig.
Frederiksborg Castle
(Frederiksborg Slot): One of the most magnificent Renaissance castles in
Scandinavia, often called the “Danish Versailles.” Built on three small
islands in a lake in Hillerød, it now houses the Museum of National
History. Its lavish interiors, grand Knights’ Hall, and stunning formal
gardens make it a must-visit attraction.
West Zealand is a scenic and historically rich region located on the
western part of the island of Zealand (Sjælland), known for its rolling
countryside, picturesque fjords, fertile farmland, Viking heritage, and
charming market towns. It offers a perfect mix of peaceful rural life,
cultural attractions, and easy access to Copenhagen. Below is a
paraphrased and expanded overview of the key towns in the area:
Holbæk: A lively harbour town on Holbæk Fjord
with a well-preserved historic centre, attractive marina, and popular
for sailing and coastal walks.
Høng: A small,
peaceful railway town surrounded by beautiful countryside, known for its
local shops, annual events, and as a convenient base for exploring
central West Zealand.
Jyderup: A quiet, green
town in the heart of the region, popular with families and nature lovers
thanks to its proximity to forests, lakes, and outdoor recreation areas.
Kalundborg: A historic industrial port town
famous for its distinctive five-towered Romanesque church (Kalundborg
Kirke) and large fjord. It has a rich maritime history and modern energy
industry.
Korsør: An important transport hub
situated on the Great Belt, known for its ferry connections (now largely
replaced by the Great Belt Bridge) and the historic Korsør Fortress.
Ringsted: One of Denmark’s oldest market
towns with deep medieval roots. Home to the impressive Ringsted Abbey
(Sankt Bendts Kirke), where several Danish kings are buried.
Roskilde: The cultural and historical gem of the
region. Former Viking capital and seat of the Danish monarchy, renowned
for its UNESCO-listed Roskilde Cathedral (burial place of Danish kings
and queens) and the spectacular Viking Ship Museum.
Skælskør: A delightful small town on the coast
with a well-kept historic centre, scenic harbour, and surrounding
orchards – often called one of Zealand’s most charming hidden spots.
Slagelse: A larger commercial town with a long
history, good shopping, and easy access to the nearby Trelleborg Viking
ring fortress, one of Denmark’s most important Viking archaeological
sites.
Sorø: An elegant town centred around
the beautiful Sorø Lake and the historic Sorø Academy (founded in 1584).
Known for its peaceful atmosphere, impressive abbey church, and cultural
heritage.
South Zealand (Sydsjælland), Denmark, is a charming and diverse
region in the southern part of Zealand island, known for its rolling
countryside, historic market towns, beautiful fjords, beaches, and rich
cultural heritage. It offers a mix of peaceful rural landscapes,
medieval sites, and modern attractions, making it ideal for nature
lovers, history enthusiasts, and families.
Here are some of its key
towns, each with its own character:
Faxe:
Famous for its impressive limestone quarry (Faxe Kalkbrud), a unique
site with turquoise lakes, fossil hunting opportunities, and scenic
walks. It's a great spot for geology enthusiasts and outdoor activities.
Glumsø: A small, tranquil town located near
Sorø, offering a quiet retreat with easy access to lakes and surrounding
countryside.
Haslev: Situated close to grand
estates like Gisselfeld Abbey and Bregentved Estate, this town appeals
to those interested in architecture, history, and elegant manor houses.
Køge: A well-preserved historic market town with
one of Denmark’s finest old town centers, featuring cobblestone streets,
half-timbered houses, and a vibrant harbor area.
Næstved:
Often considered the cultural hub of South Zealand, this lively town
sits at the mouth of the Suså River. It boasts a rich history, vibrant
city life with concerts, exhibitions, theaters, and excellent shopping
and dining options.
Præstø: A picturesque
coastal town on Præstø Fjord with charming half-timbered houses, a
scenic harbor, and opportunities for apple-based distilleries (like
Radius Distillery), boating, and relaxing by the water.
Store Heddinge: Located in the Stevns area, it
features historic churches (such as Skt. Katharina Kirke) and serves as
a gateway to the UNESCO-listed Stevns Klint cliffs, known for their
dramatic geology and fossils.
Vordingborg:
One of Denmark’s oldest towns with significant medieval history,
including ruins of a royal castle and the site where the Danish flag
(Dannebrog) legendarily first appeared. It offers museums, coastal
views, and a strong sense of heritage.
Lolland
Lolland is a beautiful island in southern Denmark, known for its
rolling countryside, historic villages, coastal scenery, and relaxed
atmosphere. Here are some of its key towns and settlements:
Bandholm: A picturesque coastal village on the
northern shore of Lolland, famous for its idyllic harbor, Bandholm
Station (one of Denmark’s oldest still-operating railway stations), and
proximity to Knuthenborg Safari Park.
Guldborg:
A small, peaceful village located near the Guldborgsund strait, which
separates Lolland from Falster. It offers scenic views across the water
and a quiet, authentic Danish countryside feel.
Kragenæs:
A lovely harbor town on the northwest coast, popular for its marina,
summerhouses, and as a gateway to the nearby islands of Fejø and Femø.
It’s a great spot for boating and enjoying fresh seafood.
Maribo: The main inland town and
administrative center of Lolland Municipality. It features a charming
historic center, the impressive Maribo Cathedral (a brick Gothic church
from the 15th century), and the beautiful Maribo Sø (lake) nature
reserve.
Nakskov: Lolland’s largest town and
an important port on the western side of the island. Known for its
historic shipyard heritage, pleasant old town square, and as a hub for
shopping and services.
Nysted: A quaint
medieval town on the southeast coast, one of Denmark’s smallest market
towns. It boasts a well-preserved old center, a picturesque harbor, and
Nysted Wind Farm (one of the first large offshore wind farms).
Rødby: Located on the southern coast, this town
is best known for Rødbyhavn, the major ferry port connecting Denmark to
Germany (Puttgarden). It serves as a key transport hub for travelers
crossing the Fehmarn Belt.
Sakskøbing: A
friendly market town in the eastern part of Lolland, often called “the
town with the smiling water tower.” It has a lovely central square,
historic buildings, and serves as a convenient base for exploring the
island.
Falster
Falster is a beautiful island in southeastern Denmark, part of the
larger region known as Lolland-Falster. It is connected to the
neighboring island of Lolland by several bridges and to Zealand by the
impressive Farø Bridge. The island is known for its relaxed atmosphere,
rolling countryside, sandy beaches, and charming coastal towns—making it
a popular destination for nature lovers, cyclists, and families seeking
a peaceful getaway.
Gedser
The
southernmost town in Denmark, Gedser sits right at the tip of Falster.
It serves as an important ferry port with regular connections to Germany
(Rostock). The area features a historic lighthouse, wide sandy beaches,
and excellent opportunities for birdwatching, as it lies along major
migration routes.
Marielyst
One of
Denmark’s most popular seaside resorts on the east coast of Falster.
Marielyst is famous for its long, child-friendly sandy beach (often
voted among the best in the country), lively summer atmosphere, and a
wide range of holiday homes, restaurants, and activities. It’s ideal for
swimming, beach volleyball, and relaxing Danish “hygge” by the sea.
Nykøbing Falster
The largest town and
commercial heart of the island. Nykøbing Falster offers a pleasant
historic center with the impressive Guldborgsund Zoo, the medieval
Falster Cathedral, and the scenic waterfront promenade along
Guldborgsund. It’s a great base for exploring the island, with good
shopping, cafés, and cultural events.
Stubbekøbing
A picturesque small harbor town on the northern coast of Falster. Known
for its quiet charm, traditional wooden houses, and active marina,
Stubbekøbing is perfect for those who enjoy boating, fishing, or simply
strolling along the waterfront. The town has a relaxed, authentic Danish
provincial feel.
Møn
Møn is a picturesque island famous for its dramatic white chalk
cliffs (Møns Klint), which rise steeply from the Baltic Sea and offer
stunning panoramic views. The island is a haven for nature lovers, with
beech forests, coastal meadows, and excellent cycling and hiking trails.
Stege, the main town on Møn, is a delightful
historic market town. Founded in the 13th century, it still retains its
medieval character with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and
the impressive Stege Church with its unique frescoes. The town serves as
a friendly gateway to the rest of the island, with small cafés, local
shops, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Smålandsfarvandet
Smålandsfarvandet (the Småland Sea) is the sheltered stretch of water
that separates Møn from the islands of Lolland and Falster. This calm,
scenic waterway is dotted with smaller islands and is popular for
sailing, kayaking, and wildlife spotting – especially seals and
seabirds.
Fejø and Femø
are two small, peaceful islands lying just north of Lolland in the
Smålandsfarvandet. They are classic Danish “oases of calm” with rolling
fields, orchards (known for excellent apples and cherries), and car-free
vibes in many areas. Both islands have a handful of residents, beautiful
beaches, and a strong sense of community. They are perfect for slow
travel – cycling, swimming, picking berries, and enjoying the silence
broken only by birdsong and the gentle lap of waves.
Bornholm
Bornholm is a stunning Danish island in the Baltic
Sea, celebrated for its rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, charming villages,
and rich medieval heritage. It offers a perfect blend of natural beauty
and historical landmarks that draw visitors year-round.
Hammershus
Castle stands as one of the island’s most dramatic icons. Perched
dramatically on a rocky cliff about 70–74 meters above sea level at the
northern tip of Bornholm, near Hammeren, this medieval fortress ranks
among the largest in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Construction began
around 1300 (with possible earlier roots in the 13th or even late 12th
century) under the influence of the Archbishop of Lund to secure control
amid power struggles between the Church and the Danish crown. Over
centuries, it served as a stronghold, changed hands multiple times,
briefly belonged to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, and even functioned as
a prison in the 17th century. The imposing structure featured thick
walls, towers (including a grand "mantel" tower), and extensive
fortifications. Partially demolished around 1750 and later partially
restored, today its atmospheric ruins command breathtaking views over
the sea and countryside, making it a highlight for hikers and history
enthusiasts.
Østerlars Church
(Østerlars Rundkirke), located just north of the village of Østerlars
near Gudhjem, is the largest and likely the oldest of Bornholm’s four
iconic round churches. Built around 1150–1160 in the Romanesque style
and dedicated to Saint Lawrence (Lars), it features thick defensive
walls, narrow windows, a massive circular nave, an apse, and originally
served dual purposes: as a place of worship and a fortified refuge
against pirate raids from the sea. Its unique three-storey design
includes a conical roof added later, ancient frescoes, and architectural
details that reflect its medieval origins. As a well-preserved
historical treasure attracting around 120,000 visitors annually, it
remains an active church while offering a serene glimpse into Denmark’s
early Christian and defensive architecture.
By plane
By far the largest airport in Denmark
is the international airport Copenhagen-Kastrup (CPH), which is a
hub of the Scandinavian airline SAS and has numerous direct
connections from the German-speaking area. There is a second, much
smaller airport near the capital: Copenhagen-Roskilde (RKE) is only
used for short-haul flights within Denmark.
Other larger
international airports are Billund (BLL) in South Jutland and
Aalborg (AAL) in North Jutland.
There are smaller airports
with only regional importance in Aarhus (AAR) in Central Jutland,
Rønne (RNN) on Bornholm, Karup (KRP) in Central, Esbjerg (EBJ) and
Sønderborg (SGD) in South Jutland - they are only from
German-speaking countries accessible with transfer connections.
By train
There are two international rail lines from Germany
to Denmark: every four hours an EC runs from Hamburg via Kolding and
Odense to Copenhagen. The journey from Hamburg to Copenhagen takes
4:40 hours. An Intercity also runs every two hours from Flensburg to
Fredericia (individual trains come directly from Hamburg or continue
to Aarhus). Until 2019, the trains went to Copenhagen via Lübeck and
were loaded between Puttgarden and Rødby via ferry across
Fehmarnsund; Due to the construction work on the Fehmarnbelt tunnel,
this type of loading is history after 56 years.
Regional
trains run every 20 minutes across the Öresund Bridge between Malmö
(Sweden) and Copenhagen, some from Kalmar or Växjö, some from
Karlskrona and some from Mölndal near Göteborg. There is also the
X2000 high-speed train, which runs every two hours, from Stockholm
via Linköping to Copenhagen - the journey from Stockholm to
Copenhagen takes just over five hours. An X2000 also drives every
two hours from Varberg on the west coast of Sweden via Helsingborg
to Copenhagen (total travel time 2:20 hours).
By bus
From
Flensburg there are buses to Aarhus, Kolding and Vejle.
By
street
The alcohol limit in Denmark is 0.5. The penalties for
non-compliance are based on income and can be up to one month's
earnings.
A mainland connection to Denmark is only available
via Germany. There is a bridge from Sweden. Other countries are
connected to the kingdom via ferry connections.
North Sea
The following connection is available to get to the Danish North Sea
coast:
On the A7 E45 to Handewitt. Continue on the B199 and B5 to
the Danish border. The P11 then continues along the southern coast.
