FODK Free Online Denmark

Denmark, officially (translated to English) the Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Kongeriget Danmark (help·info), IPA: [?d??(n)mɑɡ?], (archaic:) IPA: [?d?anmɑ?ɡ?]) is the southernmost and territorially the smallest of the five Nordic countries if its offshore territories are excluded, and the largest if they are included. Denmark is one of the Scandinavian countries. The mainland is north of its only land neighbour, Germany; southwest of Sweden; and south of Norway. Denmark also encompasses two off-shore territories, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, granted home rule in 1948 and 1979, respectively. The national capital is Copenhagen.

Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea. The country consists of a large peninsula, Jutland (Jylland), which borders northern Germany, plus a large number of islands, most notably Zealand (Sj?lland), Funen (Fyn), Vendsyssel-Thy, Lolland, Falster and Bornholm as well as hundreds of minor islands often referred to as the Danish Archipelago. Denmark has long controlled the approach to the Baltic Sea, and these waters are also known as the Danish straits.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and is a member of the European Union, having joined the European Economic Community in 1973. The Faroe Islands and Greenland remain outside the EU, including the EU customs zone.

Originally relying on farming, fishing and seafaring and with no other major natural resources, Denmark experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These trends enabled the establishment of a Scandinavian Model "welfare state" of public services, starting with the 1933 social reforms known as the Kanslergade Agreement. Denmark was occupied by Germany during World War II and, ending a tradition of political neutrality, in 1949 became one of the founding members of NATO. In 2006 a survey found Denmark to be the happiest place in the world, based on standards of health, welfare, and education. In 2007 the country's capital is ranked the second most liveable city in the world by Monocle magazine and ranked as the happiest nation in the world.

History
History of Denmark

Hankeh?j, by Johan Thomas Lundbye. A Danish down. Note the glacial character of the terrain and the burial mound of an early chief in the centre.
Prehistoric Denmark
The earliest archaeological findings in Denmark date back to 130,000–110,000 BC in the Eem interglacial period. People have inhabited Denmark since about 12,500 BC, and agriculture has been in evidence since around 3,900 BC. The Nordic Bronze Age (1,800–600 BC) in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings, including lurs and the Sun Chariot.

During the Pre-Roman Iron Age (500 BC – AD 1), native groups began migrating south, although the first Danish people came to Denmark between the Pre-Roman and Germanic Iron Age, in the Roman Iron Age (AD 1–400). The Roman provinces maintained trade routes and relations with native tribes in Denmark, and Roman coins have been found in Denmark. Evidence of strong Celtic cultural influence dates from this period in Denmark and much of northwest Europe, and is among other things reflected in the finding of the Gundestrup cauldron.

Historians believe that before the arrival of the precursors to the Danes, who came from the east Danish islands (Zealand) and Sk?ne and spoke an early form of north Germanic, most of Jutland and some islands were settled by Jutes. They later migrated to the British isles, together with Angles and Saxons to form the Anglo-Saxons.

The exact origins of a unified Danish state have been lost in history. However, a short note about the Dani in "The Origin and Deeds of the Goths" from 551 AD by historian Jordanes is believed by some to be an early mention of the Danes, one of the ethnos from whom the modern Danish people are descended. The Danevirke defence structures were built in phases from the 3rd century forward, and the sheer size of the construction efforts in 737 are attributed to the emergence of a Danish king. The new runic alphabet was first used at the same time, and Ribe, the oldest town of Denmark, was founded about 700.

Pre-Christian Denmark

The Jelling Stones, commonly referred to as Denmark's "birth certificate", seen from the north with "Gorm's Mound" in the background. Viking age
During the 8th-11th centuries the Danes were known to christianity as Vikings, together with Norwegians and swedish Geats. Viking explorers first discovered and settled Iceland in the 9th century, on their way towards the Faroe Islands, from the Faroe Islands, Greenland was permanently settled and from there the vikings came to Vinland (Land of Grass/Land of Meadows), known today as Newfoundland, in Canada. Utillizing their great skills in shipbuilding they raided, conqurored or colonized parts of France and the british isles. But also excelled in trading along the coasts and rivers of Europe, running traderoutes from Greenland in the north to Constantinople in the south via the Russian rivers. The Danish Vikings were most active in the British Isles and Western Europe, and they raided, conquered or/and settled parts of England (earliest settlements known as the Danelaw), Ireland, France and founded Normandy.

