Brief information
For most tourists, Denmark is the birthplace of the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen and his Little Mermaid. There is, of course, a great deal of truth in this. However, Denmark lives not only with Andersen’s fairy tales. There are hundreds more things and places in this country, ranging from Danish beer to great sandy beaches that will be of interest to any traveler. True, we recommend relaxing on Danish beaches only in July-August, when the sea off the coast of Denmark warms up well.
Geography of Denmark
Denmark is located on the Jutland peninsula in Scandinavia, in northern Europe. To the south, Denmark shares a border with Germany. Denmark also includes many islands, including Zeeland, Funen, Falster and Lolland. In addition, Denmark owns the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and the island of Greenland in North America. The Øresund, Skagerrak and Kattegat straits separate Denmark from neighboring Sweden. The total territory of Denmark is 43,094 square kilometers.
Almost 12% of the territory of Denmark is occupied by forests. The highest peak in this country is Iding Skovkhoy hill, whose height reaches 173 meters.
Capital
According to itypejob.com, the capital of Denmark is Copenhagen, which is now home to more than 550 thousand people. Archaeologists claim that a human settlement on the site of modern Copenhagen existed already in the 12th century.
Official language in Denmark
The Danes speak Danish, which is the official language in Denmark and belongs to the Scandinavian languages.
Religion
More than 80% of Danes are Lutherans (Protestants). However, only about 3% of Danes go to church every week.
State structure of Denmark
According to computerminus.com, Denmark is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state is the King.
The executive power in Denmark belongs to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers, and the legislative power belongs to the unicameral Folketing parliament, consisting of 179 deputies.
Climate and weather
The climate in Denmark is temperate, with mild winters and not very warm summers. The average annual air temperature is +8.6C. In January and February, the average air temperature is 0C, and in August – +15.7C. The average annual rainfall is 712 mm.
Sea in Denmark
In the west, Denmark is washed by the North Sea, and in the south by the Baltic Sea. In July and August, the sea off the coast of Denmark warms up well, making these months an excellent time for swimming.
Rivers and lakes
Denmark has many small rivers and lakes. The largest Danish rivers are Gudeno, Storra and Varde. As for the lakes, Arese on the island of Zeeland and Forup on the Jutland peninsula should be distinguished from them.
History of Denmark
Denmark was inhabited by humans approximately 12,500 years ago. In the era of Ancient Rome, the inhabitants of Denmark maintained trade contacts with the Romans.
From the 8th century AD Danish Vikings, along with their counterparts from Sweden and Norway, begin to colonize Europe, reaching even as far as Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Newfoundland.
If the Norwegian and Swedish Vikings went on campaigns to the Baltic countries, Russia, Ukraine and further to Constantinople, then the interests of the Danes extended to England, Ireland, France and Italy. In 965 Denmark became a Christian country.
In 1397, Denmark entered into a personal union with Sweden and Norway, thus gaining power over all of Scandinavia. In 1536, after the so-called. “Counts’ war” Denmark became a Lutheran country.
After the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, Denmark was forced to transfer control of Norway to its eternal rival, Sweden. In 1849, Denmark became a constitutional monarchy, and in 1864, after the defeat in the war with Prussia, the Danish monarchy was forced to accept the rejection of Schleswig and Holstein from it.
During World War II, Denmark was invaded by German troops.
In October 1945, Denmark was admitted to the UN, in 1949 this country became a member of the waxed NATO bloc, and in 1973 – the EEC.
Culture of Denmark
The Danes began to show interest in their folklore from the 19th century, when in the era of romanticism the growth of national identity began. Now Danish folklore consists of fairy tales, legends, music, dances, songs, folk beliefs and traditions.
Denmark is famous for its fairy tales and their legendary master Hans Christian Andersen. Andersen drew his inspiration from Danish folk tales and legends. The central figure in Danish folklore is Nisse, a kind of brownie, a symbol of Christmas. Each farm’s attic (or barn) is believed to have its own Nisse. The Danes feed Nissa porridge with butter, otherwise, it is believed that he begins to bring minor troubles.
