I’m learning interesting tidbits about our new home every day and thought it would be nice to share some with you. Below, ten intriguing things I’ve learned about this magical Scandinavian country.
1 // Island Living. The country of Denmark actually consists of 406 islands and boasts 7,314 km (roughly 4,545 miles) of coastline. Copenhagen, the capital city where we live, is located on the islands Zealand and Amager (I can’t pronounce either, but good to know).
2 // Small but Mighty. The population of the entire country of Denmark is only 5.6 million (to put this in in perspective, the population of New York City is roughly 8.5 million). The city of Copenhagen has a population of 1.2 million.
3 // All Hail the Queen. The head of state in Denmark is Queen Margrethe II. Born in Amalienborg Palace just one week after Nazi Germany’s invasion of Denmark, she took the throne January 14, 1972 and is beloved by the Danes. In her free time, Queen Margrethe II loves to paint and is famous for her chain smoking habit.
4 // Free Education. College tuition in Denmark is free for all Danes. In fact, if you attend university in Denmark, the government actually pays you! College students receive a monthly stipend from the Danish government for living expenses.
5 // Flag Flying. Danes love their flag. Known as the Dannebrog, it is a red flag with a white cross and, according to legend, fell from the heavens during a battle against Estonia in 1219. It can be spotted everywhere in Denmark and is even used at birthdays.
6 // Cozy Candlelight. Danes burn more candles per head than any other European country. Remember last week’s post about getting hygge…? Candles are essential to channeling hygge and the Danes love nothing more than a flickering warm glow. In many offices here in Copenhagen, candles are lit every morning and remain burning throughout the day. Doesn’t that sound lovely?! I keep spotting this Kubus candle holder around the city and desperately want one for my own.
7 // The Danish Resistance. In 1943, during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, the Danish resistance movement succeeded in evacuating 7,220 of Denmark’s 7,800 Jews to neutral Sweden. Thanks to this act of bravery, over 99% of the Danish Jewish population survived the Holocaust. I am looking forward to visiting the nearby Danish Jewish Museum to learn more.
8 // Baby Danes. In 2014, the top ten most popular girls’ names in Denmark were: Emma, Sofia, Ida, Freja, Clara, Laura, Anna, Ella, Isabella and Karla. The top ten boys’ names were: William, Noah, Lucas, Oscar, Victor, Malthe, Emil, Frederik, Oliver, and Magnus.
9 // Icy Dip. Many Danes swim in the sea year round. Even in the depths of winter, some Danes take a daily plunge into icy, below freezing water. Sports clubs are a big thing in Denmark (clubs of all kinds, really) and many Danes belong to a swimming club.
10 // Happiest Place on Earth. A 2012 happiness report conducted by the UN ranked Danes as the happiest people in the world. Many credit this to their strong welfare state and emphasis on work/life balance (all wage earners receive a minimum 5 weeks’ paid holiday each year!). A second report conducted in 2013 again ranked Denmark as the happiest country on earth.
(image via my instagram)
Are Danes happy because they live in rainbow-colored houses, or are the houses rainbow-colored because they are so happy? I feel like there’s something there…
Seems like a wonderful place to live and explore, thanks for letting us tag along :)
Alison – Hah! The million dollar question. I’ll let you know if/when I find out. Thanks for reading! xx Katie
Katie, my favourite tidbit about Denmark is that of Princess Mary. Being Australian, she gave hope to all single ladies that you could meet a Prince in a bar and marry him
Tina – That is such a good one! Might have to include it in my next post. She really does lead a fairy tale life…!
Hi Katie! I’ve just been referred to your blog by a friend of mine, and first, I want to say how much I’ve enjoyed your posts so far!! I’m actually going to be studying abroad in Copenhagen next fall and I would love to hear more about the adjustment (especially in cost – everyone keeps telling me to be prepared for how expensive it is in Denmark and I’m moving from DC!) and any recommendations you have for people moving to the area! Thank you and I look forward to reading your future posts!!
Hi Maren – How exciting! You will love it here, but yes, it is very expensive. I’m overdue for a Danish life update post…coming soon!