In the early 8th century, Charlemagne's Christian empire had expanded to the south border of the Danes, and from Frankish sources (F.ex. Notker of St Gall) we have some of the earliest historical evidence of the danes: We know that a King Godfred appears in present day Holstein with a navy in 804 where diplomacy takes place with the Franks; In 808 the same King Godfred attacks the Obotrite a wend people and conqurors the city of Reric whos population is displaced, or abducted, to Hedeby; In 809 King Godfred and emissaries of Charlemagne fails to negotiate peace and the next year, 810, King Godfred attacks the Frisians with 200 ships. He dies the same year. It is unclear how much of Denmark Godfred actually ruled and it's unknown whether he was infact king, a warlord or a local ruler (presumably of Jutland). The oldest parts of the defensive works of Dannevirke near Hedeby at least dates from summer 755 and is expanded during the 8th-12th century with large works in the 10th century. The size and amount of troops needed to man it indicates a quite powerful ruler in the area, which might be consistend with the kings the frankish sources, often sporadically, mentions. In 815 Emperor Louis the Pious attacks Jutland apparently in surport of a contender to the throne, perhaps Harald Kalk, but is turned back by The sons of Godfred, which likely are the sons of the above mentioned Godfred. At the same time Saint Ansgar travels to Hedeby and starts the Catholic christianization of Scandinavia. Historical sources are rare from this time on and until the middle of the 10th century.

The Danes were united and officially Christianized around 965 by Harald Bl?tand (Harald Bluetooth), the story of which is recorded on the Jelling stones. It is likely that Denmark became Christian to prevent invasions by the Holy Roman Empire in Germania. Though it's also likely that the danes and their rulers had a pragmatic relationship to faith issues, worshipping the Old Norse Gods along with the new christian God. The exact extent of Harald's Danish Kingdom is unknown, although it's reasonable to believe that it stretched from the defensive line of Dannevirke, including the Viking city of Hedeby, across Jutland, the Danish isles and into southern present day Sweden; Sk?ne and perhaps Halland and Blekinge. Further more the Jellinge stones attests that Harald had also "won" Norway. The son of Harald, Svend Haraldson (Sweyn I ), mounted a series of wars of conquest against England, different from earlier viking activities (raids and localized settlements) in that Svend's wars seems to have been centrally organized and with long-term planning involved, displaying the emergence of a central organization and a kingship with strong internal power. The conquest of England was completed by Svend's son Knud (Canute the Great) towards the middle of the 11th century. The reign of Knud represented the peak of the Danish Viking age. King Knud's North Sea Empire included Denmark (1018), Norway (1028), England (1035) and most likely held strong influence over the north-eastern coast of present-day Germany.

Medieval Denmark
From the viking age towards the end of the 13th century, The kingdom of Denmark consisted of Jutland, from the Eider River extending northwards, The danish isles (Zealand, Funen, Bornholm and smaller islands), Sk?ne, Halland and Blekinge. From the end of the 13th century the lands between Eider River and the river Konge?en was separated from the kingdom as two vassal duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. In 1658 Sk?ne, Halland and Blekinge was ceded to Sweden.

Following the end of the viking age (8th - 11th century), Denmark underwent a transition from a decentralised realm with a weak and semi-elected royal institution and little to none nobillity, into a realm more reflecting the European patron-client (or feudal) type of socity, with a strong king ruling through an even stronger noble class. The periode is marked by internal strife and a general weak geo-political position of the realm, who at long stretches fell under Emperial German influence. Though the periode also features the first larger stone build buildings (mostly churches), a deep penetration by the christian faith f.ex. the appearence of monastic orders in Denmark and the first written historical works (F.ex. Saxo's historical work Gesta Danorum "Deeds of the Danes").

By the end of the 12th century the transition can be considered complete and the realm regained strength primarely through a strong allience between the royal familly and powerful noble famillies. Emperial-German political as well as religious influence is firmly ended in the last decades of the 12th century under the rule of King Valdemar the Great and his fost brother Absalon Hvide, Archbishop of Lund, through succesfull wars against Wend peoples of present day North-East Germany and through wars against the German Empire.

A medieval high point is reached during the reign of Valdemar II, whos baltic sea politics resulted in the formation of a (abeit short lived) Danish "Baltic Sea Empire", which by 1221 extended control, or influence, from Estonia in the east to Norway in the north. In this periode several of the "regional" law codes are given. Noticably the Code of Jutland from 1241, which asserts several modern concepts like Right of property; "that the king cannot rule without and beyound the law"; "and that all men are equal to the law".

