DENMARK
Denmark sits like a star atop the European continent, the geographic
and cultural link to Scandinavia and the gateway to the
Baltic. It's
thoroughly European, yet distinctively Danish.
One of the smallest countries in Europe, it has the oldest capital city
and the oldest flag. The queen, Her Majesty
Queen Margrethe, is the youngest queen in Europe, yet hers is
the oldest lineage, dating from early 900 and Viking king Gorm. 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 political and economic
integration of Europe. So far, however, the country has opted out of
some aspects of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the
economic and monetary system (EMU) and issues concerning certain
internal affairs
Vestiges of its royal past are readily apparent in Denmark's stately
castles, gardens, and manor houses. When it was built in 1585,
Kronborg
Castle, the backdrop for Shakespeare's Hamlet, was the finest castle in
northern Europe. Spottrup Castle (1450-1500), with its unique double
moat, is one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in Scandinavia.
Ledreborg Castle (I 743), set in a 2 00-acre river valley, is known for
its magnificent terraced gardens, no mean feat in a country where the
land never rises more than 500 feet above sea level.
Danish cities are filled with gracious plazas, statues, fountains,
gardens crisscrossed with wide, tree-lined walkways, open-air markets,
flower vendors on street corners, museums, galleries, and little cafes
offering strong coffee and delectable pastries. In Copenhagen, the
traditional changing of the guard ceremony takes place in front of the
queen's palace.
Danes are friendly ("If you have to throw yourself on the mercy of
anyone," it has been said, "let it be a Dane"), English-speaking, and
fun-loving. And we come from a great literary and artistic heritage that
includes the writers Hans Christian Andersen and Isak Dinesen, the
philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, the choreographer August Bournonville,
and the designer Georg Jensen.
In Copenhagen and its surroundings,
you can enjoy more than 60 museums and sights, and the private art
gallery Louisiana in Humlebæk, north of Copenhagen, one of Europe's
leading galleries for modern art. Copenhagen is one of Europe's greenest
capital cities. 15% of the city is park land and due to its
comprehensive public transport system, cleanliness, and strict
anti-pollution laws, the typical drawbacks of other metropolises such as
heavy traffic jams and pollu tion, are very limited in
Copenhagen. It is very common that many people go on their bicycle to
work in the city. Copenhagen has a very international atmosphere. The
cultural life of the city, theatres, museums, evening classes, sports
clubs, etc. is - per head of the population - the most extensive of any
capital city in Europe. The Danish National Ballet is one of the oldest
and most renowned in the world. The city has numerous movie theaters,
many of them show art movies and special movies. In cinemas as well as
on television, all films are in original language with Danish subtitles.