If you want to go further north, for example near Esbjerg, follow
the E 45 to Motorvejskryds Kolding Vest (Kolding Vest motorway
junction; also Kolding V).
Baltic Sea
Travelers on the way to the Danish Baltic coast
follow the A7 E45 motorway to the border near Flensburg, which then
continues north as the E45.
Travelers in the direction of
Sønderborg and Als follow the P8 and the signs from Motorvejskryds
Kliplev near the border.
If you want to go a little further, for
example to Odense or the state capital Copenhagen, follow the E20
and signs from Motorvejskryds Kolding.
Aalborg, Aarhus and
Randers are on the E 45.
From Sweden you can get to Denmark on
the E20, which crosses the Öresund Bridge (toll!) And connects Malmö
with Copenhagen.
By boat
Scandlines operates ferries from
Puttgarden to Rødby on Lolland and from Rostock-Warnemünde to Gedser
on Falster. BornholmerFærgen operates the ferry routes from
Sassnitz, from Køge on Zealand (near Copenhagen) and from Ystad in
Sweden to Rønne on Bornholm.
There are also ferry connections
to North Jutland from Norway and Sweden:
to Frederikshavn
from Gothenburg and Oslo (Stenaline)
to Hirtshals from
Kristiansand, Larvik (Colorline) and Bergen (Norway) (Fjordline),
also from Iceland via the Faroe Islands (Smyrilline)
As a
passenger on a freighter voyage, you can go ashore in Aalborg,
Aarhus, Fredericia and Copenhagen.
By bicycle
Cyclists
from Germany can cycle to Jutland on the North Sea Cycle Path or on
the Ochsenweg from Hamburg via Flensburg, which is well signposted.
The long-distance cycle route Berlin - Copenhagen, including the
Rostock-Gedser ferry, leads cyclists across the islands of Falster
and Zealand.
By plane
There are domestic flights, especially between
Copenhagen and Jutland (especially Aalborg) and from these two to
the smaller and more remote islands (e.g. Bornholm). The most
important providers are SAS, Danish Air Tranport (DAT) and Norwegian
Air Shuttle.
By train
Long-distance rail transport is
operated by the Danske Statsbaner (DSB). The highest and fastest
train class in domestic traffic is the Lyntog (LYN; "Blitzzug"),
followed by the InterCity (IC). Jutland and the larger islands of
Funen, Zealand, Falster and Lolland are interconnected by bridges,
so that you can travel from one to the other by train without any
difficulties. On the most important route Copenhagen – Odense –
Fredericia – Aarhus – Aalborg, the Lyntoge run every hour,
supplemented by ICs that are also hourly. There is also an hourly IC
connection between Copenhagen and South Jutland (Kolding, Esbjerg).
The regional traffic is partially outsourced to private railway
companies. In Jutland z. B. Arriva Danmark local trains, which offer
free wireless internet access in their carriages.
The DSB
connection information takes into account both its own trains and
those of private providers as well as buses.
By bus
Important providers on the long-distance bus market are Abildskou
and Rødbillet. Both mainly offer connections between Copenhagen and
different cities in Jutland, with Abildskou usually having more
journeys while Rødbillet tends to have the lower prices.
In
the street
A special feature of the country, which consists of
many islands, are the numerous road bridges, especially the large
bridges with which straits are bridged, such as the Storebæltsbron,
the bridge over the Great Belt between Funen and Zealand, and the
Øresundsbroen, the bridge over the Øresund between the Danish
Zealand and the Swedish mainland near Malmö.
By bicycle
The bicycle is an everyday means of transport in Denmark, and the
capital Copenhagen in particular is known for its bicycle-friendly
policy. Denmark also offers good conditions for cyclists to be
mobile with their own bikes. A total of 11 national cycle routes run
through the country (the numbering is slightly misleading, number 11
is currently not assigned).
DK-1: The North Sea Cycle Route
Denmark (Vestkystruten) (West Coast Route) as a national section of
the North Sea Cycle Route leads around (almost) all of Jutland, from
Rudbøl on the German-Danish border via Esbjerg, Søndervig, Thyborøn
on the west coast to Hanstholm and finally on the north coast to
Hirtshals and Skagen. The North Sea Cycle Route then continues over
the DK-5.
DK-2: Hanstholm - Copenhagen
DK-3: Hærvejsruten
(Heerwegroute) (Skiveren - Padborg)
DK-4: Søndervig - Aarhus -
Copenhagen
DK-5: The North Sea Cycle Route Denmark (Østkystruten)
(Baltic Sea Route) from Hulsig to Sønderborg forms the second
national section of the North Sea Cycle Route. This begins in
Hulsig, about halfway the Hirtshals - Skagen route, and leads along
the east coast of Jutland via Frederikshavn to Grenaa, where the
North Sea Cycle Route leaves Denmark for Sweden. We continue along
the eastern and southern coastal areas to Sønderborg, which is back
on Jutland.
DK-6: Esbjerg - Odense - Copenhagen
DK-7:
Sjællands Odde - Rødby
DK-8: Sydhavsruten (South Sea Route)
Rudbøl - Møn
DK-9: Helsingør - Gedser
DK-10: The Bornholm
Rundt leads once "Around Bornholm" in a little more than 100 km and
offers a leisurely, but not always strenuous tour, which is
particularly suitable for families.
DK-12: Limfjordsruten (Around
the Limfjord)
By boat
Even if bridges are increasingly
connecting the many islands with each other and with the mainland,
ferries are still the main means of transport. Some islands can only
be reached by ship, others can also be reached via bridges.
Bornholm, connections from Køge on Zealand, from Ystad in Sweden and
seasonally from Sassnitz on Rügen
Fanø, connection from Esbjerg
Langeland, connection from Tårs on Lolland to Spodsbjerg, in
addition to the bridge system to Fyn
Samsø, connection from
Kalundborg on Zealand to Kolby Kås and from Hov (Hou) on Zealand to
Sælvig
Ærø, connection from Fynshav to Als, which in turn can be
reached via bridges from Sønderborg
In addition to the national language Danish, English is the main language spoken and understood. In the regions close to the border with Germany, especially in North Schleswig, German is also spoken, although the German language is no longer so widespread among the younger population. Norwegian and Swedish are also usually understood without any problems because they belong to the same language family.
Denmark has its own currency, the Danish Krone (1 Krone = 100 Ore).
The exchange rate is 1 crown = €0.13, with slight fluctuations. Danish
kroner can be withdrawn from domestic accounts at ATMs across the
country. The smallest coin in circulation is the 50 öre coin, when
paying in cash the amount is rounded up or down accordingly, but when
paying by card the exact price is debited.
Not all shops in the
country accept foreign debit and credit cards, and some shops add a
transaction fee to the bill without warning if you pay with a foreign
card. It is therefore generally better to always pay in cash in Denmark.
Denmark is considered an expensive travel destination. This is
mainly due to the record-breaking VAT of 25 percent, which applies to
all products, including groceries. It is not uncommon for Danes to be
chauffeured across the border to Germany on organized bus trips and do a
whole month's shopping there because groceries are so expensive in their
own country.
Supermarkets are usually also open on Sundays,
restrictions are possible outside the summer season. In the tourist
centers, the opening times are often the same every day (often until 8/9
p.m.), but the supermarkets in smaller towns often close earlier on
Saturdays and Sundays (5/6 p.m.). Campsites often also have a small
"købmand" attached.
Eating out in restaurants is relatively expensive; however, in all
regions of Denmark there is the opportunity to get something of the same
quality at lower prices in cafeterias. Especially in the cafeterias of
museums and other sights, local specialties are often offered
(relatively) cheaply.
Outside of Denmark, traditional Danish
cuisine is known almost exclusively for the dish "Smørrebrød" - a Vesper
- and therefore has a rather bad reputation internationally. On the
other hand, Denmark attracts with a fish cuisine based on different
types of fish such as herring. In many coastal towns there are small
smokehouses or fish snack bars at the port, where you can get a cheap
range of various smoked fish specialties during the day, but now fried
fish fillets are also common. In the upscale restaurants in particular,
there are also hearty meat dishes such as "dansk bøf" or "stegt flæsk og
persillesovs", thick slices of pork with a creamy sauce.
As in
Germany, the Martin goose Mortensgås is traditionally eaten on Saint
Martin's Day.
Beer is a very popular drink with meals, wine is
drunk less often. Akvavit is often drunk at the end of a meal. In
contrast, self-caterers receive e.g. B. to the neighboring country
Norway in Denmark alcoholic beverages also problem-free in the
supermarket.
The hot meal of the day is called midday and is
eaten at 5 or 6 p.m. After 8 p.m. or at the latest 9 p.m. you will not
get a hot meal in most Danish restaurants. Frokost, on the other hand,
is eaten at lunchtime, while breakfast is called morgenmad.
The
smørrebrød is considered the typical Danish dish. It literally means
"bread with butter", but has nothing to do with a simple bread with
butter, but is usually artfully arranged bread. The dessert "rød grød
med fløde", red fruit jelly with cream, is also typical.
Pickled
herring, with curry or other spices
Liver Paté Sandwich probably the
most popular.
Stjerneskud, a fried and a boiled plaice fillet on
toast, with shrimp, mayonnaise and salad.
Røget ål og røræg, smoked
eel and scrambled eggs
Pariserbøf, boiled beef with capers,
horseradish, raw onions and a raw egg yolk.
Dyrlægens natmad, the
vet's dinner, bread with liver pâté or corned beef, with onion rings.
Beef tartar, raw lean beef served with raw egg yolk, onions, horseradish
and capers.
Flæskesteg, slices of roast pork with pickled red
cabbage.
Roast beef with tartar sauce, roasted onions and
horseradish.
Potato, sliced potatoes with tomatoes, fried onions and
mayonnaise.
Hakkebøf, meatballs with fried onions, fried eggs and
pickles.
Shrimp, prawns with mayonnaise.
Ost, cheese, often aged
cheese served with raw onions, egg yolks and rum.
In Danish cuisine
there are a variety of desserts such as tarts and cakes kager, cinnamon
buns Kanelsnegl, donuts Æbleskiver or the sweet bun Boller.
Going out less often in Denmark and festivals tend to be celebrated
on a large scale at home.
Discos are considered to be something
particularly noble and are not visited as often by young people as in
other European countries, but they are dressed up. On the other hand,
the Danes like to celebrate festivals - every region has its own music,
culture, children's and harbor festivals, which are lined up over the
summer period and are by no means only visited by locals.
In
rural areas in particular, there is often also the local "kro", where
you can eat and drink in the evening - but with the restriction that
nightlife in Denmark and eating out in the evening are much earlier than
in Germany is limited. If you don't want to drink your beer until 10
p.m., you should have bought it in the supermarket beforehand...
VAT on overnight stays is a record 25%, which inevitably drives up
prices. A city tax may also apply.
Hotels and B&Bs
Simple
hotels are rather rare, but the offer is normal in the higher-priced
segment. In rural areas it is often the local inn, which also has a
small hotel business. In addition, the B&B offers are also increasing in
Denmark, if you are still spontaneously looking for a room in the
afternoon or in the evening, pay attention to the "rom single" notices
on the roadside.
Camping
The Danish campsites are usually
characterized by a very high standard, especially the offers for
families are often very well developed: Large playgrounds, the almost
standard "hoppepude" (bouncy cushions), separate family washrooms. But
the needs of those who are looking for peace and quiet are also taken
into account, many campsites have different areas for the different
target groups. It is characteristic of Danish campsites (mostly!) that
after sunset it suddenly becomes quiet on the site, a loud hustle and
bustle until well after midnight is completely untypical and is also
rigorously prevented on most sites. Overall, the supply buildings are
often spacious, self-catering kitchens - but at least good washing up
facilities - of course, washing machines and dryers as well, and there
is usually a small shop that sells at least dairy products and bread.
Overall, the capacities at Danish campsites are mostly above
average, but in the Danish summer holiday season the offer in
particularly popular regions can still be scarce. As the owner of a
caravan and looking for a pitch for several days or weeks, it can make
sense to pre-book it with your favorite campsite.
As a rule,
special regulations apply to commercial campsites for all travelers who
travel under their own steam (cyclists, hikers, canoeists). They get a
pitch for one night at almost all campsites in Denmark, even if the
space is officially fully booked.
Overnatning i det fri
Wild
camping, especially standing somewhere with mobile homes, is not
permitted, since the <vAllemannsretten,“ the right of public access,
does not apply in the same way as in other Scandinavian countries.
Instead, there are campgrounds for non-motorized travelers, often
located on hiking and biking trails in quite lonely regions, but some
are also available in the towns. A distinction is made between the
Overnatning i det fri sites, simple camp or shelter sites that are
usually privately owned and for which you pay a small fee to the owner,
and the public camp sites, called lejrplads, teltplads or primitive
camping, which are known under are managed by the department
"Naturstyrelsen" of the Danish Ministry of the Environment and can be
used free of charge. Some campsites do not offer any infrastructure,
just a (mowed) place to pitch your own tent, others have one or more low
shelters where you can spend the night with your own mat and sleeping
bag, some only offer running water, others even have a shower Installed.