Following the death of Valdemar II in 1241 and to the assencion of Valdemar IV in 1340, the kingdom is in general decline due to internal strife and the rise of the Hanseatic League. Also, the competition between the sons of Valdemar II, had the longterm result that the southern parts of Jutland was separated from the kingdom of Denmark and became semi-independent vasal dutcheries/counts. A problematic arrangement that would persist untill the end of World War I. During the reign of Valdemar IV and his daughter Margrethe I, the realm is re-invigorated and following the battle of Falk?ping, Margrethe I had her sister's son Eric of Pomerania crowned king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden after the signing of the union charter of Kalmar (The Kalmar Union), Trinity Sunday 1397. Much of the next 125 years of Scandinavien history revolves around this union, with Sweden breaking off and being re-conquored repeatedly. The issue is for practical purposes resolved the 17th of june 1523, as Swedish King Gustav Vasa conqurors the city of Stockholm. Denmark and Norway remained in a personal union until the Congress of Vienna, 1814.

The Protestant Reformation came to Scandinavia in the 1530s, and following the Count's Feud civil war, Denmark converted to Lutheranism in 1536.

Recent history

Map of DenmarkTwo centuries of wars with Sweden followed. King Christian IV attacked Sweden in the 1611–13 Kalmar War but failed to accomplish his main objective of forcing Sweden to return to the union with Denmark. The war led to no territorial changes, but Sweden was forced to pay a war indemnity of 1 million silver riksdaler to Denmark, an amount known as the ?lvsborg ransom. King Christian used this money to found several towns and fortresses, most notably Glückstadt (founded as a rival to Hamburg), Christiania (following a fire destroying the original city), Christianshavn, Christianstad, and Christiansand. Christian also constructed a number of buildings, most notably B?rsen, Rundet?rn, Nyboder, Rosenborg, a silver mine and a copper mill. Inspired by the Dutch East India Company, he founded a similar Danish company. Christian had planned to claim Sri Lanka as a colony but the company only managed to acquire Tranquebar on India's Coromandel Coast. In the Thirty Year's War, Christian tried to become the leader of the Lutheran states in Germany, but suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Lutter resulting in a Catholic army under Albrecht von Wallenstein occupying and pillaging Jutland. Denmark managed to avoid territorial concessions, but Gustavus Adolphus' intervention in Germany was seen as a sign that the military power of Sweden was on the rise while Denmark's influence in the region was declining. In 1643, Swedish armies invaded Jutland and in 1644 Sk?ne. In the 1645 Treaty of Br?msebro, Denmark surrendered Halland, Gotland, the last parts of Danish Estonia, and several provinces in Norway. In 1657, King Frederick III declared war on Sweden and marched on Bremen-Verden. This led to a massive Danish defeat and the armies of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden conquered both Jutland, Funen and much of Zealand before signing the Peace of Roskilde in February 1658 which gave Sweden control of Sk?ne, Blekinge, Tr?ndelag and the island of Bornholm. Charles X Gustav quickly regretted not having destroyed Denmark completely and in August 1658 he began a two-year long siege of Copenhagen but failed to take the capital. In the following peace settlement, Denmark managed to maintain its independence and regain control of Tr?ndelag and Bornholm.

Denmark tried to regain control of Sk?ne in the Scanian War (1675-79) but it ended in failure. Following the Great Northern War (1700–21), Denmark managed to restore control of the parts of Schleswig and Holstein ruled by the house of Holstein-Gottorp in 1721 and 1773, respectively. Denmark prospered greatly in the last decades of the 18th century due to its neutral status allowing it to trade with both sides in the many contemporary wars. In the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark originally tried to pursue a policy of neutrality to continue the lucrative trade with both France and the United Kingdom and joined the League of Armed Neutrality with Russia, Sweden and Prussia. The British considered this a hostile act and attacked Copenhagen in both 1801 and 1807, in one case carrying off the Danish fleet, in the other, burning large parts of the Danish capital. These events mark the end of the prosperous Florissant Age and resulted in the Dano-British Gunboat War. British control over the waterways between Denmark and Norway proved disastrous to the union's economy and in 1813, Denmark-Norway went bankrupt. The post-Napoleonic Congress of Vienna demanded the dissolution of the Dano-Norwegian union, and this was confirmed by the Treaty of Kiel in 1814. Denmark-Norway had briefly hoped to restore the Scandinavian union in 1809, but these hopes were dashed when the estates of Sweden rejected a proposal to let Frederick VI of Denmark succeed the deposed Gustav IV Adolf and instead gave the crown to Charles XIII. Norway entered a new union with Sweden which lasted until 1905. Denmark kept the colonies of Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Apart from the Nordic colonies, Denmark ruled over Danish India (Tranquebar in India) from 1620 to 1869, the Danish Gold Coast (Ghana) from 1658 to 1850, and the Danish West Indies (the U.S. Virgin Islands) from 1671 to 1917.

