DENMARK

Official Name Kingdom of Denmark
Capital City Copenhagen
Population 5,413,392
Language Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Time Zone GMT+1 in winter and GMT+2 in summer
Independence first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
National Holiday none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed as the National Day
Currency Danish Krone(DKK)
Summer Temp: 16º C
Winter Temp: 0º C
Ethnic Groups Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Area:
total: 43,094 sq km
land: 42,394 sq km
water: 700 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Land boundaries:
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhøj 173 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defence cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula and some 400 islands, the largest ones being Sjælland (Zealand), Fyn (Funen). Greenland and the Faroe islands are also governed by Denmark but are not treated here.
In most of Denmark the subterranean bedrock is ancient chalk and limestone. On top of this rests glacially deposited gravel, sand and clay that often forms fertile soils. Of the total land surface is 63% arable land.
The terrain is low and flat to gently rolling, characterized by the last glaciations. The continental ice sheet once reached its western limit here which runs from Viborg in the north to Flensburg in the south just south of the Danish-German border. To the west of this line the soils are mostly sandy and poor in nutrient, whereas the soils to the east of this line are more fertile.
The highest point is Yding Skovhøj, 173 m, at central Jutland. The longest river is the Gudenå (158 km) which runs from Tørring to the Randers Fjord on the eastern coast of Jutland.
The climate is maritime with mild, windy winters and cool summers. Average temperature in January is 0°C and in July 16°C, the annual average precipitation ranges from 400 mm the in archipelago to 800 mm in south-western Jutland.
The potential natural vegetation is deciduous forest with beech, elm, lime and oak trees. However, today most of the country is arable land or planned landscapes. Consequently all larger animals, e.g. moose, aurochs, and brown bear that used to roam the countryside are now extinct but roe and red deer. Smaller animals and birds are on the other hand abundant. In the surrounding sea areas fish, e.g. cod, herring and plaice are abundant.

Getting There
The vast majority of overseas flights to Denmark arrive at Copenhagen International Airport. A few international flights, mostly coming from other Scandinavian countries or the UK, land at small regional airports in Århus, Aalborg, Esbjerg and Billund.

There are daily bus and rail services between Germany and Denmark's Jutland peninsula, which then wind their way east to Funen and then over a significant bridge to the island of Zealand and ultimately Copenhagen. The Øresundsforbindelsen (Øresund Fixed Link), a road-rail system stretching over nearly 16km (13 mi) of bridges and tunnels between Malmo in southern Sweden and Copenhagen, gives the Danish capital a land link with the rest of Scandinavia.

It's possible to arrive by ferry. Boat options include the daily (high season) and weekly (berg bashing) ferries running from Germany (Kiel, Rostock, Puttgarden, Sassnitz-Mukran and the island of Sylt), Iceland (Seydisfjördur), Norway (Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen and Larvik), Sweden (Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Varberg and Malmö), Poland (Sáwinoujácie) and the UK (Harwich). There are no departure taxes when leaving Denmark.

Places to Visit

Copenhagen
The waterside city of Copenhagen is packed with old-world fairytale charm alongside some of the world's most avante garde architecture. It is a vibrant, modern city with a long and fascinating history, having been the capital of Denmark for close on 600 years and home to the oldest resident monarchy in the world.
The biggest city in Scandinavia, Copenhagen occupies a pleasant and strategic spot on the Baltic east coast of Denmark's largest island, Zealand, its harbour overlooked by the world-famous statue of the 'Little Mermaid'.
One of the first impressions that strike visitors to this busy, dynamic capital is the cleanliness and orderliness that prevails in its narrow medieval cobbled central city streets and along the picturesque canals in Christianshavn. Most of the myriad attractions for visitors are situated within about one square mile (3 sq km) of flat terrain in the centre, making it easy to explore on foot (or bicycle, which is the vehicle of choice for locals).
Five streets in the heart of the city have been merged to provide the world's longest pedestrian mall, running between Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv, which are packed with historic gabled buildings, dynamic department stores, stunning shops, restaurants, pavement cafes, theatres, and world-class museums and galleries.
Despite the condensed city centre, Copenhagen is not short on green lungs: parks such as the ever-popular Tivoli Gardens abound in this city, which prides itself on its strict anti-pollution laws and lack of glass and chrome skyscrapers.
The family-friendly city that spawned Hans Christian Andersen is, indeed, a modern fairy-tale: one of Europe's finest capitals that retains a provincial charm and sense of history along with its cutting-edge efficiency, offering its justifiably proud citizens an extremely high standard of living