You can research these places either in the printed directory
"Overnatning i det fri" (link above) or on various websites, e.g. B.
udinaturen.dk.
Some rules apply to all shelter or camp sites:
maximum two nights
only for hikers or cyclists, also canoeists,
sailors on shore places), some places also allow horse riders
Individual travelers or small groups, large groups are not allowed
Fire only when there is no risk of forest fire, only in prepared places
Rubbish usually has to be taken away
hostels
Overnight stays
in hostels/youth hostels are completely normal in Denmark, even for
adults. Especially in big cities or regions that are particularly
popular with tourists, you should pre-book here during the holiday
season to be on the safe side, if you are not flexible in terms of time
and want more comfort than a dormitory bed. Characteristic of the Danish
- like most of all Scandinavian hostels - is a good infrastructure for
self-catering: self-catering kitchen, washing machine, etc. are usually
a matter of course.
holiday homes
However, the most common
type of accommodation for vacationers are the numerous holiday homes.
These houses are mostly privately owned and rented through various
agencies. The price depends on the location, equipment and season. Most
of the houses are quite comfortably furnished, many also have extras
such as a whirlpool, sauna, swimming pool (indoor) or winter garden.
Almost all rental agencies have an internet presence, some operate
nationally, others only rent out houses in a specific area. The latter
are often not kom
The emergency call center is contacted via emergency call 112
(Danish: Alarm 112) for accidents, serious crimes or fire. Situations
that pose a threat to life, health, property or the environment. Notruf
114 (Danish: Service 114) is for inquiries to the police (Politi) that
are not urgent.
Entry with a pet
Denmark is one of the most
dog-friendly countries in Europe. However, there are a few important
rules to keep in mind. The following applies to the import of dogs, cats
and ferrets: identifiability is important. The following requirements
must be met:
chip or tattoo
EU pet passport
Valid rabies
vaccination
When importing a dog, cat or ferret from an EU
country to Denmark, it is very important that the animal is
identifiable, either by a chip or a clearly legible tattoo (e.g. an ear
tattoo). For animals that are marked for the first time from July 3,
2011, the microchip is mandatory. If the pet is not accompanied by the
owner or by a person who has responsibility for the pet on behalf of the
owner, the import will be considered a commercial import.
EU pet
passport and rabies vaccination
In addition, the animal must also
have an EU pet passport issued by a veterinarian, in which the
veterinarian confirms that a vaccination or booster vaccination against
rabies has been carried out. It is important that the last vaccination
or booster vaccination is not older than the tattoo or the insertion of
the chip. A new vaccination must have been carried out at least 3 weeks
before entry. The duration of vaccination protection depends on the
instructions of the vaccine manufacturer.
Dogs must be kept on a
leash throughout Denmark. Exceptions are specially marked outdoor areas
("Hundeskov") and the beach in the winter months. Any fines are - as
always in Denmark - in considerable amounts.
The law prohibits
the keeping, breeding and import of the following 13 dog breeds in
Denmark if the animals were acquired after March 17, 2010. Offenses are
punished with a fine or imprisonment for the dog owner and the dog being
put down. Mixed breeds of the 13 dog breeds mentioned above are also
affected.
1) Pitbull Terrier 2) Tosa Inu 3) American
Staffordshire Terrier 4) Fila Brasileiro 5) Dogo Argentino 6) American
Bulldog 7) Boerboel 8) Kangal 9) Central Asian Ovtcharka 10) Caucasian
Ovtcharka 11) South Russian Ovtcharka 12) Tornjak 13) Sarplaninac
The Danish healthcare system is considered excellent. There is only one state health insurance, with which almost all doctors in the country bill. Co-payments only apply for medication, but not for medical services. A referral from a general practitioner is required to visit a specialist. Dental treatment is not covered by state health insurance and must always be paid in full by yourself. The European Health Insurance Card is recognized in Denmark.
Rules and respect
The Danish rules of conduct largely correspond
to ours, so as a traveler from German-speaking countries you can't do
much wrong. Similar to other Scandinavian countries, polite phrases are
largely avoided in personal conversations in Denmark and it is much
faster to communicate with you than you are used to in Germany.
You should avoid the topic of politics and here in particular the topic
of immigration/immigration. Denmark has one of the strictest immigration
laws in the world, most Danes strictly reject any kind of immigration.
Tipping is not customary in Denmark and is not expected.
post
and telecommunications
Anyone who traditionally sends postcards from
vacation should think twice about doing so in Denmark, or reduce it
considerably. The postcards cost about as much as in other countries
(between 40 and 80 cents), but the postage! A postage stamp for a
postcard from Denmark to Germany costs 27 crowns in 2018, i.e. around
€3.60. If you still want to take the risk: stamps are available almost
everywhere where you can also buy picture postcards.
Getting a
SIM card is particularly difficult in Denmark because prepaid cards are
no longer sold in Denmark and contracts are only made with Danish
residents. The easiest way is to get a SIM card from another EU country
and use it in Denmark for EU roaming.
If you don't have this
option, you can resort to an "emergency nail": Lycamobile is also
available in Denmark, in the same "difficult" areas where you would
expect such an offer in this country. You can then make free calls to 50
countries, but the mobile Internet is terrible. You should therefore
really only resort to this offer in absolute emergencies.
Danish prehistory before the Stone Age is mostly geological history,
because there are no certain signs of humans. It has been speculated
that Neanderthals lived in present-day Denmark 100,000 years ago or
more, but there are no clear signs of this. About 15,000 years ago, the
ice sheet began to recede northwards in connection with climate change.
This was followed in the next millennia by three different waves of
immigration to Denmark: For approx. 10,000 years ago (about 8,000 BC)
some hunters and gatherers immigrated who, according to DNA analyses,
were small and very dark-skinned with gray or blue eyes. Then followed
for approx. 6,000 years ago (4,000 years BC) the people who brought
arable farming to the country, and thus let the farming stone age
replace the hunting stone age. And approx. 1,000 years later (around
3,000 BC) finally came a herding people (known as the Jamna culture)
originating in Eastern Europe who most likely brought with them the
Indo-European language from which Danish is descended.
About 1700
BC the Bronze Age began in Denmark, and approximately 500 BC followed
the Iron Age. The latter was subdivided into Celtic Iron Age, Roman Iron
Age and Germanic Iron Age. Already at the end of the Iron Age, i.e. in
the 7th century, a strong Danish central power may have existed. This is
evidenced by the colossal defense structure Dannevirke and the
Kanhavekanalen Samsø.
Danish history begins in the 8th century,
when the written sources begin to mention the conditions here. The
prehistoric times of the Nordic region, as well as the subsequent Viking
Age, are also referred to, even by historians, as ancient times. Here
the Vikings coming from the north (Danish, Swedish and Norwegian) begin
to ravage and trade in most of Europe. In this way, the Viking Age is a
transitional phase between prehistory and the Danish Middle Ages. From
this time originate the Jelling stones and Gorm the Old, who is the
first king in the traditional Danish line of kings. In the Viking Age,
Denmark was called Tanmaurk. Danish and Scandinavian Vikings played a
major power role in Europe for most of the Viking Age, i.a. because of
the strong navy. From the end of the 8th century, Danish settlements
were founded in England, and in 1013 and again in 1016, Danish kings
conquered all of England. After Canute the Great, the Viking empire
weakened again and England was lost. When Svend Estridsen got the throne
in 1047, Denmark's time as a Viking power was over.
After approx. 1050 begins a period in which a more peaceful contact
with the rest of Europe became increasingly important, e.g. with the
introduction of Christianity, cultural influences and new farming
methods. Other three factors also gained more importance: the kings'
attempts to increase their domestic power, their attempts to expand the
foreign sphere of power, e.g. under the Valdemars, and the dispute with
the Hanseatic League.
The domestic power struggle was first
between the magnates on one side and the royal power and the church on
the other. Later it turned into a dispute between the church and the
royal power. In foreign policy, they tried to create and maintain an
Austrian kingdom, culminating in the Kalmar Union of 1397. Cooperation
with the Hanseatic League was a commercial necessity, but also a
constant political problem. This urban association had a great influence
on the country's conditions and was at times the real power in the
country.
In 1534-36, Denmark experienced its last civil war in the form of the Count's Feud between citizens and peasants on one side and the nobility on the other. It led to the Reformation in 1536 with a transition to a Lutheran Protestantism and loss of the influence of the Pope and the church, which constituted a significant change in Denmark's history. The kings seized the church property and on that basis stood strongly against the nobility, however, much of the wealth was used for warfare. This is most clearly exemplified by the Renaissance king Christian IV, who probably had beautiful buildings erected in many places in the country, but who suffered serious defeats when he participated in the Thirty Years' War in Germany. The continued struggle against Sweden led to defeat after defeat with constant loss of territory, first the islands in the Baltic Sea, but later also core Danish provinces such as the Scania at the Peace of Roskilde in 1658.
Immediately after the Carl Gustav wars, the king carried out a coup d'état in 1660, where he abolished the old constitution and introduced absolute rule with the support of the bourgeoisie. A new official aristocracy grew out of the favor of the kings, and the citizens of the cities gradually gained more influence. The country was characterized by the cultural influence from France and by the kings' German-influenced administration. With the abolition of the stave band and later with other reforms in agriculture, the country prospered economically. This was interrupted by the wars with England, when the English bombarded Copenhagen in 1807 and took the Danish fleet. Denmark joined Napoleon, while Sweden allied with England. With the Peace of Vienna (1815), Denmark's union with Norway was dissolved. In 1813, Denmark experienced a state bankruptcy, but from the 1830s the so-called grain sales period started, a long-lasting boom for the country's most important industry, agriculture. Culturally, the period was a boom time for e.g. Danish philosophy, poetry and visual arts (the golden age) with authors such as H. C. Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard and N.F.S. Grundtvig.
After the peace of Vienna, the Danish monarchy consisted of the
kingdom and the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenborg, as well as
the colonies. Because Schleswig was a Danish fief with both Danish and
German-speaking populations, whereas Holstein and Lauenborg were part of
the German Confederation, disputes broke out between the supporters of
the Helstats and Owners policy, each of whom had their own national
point of view. This led to a rebellion against Denmark and the 1st
Schleswig War, which Denmark won with the help of England. In connection
with the revolutions in Europe in 1848, Denmark got a democratic form of
government with the constitution in 1849.
The underlying fault
lines in the Southern Jutland question had not been removed, however,
and in 1864 the 2nd Schleswig War broke out. The previous support from
abroad was no longer there, and the army suffered defeats, especially in
the Battle of Dybbøl. The result was the loss of the duchies, including
the Danish-speaking part of Schleswig.
Around 1870,
industrialization began in Denmark, and it was promoted by the
construction of a densely meshed railway network and by numerous ferry
and cargo boat connections between the parts of the country.
At
the same time, the upswing in agriculture (the cooperative movement),
which began with the milk centrifuge in 1878, meant increased purchasing
power for the rural population and led to a population surplus, which
accelerated the influx from the countryside to the city, which had
already begun ten years before – from 1870. Thus the urban industries
got a welcome reserve of cheap labour.
Housing of these many
immigrants was done very arbitrarily, which did not slow down the
epidemics which ravaged Copenhagen and the larger provincial cities
already 16 years before the co-operative movement started. Through
sewerage, the creation of schools and the expansion of the health
system, public health was eventually brought into order.
On the
labor market front, it succeeded in allaying the unrest when the Danish
labor market got its constitution during the Great Conflict in 1899,
where the trade union movement recognized the employers' right to manage
and distribute the work, and the workers were given the right to
organize. The last decades of the 19th century were marked by a long
constitutional struggle. The landlord-dominated party Højre held
government power for over 30 years (1870–1901), although the opposition
party Venstre had a majority in the Danish Parliament for most of the
period. In 1901, the system finally changed, when the Liberal Ministry
Government Deuntzer was formed. Since then, parliamentarism has been the
main rule in Denmark.
Denmark stayed out of World War I, and
supplies to the belligerent countries provided work and income for many.
Gradually, women were also given the right to vote (1915), and the
German defeat in 1918 led to a referendum, so North Schleswig was
reunited with Denmark on 15 June 1920, but the referendum left a German
minority in Denmark and a Danish one in Germany. The economic crisis of
the 1930s meant mass unemployment, but also the improvement of society's
support for the disadvantaged. Among other things. as a result of the
rearmament of the European powers, production started again in Denmark.
Germany occupied Denmark during World War II until 5 May 1945, and
Bornholm was then occupied by Soviet troops until 5 April the following
year. The Danish government continued to function during the German
occupation until 1943, but a resistance movement gradually arose, which
contributed to the country being counted among the allied countries that
established the UN in 1945. Iceland, which in 1918 had become an
independent country in personal union with Denmark, left the union in
1944 after a referendum and proclaimed a republic.
