Physical geography
Denmark lies in northern Europe, and is made up of several islands, the largest being Jutland, attached to mainland Europe. Copenhagen, the capital, is located on Zealand.Climate
Danish weather is always changeable but rarely harsh. April and May are mild. Summer months are usually warm (average high 21°C or 70°F). Winter months tend to be cool or even cold and light snow is common.A brief history
800-ca.1050 - Viking age. Danes raid England, France and Spain.
1018-35 - Knud den Store (Canute the Great) rules over a vast kingdom that includes present-day Denmark, England, Norway and southern Sweden, and during his reign Christianity becomes widespread. After his death, the empire disintegrates.
1219- King Valdemar II Sejr conquers northern Estonia. According to legend, the Danish flag 'Dannebrogen' fell from the sky while Valdemar was laying siege to the the Estonian fortress of Lindanise. He also conquers present-day Schleswig-Holstein, Pomerania and Mecklenburg, and re-establishes the nation as a great power in northern Europe. Soon, however, a civil war between the nobles and the king vying for control of the country erupts.
1397 - The Danish Queen Margrethe I, a daughter of Valdemar IV, unites all the Nordic countries as a single kingdom, the Kalmar Union.
1448 - The house of Oldenburg was established on the throne in the person of Christian I and has continued to rule Denmark up to the present day.
1523 - The Kalmar Union breaks apart when the Swedes revolt after the 'Stockholm bloodbath' performed by king Christian II of Denmark. Denmark and Norway remain united, however.
1536 - Reformation. Denmark becomes Lutheran.
1645 - Denmark-Norway has to cede Gotland, Jämtland, Ösel and Härjedal to Sweden in the Brömsebro peace after king Christian IV had intervened in the Thirty Years' War. Halland is ceded for 30 years.
Various wars and uprisings ensue with Denamrk losing or gaining territory.
April 1801 - The battle of the Roadstead of Copenhagen (Slaget på Reden). The British forced Denmark to retreat from the Armed Neutral Alliance with Sweden and Russia. Nelson was in charge of the part of the British fleet participating in the battle. September 1807 - The British under Wellington bombard Copenhagen to make Denmark cede its navy. Denmark becoms a French ally.
1813-14 - The alliance with Napoleon becomes a disaster for Denmark: The country goes bankrupt. In the peace treaty of Kiel, Denmark has to cede Norway to Sweden. Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands remain with Denmark. Denmark also gets Swedish Pomerania which is traded with Prussia for Lauenburg.
1849 - King Fredrik VII authorises a new constitution instituting a representative form of government. In addition, wide-ranging social and educational reforms took place.
1914-18 - Denmark remains neutral during the First World War.
1917 - Denmark sells its three Caribbean islands to the USA for US$25 million (the present-day US Virgin Islands).
1933 - Great social reforms were instituted, beginning Denmark's modern welfare state.
1940 - 9th of April, Germany occupies Denmark despite Denmark having declared itself neutral; the Danish Government gives up military resistance.
1944 - Iceland breaks away from union with Denmark and declares independence.
1948 - The Faroe Islands are granted autonomy within the Danish Kingdom.
1949 - Denmark joins NATO as one of the founding members.
1953 - A new constitution changes the status of Greenland from colony to a 'county' (amt) of Denmark. Parliament changes from a two-chamber system to a single-chamber system. By the same constitutional changes, Princess Margrethe becomes heir to the throne. The Nordic Council founded.
1972 - Denmark joins the European Community (EC) after a referendum.
1979 - Greenland is granted home rule and starts taking over some of its internal affairs.
1992 - In a referendum Denmark votes NO to the Maastricht treaty which was aiming for a more federalised European Union. The NO shook the whole European Community.
1993 - A new referendum on the Maastricht treaty - allowing Denmark to opt out on issues like common European currency, citizenship, defence policy, and police - is arranged to which Denmark votes YES.