Hans Christian Andersen
Danish writer, famous for his fairy tales, which were not meant merely for children but for adults as well. Andersen used frequently colloquial style that disguises the sophisticated moral teachings of his tales. Before achieving success as a playwright and novelist, Andersen was trained as singer and actor. Many of Andersen's fairy tales depict characters who gain happiness in life after suffering and conflicts. 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Little Mermaid' are Andersen's most intimate works.
Hans Christian Andersen was born in the slums of Odense. His father, Hans Andersen, was a poor shoemaker and literate, who believed he was of aristocratic origin. Andersen's mother, Anne Marie Andersdatter, worked as washerwoman. Although she was uneducated and superstitious, she opened for his son the world of folklore.
Copenhagen’s world-renowned Tivoli Gardens are ever so much more than just a central city park. The relatively small area in the heart of the city is actually one of the world’s most thrilling entertainment complexes, drawing about three million visitors during its five-month summer open season each year. Tivoli dates back to 1843 when Copenhagen was still a fortified city surrounded by tall ramparts and a deep moat. Today the Tivoli Lake is all that remains of the moat, which now reflects the incredible trademark fireworks displays that light the sky over the gardens twice a week. Tivoli is split in two, one section housing the beautiful miniature gardens where more than 100,000 flowers bloom, and the other the theme park with game arcades and thrill rides. Tivoli also boasts a concert hall and open-air stages where dozens of concerts, pantomimes and circus shows, many of them free, are offered during the season.

Historical Museums
The rich history of Denmark, from Viking days through to the Second World War resistance movement, is encapsulated in fascinating collections of artefacts housed in a series of museums in and around Copenhagen. The Prince's Palace in the city centre houses the National Museum covering Danish history in general and a collection of international antiquities. The open air museum a few miles north of the city makes for a fascinating excursion with its 100 or so buildings, most relocated from elsewhere in the country, set out to illustrate what life was like in rural Denmark in days of yore. Visitors can get up to date on the history of the city itself in the Copenhagen City Museum, housed in the Royal Shooting Society's palace dating from 1787.
Art Galleries

National Gallery, Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a city with a proud heritage of art and design, well showcased in numerous museums and galleries as well as architecture. Among the most renowned collections are those housed in the popular Museum of Decorative Arts (traces the history of Danish, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (featuring world famous artists, the National Gallery (more than 8,000 works dating from the 13th century to modern times and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (antiquities, French impressionists and contemporary Danish art
Nyhavn Canal

Nyhavn, Copenhagen
The picturesque historic Nyhavn Canal, dating from 1673 when it was built to connect the inner city to the sea, is today colloquially known as the ‘longest bar in Scandinavia’. This is because the pretty pastel-painted old townhouses that line the canal are fronted with numerous restaurants, pubs and cafes, full of action and entertainment 24 hours a day. The canal itself is crammed with old wooden sailing ships, adding to the atmosphere. Tourists enjoy not only the hospitality establishments along the canal but also visit the house at No.20 Nyhavn, home of famous fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote his first stories here between 1834 and 1838. Andersen later occupied two other houses in Nyhavn.

Rosenborg Castle
The attractive Dutch Renaissance style Rosenborg Castle was designed by King Christian IV and served as his home until he died in 1648. Today the Castle is an important cultural institution, acting as a public museum detailing the history of Denmark’s royal family as well as acting as repository for the Crown Jewels and royal regalia, which are kept in the castle cellars and can be viewed by the public. The magnificent castle gardens are a welcome retreat from the city hustle and bustle.

