10 Fascinating Things We Bet You Didn’t Know about Copenhagen

Copenhagen, the lively Danish capital, is strewn with enticing tales and stories; and each time you visit, it offers you something new.

Read on for some fascinating trivia about Copenhagen and its royalty, that will make you go wide-eyed with wonder:

Nyhavn’s Colourful History

Interestingly, the most iconic stretch of the city, Nyhavn, was once a red light district, with pleasure houses for the sailors docking into this once-bustling harbour. Stand back and imagine the ‘naughty’ Nyhavn, before it transformed into the charming quay side it is today – abuzz with cafes and restaurants housed in colourful townhouses.

Tivoli Inspired Disneyland

Opened in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world. It is also the inspiration for the iconic Disneyland in Florida! 

Pop-king Michael Jackson was so in love with Tivoli, that he tried to buy it, once upon a time!

Copehagen’s Democratic Stance during II World War

Fiercely democratic, King Christian X of Denmark and his people stood by their Jewish citizens and saved almost all of them from the Nazi persecution. According to legend, the king wore the yellow star of David, the Jewish symbol, under his royal robes during the years of the war, and rode without his guards around the streets of Copenhagen!

The Queen is an LOTR Fan

Admired and respected by all Danes, Queen Margrethe II dons many hats. An accomplished painter and illustrator, she illustrated the first Danish edition of the ‘Lord of The Rings’. She is also a costume designer, and more often than not, designs her wardrobe herself. What fun to have such a queen! And to top it all, she is also Denmark’s second longest reigning monarch till date.

The Fires Altered the Architectural Plans

The city saw two major fires during the 18^th century, that burnt large parts of it to the ground. The buildings built thereafter have columned corners (instead of a 90-degree corner) to make way for fire brigades, as well as to allow efficient water pressure to cease fire in case of such incidents. Look out for these corners, and you’ll be able to identify if the building was built before or after the fires.

The Danish Prince is an Ironman

Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, made history when he completed Ironman Copenhagen in 2013, amidst loud cheering from the people of the city. He’s the only royal to have completed an iron man. Much into outdoor activities, he even participated in ‘Expedition Sirius 2000’, a four-month and 2,795 km dog-sledge expedition, in the northern part of Greenland.

Commoner-marries-royalty Saga

In a fairytale romance, the Crown Prince Frederik, heir apparent to the throne, fell in love with Mary Elizabeth, an Australian Marketing Consultant, who he met during the Sydney Olympics in 2000. They tied the knot in 2004, and live in Amalienborg Palace with their 4 children. Makes you admire the exceptionally egalitarian, forward-thinking Danish royalty, right?

The Free, Easy Air of Copenhagen

Despite being the capital city, Copenhagen has no sign of the restrictions or rigidities that come for security. Astoundingly, there is no visible security around the Christianborg Palace – the all-important building that houses the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court as well as the Ministry of State.

Moreover, the Crown Prince and Princess are often seen walking their dog, dropping the kids to school, near Amalienborg, and would easily go unrecognised.

Inside Story of the Marble Church

The opulent Frederik’s Church, popularly known as the Marble Church, has the largest church dome in all of Scandinavia. Ironically, the ‘marble church’ also used a fair amount of limestone in its structure, for they fell short of marble. It took 149 years to complete the construction of the church, because Denmark does not have local marble sources!

Fairytale-ish Copenhagen

The famous Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, tried his hand in acting and singing in the Royal Danish Theater of Copenhagen, before he finally discovered his real talent – writing fairy tales! He is the brain behind The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, and many more stories that earned him universal accolades. For nearly two decades, the young writer lived at Nyhavn, where a memorial plaque now stands.

Hamlet’s Castle Elsinor is actually Copenhagen’s Kronborg Castle!

Yes, Shakespeare’s famous tragedy – Hamlet, is actually set at Kronborg castle in Copenhagen. A visual delight at night, this famous Renaissance castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a celebrated destination for literature buffs and architecture enthusiasts.

Sitting up with curiosity, are you? Go on, plan a trip to Copenhagen to explore this enchanting city!

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