Languages spoken by nationals
Danish is the main language, but other Scandinavian languages and English are widely spoken.Currency
The monetary unit if the Danish Krone (DKK). Which is divided in to 200 ore. Bank notes are found in denominations of 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. Coins are in 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, 50 ore and 25 ore values. Most banks are open weekdays from 9.30 until 16.00 with additional hours on Thursdays until 18.00.Official holidays
New Year, 1 January - Easter - 24, 25 December, Christmas.What one should not fail to see
Copenhagen
Copenhagen Canal Tours & Netto-Badene. De Danske Kongers Kronologiske Samling - Private chambers and precious objects belonging to the Royal Family from Christian IX to Christian X (1863-1947) in Christian VIII's Mansion at Amalienborg Palace. The Little Mermaid - Edvard Eriksen's world-famous bronze sculpture from 1913. Nationalmuseet, Ny Vestergade - The newly restored museum contains collections from Danish prehistory, early history, the Viking Age, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as of more modern times. Ethnographical collection and the Royal Collection of Coins and Medals. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek - Unique Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman collections, French Impressionists, French sculpture, Danish art from the 19th century. Rundeturn (The Round Tower) - Built as an observatory by King Christian IV in 1642. A 209-metre-long spiral staircase leads up to the top of the tower.Slotsholmen - This small island in the heart of Copenhagen, surrounded by harbour and canals, has a number of attractions, eg: Christiansborg Palace, built in 1907-28. Now houses the Danish Parliament, The Royal Reception Rooms and, under the castle, the ruins of Bishop Absalon's old fortification. Thorvaldsens Museum, next to Christiansborg Palace - Works by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, as well as his private art collection. Tivoli - A fairytale garden in the heart of Copenhagen, founded in 1843, this old amusement park has since then had about 300 million visitors enjoying its special atmosphere. Tivoli Museet - Featuring the amusement park world-famous for 150 years. Three floors of models, films, music, 3D and other pictures, posters and original exhibits. Tycho Brahe Planetarium - Astronomy and science from the Middle Ages up to the 19th and 20th century. Statens Museum for Kunst - the National Gallery, featuring Danish painting and sculpture, as well as a representative collection of European painting. Hilrschsprungske Samling - Fine collection of Danish art from c.1800-1910. Also interiors with Danish-designed furniture.
Visit to Porcelain Factory - Conducted tours of Royal Copenhagen Porcelain. Brewery Visits - Carlsberg, one of Denmark's major breweries, opens its doors to visitors for conducted tours.
Funen and surrounding islands
Odense: HC Andersens Hus - The life of the' famous Danish writer of fairytales is spiced with the aid of books, letters. Brandts Klaedefabrik - Cultural centre with changing exhibitions of visual art, sculpture, architecture, design and decorative art in Kunsthallen. Also contains Museet for Fotokunst (The Museum of Photographic Art) and Danmarks Grafike Museum (Danish Museum of Printing).Den fynske Landsby (The Funen Village). Open-air folk museum with approx. 20 buildings from the 18th and 19th century. Agriculture and livestock are also featured. Workshop activities, especially during the summer months.
Kvaerndtup: Egeskov Slot - Europe's best-preserved island castle, built in 1554 on a foundation of oak-piles. Access to the castle and gardens, maze, and other outdoor features. Also veteran museum with aircraft, cars, etc.
Faborg Museum for Fynsk Malerkunst - Contains a unique collection of works by The Funen Painters from around the turn of the century. The museum building itself is a real attraction. Aroskobing Flaskesksmuseet - The bottle-ship museum also contains a number of model ships and carved wooden figures. Talsinge Valdemars Slot - Built by King Christian IV between 1639 and 1643, this castle is now a manorhouse museum, with beautiful interiors and a fine art collection.
North-west Zealand
Storebaelt Udstillingscenter, Halsskov - Follow the progress of the world's largest bridge construction project. Via TV screens, models, explanatory drawings and diagrams you can see work in progress on the vast construction that is to establish a fixed link across the Great Belt.Roskilde area
Roskilde Domkirke - The imposing cathedral was founded in the 12th century and extended in subsequent centuries. Since the mediaeval period all Danish monarchs have been laid to rest here. Vikingeskibshallen is the setting for five restored Viking ships that were sunk in Roskilde Fjord around the year 1000. Also films on the restoration of the ships and a number of special exhibitions.Koge - The 700-year-old market town with a delightful, unspoiled urban environment and many fine, well-preserved half-timbered houses. Only 30 minutes' drive from Koge you can experience the fascinating cliffs of Stevns Klint.