Sightseeing
Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, Denmark, is the Elsinore castle of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Frederick II built it between 1574 and 1585 in the Dutch Renaissance style. It lies on the narrowest part of the Øresund strait across from Helsingborg, Sweden. In medieval times, a toll was required for crossing, and the castle played a major part in collections. Later, from 1785 to 1922, it was used as barracks, and in the late 1920s it was restored. The Trade and Seafaring Museum of Kronberg is located in the castle.

Ribe
One of the oldest cities of Denmark, Ribe was mentioned in the 9th century and became an episcopal see in 948. Its cathedral (. Other buildings, such as the Black Friars abbey (begun 1228), St. Catherine's Church (c.1230), and the city hall (c.1500), attest to the city's prosperity in the Middle Ages.
Ribe, in the southwestern corner of Jutland, claims to be Denmark's oldest town. It's certainly one of the most pleasant, with a picture-postcard town center. The cathedral (built c.1130; restored 1884–1904) is one of the finest examples of Danish Romanesque architecture, the Black Friars abbey (begun 1228), St. Catherine's Church (c.1230), and the city hall (c.1500), attest to the city's prosperity in the Middle Ages.
The best way to experience Ribe is on foot. Climb the cathedral tower for a great view of the town and the surrounding countryside, and allow time to sample Ribe's half-dozen museums.
Ribe makes an excellent base for excursions throughout the region--including the Wadden Sea island of Mandø, Legoland in Billund, and the seaport town of Esbjerg with its Fisheries & Maritime Museum and North Sea ferry terminal.

Christiansø is a beautifully preserved 17th-century island fortress, an hour's sail north-east of Bornholm. The entire island is an unspoiled reserve - no cars or modern buildings and no cats or dogs. Christiansø (population 100), is connected to its sister island, Frederiksø, by a footbridge.
Christiansø's Store Tårn (Great Tower), built in 1684, is an impressive structure with a 25 metre diameter. The tower's century-old lighthouse offers a splendid 360 degree view of the island. The Lille Tårn (Little Tower) on Frederiksø dates from 1685, and is the site of the local-history museum.

Legoland is a 10-hectare theme park built from plastic Lego blocks, and is not recommended to anyone who fears having their childhood writ both large and Lilliputian in 42 million pieces. The most elaborate reconstruction here is the three-million-block Port of Copenhagen exhibit
Egeskov Castle, complete with moat and drawbridge, is a Renaissance gem. Built in 1554, in the middle of a small lake, Egeskov rests on a foundation of thousands of upright oak trunks. The expansive park includes century-old privet hedges, free-roaming peacocks, a topiary and manicured English gardens.
The interior has antique furnishings, grand period paintings and an abundance of hunting trophies. For those who enjoy labyrinths, there's a 200-year-old bamboo maze. Also on the grounds is an antique car museum, which displays about 300 period cars.
The chalk cliffs at Møns Klint were created 5000 years ago when the calcareous deposits from aeons-worth of seashells were lifted from the ocean floor. The gleaming white cliffs rise sharply 128m (420ft) above an azure sea, making one of the most striking landscapes in Denmark.
Møns Klint is a very popular tourist destination and the wooded arrival point above the cliffs has a busy cafeteria, souvenir shops and picnic grounds. But none of this detracts from the natural appeal of the cliffs themselves or the lovely woodland above them.
The woods of Klinteskoven, behind the cliffs, have a network of paths and tracks. From near the cafeteria you can descend the cliffs by a series of wooden stairways.
Trelleborg, from the reign of Harald Bluetooth, is the best preserved of the four Viking ring fortresses in Denmark. Visitors will appreciate the small informative museum and bucolic countryside as much as the circular earthen mound which, despite being a millennium old, is amazingly intact. Several buildings have been authentically reconstructed.
For a whistle stop tour through the history of Denmark, nothing can beat the National Museum. Here you will find the world's most extensive collection of Danish artefacts from the Palaeolithic period to the 19th century. Naturally, the stars of the show are the Vikings, those much maligned, but actually very sophisticated Scandinavian marauders.
Highlights include Bronze-Age burial remains in oak coffins and lurs (musical horns) that were used for ceremony and communication, ancient rune stones, a golden sun chariot, the silver Gundestrip cauldron and Viking weaponry. But the displays don't stop with the Vikings; there are excellent collections covering the Middle Ages and Renaissance period too, plus delightful Egyptian and classical antiquities, as well as frequently changing special exhibitions. There's even a small Children's Museum.
Denmark's largest expanse of drifting sand dunes, Råbjerg Mile, is a natural phenomenon. These undulating 40m (131ft) hills are great fun to explore and almost big enough to lose yourself in. The dune was formed on the west coast during the great sand drift of the 16th century and moves towards the forest at a rate of 15m (49ft) per year