In addition, the constant heroes of Danish fairy tales are various elves, trolls, goblins and gnomes.
However, Denmark is known not only for the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, but also for talented scientists. The most famous of them are the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and the physicist Niels Bohr.
Kitchen
The main products of Danish cuisine are fish, seafood, meat, potatoes, cheese, and dairy products. The Danes claim that their cuisine is the best among all Scandinavian countries. Perhaps this is actually the case, given the frugality of the Swedes, the somewhat strange tastes of the Norwegians, and the predilection of the Finns for fish and seafood.
The traditional Danish sandwich is smørrebrød, which the Danes eat every day. Such a sandwich with butter is made with a variety of fillings. The most delicious smørrebrød is with small Danish prawns, lemon and dill.
Tourists in Denmark are advised to try local meatballs (frikadeller), roast pork with crust (flæskesteg) and kogt torsk (cod dish with mustard sauce), as well as fried pork with red cabbage (flæskesteg med rødkål) and roast lamb (lammesteg).
Danish chefs make excellent fish dishes – herring, salmon, flounder, cod, mackerel, etc.
As for alcohol, the Danes prefer Carlsberg and Tuborg beer, as well as local vodka “akvavita”.
Archaeologists claim that beer has been brewed on the territory of modern Denmark for 2,800 years ago. There are now more than 100 breweries in Denmark. On average, every Dane drinks 80 liters of beer every year.
Landmarks of Denmark
Curious tourists will be surprised and fascinated by little Denmark. In this country, a lot of different sights have been preserved, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The top ten Danish attractions, in our opinion, include the following:
- Kronborg Castle in Helsingør
- Øresund Bridge connecting Denmark with Sweden
- Legoland Amusement Park in Billund
- Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen
- Monument to the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen
- Round tower in Copenhagen
- Fredensborg Castle near Lake Esrum
- Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen
- Gothic cathedral in Roskilde
- Amusement park “Tivoli”
Cities and resorts
The largest cities in Denmark are Aarhus, Odensei, and, of course, Copenhagen.
Despite the fact that Denmark is located in Scandinavia, numerous tourists come to the coast of this country in July and August. The water on the Danish coast warms up well during these months, and there are good conditions for swimming. Moreover, the beaches in Denmark are sandy and also very beautiful.
We advise tourists to pay attention to the following Danish beaches: Amager Beach, Henne Strand Beach, Bisnap Beach, and Bildsø Beach.
Souvenirs/Shopping
Tourists from Denmark usually bring Little Mermaid figurines, elves, Danish chocolate and sweets, glassware, handicrafts, etc.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Wed and Fri: 10:00-16:00
On Thursday, banks are open until 17:30/18:00.
Shops:
Mon-Thu: 09:30-17:30
Fri: 09:30-19.00
Sat: 09:30-13.00
Visa
Ukrainians need to obtain a visa to enter Denmark.
Currency
Despite the fact that Denmark is a member of the European Union, this country has its own currency in circulation – the Danish krone (its international designation is DKK). One Danish krone = 100 ore
.
Customs restrictions
If a Ukrainian wants to bring about 15,000 euros (and more) into Denmark, then this amount must be included in the declaration. When exporting 15 thousand euros, they must also be declared. Customs regulations in Denmark are the same as in other EU countries.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Address of the Danish embassy in Ukraine:
Index – 01901, Kiev, st. B. Khmelnitsky, 56. T:
(044) 200-12-60
Email: [email protected]
Address of the Ukrainian Embassy in Denmark:
Denmark, Сopenhagen, DK-1253K, Toldbodgade 37A, 1 sal.
T: +10-45
3316-16-35 mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
All emergencies – 112
Time
The difference with Ukrainian time is exactly -1 hour. Those. if in Copenhagen 09:00 am, then in Kyiv – 10:00 am.
Tips
In Denmark, the cost of the service is usually already included in the bill. Sometimes tourists tip 10% of the bill for excellent service.
The medicine
No special vaccinations are required to enter Denmark, but health insurance is required.
Security
Denmark is one of the safest countries in Europe, perhaps even in the entire world. However, tourists should be aware that there are pickpockets in this country as well.