Kronborg Slot - (Elsinore) legendary castle of Hamlet, built 1574-85. Frederiksborg Slot - Renaissance castle built by King Christian IV between 1602 and 1620. It now houses the Danmarks Nationalhistoriske Museum, with a portrait gallery, furniture and industrial art. The castle chapel, with its organ, is also well worth a visit. Humlebaek - Louisiana Museum of Art). Important permanent collection of Danish and international paintings from the 0th century, as well as a fine collection of sculptures. Changing exhibitions of international art, films, concerts, etc. Beautiful grounds down to the Oresund. Rungsted Karen Blixen Museet - Museum in the home of the author, both in her childhood and after her return from Africa. Access to Karen Blixen's private home and to a special exhibition building.
South Zealand, Lolland, Falster and Mon
Holmegaards Glasverk in Fensmark lies the world-famous glassworks. Hammershus - Denmark's biggest ruined fortified castle, situated 72 metres above sea level in north Bornholm. Founded c. 1260. Helligdomsklipperne - Bornholm's most famous cliff formation. At the bottom of the deep ravines the sea has scooped out fascinating caves. Almindingen - Vast area of woodland, planted in the early 19th century. The many cliffs give the forest a distinctive character.Main holiday sports
Cycling, golf, yachting, hiking, canoeing, angling, windsurfing.What to eat and drink
Try the 'smorrebrod' (open-faced sandwiches for lunch. Ethnic restaurants are increasingly popular.Miscellaneous
Events
Not to miss is the Viking Festival at the end of June at Frederikssund.Frontier formalities
No visas are required if you have a valid national passport/travel document.Customs regulations
All articles for personal use may be imported and exported duty free.How to get around
Air: Most international flights to and from Denmark arrive and depart from Copenhagen Airport. One of the major hubs of northern Europe, Copenhagen is served daily by Scandinavian Airlines. Maersk Air, Air UK and British Midland. There is a SAS shuttle service from Copenhagen Airport to the City centre. There are several regional airports for domestic travel.Rail: Travel by train from Europe, as Denmark has convenient rail connections to international trains. You can travel through Scandinavia with a Scanrail Pass.
Sea: Being an island nation, Denmark can be easily reached by regular ferry services.
Representatives abroad
BELGIUM: Deens Verkeershuro/Office du Tourisme de Danemark, Avenue Louise 221, bte. 7 B-1050 Bruxelles (letters only).FINLAND: Danska Turistbyran/Tanskan Matkailutoimisto, Georgsgatan 30, FIN-00100 Helsinki.
FRANCE: Mailing Express - Danenmark B.P 22 1 F-75865 Paris, Cedex 18 (letters only).
GERMANY: Danisches Fremdenverkehrsamt, Postfach 10 13 29, D-20008 Hamburg.
GREAT BRITAIN: The Danish Tourist Board, 55 Sloane Street, GB-London SW1X 9SY.
HOLLAND: Deens Verkeersburo, Postbus 266, NL-2300 AG Leiden
ITALY: Ente Danese per il Turismo, Via Cappuccio 11 I-20, 123 Milano.
JAPAN: Scanclinavian Tourist Board, Sanno Grand Building, Room 912-913, 2-14 2, Nagata-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100.
NORWAY: Danmarks Turistkontor i Norge, Postboks 406-Sentrum N-0103 Oslo.
SWEDEN: Danska Turistbyran, Box 5524, S-114 85 Stockholm.
USA: The Danish Tourist Board, 655 Third Avenue, 18th floor New York, N.Y. 10017
We have been able to publish the present tourist information on Denmark thanks to the co-operation of the Danish Tourist Board in London.