History
Prehistory

The oldest existing evidence of human habitation in Denmark is traces of hunters’ settlements from the end of the last Ice Age c. 12500 BC. Organised farming communities did not appear until the Neolithic Age c. 3900 BC and villages are known from the centuries before Christ’s birth. Regular towns, such as Ribe, do not appear until the Germanic Iron Age c. 400-750 AD. The unification of the country under a central power began 700 AD. As the Frankish empire declined, a stable royal power developed which, although it probably did not cover the entire Danish territory, nonetheless managed to defend itself against enemy invasions from the south. The unification of the country was finally completed under the son of Gorm the Old, Harold I Bluetooth (d. 987), as stated on his runic stone in Jelling, where the word Denmark appears for the first time. The Jelling stones are often regarded as Denmark’s birth certificate.

Viking AgeDuring the Viking Age, c. 800-1100, a strong royal power developed, as is demonstrated for instance by several strategically placed circular fortresses of impressive size. The period was characterised by the frequent Viking expeditions which led to the conquest of England for a short period in the 11th century and took the pillaging Vikings as far away as Ireland, Northern France and Russia. The Vikings’ long boats brought rich booty back to their native country, but the Danish Viking kings never managed to turn their conquests into a lasting empire. The murder of Canute IV the Holy in 1086 ended the strong royal power, which had been one of the secrets behind the victorious Viking expeditions.

At the same time, Christianity reached Denmark. About 965, Harold I Bluetooth was baptised and the new faith soon established itself. The country got a clergy, who saw to the dissemination of Christianity. In the following centuries the Catholic Church consolidated its influence; churches were built, and the Danish farming community, which now numbered c. 700,000, organised itself according to Christian social standards. It separated into a powerful clergy, a secular nobility of great land-owners who also formed the core of the country’s defence, an urban middle class which increased as the towns grew, and finally a large peasantry.

The Kalmar Union

The Black Death, around 1350, wiped out a large part of the Danish population, which resulted in major economic and social changes. The main political event of the period was the establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397, combining Denmark, Norway and Sweden in a personal union under the Danish Queen Margrete I. The union lasted until Sweden, led by Gustav I Vasa, broke away in 1523. Denmark and Norway remained united until 1814. Norway’s former North Atlantic possessions, Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, remained part of the Danish kingdom and still are, with the exception of Iceland, which declared its independence in 1944.

The break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1536, after three years of civil war, changed the Danish Church into a Lutheran princely church. Denmark thus joined the Protestant side in the lengthy religious wars which ravaged Europe until 1648. Internally, the new State Church became a tool for ideological and moral indoctrination of the population by the greatly strengthened central power. The period 1560-1720 was dominated by the intensified rivalry with the neighbouring Sweden for the position as the leading Baltic power. Denmark had hitherto held this position, as was symbolically reflected in the charging of Sound Dues, which were not abandoned until 1857. The rivalry triggered six wars between the two nations (1563-1570, 1611-1613, 1643-1645, 1657-1660, 1675-1679 and 1709-1720). After Denmark had been weakened by Christian IV’s unsuccessful intervention in the Thirty Year War (1625-1629), the conflict developed into a struggle for survival on Denmark’s part, and for a while the country was on the point of becoming part of a large Swedish Baltic empire. This fate was only avoided because the Netherlands and England intervened, but the price was the ceding of all Scanian provinces east of the Oresund in 1658. The total area of the kingdom was thus reduced by almost a third and the population declined from 800,000 to 600,000.