In the years after World War II, Europe was divided ideologically and along national borders. The fear of the Soviet Union led to Norway and Denmark choosing to join NATO (1949). However, it also gave the country access to the Marshall Plan, which was intended as support for the reconstruction of the European countries. It created good times in the country, and communism gradually lost its grip on the general population. Politically, the situation was deadlocked, and this gave very few opportunities for maneuver in Danish foreign policy, but in the economic field there was still room for changes. Including the development of the welfare society, which governments of different political persuasions were actively involved in shaping. In the 1960s, a large influx of women into the labor market occurred alongside a strong expansion of the public sector. During the 1960s, the negotiations on Danish participation in the EC (the later EU) began, and in 1972 a referendum confirmed Denmark's admission to the community. In several later votes, the collaboration was gradually expanded. With the oil crisis in 1973, an economic recession started, just as the landslide election of the same year led to political instability. At the same time, Denmark had a chronic deficit in the balance of payments. From 1982, various governments led by Poul Schlüter pursued austere economic policies, culminating in the "potato cure". On this basis, the decade was termed the "poor eighties".
With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the reunification of
Germany in 1990 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the following
years, completely new conditions were created for Danish foreign policy,
which became far more active: Support for the Baltic countries, the
expansion of NATO, increased integration into the EU and military
participation in actions in the Balkans, in Afghanistan and Iraq. In
1990, the Schlüter governments' tight economic policy had created a
surplus on the balance of payments for the first time since 1962. During
the 90s, under Poul Nyrup Rasmussen's government, unemployment succeeded
significantly. The so-called kickstart set in motion a boom, and labor
market reforms with an emphasis on active labor market policy reduced
structural unemployment. In several waves, the country received a strong
influx of foreign nationals, especially from the third world, who came
here partly as refugees and partly as family reunification. Gradually,
it turned out that immigration created problems, and the discussion
about which political line to take has been and still is a current
theme.
In terms of foreign policy, the decade that started with
the turn of the millennium was marked by the terrorist attack in the USA
on 11 September 2001, which triggered the war in Afghanistan and later
in Iraq, where the American-led coalition of willing countries with
Danish participation attacked Iraq and overthrew Saddam Hussein's
government.
In 2005, 12 Danes each drew a satirical drawing of
Islam's prophet Muhammad to focus on the fact that freedom of expression
was threatened, which led to reactions from Muslims in Denmark and
abroad. After the drawings, there has been speculation as to whether
Denmark would become a target for terror.
Domestically, the VK
governments led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen pursued a contract policy with
the tax freeze as the basis for economic policy. Fogh Rasmussen spent 8
years in the Prime Minister's Office until he resigned to take over the
post of Secretary General of NATO.
The successor, Lars Løkke
Rasmussen, took office in 2009 during the financial crisis, which i.a.
led to increasing unemployment and a large deficit in the state
finances. In 2011, he was replaced by an S-SF-R government under Helle
Thorning-Schmidt, which largely continued the economic policy of its
predecessor. In 2015, she was again replaced by Lars Løkke Rasmussen,
first at the head of a pure Left-wing government and from November 2016
in a coalition government together with the Liberal Alliance and the
Conservative People's Party.
One of the major economic questions
in the years just after the turn of the millennium was whether Danish
fiscal policy was sustainable in the long term in light of the expected
future population changes with more elderly people. After several
financial settlements that have improved the long-term public finances,
both the government and the economic sages have assessed since 2012 that
the fiscal policy is now sustainable in the long term. According to the
sages, the fiscal policy is even considered to be sustainable, such that
the future public expenditure will be less than the tax revenue.
The national territory of Denmark, which is mostly attributed to
Scandinavia for cultural reasons, covers (without the Faroe Islands and
Greenland) an area of 43,094 km². It is larger than that of Switzerland
or the Netherlands, but only about half the size of Austria. Denmark
measures 368 km from north to south and 452 km from east to west. The
northernmost point of the country is Grenen, the southernmost point is
at Gedser in the south of the island of Falster (it is also considered
the southernmost point in all of Scandinavia). The westernmost point is
Blåvandshuk in Jutland, located in the former Ribe Amt, the easternmost
point is at the Pea Islands (Danish Ertholmene), 18 km north-east of
Bornholm. The highest natural elevation in the country is 170.86 m.o.h.
meters of Møllehøj.
Because of its islands and rugged bays, the
country has a relatively long coastline of 7314 km. Denmark's 67 km long
southern border with Germany forms the only land border. Otherwise the
country is bordered by the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat and Baltic
Sea. The Oresund Bridge has been a permanent route to Sweden since July
2000.
With Jutland, the northern part of the Kimbrian Peninsula, and its
islands, Denmark forms the transition from Central Europe to
Scandinavia. In total there are 1419 islands with an area larger than
100 m² in Denmark. 394 islands have official names, of which only 74
were inhabited in 2016. The country's largest island is Zeeland with
7031 km², followed by Vendsyssel-Thy (North Jutland) with 4685 km² (but
not perceived as an island) and Funen with a size of 2985 km². Zealand,
on whose east coast lies the capital Copenhagen, is separated from the
island of Funen by the Great Belt, which in turn is separated from
Jutland by the Little Belt. A third major strait in the region is the
Øresund between Zealand and the southern tip of Sweden.
The ice
ages of the Pleistocene significantly shaped the landscapes of Denmark.
While the Elster and Saale glaciations completely covered the Danish
peninsula with deposits of ground moraine material, the Vistula
glaciation around 20,000 years ago only extended to about the middle of
Denmark. Today, this partial glaciation can still be traced using the
main standstill line of the various stages of the Vistula glaciation. It
divides Denmark into the distinctive East and West Jutland.
In
West Jutland low-yield sandy areas dominate, in East Jutland there are
mainly ground moraine and boulder clay. The standstill line runs roughly
from the southern edge of the Limfjord to the middle of Jutland and from
there southwards to Schleswig-Holstein. The country forms a continuation
of the North German Plain, which also consists of deposits from the cold
period.
The western part of Jutland in particular is very flat,
to the east it becomes hilly, and moraines from the Ice Age characterize
the landscape. Here is also the highest natural elevation in Denmark,
the Møllehøj with 170.86 m above sea level.
The islands are also
characterized by an interplay of hills and lowlands. The only exception
is the island of Bornholm, far to the east, which does not consist of
deposits but of granite, slate and sandstone.
The course of the
North Sea coast of Jutland is relatively balanced. The coastline of the
offshore islands is much shorter than that in the Baltic Sea. The lack
of bays and large dune fields made it difficult to build a harbor and so
it was not until the 19th century that Esbjerg, the only significant
harbor on the west coast of Denmark, was built. The Limfjord to the
north was a fjord until the storm surge of 1825; since then it has been
an approximately 180 km long sound that connects the North Sea with the
Kattegat and closes off the Jutland peninsula in the north.
The
Baltic Sea coast of Jutland, on the other hand, is rich in forms. Sea
bays, the fjords, reach far into the country. On them are some port
cities that are among the oldest settlements in Denmark.
Despite Denmark's location on two seas, the North Sea and the Baltic
Sea, the annual rainfall is moderate at 700 to 800 mm in the west and
even low in the east at 500 to 600 mm by Central European standards. The
temperatures are also balanced: an average of 16 °C is measured on the
North Sea in July, and 18 °C in eastern Zealand. Temperatures are
usually above 20 °C during the day and around 13 °C at night. In winter,
the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream and its offshoot, the North
Atlantic Current, is noticeable: temperatures around the freezing point
prevail across the country (around 2 °C during the day and around −3 °C
at night). The water temperatures on the coasts vary between 3 °C in
winter and 17 °C in summer.
The highest temperature that Danmarks
Meteorologiske Institut has ever recorded since recording weather data
from 1874 was 36.4 °C on August 10, 1975 in Holstebro. The lowest
temperature ever recorded was −31.2 °C and was measured on January 8,
1982 in Hørsted in Thy. Nationwide, the coldest year was 1874 with 5.9
°C, while 2007 with 9.5 °C was the highest annual average temperature
measured so far. (Status: October 3, 2011).
Due to the large number of smaller islands and fjords, the small
country has one of Europe's longest coastlines at 7,314 km. There are
368 kilometers from the northernmost point on Skagen's Nordstrand to the
southernmost point on Gedser Odde and 452 kilometers from the
easternmost point on Østerskær to the westernmost point on Blåvands Huk.
A circle with the same total area as Denmark would have a circumference
of 736 km with a diameter of 234 km (land area: 730 or 232.33 km). In
some places there are many small lakes. The landscape is generally flat
with plains, cliffs and dunes and Lammefjord as the lowest point on land
at -7.5 m. The highest non-man-made point is Møllehøj at Skanderborg
with 170.86 m, second highest Yding Skovhøj with 170.77 m and finally
Ejer Bavnehøj with 170.35 m. These points are all located in the same
area, called Ejer Bjerge, a few km southwest of Skanderborg.
The
landscape varies in the different parts of the country: Eastern Denmark
has a varied terrain. Among these, Bornholm has a special landscape with
bedrock. West Jutland's landscape consists of arable fields, plantations
and narrow meadows. Northern Jutland has sandy coasts with large dunes
and low swampy plains.
Due to extensive straightening, hardly any of Denmark's watercourses
still follow their natural course. The longest river in the country is
the Gudenå with 160 kilometers, which was created by the glacial
currents during the last ice age. The Kongeå (German: Königsau) was the
border river between 1864 and 1920 between the German Empire and
Denmark.
The country includes numerous smaller and larger lakes.
The largest lake is Arresø with an area of about 40 km² - it lies east
of Frederiksværk. The country's second largest lake is Stadil Fjord (19
km²) on Jutland and the third largest is Esromsee with an area of 17.36
km² - like Arresø, it is partly located in Hillerød municipality in the
Hovedstaden region on the island of Zealand.
About 12 percent of Denmark is covered by trees. Old forest stands
are rather rare. It is mostly deciduous forest, dominated by beech and
oak. Elms, hazels, maples, pines, birches, aspens, lindens and chestnuts
can also be found. Denmark's largest contiguous forest areas are in the
south of Silkeborg and with the Rold Skov in Himmerland.
Isolated
raised bogs have been preserved in the lowlands of western Jutland.
There is also the vegetation of the dunes and heaths that is typical for
Central Europe.
The largest terrestrial wild animal in Denmark is
the red deer, which can weigh over 200 kg. You can also meet roe deer,
fallow deer, rabbits, squirrels and hedgehogs. Land-dwelling predators
include foxes, badgers, martens, raccoons and raccoon dogs. Since 2015,
more and more wolves have been sighted in the wild, which have returned
to Denmark, since individual animals have been immigrating from Germany
more and more often. Before that, free wolves lived in Denmark for the
last time in 1813. Since mid-2016 there have been wild mooses in Denmark
again after five moose calves were released into the wild in a moor area
in Jutland (Lille Vildmose). The last time there were wild elk
populations in Denmark was about 5000 years ago. On Bornholm and in
Lille Vildmose there are projects to reintroduce European bison, which
became extinct in the country around 2500 years ago.
There are
almost 400 bird species in Denmark, the most common of which are
magpies, pigeons, coots, geese and ducks. Due to the long coastline, the
aquatic bird life with seagulls, loons and terns is extremely diverse.
On the coasts of the North Sea and Baltic Sea live the harbor seal
and – with up to 300 kg, the largest predator native to Denmark – the
gray seal. Many marine fish live in the seas around Denmark; especially
cod, salmon, herring and plaice form the basis of the fisheries.
In Denmark, hunting is tied to the ownership of land, so that according
to Danish hunting law, one hectare of contiguous land is sufficient to
be able to hunt. The most important hunted game in terms of the value of
the venison and the game damage in the forest and open fields are red
deer and roe deer. Concerned about the possible introduction of African
swine fever via wild boar migrating from the south, Denmark erected a
wildlife protection fence around 70 km long and 1.50 m high in 2019,
which – apart from a few border crossings – stretches along the entire
length of its land border with Germany extends (see Danish wild boar
fence).
The country's environment has suffered severe damage after centuries of deforestation (see also wood shortage) and destruction of pastures. Overall, around 20 percent of farmland is at or just above sea level, and much of it in ecologically vulnerable wetlands that have been made arable by pumping water. A total of six national parks were set up to protect ecological diversity.
In 2020, 88 percent of Denmark's population lived in cities.
With Copenhagen, Zealand has the most densely populated area in Denmark.
Around 40 percent of the population live on the 7000 km² island. 1.3
million people lived in the Greater Copenhagen region on Jan 1, 2022.
The cities (Danish: byer; sing.: by) are - since the municipal
reform of April 1, 1970 and the reduction of the number of
municipalities from 1098 to 277 and from 1974 to 275 municipalities - no
administrative units, but only statistical or geographical units . Since
the municipal reform of 2007, there are 98 municipalities in Denmark.
