Being a Scandinavian country, Denmark comprises the Jutland Peninsula and several islands. It is connected to neighboring Sweden through the Öresund bridge. The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen and it houses royal palaces and vibrant Nyhavn harbor, also the Tivoli amusement park, and the famous “Little Mermaid” statue.
Interesting Facts about Denmark
There are many quaint places here with cobbled streets and half-timbered houses and Denmark is symbolism for serene beauty among people all over. Apart from the obvious, there are several other facts about Denmark, you may not know. Keep reading on to uncover layers about this beautiful nation with us!
1. One of the Happiest Countries in the World
Named as the world’s happiest country on several occasions, Denmark remains at the very top of the UN World Happiness Report. Which speaks highly of the lifestyle here and the satisfaction of the people residing in this attractive country.
2. Buzzing City Life and Beautiful Countryside
The distances here are short, making it possible to blend a buzzing urban life with the tranquility of the delightful Danish country, and seaside. This means you truly get the best of both worlds in Denmark. And the children here get to roam freely and safely whether they want to walk in the city streets or skip along woodland paths.
3. The Danish Language has no Word for “Please”
You might not want to think that the Danes are rude if one forgets to say please while asking for a favor, since they’re simply not used to using the word in a sentence. There is no direct translation for “please” in Danish, even if you search.
4. The Danish Working Culture
According to a report by the European Investment Bank, the Danes come under the list of the most productive and hardworking workforces in Europe. This is all thanks to the Danish job frame of mind and work culture where employees undergo a high degree of independence and empowerment at work, which results in quite responsible, conscientious employees having a high level of job satisfaction.
5. Work-life Balance
A cornerstone of Danish business culture is the work-life balance which keeps Denmark on a list among the world’s most family-friendly places to live.
All workers legally qualify to have 5 weeks of vacation every year, which makes it easy to organize committed family time and chances to visit relatives abroad. The fact that the majority of both men and women work gives rise to the employee demand for flexible work hours.
6. The Oldest Flag in the World
Danish flag “Dannebrog ” stands as the oldest state flag in the world which is still in use by an independent nation, and it was first acknowledged in 1219. It turned 800 years in 2019 and the event was celebrated in true Danish birthday fashion, of course with a bunch of flags.
7. There is a Danish word for that Cozy Feeling of Togetherness: Hygge
Hygge, in essence, is about forming cozy social gatherings and cherished get-togethers with family and friends. It is the feeling of happiness and warm atmospheres. You will also literally get to feel the idea of hygge in the streets of Copenhagen while walking down some old narrow, cobbled streets which date back several hundred years. These streets will invite you to comfortable walks next to vibrant houses, quaint coffee shops, and vintage boutiques.
8. There Aren’t any Mountains, So Biking is Never Uphill
Known for its bike culture, almost all the Denmark is flatland and it only comes as an advantage in this matter. But there is also more than 12,000km of cycle tracks and lanes all over the country making biking in Denmark a secure and respected way to commute. The people in Denmark enjoy cycling so much that 75% continue biking all through winter and they even have a Cycling Embassy.
9. More than 50% of Copenhageners Cycle to and from Work Every Day
Copenhageners cycle an average of 3km every day and this combines with people cycling 35 times around the world every day in Copenhagen! The preferred mode of transport in Denmark is the bicycle as 4 out of 10 Danes own a car but 9 out of 10 Danes own a bike.
10. The Danish Alphabet has 3 Additional Letters: Æ, Ø, and Å
Known among the toughest languages to learn, the Danish language has a bunch of silent letters and intricate pronunciations. You will have to take more than a few classes and dedicate a certain amount of your daily time to be fluent in this language. To add a bit more to the challenge, here you’ll find three letters that you won’t come across in the English alphabet: Æ, Ø, and Å.
11. There are Some Weird Danish Traditions
Danish traditions are quite rich and amusing but some of them might just seem strange to the modern eye. As there is one that includes battling at a black cat in a barrel at the yearly carnival “fastelavn” and another includes burning a witch on a bonfire at Sankt Hans (midsummer’s eve).
But you need not worry, as the craziness has been toned down a bit and nowadays the barrels are just decorated with cut-out forms of black cats while the bonfires only burn doll versions of witches. So you get to enjoy the richness of the festivals without fearing causing any trouble to another person or animal.
12. You’ll Find the Two Oldest Amusement Parks in the World in Denmark
We kept this certain fun fact for the last as Denmark is home to the world’s oldest amusement park. Bakken is the first one while the second oldest is Tivoli Gardens. You will find Bakken located only a short 20-minute train ride from Copenhagen central station and Tivoli Gardens is situated right on the opposite side of the street from the station in the center of our bustling capital. If you are looking for a day filled with fun then both of them are fantastic suggestions and that’s a fact!