Absolutism

The catastrophe caused a political crisis which in 1660-1661 brought about a new form of government. By coup-like means, the old elective monarchy dominated by the aristocracy was replaced by a hereditary monarchy. The new hereditary king, Frederik III, and his successors gained absolute power. The king’s unrestricted authority was subsequently codified in the Royal Law of 1665, which in general remained in force until the abolition of absolutism in 1848 and the adoption of a democratic constitution in 1849. In 1683, the Royal Law was supplemented with a Statute Book applying to the entire country, King Christian V’s Danish Law. Insofar as the means were available, Denmark was transformed into a well-organised bureaucratic state under the paternal leadership of the absolute monarch.

Agricultural Reforms and Wars with England

The main achievement of absolutism was the extensive agricultural reforms of the late 18th century. They were motivated by the desire to make farm production more efficient in order to derive maximum profit from the 18th century prosperity. The reforms involved a shift from ecological farming – i.e. farming on nature’s terms – to economic farming – i.e. farming on the market’s terms. The old open-field system was dissolved and each farm was allotted a single parcel of land. At the same time, the farms were often moved onto the land itself, so that the ancient village community was also dissolved. The reforms created an entirely new class of independent farmers, who in the following century became the driving force behind the folk high schools and the co-operative movement. Politically, the farmers united in the late 19th century in the Liberal party (Venstre), which came into power in 1901. Denmark was helplessly caught in the conflict between Napoleon and the rest of Europe. For fear of the consequences, the Danish government refused to take sides in the conflict, which led to English naval attacks on Copenhagen in 1801 and 1807 and seizure of the Danish fleet. At the same time, the loss of Norway in 1814 meant that the former dual monarchy, which geographically had stretched from the North Cape to the Elbe, was reduced to include only Denmark itself and the German duchies.

As the national movements developed, the duchies’ position within the monarchy became a key issue until 1864. Almost a third of the nation’s population was German. Holstein and Lauenburg belonged to the German Confederation, while Schleswig was nationally divided. The crucial question of Schleswig’s affiliation became acute in 1848 when the pro-German Schleswig-Holsteiners demanded a liberal constitution and the incorporation of Schleswig in the German Confederation. Conversely, liberal circles in Copenhagen demanded a democratic constitution for the monarchy and the inclusion within it of Schleswig in it, which conflicted with a long-standing promise that the duchies would never be separated. This triggered a revolt in the duchies, and in Copenhagen led to Frederik VII declaring himself constitutional king, thereby paving the way for a democratic constitution which was codified in The Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark of 5 June 1849. The result was the Three Years’ War of 1848-1851, which ended with a Danish victory insofar as the duchies after great-power mediation remained part of the Danish united monarchy. However, a satisfactory solution to the basic contentious issue had not been achieved.

In 1863, the Danish parliament passed the November Constitution which in practice separated Holstein and Lauenburg from the kingdom while incorporating Schleswig. This was a clear infringement of the great-power agreements. As a result, the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck declared war on Denmark on behalf of the German Confederation. The outcome was a humiliating Danish defeat in 1864 and the ceding of all three duchies. Thus, the nation had once again lost almost a third of its total area and population. At the same time, some 200,000 Danes were left south of the new border. They did not return until after a plebiscite in 1920.

