Om Danmark og danskerne

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The Kingdom.
The Kingdom of Denmark is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch, Queen Margrethe II. The country has a strong social welfare system, built up during the 20th century. It is a member of the European community but its citizens have often challenged the right of the EU to dictate policies. Peaceful development and socially balanced changes are important elements in its national life.

Geography
It is a small country consisting of a large peninsula, Jutland, which shares a land border with Germany, and approx. 400 islands. The largest are Sjæland and Fyn. Denmark is small. Some would say very small. It would take more than 200 Denmarks to fill the United States. The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen, lying on the northern coast of Sjæland. Denmark is not a high country; the highest point is only 179m above sea level. IPC is to the north, at Helsingør (Elsinore). You can see it on the map.

The People.
There are about 5.2 million people living in Denmark. The vast majority enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. Danes are also rated among the happiest people in the world. In repeated international surveys, Danes have been regularly rated happier with their lives and with their jobs than people from most other countries.

The Language.
Danes speak a strange language, a mixture of Old Norse and German. It is fearfully hard to pronounce many Danish words and visitors are often bemused by the incongruities of spelling and the quaintness of the Danish grammar. Fortunately, most Danes speak excellent English and many also speak German and a host of other European languages. Swedish and Norwegian are closely related to Danish but are far easier to pronounce and are said to be more pleasant on the ear.



The Humour.
Enjoying the Danish sense of humour is a fit and proper compensation for having to put up with the Danish weather. The Danish capacity for laughter is inversely proportional to the amount of rain falling on the kingdom in any given year. Fortunately, Danish summers are benefiting from the effects of global warming and many sunny days are expected in coming years.

The Queen.
Most Danes love their queen passionately, even though they may vote for socialist or left-wing parties at election time. Queen Margrethe II commands the respect of her people both through her grace and personal charm and through her strong intellectual and artistic gifts.



Danish Design.
Danish design is rightly famous throughout the world. Danish designers have created some of the most recognised design icons known to humankind. The Sydney Opera House was designed by a Dane and most householders in Denmark have the famous PH lamp over their dining table. Furniture, jewellery and electronic equipment also show the charm and elegance of the Danes.

The Trade.
Danes were once Vikings and the Vikings were great traders. Denmark is a major exporting nation, sending farm products, quality precision instruments, and pharmaceuticals to all corners of the world.

The Sports.
Denmark is a football nation although not of the top rank. It is therefore with pride that Danes recall their triumph over Germany in the European Championships back in the early 1990s. You will also find Danes cheering handball and basketball and ice hockey along with the ancient sport of curling. The claphat is a mysterious Danish invention designed to allow Danes to hold a beer in one hand and still applaud the action on the field


The Food.
Danish cuisine is increasingly international, a trend for which Danes are increasingly grateful. The traditional national dish is frikadeller - a kind of meatball. Visitors should, however, try a few variations of the famous Danish Open Sandwich or smørbrød.



Danes are also fond of pickled herrings, liver paste and salty liquorice. Visitors are warned to beware of the Danish pastries and the Danish pølser (sausages). The pastries are delectable and therefore expand the waistline rapidly. The pølser, sold from small, mobile vans in strategic locations such as railway stations, are tasty and can lead to excessive consumption.

The Beer.
Visitors who like beer will like Denmark. The country offers you a wide variety of brews from various locations and there are the two famous brands, Carlsberg and Tuborg, sold in most bars.

The Logistics.
Finally, everything works in Denmark. The trains are swift, punctual and clean. (Within the last couple of years this hasn´t been the case - and this really upsets the Danes) The tap water is fine to drink. Nothing in Denmark is far away, and visitors are often struck by how easy it is to get around.