Denmark is placed on top of Europe. It is a part of Scandinavia with its south border towards Germany.
Native name: Danmark
Area: 43.093 km².
Population: 5.5 million.
Coast line: 7,313 km.
Highest point: 173 m. Yding Skovhøj.
Biggest island: Sealand 7,031 km².
Islands: 450 - 90 inhabited.
Capital: Copenhagen/København
Currency: Danish Kroner (DKK)
Time Zone: UCT+1.
Religion: Christian Protestant Church & Evangelical Lutheran - since 1536.
Government type: Parliamentary Democracy - Constitutional Monarchy.
Head of state: Queen Margrethe II.
Largest Cities and inhabitants
1. Copenhagen - 1.810.000
2. Århus - 290.000
3. Odense - 190.000
4. Aalborg - 168.000
5. Esbjerg - 88.000
The Kingdom of Denmark
Denmark is one of the oldest kingdoms in the world and dates back to the first Danish monarch, King "Gorm the Old" (910 -958/King of Denmark 930 - 958), who established his reign in the 10th century. He was succeeded by his son King "Harald Bluetooth" (911 - 987/King of Denmark and Norway 958 - 985), who erected a runic stone in year 965 over his parents burial plot at Jelling in Jutland. The stone has an inscription that praises himself for making all Danes Christians. "The Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity."
The Vikings
Denmark was the heartland of the great Viking society during the historical Viking Age from around 800 to about 1050 AC. The Viking Age is a very important part of Denmark’s history and culture, which formed the way to build up the Danish kingdom. As a descendant of the Vikings - ethnic Danes are commonly coupled with the terms of being a Viking, coming from the "Barbaric North" with adventurous blood running through their veins.
The Royal Family and Monarchy
The Danish Royal Family and Monarchy is a very popular institution in Denmark and is highly supported by the Danes. The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has a constitutional role - which means that the sovereign cannot perform political acts independently – but she is still the head of state.
HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark is the Queen's consort and the royal couple has two sons - Crown Prince Frederik (heir to the Danish throne) and Prince Joachim, Prince of Denmark. Crown Prince Frederik is married to Australian Mary Donaldson from Tasmania (now Mary Elizabeth and Crown Princess of Denmark).
Denmark is an old Democracy
Danish democracy is rooted in the Democratic Constitution from 1849, and the Danes have been governed by this well functional democratic Constitution ever since, signed by King Frederik VII on the 5th of June - giving the Danes their personal liberty and democratic rights, which mainly means freedom of speech, freedom of the press and free elections. The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) is the sole organ empowered to legislate, and the supreme power is divided into three independent systems that controls each other namely the legislative, the executive and the judicial powers. Every year the constitution day - Grundlovsdag - is celebrated with many arrangements and meetings.
The National Flag
The Danish flag is called “Dannebrog” and is possibly the oldest national flag in the world. According to the myth - the Danish King Valdemar the Victorious (1170-1241 – King 1202-1241), was during his crusade to Estonia caught in a battle and while combating, a revelation happened, as a red flag with a white cross fell down from the sky and landed beside the King. With the red white flag in his hand - King Valdemar won the battle and after this historical event the King commanded the flag to be the Danish national flag.
Flat as a pancake
Denmark is flat as a pancake and one of the highest spots rises about 147 metres over sea level. It is called “Himmelbjerget” (Sky Mountain) and is situated in mid Jutland. A little bit more than three quarters of the Danish Kingdom is 100 metres above sea level and most of Denmark’s landscape is cultivated for producing agricultural products. Many forests, pastures and meadows are characteristic features of the Danish landscape together with a very diversified coastline that is dominated by white sandy beaches, marchland and dunes.
Jutland and the Islands
The Peninsular of Jutland - Jylland - is joined to central Europe while the rest of Denmark consists of 406 islands of which 90 are inhabited. The largest island is Sealand (Sjælland) - where the Danish capital Copenhagen (København) is situated. Funen (Fyn) and the rocky island of Bornholm are some of the biggest isles in the Danish continent.
Small and big bridges
Denmark is linked by small and big bridges to main Scandinavian countries and the rest of the European continent. The Great Belt Bridge construction is the largest suspension bridge of its type in the world with a height as tall as the Eiffel Tower.
Danish is a language - not a throat disease!
Danish is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages), a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. It is spoken by around 6 million people, mainly in Denmark; the language is also used by the 50,000 Danes in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany where it holds the status of minority language. Danish is a mandatory subject in school in the Danish territories of the Faroe Islands (where it is also an official language) and Greenland, as well as the former crown holding of Iceland. There are also Danish language communities in Argentina, the U.S. and Canada.
YouTube video presentation with two Norwegian actors trying to speak the Danish language.
The Danes and their country.
The Danes just adore their country, even though they are the most heavily taxed people in the world. They work hard, but happily pay for their welfare system that gives every individual equal right to have free access to the public health care system plus other public services. Most of all the Danes protect and defend their democratic rights as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, gender equality, high quality of life, financial security and social benefits, informal working atmosphere, clean environment, equal educational possibilities, Christian values and much more, which is a part of the cultural heritage that has contributed to build up the Danish kingdom through many generation.
YouTube video presentation with Victor Borge performing popular Jokes & Danish Folk Song Medley. Among the folks songs are "Hist - hvor vejen slår en bugt" - "Der bor en bager" - "Det var en lørdag aften" - "Jeg er Havren. Jeg har bjælder på" - "Den lille Ole med paraplyen" and "Hønsefødder og gulerødder".
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