With the loss of the duchies, Denmark had become smaller than ever. From this nadir the work of national regeneration started with the motto ‘outward losses must be compensated by inward gains’. The reclamation of moor land gathered momentum, and with the help of the co-operative movement a large-scale shift from the cultivation of plants to livestock farming took place. Industrialisation also accelerated, creating a regular working class in the towns. In 1884, the first Social Democrats were elected to the Danish parliament, the Folketing. The party’s number of seats subsequently increased steadily at every election. In 1905, The Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre) broke away from the Liberal Party as an independent party appealing especially to urban intellectuals and smallholders. This established the party pattern which was to dominate Danish politics until 1973. Its characteristic feature was that no party could muster a majority on its own, so that compromise became a basic condition of Danish politics. The resultant consensus attitude is still a key element in Danish political culture.

Neutrality and Occupation

In keeping with the careful policy of neutrality, with a German bias which resulted from the defeat in 1864, Denmark remained neutral during World War I and Danish trade and industry profited from the war-time conditions. In the hope of weathering the storm, the same line was taken when the sky began to cloud over again after Hitler seized power in Germany in 1933. However, this time it did not work and on 9 April 1940, German troops ‘peacefully’ occupied Denmark. The Social Democrat/Social Liberal government led by Thorvald Stauning decided to give in and reluctantly began a collaboration with the occupying power. Gradually, British-backed popular resistance to the occupying power increased to such a level that the policy of collaboration collapsed in August 1943. The government resigned and parliamentary life ceased to function. The fiction of a ‘peaceful occupation’ burst and the last 18 months of the war were dominated by growing armed resistance to the Germans and their increasingly brutal reprisals. By the end of the war, the resistance movement numbered around 50,000 members.

Despite its unclear position, Denmark had by the end of the war achieved de facto recognition as an allied power, due to the activities of the resistance movement and it was therefore invited to become a founding member of the United Nations in 1945. Along with Norway, it joined NATO in 1949 and thus definitively abandoned the policy of neutrality which had been a key element in Denmark’s security policy since 1864. The Marshall Plan assistance from 1948 initiated a huge modernisation of Danish farming and from the mid 1950s industrialisation really took off. In 1963, the value of industrial exports for the first time surpassed that of agriculture. At the same time a comprehensive welfare programme was introduced, based on the principle of the right of all citizens to receive social benefits within the framework of the legislation. This created the Danish tax-funded welfare model, characterised by a highly developed social safety net and a heavy burden of taxation.

However, the traditional party structure collapsed as a result of the incipient youth revolution of 1968 and growing resistance to heavy taxation. At the landslide election in 1973, electoral support for the four traditional parties declined from around 84% to a mere 58% and a number of new protest parties – The Progress Party (Fremskridtspartiet), The Centre Party (Centrum-Demokraterne), and The Christian People’s Party (Kristeligt Folkeparti) – entered the parliamentary arena. The general election in November 2001 resulted in considerable shifts in the parliamentary picture. For the first time since 1920, The Liberal Party won more votes than The Social Democratic Party. At the same time The Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti), which has immigrant policy as its main issue, registered a gain, while The Progress Party and The Centre Party dropped out of the Folketing altogether. The Social-Democrat/Social-Liberal Government resigned as a result of its defeat at the polls and was replaced by a government led by Liberal leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen and consisting of The Liberal Party and The Conservative People’s Party (Det Konservative Folkeparti). The Danish People’s Pary and The Christian People’s Party form part of the non-Socialist Government’s parliamentary basis.

Denmark and Europe

Alongside Denmark’s integration in Europe, its post-war economy has become increasingly internationalised. The country did not participate in the negotiations which, in 1957-1959, led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC), but in 1960 it instead joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) together with Great Britain, which was the country’s main export market. Denmark did not join the EEC until 1973, again with Great Britain. Since then, the relationship with the EEC – from 1993 the European Union (EU) – has been a burning domestic issue, dividing the population into two camps of almost equal size. Thus, the 1992 referendum on the Maastricht Treaty concerning increased integration produced a narrow majority for the opponents, and it took another referendum before Denmark could join the Treaty after obtaining certain opt-out clauses. Participation in the single European currency, the euro, was rejected at a referendum in 2000. In this, as in other respects, the Danes are reluctant Europeans.

