A travel story from Denmark

By Danielle Keur

Denmark is known for long coastlines, the capital city of Copenhagen, historic vikings, and nowadays Legoland. I have visited Denmark many times on family holidays and I have seen a lot of it, from north to west and from the south to the east. The Danish are very proud of their country and I can say that they have every right to be. In this article, I will write about my experiences in Denmark.

THE SCENERY OF DENMARK

Nature

If you are looking for a calm and quiet vacation, with lots of beaches, sea and nature parks, Denmark is the country for you. The country consists of 1419 islands, so everywhere you go, the sea will be near. During my travels, I discovered great places in some of the national parks.

The national park Thy is the oldest and biggest nature park in Denmark. In the National Park, I walked between outstretched beaches, windy dunes, and forests with scented pine trees. And if you feel like it, you can also jump into the waves of the North Sea or bike through beautiful dune landscapes.

National park Thy

THE LANDSCAPE OF NATIONAL PARK THY

The Wadden Sea National Park is one of the world’s top ten tidal flats, and has been granted status as a national park/nature reserve and in 2009 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If I could take a stroll through this park every day after work, I would. This park is perfect for some casual bird spotting and relaxing by the sea and has some great views.

THE VIEWS OF THE WADDEN SEA NATIONAL PARK

The newest national park is the national park Skjoldungernes Land. I have not yet visited this national park, very close to the capital city. But if you want to learn more about the history of the country, this is the place to go. The park consists of many tombs from famous Vikings and a very old forest with trees over 1000 years old.

Cities

I will start with the most iconic city, the capital city of Denmark; Copenhagen. If you are looking for a city trip that has everything, Copenhagen is the place to be. The thing I love about this city is the lovely people, the many museums and also, their modern architecture combined with colored houses. I would advise you to hire some bikes and just go exploring, everything is near to each other so you can discover the city within a couple of days.

The most famous landmark is of course the Little Mermaid, which is a must-see. But do not be afraid to go wandering off the beaten track. You will be amazed by all the beautiful pastel-colored houses and good restaurants you will find.

THE LANDMARK THE LITTLE MERMAID AND THE VIEW FROM THE HARBOR

Another popular city is the city of Aarhus. Fun fact, this city was the European Capital of Culture in 2017 because of its active arts and cultural scene. Aarhus feels a bit different compared to the other cities in Denmark. I would say it is more vibrant and hip, and not yet as busy as Copenhagen. A lovely place to visit if you have a feel for architectural buildings and cultural festivals.

VIEW FROM THE AROS ART MUSEUM

A smaller city is the city of Sonderborg. For me, this is a place filled with memories from my youth. I remember playing on the beaches of Sonderborg with my younger brother and sister. But the city has more than beaches, the modern feel the city provides balances perfectly with the historical background of the city. Do not expect a Copenhagen or Aarhus kind of city, Sonderborg is a lot smaller but therefore, maybe a bit more authentic.

COLORED HOMES IN SONDERBORG AND THE VIEW ON THE SONDERBORG CASTLE

The last city I would like to tell you about is Odense. This is the city where Hans Cristian Andersen was born. The famous writer still has a great presence in the city, there are sculptures, attractions, and museums dedicated to him and his famous work like the Little Mermaid and Princess On The Pea. When walking through Odense, it felt like I went back in time, with old colored houses and authentic cafes and bars. If you want to get a sense of the culture and history of Denmark, this city is a great place filled with art galleries and historic museums.

SCULPTURE OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AND A SMALL AUTHENTIC ROAD IN THE CITY

Culture

Now we have had cities and nature, it is time for me to tell you more about the culture of Denmark. The following paragraph will focus on the typical food and drinks, the people and some do’s and dont’s when visiting the country.

Denmark has the most Michelin stars restaurants of all the Nordic countries. Over the past years, Danish food has been re-invented as New Nordic Cuisine and it uses mostly local ingredients. Bread like Smorrebrod is essential in a Danish household together with cakes and sweets. Danes love sweets, especially cake. Whether it is a self-made drømmekage (dream cake) with coconut and brown sugar or a strawberry tart from one of the country’s many bakeries, no celebratory dinner is complete without a cake.

TYPICAL DANISCH DROMMEKAGE AND SMORREBROD

Have you ever wondered what Danish people are like? Well, they are very proud, happy, and progressive people. Research has even shown that Danish people are the happiest people in the world. They are also known to be very progressive towards women’s rights and feminism. They are even ranked as one of the best countries for women to live in, with a generous parental leave and noticeable representation in political parties. But besides that, I have noticed that the Danish are very friendly and helpful and can speak English very well, especially in the cities.

To conclude my travel story, Denmark is a beautiful country with lovely people and a good combination between cities and nature. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the country, let yourself be surprised by everything the country has to offer.