Denmark Country & Tourist Information

Location
Northwest Europe.

Area
43,098 sq km (16,640 sq miles).

Population
5.5 million (official estimate 2007).

Population Density
127 per sq km.

Capital
Copenhagen.
Population: 1.2 million, metropolitan area (2007).

Government
Constitutional monarchy.

Language
The official language is Danish. Many Danes also speak English, German or French.

Religion
Predominantly Evangelical Lutheran with small Roman Catholic and Muslim minorities.

Time
Mainland: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Faroe Islands and Torshavn: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Continental two-pin plugs are standard. On many campsites, 110-volt power plugs are also available.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen since 2001.

Head of State
Queen Margrethe II since 1972.

Recent History
The dominant issue in Danish politics during the 1990s was relations with the European Union, which Denmark joined in 1973. Along with the UK, Denmark is one of the continent’s most ‘Eurosceptic’ nations, as became apparent when a 1992 referendum rejected Danish acceptance of the Maastricht Treaty on the future development of the EU. (A repeat plebiscite the following year secured a narrow victory.)

Since then, Denmark has decided to stay out of the first wave of countries joining the single European currency. The government, which generally favors membership, made another unsuccessful attempt to persuade the public prior to a referendum held in September 2000.

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, leader of the Liberal party Ventre, was re-elected for a third consecutive term in 2007, and continues to lead a Liberal/Conservative coalition. In 2006, Denmark was at the center of worldwide controversy when cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed sparked violent protests in some countries.

Telephone
Country code: 45. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.

Internet
Internet cafes are available in most urban areas, and most hotels offer a Wi-Fi connection in rooms.

Media
A free press operates under Danish law and the media, which cover a broad range of political views, are frequently critical of government policy. Danmarks Radio (DR), funded by a license fee, is Denmark’s main public broadcaster, operating two TV networks as well as national and regional radio stations. TV2, a national public-service TV station, is partly state funded. Private satellite and cable TV stations also exist. There are some 250 local commercial and community radio stations on the air. Two commercial networks, one national and one semi-national, were launched in 2003 and quickly became popular.

Post
All telephone and postal rates are printed at the post offices.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730, some are open Sat 0900-1200.

Press
• Newspapers are largely regional: the main papers in the capital include Berlingske Tidende, Dagbladet Information, Ekstra Bladet and Politiken.
• English-language newspapers and magazines are also available.

Radio
• Danmarks Radio operates publicly owned P1, P2, P3 and P4 national networks.
• Commercial stations include Sky Radio, Radio 100 FM and Radio 2.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
9 Apr Maundy Thursday.
10-13 Apr Easter.
8 May Common Prayer Day.
21 May Ascension.
1 Jun Whit Monday.
5 Jun Constitution Day.
24-26 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
1 Apr Maundy Thursday.
2-5 Apr Easter. 
30 Apr Common Prayer Day. 
13 May Ascension.
24 May Whit Monday.
5 Jun Constitution Day.
24-26 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Royal Danish Embassy in the UK
55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SR, UK
Tel: (020) 7333 0200.
Website: www.denmark.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1630 and Fri 0900-1600; consular enquiries Mon-Fri 1500-1600 (telephone).

VisitDenmark in the UK
55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SY, UK
Tel: (020) 7259 5958 (Mon - Fri 0900-1700).
Website: www.visitdenmark.com
Not open to the public

Royal Danish Embassy in the USA
3200 Whitehaven Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 234 4300.
Website: www.denmarkemb.org

Royal Danish Consulate General in the USA
One Dag Hammerskjold Plaza, 885 Second Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10017-2201, USA
Tel: (212) 223 4545.
Website: www.denmark.org

VisitDenmark in the USA
655 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 885 9700.
Website: www.visitdenmark.com/usa
Not open to the public.


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