Den Grundlovsgivende Rigsforsamling (The Constitutional Assembly. The Assembly created The Danish constitution), 1860–1864 painting by Constantin Hansen.The Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum in the 1830s, and after the European Revolutions of 1848 Denmark peacefully became a constitutional monarchy on 5 June 1849.

After the Second War of Schleswig (Danish: Slesvig) in 1864, Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia, in a defeat that left deep marks on the Danish national identity. After these events, Denmark returned to its traditional policy of neutrality, also keeping Denmark neutral in World War I. Following the defeat of Germany, the Versailles powers offered to return the then-German region of Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark. Fearing German irredentism, Denmark refused to consider the return of the area and insisted on a plebiscite concerning the return of Schleswig. The two Schleswig Plebiscites took place on 10 February and 14 March, respectively. On 10 July 1920, after the plebiscite and the King's signature (9 July) on the reunion document, Northern Schleswig (S?nderjylland) was recovered by Denmark, thereby adding 163,600 inhabitants and 3,984 km2. The reunion day (Genforeningsdag) is celebrated every year 15 June on Valdemarsdag.

Germany's invasion of Denmark on 9 April 1940 – codenamed Operation Weserübung – met only two hours of military resistance before the Danish government surrendered. Economic co-operation between Germany and Denmark continued until 1943, when the Danish Government refused further co-operation and the Navy sank most of the Danish fleet and sent as many of their officers as they could to Sweden. During the war, the government was extremely helpful towards Jews living in the country, and the resistance managed to get most of the Jews to Sweden and safety. Denmark led many "inside operations" or sabotage against the German facilities. Iceland severed ties to Denmark and became an independent republic, and in 1948 the Faroe Islands gained home rule. After the war, Denmark became one of the founding members of the United Nations and NATO and in 1973, along with Britain and Ireland, joined the European Economic Community (now the European Union) after a public referendum. Greenland gained home rule in 1979.

Politics
Politics of Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. As stipulated in the Danish Constitution, the monarch is not answerable for his or her actions, and his or her person is sacrosanct. The monarch appoints and dismisses the Prime Minister and other ministers. Before being validated through royal assent, all bills and important government measures must be discussed in the Statsr?det, a privy council headed by the monarch. The Danish privy council's protocols are secret..

Queen Margrethe IIWhile executive authority belongs to the monarch (as head of state), legislative authority is vested in the monarch and the Danish parliament conjointly. Judicial authority lies with the courts of justice.

Executive authority is exercised on behalf of the monarch by the prime minister and other cabinet ministers who head departments. The cabinet, including the prime minister, and other ministers collectively make up the government. These ministers are responsible to Folketinget (the Danish Parliament), the legislative body, which is traditionally considered to be supreme (that is, able to legislate on any matter and not bound by decisions of its predecessors).

The Folketing is the national legislature. It has the ultimate legislative authority according to the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, however questions over sovereignty have been brought forward because of Denmark’s entry into the European Union. In theory however, the doctrine prevails. Parliament consists of 179 members elected by proportional majority. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but it is within the powers of the prime minister to call one sooner. On a vote of no confidence the parliament may force the entire government to resign.

The Danish political system has traditionally generated coalitions. Most Danish post-war governments have been minority coalitions ruling with parliamentary support.

Since November 2001, the Danish Prime Minister has been Anders Fogh Rasmussen from the Venstre party, a center-right liberal party. The government is a coalition consisting of Venstre and the Conservative People's Party, with parliamentary support from the Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti). The three parties obtained a parliamentary major in the 2001 elections and maintained it virtually unchanged in the 2005 election. On October 24, 2007 an early election was called by the Prime Minister for November 13. The result was that the right-populist Danish People's party was strengthened while Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Venstre lost 6 mandates. The result ensured that Anders Fogh Rasmussen could continue to be prime minister for a third term.