Denmark had 5.8 million inhabitants in 2020. Annual population growth was +0.3%. A surplus of births (birth rate: 10.4 per 1000 inhabitants vs. death rate: 9.4 per 1000 inhabitants) contributed to population growth. The number of births per woman was statistically 1.7 in 2020. The life expectancy of residents of Denmark from birth was 81.6 years in 2020 (women: 83.6, men: 79.6). The median age of the population was 42.3 years in 2020, below the European value of 42.5.
The population of Denmark is very homogeneous, almost 90 percent of
the population are Danes. In the south of Jutland there is a national
minority with the German minority. In addition, there are members of
other Scandinavian peoples and, especially since the end of the 20th
century, people with a migration background, especially from Turkey and
Eastern Europe. In 2017, 11.5% of the population was foreign-born.
Like the Danish minority in the German federal state of
Schleswig-Holstein, the German minority occupies a special position.
Most of the approximately 15,000 to 20,000 who call themselves the
“German ethnic group” live close to the border with Germany; their share
of the population is around 6 to 10% in the area of North Schleswig
(corresponding to the district of Sønderjylland until the area reform of
2007). In 1955, Germany and Denmark regulated the legal issues in two
declarations of principle, the Bonn-Copenhagen Declarations: the
respective minority received, among other things, funding for their
schools, libraries, parish offices, etc. as well as the recognition of
their own school degrees and also political privileges.
Freedom of religion is guaranteed by Denmark's constitution.
Although Danish society is highly secularized, nearly 74% of the
population traditionally belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Danish
People's Church (Folkekirken), which arose as part of Protestantism in
the 16th century (see Reformation in Europe). The Danish People's Church
is the only denomination that is closely linked to the state. Parliament
and the Queen exercise joint leadership of the Church, the highest
administrative authority is the Church Minister.
The Roman
Catholic Church in Denmark (diocese of Copenhagen with the cathedral
church of St. Ansgar) (0.6%) and Muslims (5.3%) mostly come from
immigrant families. Christian religions also include Jehovah's Witnesses
(0.3%), Serbian Orthodox and Baptists. Jews (~0.1%) have lived in
Denmark since the second half of the 17th century. In Denmark there has
been a ban on face coverings since 2018. Since then, nobody has been
allowed to cover their face with a burqa or niqab, and masks or
artificial beards are also prohibited.
A representative survey
commissioned by the European Commission as part of the Eurobarometer in
2020 showed that religion is important to 18 percent of people in
Denmark, it is neither important nor unimportant to 29 percent and
unimportant to 53 percent.
Schools
In Denmark there are private and public schools. School
education in Denmark begins after at least one year in kindergarten with
the nine-year elementary school (Folkeskole), which ends with the final
examination FSA (Folkeskolens Afgangsprøve). There is no separation of
the students before the 9th grade, so there is a nine-year community
school.
There is then the possibility of going to the Folkeskole
for another year after the 9th grade and completing the extended final
examination (the so-called FS10, formerly FSU). This roughly corresponds
to the intermediate school leaving certificate. Since many Folkeskolen
do not offer a 10th grade, many students complete a year at a so-called
Efterskole. These are boarding schools in which the young people are
supposed to further develop social, artistic, sporting or musical skills
in addition to the subjects of the 10th class, whereby the emphasis is
placed differently at each Efterskole.
Secondary schools after
the Folkeskole are the Gymnasium (STX), the Handelsgymnasium (HHX) and
the Technische Gymnasium (HTX). The Gymnasium is comparable to the
German Gymnasium and ends with the Danish Abitur (general higher
education entrance qualification), the so-called Studentereksamen. There
are two streams at the Gymnasium, the linguistic sproglig linje and the
more mathematically and scientifically oriented matematisk linje.
Attendance at the grammar school lasts three years, which
corresponds to the upper level of the grammar school. Depending on
whether you go to grammar school after the 9th or 10th grade, it takes
12 or 13 years to graduate from high school.
In addition to the
Studentereksamen (STX) mentioned above, there are two other types of
exams in Denmark, the commercial school exam HHX (Højere Handelseksamen)
and the technical Abitur HTX. While the former is of particular interest
to those who aspire to work in business, the HTX is of particular
interest to students who later aspire to an engineering career. The HHX
and HTX are subject-related university entrance qualifications that do
not come close to the flexibility of the student eksamen.
There
is also the option of completing an apprenticeship after the 9th grade
instead of attending a secondary school. There are also vocational
schools for this, where theory and practice are combined.
The
Danish school system therefore does not differentiate at all until the
end of the Folkeskole, but very strongly after that. There is a basic
consensus that the policy of late differentiation should be maintained.
An early separation of the students, as it takes place in Germany after
elementary school, is rejected.
Colleges
There are five types
of colleges: universities, colleges of architecture and art, business
schools, university colleges, maritime training institutions.
The
oldest and best-known university is the University of Copenhagen,
founded in 1479. It is spread over several locations like other Danish
universities. Denmark's Technical University followed in 1829 in Kongens
Lyngby. In the 20th century, the higher education sector expanded more
and more:
Copenhagen Business School (1917) in Frederiksberg
Aarhus University (1928) in Aarhus
University of Roskilde (1972) in
Roskilde
Aalborg University (1974) in Aalborg
Syddansk Universitet
(1998) in Odense
IT University of Copenhagen (1999) in Copenhagen
Selandia - Center for Erhvervsrettet Uddannelse in Slagelse
There
are also several colleges of art and music, e.g. B. The Royal Danish
Academy of Fine Arts (1754), Det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium
(1861).
In tertiary education, university colleges also lead to a
university degree. It can be compared to a degree from a German
university of applied sciences.
All Danish courses are subject to
a numerus clausus, a central office allocates study places according to
the average grade (so-called Kvote-1 procedure). Furthermore, a certain
percentage of the study places are allocated according to social
criteria, whereby one can improve one's chances through social work
(so-called Kvote-2 procedure). Similar to Germany, some subjects are
very overcrowded, making it difficult to get a place (e.g. medicine,
media studies, psychology, law), while other subjects require a very low
average, so that every applicant is accepted.
From 2001 to 2011, a minority coalition of
Venstre and the Conservative People's Party was in power. In exchange
for support for the third largest far-right Danish People's Party, the
government consistently tightened immigration laws.
Anti-immigration measures have significantly reduced the influx of
certain categories of migrants to Denmark. In particular, in 2006, 4,198
entry permits for family reunification were issued, which is 70% less
than in 2001, and political asylum was granted to 1,098 people (82.5%
less). At the same time, over the period 2001-2006, the number of those
who received a study visa increased from 10 to 28.4 thousand people (an
increase of 2.8 times), and those who entered on a work visa - from 5.9
to 12.8 thousand people (an increase by 100%). In 2011, the measures
were further tightened - in particular, a points system was introduced
for the spouses of immigrants who wish to enter the country. These
measures are criticized by European and international organizations as
being inconsistent with European human rights law.
As of 2021,
86% of the total population of Denmark is ethnic Danes, while the
remaining 14% or more of 817,438 people are immigrants and their
descendants (199,668 people are second-generation immigrants born in
Denmark).
Denmark (Denamearc) is mentioned in a manuscript that also contains
the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, specifically The Abingdon Chronicle II. In
the manuscript, which is believed to have been written down in the 11th
century, Orosius is retold in Anglo-Saxon, and in the section in
question, the Norwegian Ottar is told – the Anglo-Saxon retelling was
traditionally attributed to Alfred the Great (849–899) in earlier times.
The Latin compilation In marca vel regno Danorum appears in the East
Franconian chronicler Regino of Prüm, who here depicts Otto I in the
year 965 convening a meeting of bishops.
The word Denmark is also
mentioned on the Jelling stones, which date to the year approx. 950.
The word Denmark consists of two parts. The prefix "Dan-" refers to
the Danes or, according to Saxo, to the legendary king Dan. There are
countless references to Danes in various places in Europe in both
ancient Greek and Roman historians (such as Gregory of Tours, Jordanes
and Procopius) and medieval ones (such as Adam of Bremen, Beowulf,
Widsith and the Elder Edda)
In Norse, the majority of the people
were called "danir", which can mean something like "flatland dwellers".
"Daner" is probably a derivation of the Indo-European *dhen-, meaning
"flat, flat board".
The word Denmark may therefore have meant
"the borderland of the flatland dwellers" and was possibly initially
limited to the forests of Schleswig, i.e. the borderland of the Danes
with the Germans to the south.
"Mark" was used in Old High German
and Anglo-Saxon in the sense of "borderland", and the political tone is
also found in the word, and the office, margrave, just as the ending may
also be connected to forest areas such as Finnmark or Telemark.
While "Danmark" in common parlance unambiguously refers to the kingdom
and nation-state of Denmark, identical or similar place names also
appear in Swedish geography: Danmark (sv), parish in Uppsala län;
Denmark, an island in the archipelago off Gothenburg, a wooded area in
Karlshamn, Blekinge; Denmark, Västra Götalands län, west of Vättern.
Denmark has a constitutional monarchy, and the political system is based on the Constitution of 1849. The Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, is the head of government. Before the Basic Law of 1849, the Royal Act of 1665 constituted the central piece of legislation in the Danish constitution. Certain parts of the law still apply. Denmark has representative democracy, which in certain cases holds referendums on important decisions.
The monarch, Queen Margrethe, is head of state with ceremonial duties. She is barred from carrying out political duties, but has a formal role in appointing and dismissing governments and signing laws passed. There are, however, established (in practice unavoidable) procedures for these tasks.
The board is divided between the three powers, the executive power,
which rests with the government, the legislative power, which rests with
the Folketinget, and the judicial power, which rests with the courts.
The Constitution states that both the monarch and the Folketing
constitute the legislative power, but in practice this means the
government and the Folketing. Denmark has the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as its state religion, but the Constitution ensures freedom of
religion. However, the Danish regent must be of the Evangelical-Lutheran
faith.
The Folketing is the country's parliament and legislative
power, which consists of 179 members, two of whom are elected from the
Faroe Islands and two from Greenland. The four mandates usually vote
neither for nor against in connection with domestic political matters,
but in crisis situations they usually support the party they feel most
closely associated with. Members of Parliament are elected by the
proportional representation method, but the candidates are nominated
locally, with which the politicians retain a certain dependence on the
local constituencies. Since 1961, the Danish Parliament has had a
barring limit of 2%, but a constituency mandate can grant access.
Elections are held every four years, but the Prime Minister can dissolve
Parliament at any time and call a new election. The most recent general
election was held on 1 November 2022. The government cannot have a
majority against it in the Folketing; the government thus does not need
to have a majority behind it and can thus consist of parties that
together have less than half of the seats in the Folketing. Members of
Parliament meet four times a week for debate.
Traditionally, most
Danish governments have been minority governments with support from
non-government parties, and cooperation across the middle has been most
typical. The Social Democrats and Venstre have had the greatest
influence as government-bearing parties since the system change in 1901.
The Lars Løkke Rasmussen III government was a three-party government
with 22 ministers. On 27 June 2019, it was replaced by the government of
Mette Frederiksen, a social democratic minority government with three
supporting parties. The ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister
and do not have to sit in the Folketing or belong to any party.
The courts are independent of the government and parliament. The Supreme
Court is the highest court and has the final say in disputes and
doubtful matters in relation to the law. The Supreme Court thus has a
certain political significance, as they can ultimately judge legislative
proposals and political actions illegal in relation to the Constitution.
The European Court of Justice has gradually also taken the form of
supreme authority in many areas in the country, just as the Supreme
Court has also aligned itself with the Human Rights Court, cf. Jens Olaf
Jersild's Green Jacket case.
The Basic Law of 1953 ensures –
together with the incorporation of the European Convention on Human
Rights into Danish law in 1992 – the human rights of Danish citizens. In
2017, Transparency International ranked Denmark as the second least
corrupt country in the world after New Zealand. The American
organization Freedom House ranks Denmark as "free" in terms of political
rights and civil liberties.
Denmark is a member of various associations such as The EU, the UN,
NATO and the Nordic Council. As a co-founder of NATO, in the post-war
period Denmark broke off a century and a half of neutrality and during
the Cold War tried to link the Eastern European countries to the West,
including the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). Denmark
has been a member of the EU (formerly EC) since 1973 and is one of the
free trade-oriented EU countries. Support for membership is generally
high in Denmark, while at the same time the population is skeptical
about ceding additional sovereignty to the EU. In a referendum in 1992,
a majority said no to the Maastricht Treaty. In a referendum from 2000,
the Danes voted no to replace the Danish krone with the euro as
currency, and in 2015, in another referendum, there was a majority
against lifting the Danish reservation of rights within the EU. In five
other referenda on EC/EU issues, there has been a reverse majority in
favor of participation: In 1972 (membership of the EC), in 1986 (the EC
package), in 1993 (the Edinburgh Agreement), in 1998 (the Treaty of
Amsterdam ) and in 2014 (Patent Court).