The Historical Inheritance

Denmark’s current shape and extent is the result of successive cedings of territory due to its exposed location by the access routes to the Baltic. Until recently, the Danes were an exceptionally homogenous people, which can be attributed to the gradual loss of marginal parts of the realm in the course of time. However, the traditionally high degree of homogeneity and consensus in Danish society is also closely connected with some of the historical features mentioned above – the doctrinal influence of the Lutheran State Church, the uniformity of the broad population brought about by absolutism, the late industrialisation which did not create a large urban lower class until the 20th century, and the inability of the political parties to muster an absolute majority on their own, which has made compromise a condition of political life. Rather than merely weakness and prosperity – as suggested by the British diplomat in 1939 – it is historical experiences of this kind that have determined the development of the modern Danish national character.

Danish cuisine is straightforward, for the most part, and it tends to fall into three categories:
Traditional basics. Roasted meats, frikadeller (Danish meatballs), and chicken are often served with potatoes and gravy. Fish is popular, both as an appetizer and as a main dish.
Smørrebrod. Denmark's open-faced sandwiches come in scores or even hundreds of varieties, with toppings that range from liver paste, smoked eel, or herring to more familiar ingredients like ham, cheese, and salmon.
Koldt bord. The Danish equivalent of smörgåsbord is a multi-course affair. You start by loading up on various types of herring, other seafoods, and salads, then get a clean plate for a main course that may include cold cuts, hot sausages, meatballs, and fried potatoes. Breads and a dessert buffet round out the menu.
Wienerbrød ("Vienna bread") is Denmark's name for Danish pastry, which is served at breakfast and as a snack in pastry shops. It's a far cry from the limp, heavy "Danishes" served in other countries, so give it a try even if you prefer doughnuts or croissants back home.
Look for restaurants that offer a "Dan-Menu" or daglig kort, a meal of two or more courses at a fixed price.
Danish people are generally very down to earth, friendly and fun loving people. However, they may seem reserved at first. This is not because they do not like you or wish to be unfriendly. Danes just have to get to know you a little before they open up. Expect to take initiative when you want to get to know somebody, and generally, just give the Danes some time and they will come around!
Denmark may be, in some areas, slightly more liberal than some countries. Danes are, by law, allowed to drive, vote and drink from the age of 18. Drinking is an integral part of the Danish culture but it is not un-cool to refuse a drink. A refusal to a drink is always respected. If you do decide to join the Danes for a few beers, be warned: do not try to keep up with your Danish peers if you are not used to drinking that much.
Going out to restaurants, bars and discos is expensive in Denmark. Contrary to much myth about Danes (and Scandinavians in general), Denmark is not a country populated by deeply promiscuous people! Sex before marriage is completely acceptable, and many couples choose to live together and have children, even though they are not married. This, however, should definitely not be comprehended as promiscuity.
Denmark is a Lutheran country and many Christian groups and associations exist, and there are many beautiful churches all over the country. However, most of the young Danes you will meet do not generally practice their religion.

Faroe Islands

Official Name Faroe Islands
Capital City Torshavn
Population 45,873
Language Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Time Zone GMT in winter and GMT+1 in summer
Independence none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National Holiday Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Currency Danish krone
Summer Temp: 11º C
Winter Temp: 3º C
Ethnic Groups Scandinavian
Religions Evangelical Lutheran

Location Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North-Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Area
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Land boundaries 0 km
Coastline 1,117 km
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes
lowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources fish, whales
The population derives mainly from West Norwegian farmers who settled here in the 9th century. It has been suggested that the Faroe Islands were populated by Irish monks or hermits before this but there is no archaeological evidence to support this view. Christianity was adopted in AD 999. In 1035 the Faroe Islands were incorporated into the Kingdom of Norway. Together with Norway, the islands passed to the Danish Crown in 1380, and remained under Denmark, even after Norway came under Swedish rule in 1814.