Geography
Geography of Denmark

Map showing the location of Denmark including the Faroe Islands and Greenland (pdf)Denmark's northernmost point is Skagens point (the north beach of the Skaw) at 57° 45' 7" northern latitude, the southernmost is Gedser point (the southern tip of Falster) at 54° 33' 35" northern latitude, the westernmost point is Bl?vandshuk at 8° 4' 22" eastern longitude, and the easternmost point is ?stersk?r at 15° 11' 55" eastern longitude. This is in the archipelago Ertholmene 18 kilometres northeast of Bornholm. The distance from east to west is 452 kilometres (281 mi), from north to south 368 kilometres (229 mi).

Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland) and 443 named islands (1419 islands above 100 m2 in total (2005)). Of these, 76 are inhabited, with the largest being Zealand (Sj?lland) and Funen (Fyn). The island of Bornholm is located somewhat east of the rest of the country, in the Baltic Sea. Many of the larger islands are connected by bridges; the ?resund Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, the Great Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand, and the Little Belt Bridge connects Jutland with Funen. Ferries or small aircraft connect to the smaller islands. Main cities are the capital Copenhagen (on Zealand), ?rhus, Aalborg and Esbjerg (on Jutland) and Odense (on Funen).

The country is flat with little elevation; having an average height above sea level of only 31 metres (102 ft) and the highest natural point is M?lleh?j, at 170.86 metres (560.56 ft). Other hills in the same area southwest of ?rhus are Yding Skovh?j at 170.77 metres (560.27 ft) and Ejer Bavneh?j at 170.35 metres (558.89 ft). The area of inland water is: (eastern Denmark) 210 km2 (81 sq mi); (western D.) 490 km2 (189 sq mi).

Denmark is split into 443 named islands which results in a long coastline, 7,314 kilometres (4,544 mi). A perfect circle enclosing the same area as Denmark would have a circumference of only 742 kilometres (461 mi). Another feature that shows the close connection between the land and ocean is that no location in Denmark is farther from the coast than 52 kilometres (32.3 mi). The size of the land area of Denmark cannot be stated exactly since the ocean constantly erodes and adds material to the coastline, and because of human land reclamation projects (to counter erosion). On the southwest coast of Jutland, the tide is between 1 and 2 metres (3 to 6.5 ft), and the tideline moves outward and inward on a 10 kilometres (6 mi) stretch.

Denmark seen from space.The climate is in the temperate zone. The winters are not particularly cold with mean temperatures in January and February of 0.0 °C and the summers are cool with mean temperature in August 15.7 °C. There is a lot of wind, which is stronger during the winter and weaker during the summer. Denmark has an average of 170 rainy days. The greatest rainfall comes in November.

Because of Denmark's northern location, the length of the day with sunlight varies greatly. There are short days during the winter with sunrise coming around 9:30 a.m. and sunset 4:30 p.m., as well as long summer days with sunrise at 3:30 a.m. and sunset at 10 p.m. The shortest and longest days of the year have traditionally been celebrated. The celebration for the shortest day corresponds roughly with Christmas (Danish: jul) and modern celebrations concentrate on Christmas Eve, 24 December. The Norse word jól is a plural, indicating that pre-Christian society celebrated a season with multiple feasts. Christianity introduced the celebration of Christmas, resulting in the use of the Norse name also for the Christian celebration. Efforts by the Catholic Church to replace this name with kristmesse were unsuccessful. The celebration for the longest day is Midsummer Day, which is known in Denmark as sankthansaften (St. John's evening). Celebrations of Midsummer have taken place since pre-Christian times.

Regions and municipalities

Rigsf?llesskabet consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Regions of Denmark and Municipalities of Denmark
For the administrative divisions used until 2006, see Counties of Denmark.

Denmark is divided into five regions (Danish: regioner, singular: region) and a total of 98 municipalities. The regions were created on 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform to replace the country's traditional thirteen counties (amter). At the same time, smaller municipalities (kommuner) were merged into larger units, cutting the number of municipalities from 270 to 98. The most important area of responsibility for the new regions is the national health service. Unlike the former counties, the regions are not allowed to levy taxes, and the health service is primarily financed by a national 8% (sundhedsbidrag) tax combined with funds from both government and municipalities. Each Regional Council consists of 41 elected politicians elected as part of the 2005 Danish municipal elections.

Most of the new municipalities have a population of least 20,000 people, although a few exceptions were made to this rule.

The Ertholmene archipelago (95 inhabitants (2007)) is neither part of a municipality, nor a region but belongs to the Ministry of Defence.

Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, as members of Rigsf?llesskabet but have autonomous status and are largely self-governing, and are each represented by two seats in the parliament.