After the crisis over the
Muhammad cartoons, several Muslim countries boycotted Danish products in
protest against the Danish government's refusal to condemn these
cartoons. One of Denmark's embassies was exposed to arson for the same
reason. Relations with most Muslim-ruled countries have since improved,
while Islamists still in 2010 made threats against Danish interests.
Since the Arctic contains relatively large quantities of oil and
natural gas, which Greenland borders along with Canada, the USA, Norway
and Russia, a dispute has arisen between the individuals over the right
to the area.
The Nordic region is an important ideological
cooperation partner with which Denmark has close cultural ties. The
countries trade a lot with each other, and their citizens can travel
freely in each other's countries. In the past few years, the two members
of the Commonwealth, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, have had greater
say in foreign policy areas, such as geopolitical issues and the search
for oil. Denmark has always supported the UN both politically and
financially, but the Danish NGOs and private organizations also take
care of a significant share of the bilateral aid. Denmark annually
contributes 0.75% of the gross national income in overall development
aid. and tries to support its 20 primary partner countries in the Third
World in areas such as economic growth, social and environmental
conditions.
After the liberation from German occupation in World War II in May
1945, the Danish defense had to start almost from scratch with the
rebuilding of the armed forces. In 1950 the US began its arms assistance
program, including to Denmark, and in the same year there was a
reorganization of the military and political leadership of defence. Only
then did the armed forces progressively reach troop levels and levels of
preparedness that approached NATO's regularly scheduled target levels.
During the Cold War, however, Denmark's troop strength was always at the
lower limit of the Alliance's requirements. The defense agreements
between the government and the opposition, which provide the financial
and political basis for defense tasks, have traditionally been supported
by a broad majority in the Folketing. As of 2021, up to 750 Danish
soldiers were stationed in Afghanistan. Denmark also provides 35
soldiers for KFOR.
Denmark spent almost 1.2 percent of its
economic output, or $3.8 billion, on its armed forces in 2017.
The army (Danish: Hæren) has a strength of about 15,000 men. Army operations are managed by the Army Command in Karup and in the logistical area by the Army Support Command in Hjørring. The army consists of 17 regiments of the various branches of service, which train the soldiers up to unit level (company, etc.). Combined arms combat training takes place in the superordinate large unit of the brigade or military region in which they are integrated. These are, among others, three armored infantry brigades of the Danish Division. A fourth armored infantry brigade was formed as the Danish International Brigade (DIB). The brigade consists of 4,500 active soldiers and reservists. About a third of these can be deployed abroad within the framework of the UN or OSCE. The number roughly corresponds to that which Denmark placed primarily in the service of the UN in mid-1995. The DIB is part of the NATO rapid reaction force.
The Navy (Danish Kongelige Danske Marine) has a strength of about
4500 men. Their operations are directed by the Fleet Command in Aarhus,
the Greenland Command and the Faroe Islands Command, and in the overall
logistic area by the Naval Support Command in Copenhagen. The main bases
are the naval bases in Korsør and Frederikshavn. The main color of the
Navy is gray (camouflage).
The day-to-day operations take place
in the squadrons, which are basically made up of ships that have one and
the same mission. Squadrons include patrol frigates, corvettes, missile
boats, minelayers, and various smaller vessels. In addition, the Navy
has mobile land-based anti-ship missile batteries. Most of the smaller
vessels belong to the STANDARD FLEX 300 class, a type of vessel based on
modular construction. Depending on the equipment and training of the
crew, it can be used as a surveillance boat, submarine hunt boat and
minelayer/minesweeper boat. In addition to their support functions, the
tasks of the naval bases include the surveillance of Danish waters,
divided between three naval section commands and training facilities on
land. The Navy has permanently stationed units to monitor fisheries and
to protect sovereignty rights off Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The
Navy has regularly delegated a corvette to NATO to participate in
peacekeeping operations. Since the withdrawal of US troops from the
island state of Iceland, the Danish Navy has taken over responsibility
for Icelandic coastal defense together with the Icelandic Coast Guard.
The Air Force (Danish: Flyvevåbnet) has a strength of about 6000 men. Its operations are managed by the Air Force Command in Karup or, in the higher level of logistics, by the Air Force Support Command in Brabrand, western Aarhus and Karup. The aviation units are divided between the fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons with F-16 fighters based at Skrydstrup and Ålborg air bases, and the transport and rescue squadrons with C-130 Hercules and Gulfstream III aircraft at Aalborg and S-61 Sea helicopters King at Karup Air Force Base. The radar stations of the control and early warning group constantly monitor the airspace over Denmark and can use fighter planes for direct defense and air defense, and in the event of war, on the orders of the Air Force Command, additional anti-aircraft missiles.
The Home Guard (Dan.: Hjemmeværnet) consists of around 56,000 volunteers, whose leadership in peacetime is in the hands of the Home Guard Command. The force includes the Heeresheimwehr, which is organized into territorially defined Heimwehr companies that constantly monitor the entire country and, in the event of war, are assigned to the troops of the Army's military regions, the Naval Home Guard, which supports the Navy, and finally the Luftwaffe Home Guard, which controls and Luftwaffe Early Warning Group by monitoring airspace at low altitudes, assisted in guard duties.
Denmark joined the European Community in 1973. According to the Danish constitution, any transfer of sovereignty rights must be decided by a referendum. Accordingly, the Danish people voted five times on EU issues. In 1992 the Maastricht Treaty was rejected in a referendum. A second attempt in 1993 then brought approval due to several "opt-outs" in economic and monetary union, security and defense policy, justice and home affairs and EU citizenship. Since then, the "opt-outs" have been repeatedly questioned because they stand in the way of further integration into the EU. With the entry into force of the EU reform treaty, they will even increase. It is planned to hold referendums on the individual policy areas again in the next few years. In April 2008, the Danish Parliament voted in favor of the EU Reform Treaty of Lisbon.
Reformers like to cite Denmark as an example of a deregulated labor
market because the country does not have protection against dismissal
comparable to that in Germany. However, the share of public employees
with approx. 28% (800,000) (2006) of all employees (approx. 2,800,000)
is about twice as high as in Germany. Converted to full-time employment,
this public share increases to over 38% of a total of over 2.3 million
full-time employees. Liberal employment regulations, a high level of
social security and an active labor market policy are combined under the
motto "flexicurity". Unemployed people receive significantly higher
unemployment benefits than in Germany if they have paid into the
unemployment fund (a-kasse) and are eligible to receive unemployment
benefits. For example, people who have been outside the EU for more than
one year (the last 7 years before applying for unemployment benefit)
lose their right to unemployment benefit, regardless of whether they
have paid into the unemployment fund or not. People who are entitled to
unemployment benefits are fully qualified for new jobs.
Union
density is extremely high (68% in 2015). Collective bargaining is
centralized between employers and unions. Although Denmark does not have
a statutory minimum wage, minimum wages are usually standardized by
collective agreements and complied with by the companies. Unions have
the right to call for a boycott of employers who do not abide by
collective bargaining agreements. Although the Danish system demands
high concessions from employers, it is generally accepted by all parties
involved because it has proven to be very successful over the past 100
years.
In international comparisons, Denmark usually does very
well. The employment rate, including among older workers, is the highest
in the EU. Despite the extremely high tax and duty rate (the VAT rate is
25%, this also applies to books and groceries, the top rate of income
tax is 59%), the country is considered to be very flexible and
competitive. The standard of living of the Danes is one of the highest
in the world, the national debt is comparatively low. In comparison with
the EU's GDP expressed in purchasing power standards, Denmark has an
index of 125 (EU-28:100) (2014). With budget surpluses of 4.9% and 4.2%
of gross domestic product, Denmark was the EU leader in 2005 and 2006.
In the Global Competitiveness Index, which measures a country's
competitiveness, Denmark ranks 12th out of 137 countries (as of
2017-2018). The country ranked 18th out of 180 countries in the 2017
Economic Freedom Index.
After years of high economic growth, the
Danish economy was also in recession as a result of the global financial
and economic crisis. Gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 5.9 percent
in 2009 and again by 1.7 percent in 2010. In the period from 2011 to
2014, GDP rose again slightly. In 2015, the Danish economy grew by 1.1
percent.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the unemployment rate averaged 6.4%.
That was a minimal drop of -0.1% compared to the third quarter, but a
clear drop of -0.6% compared to the same period last year. Youth
unemployment was well above this level at 11.2% in the fourth quarter of
2014 and 13.3% in the corresponding quarter of 2013. During the course
of the financial crisis from 2007 onwards, the number of unemployed had
increased. From a European peak of just 3.4% unemployed in 2008, the
rate rose to 7.6% in 2011. Since then, the employment situation has
continuously improved. By June 2018, it had fallen to 5.0%.
industry and service
Denmark is a highly industrialized country, more
than three quarters of its exports are industrial goods or machines.
Industry and most service companies are mainly concentrated in the
greater Copenhagen area, while Jutland is relatively unindustrialized.
The country's industry contributed about 23% of GDP in 2017 and employed
about 18.3% of all workers; the service sector contributed about 79% to
GDP in 2016 and employed about 76% of workers in 2017.
The most
important branches of the manufacturing industry in Denmark in terms of
turnover are the food and metalworking industries, printing and
publishing, mechanical engineering and the production of electronic
goods and diesel engines (mainly for ships and locomotives). Danish
furniture has been in demand in many countries since the beginning of
the 20th century. Shipyards, brewing, the textile and clothing industry,
as well as the production of cement, chemical products, medicines,
ceramics/porcelain, stoves, bicycles and paper are also important. Until
1970 brown coal was mined at Søby in the municipality of Herning, in
1961 it was 2.3 million tons.
Agriculture in Denmark is a highly mechanized industry. It
contributes about 2.3% of GDP and employs about 3% of all workers.
More than half of the country's area – not including Greenland and
the Faroe Islands – is used for agriculture. By nature, the soils are
relatively poor in nutrients; this is compensated for by intensive
fertilization. The Danish government encourages small farms. The merger
of small businesses to form large goods is made more difficult by law.
Around 85 percent of Danish farms are family farms of less than 50
hectares.
Cereals are grown on 60 percent of the approximately
2.5 million hectares of cultivated land; the spectrum includes barley,
oats, wheat and rye. The remaining area is planted with forage crops,
flax, hemp, hops and tobacco. Over 50 percent of the total area is used
as farmland. The predominantly export-oriented meat and dairy industry
plays an important role. Denmark is one of the largest producers of pork
products in the world. Livestock mainly includes pigs, cattle and
horses.
A distinctive feature of Danish agriculture is the great
influence of agricultural cooperatives. They dominate the production of
dairy products and ham. A high percentage of agricultural produce is
marketed through the cooperatives. Most cooperatives belong to national
associations, which in turn are members of the agricultural committee.
This central body of the cooperatives negotiates with the government,
industry or foreign trading partners.
In 1805 the government
declared all forests (which today make up around 12 percent of Denmark's
total area) to be nature reserves. Denmark's large fishing fleet plays
an important role in the country's economy. Most of the fish caught are
marine fish, with herring, salmon and cod being the commercially most
important species. Most of the fishing grounds are in the North Sea.
Large export surpluses are achieved for fish.
Since August 1,
2000, Denmark has also been recognized as a wine-growing region by the
EU. Since then, Danish wine has been allowed to be grown and sold for
commercial purposes.
General
After the Second World War, Denmark relied heavily on oil
as a primary energy supplier. In the early 1970s it was almost entirely
dependent on imported petroleum. As a result of the oil crisis in 1973,
which hit Denmark in particular as a largely oil-dependent country,
there were considerations of building nuclear power plants in order to
diversify the energy supply. After a long political struggle since the
early 1970s, the country finally decided against the use of nuclear
energy with a parliamentary resolution in 1985. The country is now an
energy exporter. In 2008, 18 oil and gas fields, all in the North Sea,
produced a total of 16.7 million m³ of oil and 9.9 million m³ i.N. gas
promoted. The production volume has been declining since 2004. Along
with Canada, Russia and Norway, Denmark is also very actively involved
in the race for mineral resources in the deep sea under the Arctic,
which is highly controversial from the point of view of environmental
protection.
Energy transition
Denmark is the pioneer country
of the energy transition. With the plan to convert the entire energy
supply (electricity, heat and transport) to renewable energies by 2050,
it is also the country with the most ambitious goal. This is to be
achieved through the strong expansion of wind energy and the
electrification of the heating and transport sectors. The main goal
since 1972 has been to reduce dependency on oil imports, later other
goals were energy self-sufficiency, the phasing out of the use of fossil
energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Through measures
such as energy savings, efficiency increases and combined heat and power
generation, Denmark managed to keep the primary energy use more or less
constant for 40 years (1972 to 2012), even though the gross domestic
product grew by more than 100% during this period. At the same time, 25%
of the primary energy was replaced by renewable energies. At the same
time, carbon dioxide emissions from electricity production, which were
still over 1000 g/kWh in 1990, fell to 135 g/kWh by 2019, around a
seventh of the initial value
Of particular importance is the use
of wind energy, which was systematically promoted in Denmark as one of
the first countries in the world back in the 1980s. In 2011, the share
of renewable energies was 40.7% of electricity consumption, of which
28.1 percentage points came from wind energy. In 2015 it was 56.0%. In
2015, wind power covered 42.1% of Denmark's electricity needs (2014:
39.1%), the highest value in the world. The then Danish government
decided to achieve a 50% share of wind energy in electricity generation
by 2020 while reducing carbon emissions by 40%. The Danish parliament
approved the plan in March 2012 with a large majority. In 2019 and 2020,
the wind share of electricity generation was 48%, in 2021 it was 44%.
