Denmark stands as one of Europe’s most forward-looking nations, prioritizing trade and welfare. Additionally, Danes take great pride in their egalitarianism and democracy – achieved after years of battles for freedom and equality with neighboring nations.
Denmark’s cuisine is another hallmark, with top-tier restaurants such as Noma creating many spinoffs. Be sure to sample their delectable specialty: Smorrebrod; an intricate concoction made up of rye bread combined with fried plaice fillet and other delicacies served up on rye bread slices with an optional garnish of snaps! Pair your meal with an icy beer and shot of snaps for the full experience!
The Capital
Denmark is an idyllic Nordic nation, boasting miles of picturesque canals and bike paths connecting its cities. Copenhagen stands out as a standout among these, known for its cobbled streets, grand palaces and Tivoli amusement park — including home to the Little Mermaid statue. Most of Copenhagen’s architecture dates from between the 17th and 18th centuries while Nyhavn harbor boasts pastel-hued buildings and classic boats that make up one of its main draws.
Christiansborg Palace on Slotsholmen island serves as the center of Danish government and houses parliament buildings, the prime minister’s office and the Supreme Court. Visitors may tour several wings of this decadently ornate complex which were once used for royal receptions.
Kronborg Castle in Helsingor is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and served as the backdrop for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” A visit is an opportunity to discover stunning chambers while taking in some history about this seafaring nation.
Many historic castles across Denmark have been transformed into museums. One such historic castle is Frederiksborg Castle, offering visitors tours through rooms that once hosted royalty. Another highlight is the Museum of National History located within an incredible rococo palace built during the early 17th century.
Copenhagen is renowned as an epicenter of contemporary art and culture. Notable attractions include the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum as well as Latin Quarter cafes and boutique stores. Furthermore, Kbenhavns Bibliotek stands as an architectural gem and contains rare books.
Denmark is a member of and co-founder of several international bodies, such as the UN, NATO, Nordic Council, OECD and OSCE. Furthermore, Denmark was a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters in Brussels. Regarding education, Denmark is well known for its high academic standards and innovative learning approaches – its university system has long collaborated with industry and business to ensure graduates can take a leading role both at work and within society.
The Islands
Many are surprised to learn that Denmark is actually an island nation comprising 406 islands; though only around 70 of these are populated. Copenhagen sits on one such island and you can visit numerous others by sea, land or air travel.
Some of the most well-known Danish islands include Bornholm, which boasts one of Europe’s largest castle ruins and four mysterious round churches; Avernak and Munkholmen islands off Lolland’s coast with beaches filled with nature enthusiasts that provide great opportunities for birdwatching; Fur (voted Denmark’s most beautiful island by daily newspaper readers in 2010 due to its quiet beaches and white cliffs); Vejro off Lolland off Smalandsfarvandet Sea for quiet walks without cars – these islands make us all want to go!
Islands offer much more than idyllic sandy beaches; they also boast tranquil natural areas perfect for strolling or cycling, inviting eateries and street sales, small harbors, old mills and much more. Amager Beach in Copenhagen attracts city-dwellers looking for quick escape. In summertime especially, its sand dunes draw many city residents looking to escape for some quick beach fun!
Dybvig, Sletteren and Kletteren offer quiet islands perfect for relaxing getaways or picnics, while Faroe Island cuisine boasts some of the world’s tastiest fish!
Island vacations may be great fun, but many islands are also significant sources of energy. A new offshore wind park will use Danish islands as platforms for producing clean electricity that will power five million Danish households once fully operational in 2020 – another way that islands help Denmark become energy independent.
The Food
Denmark is famed for its food. Not only does the country produce some of Europe’s finest beers like Carlsberg, but its cuisine is widely recognized. Nordic ingredients, like fish and seafood as well as seasonal vegetables often play a prominent role in seasonal dishes with sauces or gravies added for extra flavour; local meat such as venison or beef may even be smoked or pickled before preparation!
Danish chefs have taken the humble smorrebrod sandwich to new heights by drawing inspiration from it as part of their culinary creations. First created during the 19th century as an open-faced meal to provide factory workers with quick lunch breaks during shift work, now this open-faced sandwich has taken on new meaning with modern chefs using it as the foundation of their dishes.
Smorrebrod can be customized with almost anything imaginable; its possibilities are truly limitless. Some popular toppings for Smorrebrod include: remoulade, sliced boiled eggs, bacon, herring, Danish salami (a type of cold cut), tiny peeled prawns or “rejer,” Agurkesalat cucumber salad salad and gravlax are among many others.
Cheese is a key element of Danish cuisine. It can be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner and often features on smorrebrod sandwiches and salads as a main attraction. Cheese may come plain; however, more frequently it is enhanced with herbs and spices such as carraway seed, nutmeg or juniper to add an extra punch of flavour.
Liquorice is another beloved treat among Danes, as the country produces some of the strongest liquorice available globally and many Danes consume it regularly as an edible candy option – often dipped into ice cream or used to flavor desserts – or simply eaten as candy (Salmiak lakrids or sweeter Fig/date lakrids are two options available).
Danish cuisine is famous for its delicious sausage-shaped rolls known as kurtbullars, filled with meat and onions. You can eat these cold or hot, and serve with mustard for maximum enjoyment! Other tasty snacks in Denmark include smrrebrd flatbread spread with various spreads as well as the ever-so-popular cinnamon roll-like treat known as kanelsnegle.
The People
Denmark is an idyllic nation, filled with picturesque castles and the home of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales – no surprise why it consistently ranks high in global surveys for liveability and happiness.
Danes are famously relaxed people, which is evident both in their language and culture. People frequently engage in casual chatter while walking through town, and conversations frequently end with smiles. Additionally, Danes are known for being direct in their communication which might come off as rude to those unfamiliar with Danish culture – however this practice is seen as showing respect and reaching a consensus on important matters.
Denmark’s economy is built upon its natural assets. Its lowland plains boast abundant gravel, sand and clay soils; on top of which lie ancient limestone and chalk deposits perfect for agriculture – leading to over half of Denmark being dedicated to farming operations.
Danish economy is among the world’s most advanced. Highly diverse, its citizens enjoy access to free public education. This contributes to its affluent society with high standards of living reflected by modesty about achievements while placing great value in community spirit and sense of responsibility.
Denmark remains enamored of its royal family, with Queen Margrethe II currently sitting for her fifth decade as Queen. She’s well known as an accomplished illustrator and ballet costume designer as well as being a dedicated philanthropist; visiting Amalienborg Palace is an opportunity to meet this distinguished clan of the Danish royal family.
Many Danish people identify themselves as ethnic Danes; however, Denmark includes two autonomous countries – Greenland and Faroe Islands–that each have elected parliaments and administrations with elected parliamentary representation and administrative bodies elected directly by citizens of each respective region. Under these self-governance arrangements, Greenlandic and Danish are recognized as native languages of these two territories respectively. German is recognized as an official regional language while German serves as an official regional language in Greenland.