Country/Region Population Area (km2) Density (Pop per km2)
Denmark 5,430,590 43,094 126
Faroe Islands (Denmark) 47,017 1,399 34
Greenland (Denmark) 56,916 2,175,600 0.026

Economy
Economy of Denmark
Denmark's market economy features very efficient agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, very high living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has a comfortable balance of payments surplus and zero net foreign debt. Also of importance is the sea territory of more than 105,000 km2 (40,000+ sq mi).

The Danish economy is highly unionised; 75% of its labour force are members of a trade union. Most trade unions take part in the organized system of trade unions, the organization at the highest level being the so-called LO, the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions. However, increasing numbers in the labour force choose not to become members of a trade union or to become members of one of the trade unions outside the organized system (often referred to as the yellow, in Danish gule, trade unions).

Relationships between unions and employers are generally cooperative: unions often have a day-to-day role in managing the workplace, and their representatives sit on most companies' board of directors. Rules on work schedules and pay are negotiated between unions and employers, with minimal government involvement. The unemployment rate for October 2007 was 3.0%, for a total of 81,700 persons, a reduction by 105,900 persons - 2,300 per month - or 56% since December 2003. The number of unemployed is forecast to be 65,000 in 2015. The number of people in the working age group, less disability pensioners etc., will grow by 10,000 to 2,860,000, and jobs by 70,000 to 2,790,000. Parttime jobs included. Because of the present high demand and short supply of skilled labour, especially for factory, transport, building and construction jobs, in addition to hospital nurses and physicians, the annual average working hours have risen, especially compared with the economic downturn 1987 – 1993. Increasingly, service workers of all kinds are in demand, i.e. in the postal services and as bus drivers, and academics.

Danish notes and coinsDenmark's national currency, the krone (plural: kroner), is de facto linked to the Euro through ERMII. The exchange rate is very steady at approx. 7.45 kroner per euro. Currently the krone converts to American dollars at a rate of about USD 0.20 per krone (about 5.1 kroner per dollar). (Exchange rates updated November 2007)

The government has met the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (the common European currency - the Euro) of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (EMU), but Denmark, in a September 2000 referendum, rejected The Monetary Union. The Government of Fogh Rasmussen, re-elected in November 2007, announced a new referendum on the euro for 2008 or 2009 at the latest.

In the area of sickness and unemployment, the right to benefit is always dependent on former employment and at times also on membership of an unemployment fund, which is almost always -but need not be- administered by a trade union, and the previous payment of contributions. However, the largest share of the financing is still carried by the central government and is financed from general taxation, and only to a minor degree from earmarked contributions.

The Danish welfare model is accompanied by a taxation system that is both broad based (25% VAT and excise) and with high income tax rates (minimum tax rate for adults is 39.6%).

Denmark is home to many well known multi-national companies, among them: A.P. Moller-Maersk Group (Maersk - international shipping), Lego (children's toys), Bang & Olufsen (hi-fi equipment), Carlsberg (beer), and the pharmaceutical companies Lundbeck and Novo Nordisk.

Transport
Transport in Denmark

The Great Belt Fixed Link, seen from the Zealand side.Enormous investment has been made in recent decades in building road and rail links between Copenhagen and Malm?, Sweden (the ?resund Bridge), and between Zealand and Funen (the Great Belt Fixed Link).

The main railway operator is Danske Statsbaner (Danish State Railways) for passenger services and Railion for freight trains. The railway tracks are maintained by Banedanmark. Copenhagen has a small Metro system and the greater Copenhagen area has an extensive electrified suburban railway network.

Denmark's national airline (together with Norway and Sweden) is Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Copenhagen Airport is the country's largest airport, and also the biggest hub in Scandinavia.

A ferry link to the Faroe Islands is maintained by Smyril Line. Other international ferry services are mainly operated by DFDS (to Norway and the UK) and Scandlines (to Germany and Sweden).

Demographics
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Demographics of Denmark and Languages of Denmark
The majority of the population is of Scandinavian descent, with small groups of Inuit from Greenland, Faroese, and immigrants. According to official statistics as of 1 January 2007, 477,700 immigrants and their descendants made up 8.9% of the total population — a large number of whom come from South Asia and the Middle East. People of Danish descent totaled 4,968,436 people. During recent years, anti-immigration sentiment due to the alleged large influx of radical muslims, has surfaced in Denmark as is the case also in many other parts of Europe. Nevertheless, the number of residence permits granted related to labour and to people from within the EU/EEA has increased since implementation of new immigration laws in 2001. However, the number of immigrants arriving in Denmark for family reunification has decreased from 14,140 during 2001 to 4,198 during 2006, a decrease of 70%, highlighting the tough climate for non-EU immigrants to bring their families. Also, during the period 2001-2006 the number of asylum permits given has decreased from 6,263 to 1,095, a decrease of 82.5%, the drop reflecting the decrease of asylum seekers from 12.512 in 2001 to 1.960 in 2006..