Despite a significant increase in wind power capacity in 2020 and 2021,
the 50% target has not yet been reached, but in 2022 the wind energy
share was 55%, with wind turbines with a cumulative nominal capacity of
7,282 MW installed in Denmark at the end of 2022. Denmark aims to reduce
emissions by 70 percent by 2030.
In 2021, Denmark ranked 6th in
the climate protection index, an annual analysis of the climate
protection efforts of individual countries.
The country has few natural resources. Mineral raw materials are
mined to a limited extent, primarily kaolin and granite. All mineral
resources are publicly owned. There are deposits of kaolin on Bornholm,
but these are of inferior quality and are mainly used for the production
of pottery and bricks. The minerals limonite, cryolite, limestone, chalk
and marl are also used commercially. Large deposits of salt have been
discovered on Jutland. Oil and natural gas have been produced in the
North Sea since the 1970s.
Currency and Banking
The country's
currency is the Danish Krone to 100 Øre. Denmark is part of the ERM II,
an exchange rate agreement that has existed since 1999 between various
EU countries as part of the European Monetary System II. The Danish
National Bank (founded in 1818) is the country's central bank and
financial centre. Their head office is in Copenhagen. Some large
commercial banks have branches throughout Denmark. There are also more
than 90 savings banks. Since the 1970s, the number of banks has declined
due to a series of mergers. Several mergers took place, especially in
the early 1990s.
At the latest when the third stage of European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) began in January 1999, there was a
fierce political debate in Denmark as to whether the country should join
EMU and adopt the euro as its single currency. In a referendum on
September 28, 2000, 53.1 percent of the Danish population voted against
the euro - 46.9 percent were in favor of abolishing the Danish krone.
With this result, accession to EMU was also rejected. A new referendum
on the introduction of the euro was announced in November 2007, but
never took place.
The Danish krone has a fixed exchange rate
policy to the euro; therefore 100 euros can be exchanged for 746 ± 2.25%
crowns. In practice, the Danish National Bank has stabilized the
exchange rate at a level very close to the central rate.
Assets
According to a 2017 study by Bank Credit Suisse, Denmark ranked 24th in
the world in terms of total national wealth. Total property, stock and
cash holdings totaled $1,245 billion. The average wealth per adult is
$281,542 and the median is $87,231 (in Germany: $203,946 and $47,091
respectively). In terms of average wealth per inhabitant, Denmark is one
of the top 10 countries in the world. Overall, 59.3% of Danes' total
wealth was financial wealth and 40.7% non-financial wealth. The Gini
coefficient for wealth distribution was 80.9 in 2017, indicating
relatively high wealth inequality.
In the mid-1960s, the Federal Republic of Germany ousted the United
Kingdom as Denmark's most important trading partner. Nevertheless, Great
Britain is still one of the largest buyers of Danish products. Sweden,
Norway, France and the Netherlands are also important trading partners.
Trade with countries in Eastern Europe has increased significantly in
recent years, especially with Poland. Outside Europe, the USA, the
People's Republic of China and Japan are the most important trading
partners. The trade balance is positive, i. H. exports exceed imports.
Up until the early 1960s, meat and dairy products made up the
majority of exports. Since then, exports of manufactured goods have
increased steadily and, since 1961, have accounted for a larger share of
total exports than agricultural products. The focus is on chemical and
pharmaceutical products as well as vehicles. The most important Danish
import goods are machinery, raw metals, metal goods, transport
equipment, fuels and lubricants.
Tourism has been booming in Denmark for years: in 2015 more than ten million visitors came, most of them from Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden, as well as Germany. Swedish and Norwegian tourists often visit the capital Copenhagen due to the proximity. In addition to tourists from Scandinavia, Denmark is also very popular with German tourists. Around one million Germans visited the country in 1999. In 2016, tourism revenues were 6.9 billion US dollars.
Denmark has attempted to define its cultural heritage in an official
Danish Cultural Canon issued by the Ministry of Culture. Another attempt
to map the country's cultural heritage came with the website 1001
fortællinger om Danmark (1001 stories about Denmark), launched in 2010.
public holidays
The country's public holidays are New Year's Day
(January 1), Easter (Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday), Store Bededag,
Ascension Day, Whit Monday and Christmas (December 25). The Danish
Constitution Day on 5 June is not a public holiday, but shops and public
buildings are usually closed.
A Danish specialty is the Store
Bededag. Instead of commemorating various saints with many holidays in
spring, the Danes celebrate Store Bededag on the fourth Friday after
Easter, with which they honor all saints and clergy. This holiday was
introduced by Count Johann Friedrich von Struensee in the 18th century.
The best-known Danish contribution to the culinary field is probably
the smørrebrød, richly topped wholemeal bread slices as a cold lunch
dish. Also known is the hot dog, which is eaten with red sausages (rød
pølser) - kogt (boiled) or ristet (fried); It is garnished with sweet
tartar sauce, roasted onions and sweet and sour cucumber slices.
Remoulade is not only eaten with French fries, but also with fish,
salami or spring rolls.
The national dish is the classic
slow-cooked roast pork with rind (flæskesteg) in the oven, served with
potatoes and brown gravy. Danish Labskaus (Skipperlabskovs) is typically
prepared with fresh pork instead of corned beef.
Almond milk rice
(Ris à l'amande) is often served as a dessert at Christmas. It consists
of cold vanilla rice pudding, whipped cream and chopped almonds, served
with cherry sauce. A skinned almond hidden in the dessert gives a small
gift (almond gave) to the person in whose portion it is found.
For several years now, there has been a renewal of Danish cuisine.
Products from organic farming and locally available ingredients such as
wild herbs have now gained particular importance. Restaurants are trying
to reinterpret regional traditions and use a greater variety of recipes.
When it comes to alcoholic beverages, beer and schnapps have a long
tradition in Denmark. In addition to the well-known beer brands
(Carlsberg, Tuborg, Faxe and Albani), a number of local microbreweries
have recently emerged. A Danish specialty since 1953 is the Christmas
brew (Julebryg) with a higher alcohol content, not to be confused with
the Christmas beer (Juleøl or Nisseøl), a dark, sweet light beer.
The best-known aquavite and bitters (Aalborg Akvavit, Gammel Dansk)
have only been produced in Norway since April 2015. Glögg, the Nordic
variant of mulled wine, is also part of Christmas. The toast is “Skål”.
In contrast to neighboring Scandinavian countries, the sale of alcohol
is not subject to a state monopoly, but is free. There are also no
night-time selling restrictions, as there are for Norwegian
supermarkets. High Danish taxes on alcoholic beverages make them
noticeably more expensive compared to Central Europe.
Danish architecture developed in the Middle Ages based on French and
German models, as evidenced by the cathedral buildings in Ribe, Viborg,
Århus, Ringsted, Roskilde and Kalundborg. Typical Brick Gothic buildings
are St. Knud's Church in Odense, which was built in the 13th or 14th
century, St. Peter's Church in Næstved or St. Olai's Church in
Helsingør. Among the town churches, the hall church type predominates.
Many valuable altars and pictures came from the Netherlands and Lübeck.
The redistribution of church property after the Reformation resulted
in numerous manor houses, some of which were fortified (e.g.
Hesselagergård near Gudme). Significant examples of Danish architecture
from the Renaissance period were built during the reigns of King
Frederick II and King Christian IV, Kronborg Palace in Helsingør,
Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød and the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
Notable Baroque buildings include Amalienborg Palace (the residence
of the Danish kings since 1794), Charlottenborg Palace and
Christiansborg Palace. One of the most important architects of
classicism is Christian Frederik Hansen, who built the courthouse and
the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen. Historical buildings are by
Theophil Edvard Freiherr von Hansen, Martin Nyrop and Michael Gottlieb
Bindesbøll. Hack Kampmann is an important representative of Danish
national romanticism. designed the town hall in Copenhagen and the
theater in Arhus.
Outstanding representatives of Danish
architecture in the 20th century are Arne Jacobsen, who designed several
town halls and the National Bank as well as the SAS Royal Hotel, Peder
Vilhelm Jensen Klint, and Jørn Utzon, who designed the famous Sydney
Opera House but did not take part in its realization , Erik Møller and
Johan Otto von Spreckelsen.
Georg Arthur Jensen shaped the industrial design of the Scandinavian countries with his silversmith work in a functional style. Kay Bojesen was also a trained silversmith, but he became famous for his wooden toys, cutlery and crockery. Another well-known silversmith was Svend Weihrauch, who was one of the outstanding representatives of functionalism with his clear, ornament-free silversmith work. The lamps by Poul Henningsen and the furniture by Hans Jørgensen Wegner, Poul Kjærholm, Kaare Klint and Arne Jacobsen - his designs Egg, Swan and Series 7 are considered design classics - also received recognition. Jacob Jensen's work for the Danish consumer electronics group Bang & Olufsen is well known and was honored with a special exhibition in the Museum of Modern Art in 1978.
In 2021, 98.9 percent of Denmark's residents used the internet.
The main television stations belong to the public service
broadcasters Danmarks Radio and TV 2; the newspapers with the highest
circulation include the Jyllands-Posten, Berlingske and Politiken
alongside free newspapers. Big publishers like Gyldendal and Berlingske
Media are based in Copenhagen.
Media freedom has a long tradition
in Denmark. Article 77 of the 1849 constitution already guaranteed
freedom of the press and freedom of expression and forbade any
censorship; Reporters Without Borders ranks Denmark 4th in its 2021
Press Freedom Index. Public authorities are obliged to provide
information to citizens and journalists. To ensure media diversity, most
daily newspapers and online media are subsidized.
The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes or The Princess and the
Pea, all these fairy tales were written by Hans Christian Andersen, who
made one of the most important Danish contributions to world literature.
In the port of Copenhagen, a sculpture commemorates the writer, a
mermaid, the main character from his fairy tales The Little Mermaid. The
theologian, philosopher and writer Søren Kierkegaard, one of the
forerunners of existentialism, is also world-famous. Central to his
work, which ranges from philosophical novels to theological polemics,
are the concepts of existence and fear and the question of how people
are able to deal with them. Also known worldwide is the poet Ludvig
Holberg (born Norwegian), he wrote mainly comedies and a satirical
novel, he also emerged as a historian.
In the 1937
autobiographical novel Out of Africa, the writer Karen Blixen (published
in Germany under her pseudonym Tania Blixen) tells of her life as a
coffee farmer in Kenya. In 1985, the novel was adapted into a film,
starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, and won seven Academy Awards
at the 1985 Academy Awards.
Danish Nobel Prize winners for
literature are Karl Gjellerup and Henrik Pontoppidan, who shared the
prize in 1917, and Johannes Vilhelm Jensen, whose novel Kongens Fald
(Eng.: The King's Fall) was voted (Danish) Book of the Century in 1999
by major Danish newspapers. Another important Danish writer is Herman
Bang, who is considered the creator of Danish Impressionism.
In
his novels, the contemporary author Peter Høeg writes about partially
torn existences. His international bestseller Miss Smilla's Sense of
Snow was filmed in 1997 by Danish director and Oscar winner Bille
August, starring Julia Ormond.
The development of Danish music began under the influence of German,
Italian and English music culture during the reign of King Christian IV
in the second half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th
century. Foreign composers such as John Dowland, Heinrich Schütz, who
was royal music director in Copenhagen for a long time, and Dieterich
Buxtehude, who spent several years as an organist in Elsinore, worked at
the Danish court and came into contact with Danish composers there.
All of the first significant contributions to Danish music came from
German-born composers: Friedrich Ludwig Æmilius Kunzen with his opera
Holger Danske (1787), Christoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse with his opera
Ludams Hule (1816) and Friedrich Kuhlau, who contributed to the opera
that is still popular today Piece Elverhøy (1828) which wrote the music.
Danish representatives of Romanticism are Niels Wilhelm Gade, Johann
Peter Emilius Hartmann and Peter Arnold Heise.
See also: Dania
Sonans. Kilder til Musikkens Historie i Danmark and organ landscape
Denmark
In the 20th century, Carl Nielsen, who is regarded as
Denmark's most important composer and whose symphonies and operas were
also able to establish themselves in the repertoire abroad, followed in
the 20th century, followed by Poul Schierbeck, Knudåge Riisager, Jørgen
Bentzon, Finn Høffding, Herman David Koppel, Vagn Holmboe and Niels
Viggo Bentzon . Other important Danish composers include Louis Glass,
Paul von Klenau, Ludolf Nielsen, Hakon Børresen, Rued Langgaard, Poul
Ruders and Per Nørgård.
