Hans Christian Andersen
The author of the world’s most beloved fairytales, including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Pea, was born in Odense and lived much of his life in “Wonderful” Copenhagen. 2005 marks the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Bang & Olufsen Among the world’s foremost makers of home entertainment and audio systems, B&O was hailed by the Wall Street Journal (Sept. 22, 2003) for its ability to “compete not on price but on aesthetics [and] technological excellence.” This is Danish design at its most technologically advanced.
Karen Blixen You might know her better as “Isak Dinesen,” author of Out of Africa and other autobiographical novels. Though her books are based on the years she lived in Kenya, she wrote them at her estate, Rungstedlund, north of Copenhagen. Her home is now a museum and remains much as she left it when she died in 1962 – full of artifacts from her travels and other personal mementos.
Niels Bohr First to chart the movement of electrons in the atom, Bohr won the Nobel prize for physics in 1922.
Victor Borge They called him the “Clown Prince of Denmark,” yet Victor Borge, who died in 2000 at the age of 91, was more than a comedian. He was a classically trained pianist who injected marvelously zany humor into his dazzling musical performances.
Carlsberg beer
Denmark’s premier brew is made in Copenhagen, tour the brewery visitor's center and taste for yourself!
Helena Christensen
The blue-eyed, brown-haired supermodel, who frolicked on the beach with Chris Isaak in his “Wicked Game” video, hails from Copenhagen.
Egg chair Definitely among the most recognizable chairs of any age, the futuristic Egg chair pops up in films, TV shows and advertisements all over the world. Hard to believe it dates back to 1958, when Danish Modernist architect Arne Jacobsen designed it for the lobby of the SAS Royal Hotel. (You’ll still find Egg chairs there today.) Jacobsen’s hallmark design has never gone out of production.
Floaty pens Those cute, collectible souvenir pens that feature a floating element in a clear plastic barrel were invented by Peder Eskesen and introduced in 1951. Today, Eskesen A/S, located in Store Merløse, manufactures virtually all of the world’s “floaty” pens – about 14 million per year.
Havarti cheese
Named for the farm where it was developed by a 19th-century farmer’s wife, Havarti is a semi-soft, pale yellow cheese with a mild, tangy flavor.
Georg Jensen
Georg Jensen – On April 19, 1904, Georg Jensen opened his silver workshop on Bredgade in Copenhagen. Today, his company is known the world over as a purveyor of fine silver cutlery, jewelry and gifts. On April 20, 2004, the 100th anniversary celebration of Georg Jensen Silversmiths began. Read more...
Junior Senior
Their hit, “Move Your Feet,” is on hot rotation in the world’s dance clubs and the duo of “Junior” Jeppe Laursen and “Senior” Jesper Mortensen signed a mega contract with Atlantic Records. You’ll be hearing more from them!
www.juniorsenior.com Søren Kierkegaard
Founder of Existentialist philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of freedom of choice and responsibility for one’s actions, Kierkegaard lived and worked in Copenhagen during the Danish “Golden Age” of the early 19th century. He is buried in the Assistens Kirkegård cemetery in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district, as are Hans Christian Andersen and Niels Bohr.
LEGO The colorful construction blocks that have delighted children for generations got their name from the Danish words “leg godt,” which means “play well.” LEGO was named “toy of the century” by Fortune magazine and the British Association of Toy Retailers. The company is the world’s fourth largest toy manufacturer, in sales volume. 2004 marks the 30th “birthday” of the movable LEGO figures.
Jacob Riis The 19th-century journalist and social reformer, and author of How the Other Half Lives, was born in Ribe – one of the oldest towns in Denmark. Jacob Riis Park in New York City is named for him.
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain
Founded in 1775, the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory is world renowned for its hand-painted china, particularly its signature blue-fluted floral pattern (left) and the lavish Flora Danica pattern.
Sydney Opera House True, the world-famous opera house is in Australia; but it was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Winner of the 2003 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Utzon, now 85, is the subject of a retrospective at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, April 2 to August 29, 2004.
Tivoli Gardens Inspiration for the world’s great amusement parks, including Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland, Tivoli Gardens recently celebrated its 160th year in the heart of Copenhagen. In 2004, the park introduced Dæmonen - the Demon - a new “floorless” roller coaster.