Danish is spoken throughout the country, although a small group near the German border also speak German. English is the most widely spoken foreign language. Foreigners could easily live with just English, though application for permanent resident status in Denmark requires a significant proficiency in Danish.

As in most countries, the population is not distributed evenly. Although the land area east of the Great Belt only makes up 9,622 km2 (3,715 sq mi), 22.7% of Denmark's land area, as of 1 January 2007 it has 45% (2,452,962) of the population. The average population density of this area is 254.9 inhabitants per km2 (660.27 per sq mi). The average density in the west of the country (32,772 km2/12,653 sq mi) is 91.36/km2 (236.62 per sq mi) (2,994,122 people) (2007).

The median age is 39.8 years with 0.98 males per female. 98.2% of the population is literate (age 15 and up). 1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.), which reflects a coming drop in worker to retiree ratio. The annual average population growth is 0.33%.

Population 1 April 2007 was 5,451,826, which equals 128.60 inh./km2 land area or 333.07 inh./sq mi. land area (16,368 sq mi). 1 July: 5,457,415. 1 October: 5,470,919. Censuses merely for population numbers are not conducted; they are based on the computerised, day-to-day updated Central Office of Civil Registration.

Religion
According to official statistics from January 2006, 83.0% of Danes are members of the Lutheran state church, the Danish People's Church (Den Danske Folkekirke), also known as the Church of Denmark. According to §6 of the Constitution, the Royal family must belong to this Church. 4% of the Danish population adhere to Islam, and other religions in Denmark, include non-Lutheran Christian denominations. The oldest state recognised religious societies and churches are:

The Catholic Church in Denmark recognised by the state since 1682
The Reformed Church recognised by the state since 1682.
Det Mosaiske Troessamfund, the main Jewish organisation in Denmark, recognised by the state since 1682.
Religion, religious societies and churches do not need to be state-recognised in Denmark and can be granted the right to perform weddings etc. without this recognition.

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 31% of Danish citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 49% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 19% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

Education

Old main building of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark's oldest and largest university Education in Denmark
The Danish education system offers free access to primary school, secondary school and most kinds of higher education (universities etc.). About 99% of the general population attend compulsory elementary school (lasting 9 to 10 years); 86% attend secondary school and 41% pursue further education. By law, all college education in Denmark must be free.

Primary school in Denmark is "den Danske Folkeskole" (translated: "the Danish Public School"). It goes from 1st-10th grade (10th grade is optional, as is the introductory b?rnehaveklasse ("kindergarten class")). In Denmark one can also go to Friskole ("free school") or Privatskole ("private school"): i.e. schools that are not under the administration of the municipalities; e.g. Christian schools or Waldorf Schools.

Following graduation from Folkeskolen, there are several other educational opportunities, including Gymnasium (academically oriented upper secondary education), Higher Preparatory Examination (HF) (similar to Gymnasium, but one year shorter), Higher Technical Examination Programme (HTX) (with focus on Mathematics and engineering), and Higher Commercial Examination Programme (HHX) (with a focus on trade and business), as well as vocational education, training young people for work in specific trades by a combination of teaching and apprenticeship.

Gymnasium, HF, HTX and HHX aim at qualifying students for higher education in universities and colleges. Denmark has several universities; the largest and oldest are the University of Copenhagen and University of Aarhus.

Folkeh?jskolerne, ("Folk high schools") introduced by politician, clergyman and poet N.F.S. Grundtvig in the 19th century, are social, informal education structures without tests or grades but emphasising communal learning, self-discovery, enlightenment, and learning how to think.

Culture

Windmills, antique (pictured) and modern, accent the gently rolling meadowlands of Denmark. Culture of Denmark
See also: List of Danes
Hans Christian Andersen is known beyond Denmark for his fairy tales, such as "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", and "The Ugly Duckling". Karen Blixen (pen name: Isak Dinesen), Nobel laureate author Henrik Pontoppidan, Nobel laureate physicist Niels Bohr, the comedic pianist Victor Borge and the Philosopher S?ren Kierkegaard have also made a name for themselves outside Denmark.