In the field of popular music in Germany,
Gitte Hænning is particularly well known for her hits and the Olsen
Brothers, the winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. The band
Aqua, which was part of the Eurodance area and existed from 1989 to
2001, is also well known. Lars Ulrich, the drummer of the band
Metallica, is also from Denmark. Other well-known musicians and bands
from Denmark are Aura Dione, Agnes Obel, Oh Land, Lukas Graham,
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Carpark North, Saybia, Kashmir, Nephew,
Medina, Outlandish, D-A-D, Pretty Maids, Thulla, Poul Krebs, Kim Larsen,
Tina Dico, TV-2, Sorts Muld, Volbeat, Jakob Sveistrup, Sort Sol, King
Diamond, Red Warszawa, Natasha Thomas, Laid Back, Hanne Boel, Anna
David, Junior Senior, Under Byen, Raunchy, The Raveonettes and
Trentemøller . Well-known Danish record companies are Cope Records and
Kick Music.
Stimulated by models from neighboring countries and the humanism of
the Goethe era, contemplative and self-sufficient Danish painting
received new impetus from artists such as Nicolai Abildgaard, Jens Juel
and P. C. Skovgaard at the beginning of the 19th century, in the
so-called “Golden Age” of Classicism and Biedermeier . These painters
devoted themselves primarily to landscape painting. Christoffer Wilhelm
Eckersberg, who had studied with Jacques-Louis David in Paris, and many
of his students, such as Christen Købke, emerged as portrait painters.
In addition, genre and history painting lived on in the works of
Constantin Hansen, Vilhelm Marstrand, Jørgen Roed and Jørgen Sonne.
Wilhelm Bendz combined portraiture with genre and history painting.
Around 1870, plein air painting developed in the artist colony of
Skagen. Skagen painters influenced by the Barbizon School included
Michael Ancher, Anna Ancher, although she preferred interior views,
Viggo Johansen, Peder Severin Krøyer, Christian Krohg, Carl Locher,
Theodor Philipsen, Frits Thaulow, Wilhelm von Gegerfelt and Holger
Drachmann, while the legacy of the Golden Age was cultivated by the
realistic-naturalistic genre and history painter Kristian Zahrtmann.
Vilhelm Kyhn's romantic landscape paintings stand on the threshold
of modernity. In addition to the Danish National Gallery, the collection
of the tobacco manufacturer Heinrich Hirschsprung, opened in Copenhagen
in 1911, offers the best overview of Danish painting from around 1850 to
1910.
Danish Symbolists included Vilhelm Hammershøi, who was
influenced by Whistler and preferred drab interiors,[129] Jens Ferdinand
Villumsen, whose paintings are characterized by bold colors, and L. A.
Ring, who, with his factual pictures of farm workers in subtle colors,
also did became the pioneer of social realism in Denmark.
Around
1910, Bornholm developed into one of the artistic centers of northern
Europe. This is where the "Bornholm School" came into being after the
First World War, an association of artist friends. These included the
Expressionist Oluf Høst, who painted his house more than 200 times since
1935 in different weather conditions and against the background of
changing moods, as well as Karl Isakson and the Estonian-born Olaf Rude,
who was inspired by Cézanne and classical modernism. Jais Nielsen also
oriented himself to Cubism and Futurism; he also designed porcelain
sculptures and church windows. The depictions of people by Vilhelm
Lundstrøm, an early representative of Danish modernism, are
characterized by clear colors and geometric shapes, but attest to a
great deal of psychological empathy.
After the Second World War,
abstract expressionism also dominated in Denmark, represented by Richard
Mortensen, Else Alfelt, Ejler Bille, Asger Jorn, who founded the group
CoBrA in 1948, and Per Kirkeby, who also works as a sculptor.
Two
well-known sculptors working in Denmark were Bernt Notke, who created
the altar in Århus Cathedral, and Claus Berg, who created the altar in
St. Knud's Church in Odense. One of the most important Danish sculptors
was Bertel Thorvaldsen, who is considered the most important sculptor of
classicism alongside the Italian Antonio Canova. At the same time
Hermann Vilhelm Bissen and Jens Adolf Jerichau worked. Well-known
sculptors of the 20th century were Robert Jacobsen, Gunnar Westmann and
Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, whose sculptures are influenced by African
sculptures.
During the silent film era, Denmark was the largest film producer
after the USA, Germany and France.
The Danish actress Asta
Nielsen made notable contributions to the art of cinema. She rose to
become one of the first stars of silent films at the beginning of the
20th century, directed by Urban Gad, with films such as Afgrunden
(1910). The director Carl Theodor Dreyer also set standards with his
aesthetically demanding works such as La passion de Joan of Arc (1928;
in German: The Passion of the Maid of Orleans) or Vampyr - The Dream of
Allan Gray (1932). The comedy duo Pat & Patachon, who made about 50
films together between 1921 and 1940, were also internationally popular.
Before the First World War, the Danish production company Nordisk Film
was one of the largest and most productive film studios in the world.
Although the country's position on the international film market
collapsed with the advent of talkies, ambitious productions attracted
worldwide attention.
In the 1990s, Lars von Trier caused
international debates with his film aesthetic program Dogma 95, which
was directed against commercial films, after he had already made a name
for himself with ambitious films. It was within the framework of this
controversial concept that von Trier's Idioterne (1998) and Thomas
Vinterberg's Festen (1998) and Lone Scherfig's Italiensk for begyndere
(2000) came into being. . Other well-known Danish directors include Erik
Balling (The Olsen Gang), Lasse Spang Olsen (In China They Eat Dogs),
Anders Thomas Jensen (Adam's Apples, Danish Delicatessen) and Susanne
Bier (Brothers, After the Wedding).
Foreign films are not dubbed
in Denmark, only subtitled. The only exception are children's films.
Denmark has five World Heritage Sites: Roskilde Cathedral, Kronborg
Castle in Elsinore, Jelling rune stones, burial mounds and church,
Christiansfeld, a settlement of the Moravian Church, and the North
Sealand Par Force hunting landscape.
Roskilde Cathedral is
Scandinavia's first brick Gothic cathedral and is now the largest church
in the north. Roskilde was the royal residence from the 11th to the 15th
century and is still the burial place of the monarchs today. The church
contains the tombs of 20 Danish kings and 17 queens, including the
important Margarethe I and Christian IV. The church has been a World
Heritage Site since 1995.
Kronborg Castle is located in Helsingør by
the Öresund. The fortress-like castle in the style of the Dutch
Renaissance secured Denmark's important income from the Sound toll for
centuries. William Shakespeare made the place world famous as the
setting for his tragedy Hamlet. Kronborg Castle has been a World
Heritage Site since 2000.
The Jelling rune stones are two of the few
stones dedicated to Danish kings and their deeds. They emerged in the
mid to late 10th century. Together with Jelling Burial Mound and Church,
they have been listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site since
1994.
In Danish history, a distinction has been made between Idræt (=physical exercise of all kinds), gymnastics and sport, depending on tradition. Denmark's largest sports association and umbrella organization of 60 sports associations is now Danmarks Idrætsforbund with 1.7 million members. He is responsible for the regulation of Danish championships and the determination of participation in the Olympic Games. By September 2016, Denmark had won 195 medals at the Olympic Games, putting it in 25th place in the all-time medal table. The country won 45 gold, 75 silver and 75 bronze medals. All but one of these medals were won at Summer Olympics. The only medal at Winter Games was a silver medal in 1998 in Nagano in curling.
The most popular sport in Denmark is football, which takes place
under the umbrella of Dansk Boldspil-Union. Overall, the Danish national
football team has taken part in nine European Football Championships: in
1964 at the second European Football Championship, from 1984 to 2004,
where they also celebrated their greatest success, winning the 1992
European Football Championship in Sweden by beating Germany 2-0 , as
well as in 2012 at the European Football Championship in Poland and
Ukraine and in 2021 at the European Football Championship, where the
semi-finals were reached.
The national team was able to qualify
five times for a soccer World Cup, namely for the 13th Soccer World Cup
in Mexico, for the 16th Soccer World Cup in France, for the 17th Soccer
World Cup in South Korea and Japan, for the 19th Soccer World Cup in
South Africa and for the 21st Soccer World Cup in Russia. The greatest
success here was reaching the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup,
where they lost 3-2 to Brazil. With the exception of the 2010 World Cup
in South Africa, they reached the round of 16 in the other World Cups.
Another success for the Danes was winning the Confederations Cup in
1995. They have won four medals at the Olympic Games so far, three
silver medals (1908, 1912 and 1960) and one bronze medal (1948).
The Denmark women's national football team has qualified four times at
seven women's football World Cups, with the best result being two
quarter-final appearances (1991 and 1995). In nine European Women's
Football Championships, you could qualify eight times and twice reached
third place.
Another popular sport is handball, which has been organized by the Dansk Håndbold Forbund since 1935. The Danish women's national handball team is considered one of the strongest women's national teams in handball. They have so far won a world championship (1997), three Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000 and 2004) and three European championships (1994, 1996, 2002). The Danish men's national handball team is also one of the world's best in handball. The Danish men's team achieved three first places (2019, 2021,2023) and three second places at World Championships (1967, 2011, 2013), the Olympic gold medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and a first place at the European Championships in 2008.
In tennis, Denmark has Caroline Wozniacki, the current world number
three in the WTA ranking (as of December 17, 2018). She achieved great
success for her country at a very young age and is already considered
the best and most successful Danish tennis player of all time. On
October 11, 2010, she became the first Scandinavian ever - at the age of
20 - to top the world rankings, which she held non-stop (with a one-week
break by Kim Clijsters) for 67 weeks. She also achieved the rarity of
finishing two consecutive seasons as the world number one. Even if she
has not yet won a Grand Slam tournament, she has already reached the
final of the US Open twice (2009; 2014) and is one of the most
successful active tennis players in the world with 23 WTA titles and 4
ITF titles. In November 2017 Wozniacki won the final of the WTA World
Championships in Singapore and at the end of January 2018 in Melbourne
with the Australian Open her first and only Grand Slam success against
Romanian Simona Halep. After the Australian Open 2020, Wozniacki ended
her career after suffering from health problems in 2019 due to
rheumatoid arthritis in her right wrist, extending up to her shoulder.
Wozniacki is married and lives in the United States with her husband,
basketball player David Lee.
Danish athletes have also been able
to celebrate success in badminton for a long time. One of the country's
best-known players is Peter Gade, who topped the world rankings from
1998 to 2001 and won every major international tournament. Other
well-known badminton players from Denmark are Jens Eriksen, Morten
Frost, Pernille Harder, Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen, Martin Lundgaard Hansen,
Camilla Martin and Mette Schjoldager.
The men's team won the gold
medal at the 2005 European Table Tennis Championships in their own
country.
In motorsport, Jan Magnussen and his son Kevin Magnussen
were or are active in Formula 1, and the touring car and sports car
racers Tom Kristensen and Kurt Thiim were also successful for Denmark.
In motorcycling, the Danish speedway riders Ole Olsen, Erik Gundersen,
Hans Nielsen (track athlete), Jan O. Pedersen and Nicki Pedersen have so
far won 14 gold medals at the individual speedway world championships.
Olsen and Gundersen also each won the long track world championships.
Special Olympics Denmark was founded in 1985/1986 and took part in the Special Olympics World Games several times. The association has announced its participation in the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 in Berlin. The delegation will be looked after before the games as part of Hamm's Host Town Program.
In addition to Denmark proper, which is located in Scandinavia, the
Danish state also includes the two self-governing areas of Greenland and
the Faroe Islands. According to §1 of the constitution, the areas belong
to the Kingdom of Denmark and are therefore subject to the Danish
Parliament and the government. The two areas, however, both have their
own popularly elected assembly and a national government led by a
national government chairman (Greenland) and a layman (Faroe Islands),
respectively. The Faroe Islands achieved home rule in 1948 and Greenland
in 1979. However, the two areas are not fully independent, e.g. primary
schools must teach Danish in addition to the local language. The state
provides financial block grants to both areas, just as the state
provides block grants to the regions and municipalities in Denmark.
Foreign affairs are handled as a general rule by the government in
Copenhagen, with the involvement of both Greenland and the Faroe Islands
when it concerns them. Each area is also represented by two seats in the
Folketing.
Denmark is divided into five regions and 98
municipalities. The regions were established on 1 January 2007,
replacing the former 13 counties. At the same time, the municipalities
were merged into larger units and their number was reduced from 270 to
98. The main responsibility of the new regions is to administer the
health sector.
The regions are the Capital Region, Region
Zealand, Region Southern Denmark, Region Central Jutland and Region
North Jutland.
Ertholmene is not part of a municipality, but
belongs to the Ministry of Defence.