Island Profiles

There are so many great foods associated with Denmark. The first things that come to mind are most likely smoked or marinated herring, smørrebrød – the open faced sandwiches topped with smoked salmon, beef with horseradish or any of a variety of meats, fish and vegetables artfully arranged on rye bread.  Or, of course the Danish pastry, which is called Danish pastry in most places except Denmark, where it is called Wienerbrød (Vienna Bread-it seems that they were first made…

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The islands of Denmark are a virtual paradise for cyclists and hikers.  Most of the countryside is flat or gentle rolling hills with forests and beautiful meadow lands.  Thatched roof houses and farms and small, picturesque villages with cobblestone streets and colorful split timber houses evoke the fairy tale atmosphere of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories.  Beautiful white sand beaches, windmills and quaint harbors add to the beauty and charm of the islands, of which about 70 are populated. Zealand (Sjaelland)…

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Copenhagen, the beautiful capitol city of Denmark lies on the northeastern edge of the island of Zealand (Sjaelland in Danish).  Sparkling clean, the architecture and sights of Copenhagen are strongly represented by both the old and the new, the quaint and the dramatic, transporting the visitor both to the past and to the future. Copenhagen offers something for everyone and is a fun and fascinating city to explore. Originally a Viking fishing village (I guess most cities on islands were…

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Denmark has a very long and colorful history. The region was inhabited as early as 10,000 BC by hunters and fishermen and continued to flourish when farming was introduced around 4,000 BC. The earliest inscriptions date back to 200 AD and the earliest known trading settlements of  Hedeby and Ribe date from the 8th Century. The Viking Age lasted from the 8th to 11th Centuries, during which time the Danes, united to one kingdom in the 10th Century, became notorious…

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This month we visit the Scandinavian country of Denmark. Although the entire country is not an island, its capitol city, Copenhagen, is located on the island of Zealand.  Other large islands include Funen, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, Lolland-Falster and Bornholm. There are approximately 400 islands in total, with over 4500 miles of coastline.   Denmark is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries and is one of the world’s oldest monarchies dating back to the Viking Age around 1000AD….

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