The capital city of Copenhagen includes the Tivoli gardens, the Amalienborg Palace (home of the Danish monarchy), and the The Little Mermaid sculpture.

Historically, Denmark, like its Scandinavian neighbors, has been one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world. For example, in 1969, Denmark was the first country to legalize pornography. And in 1989, Denmark enacted a registered partnership law, being the first country in the world to grant same-sex couples nearly all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

Cinema of Denmark
Cinema of Denmark
Modern film makers of note include Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, who in the 1990s brought international attention to Danish cinema with the Dogme 95 film movement. Denmark was also the home of one of the most acclaimed directors in the history of cinema: Carl Th. Dreyer.

Danish sport
Sports in Denmark
The most popular sport in Denmark is football (soccer). Sailing and other water sports are popular, as are indoor sports such as badminton, handball and various forms of gymnastics. In Denmark there is also a small group of people doing motorsport, but with some success. The most successful driver on the 24 Hours of Le Mans race ever, with seven 1st places is Tom Kristensen, who comes from Denmark. In speedway Denmark has won several World Championships. Other notable Danish sportspeople include American football's National Football League all-time leading scorer Morten Andersen, cyclists Bjarne Riis, Rolf S?rensen, and Michael Rasmussen, badminton-player Peter Gade, table tennis-player Michael Maze and football players Michael and Brian Laudrup and Peter Schmeichel. Teenager Caroline Wozniacki is rising up the rankings on the WTA tennis tour. Denmark is also the home and birthplace of former WBA & WBC Supermiddleweight boxing champion, Mikkel Kessler.

Music of Denmark
Music of Denmark
Denmark has long been a center of cultural innovation. Its capital, Copenhagen, and its multiple outlying islands have a wide range of folk traditions, while an extensive recording industry has produced pop stars and a host of performers from a multitude of genres.

Danish food

Open sandwich: Fried plaice with remoulade and lemon on dark rye bread Cuisine of Denmark
The cuisine of Denmark, like that in the other Nordic countries (Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden), as well as that of northern Germany, its neighbour to the south, is heavy, consisting mainly of meat and fish. This stems from the country's agricultural past, as well as its geography and climate of long, cold winters.

Traditional Danish food includes frikadeller (fried meatballs, often served with potatoes and various sorts of gravy), karbonader/krebinetter (another sort of fried meatballs), steaks and so on, mostly eaten with potatoes, which is slightly less popular nowadays in Denmark. Fish is also widely eaten, especially on the west coast of Jutland. A traditionally favourite condiment, remoulade, is eaten with french fries, on fried plaice, on salami or roast beef sandwiches. Smoked fish dishes (herring, mackerel, eel) from local smoking houses or r?gerier, especially on the island of Bornholm, are increasingly popular.

One of the most interesting aspects of Danish food is the wide variety of attractive open rugbr?d (Rye-bread) sandwiches or sm?rrebr?d traditionally served for the mid-day meal or frokost. This usually starts with fish such as marinated herring, smoked eel or hot fried breaded plaice. Then come meat sandwiches such as cold roast beef with remoulade and fried onions, roast pork and crackling with red cabbage, hot veal medallions, Danish meat balls (frikadeller) or liver paté with bacon and mushrooms. Some typically Danish items are Sol over Gudhjem, literally 'sun over Gudhjem', consisting of smoked herring, chives and with raw egg yolk (the "sun") on top; or Dyrl?gens natmad, 'vet's late-night bite', with liver paté, saltmeat (corned veal), onions and jellied consommé. Finally cheese is served with radishes, nuts or grapes. Lager beer accompanied by small glasses of snaps or aquavit are the preferred drinks for a Danish frokost.

Military
Military of Denmark and Military history of Denmark
Denmark's armed forces are known as the Danish Defence Force (Danish: Det Danske Forsvar). During peacetime, the Ministry of Defence (FM) in Denmark employs, in four branches, 15,450 in the Royal Danish Army, 5,300 in the Royal Navy, 6,050 in the Danish Air Force and more than 55,000 in the Danish Home Guard following completion of their conscript service.

The Danish army has 350-400 soldiers in Kosovo and around 600 in Afghanistan. Between 2003 and 2007 there were approx. 450 soldiers in Iraq. Seven Danish soldiers were killed during the deployment in Iraq, which at the end of July, 2007 saw the force reduced to a fleet of support helicopters.

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