5,5
million people live in a small kingdom surrounded by sea and with lots
of small islands. The only natural border is to south to Germany while
there has been build a bridge to Sweden east of Denmark. One can travel
from one end of Denmark to the other in 5 hours by car.
Practical, but dull
in the long rung. Which is why it can’t surprise that the original
Vikings came from Denmark. The Vikings traveled a lot in earlier centuries
and conquered Greenland, Sweden, Norway, the Baltic countries as well
as bits and pieces of UK, Germany, Netherlands.
Later years the Danes settled down and lost most of the conquered land
except Greenland and the Fairy Islands. Those are is still Danish, with
local governments nowadays though.
The
country is very flat (highest point is approx. 1,5 km.) which makes it
fit for agriculture. For centuries this has been the main income for the
Danes along with fishery.
While Hans Christian
Andersen is well known for his fairytales later centuries have offered
fame to such names as Arne Jacobsen (architecture and furniture design),
Piet Hein (furniture design and poetry), Renee and Helena Christensen
(models), Bang & Olufsen (HiFi and televisions in Scandinavian design),
Peter Høegh (writer), Aqua (pop music) and others. All in all it
add up to a country with a well-educated population with great interest
in the spiritual qualities offered from fresh food products of high quality,
literature as well as design: Even the Danish bus stops are the result
of a design competition.
The famous Arne Jacobsen chairs; "The Egg" and "The Swan"
As many European countries
taxes has grown from a few percentages in the beginning of the 19th century
to 63% income tax by the beginning of the 20th century. Add to that 25%
sales tax and 180% tax on cars and you understand how the Danish welfare
system is founded. Denmark holds the record as the most taxed country
in the world. Perhaps Shakespeare foresaw this with the famous words "There
is something rotten in the Kingdom of Denmark."
Denmark haven’t
been to war for several hundred years – even the II World War left
the country fairly untouched – and the Danes are tolerant to a degree
some might define as dull or ignorant. On few occasions the Danes get
upset: As president Bill Clinton put it when he visited Denmark in 1999:
“When the US are in doubt in some international matter, we look to
Denmark. If we chose their side we know we’re doing the right thing.”
Even the Danish
bus stops are the result of a design competition.
Add to this the picture of a small country with designed bus stops and
only handful of buildings taller than 5 storage's and you get the idea
of why most visitors find it a true fairytale country.
One of the many
bridges in Denmark.
Thorsten Overgaard
February 2002
