Denmark, meaning “Land of the Danes,” is the oldest kingdom in the world and part of the northern European region known as Scandinavia. Its history dates back to the Stone Age. The 9th century witnessed the rise of the Vikings, and by 878 B.C., the Danes had conquered most parts of England. The Kingdom expanded by the 11th century under King Canute, who ruled over England, Norway, Southern Sweden, parts of Finland, and Denmark. HM King Frederik X has been the sovereign of Denmark since 14 January 2024.
The Kingdom of Denmark also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Denmark Republic is a low-lying country, surrounded mainly by the sea, with its highest point at Yding Forest Hill, only 173 metres above sea level. With almost 406 islands, Denmark has a long coastline with many lagoons, gulfs, and inlets. The capital, Copenhagen, is situated in Zeland, the largest of the country’s islands. The weather in Denmark is generally windy and rainy, with most of their summer months mildly hot, making it the best time to travel and enjoy outdoor activities. Winters in Denmark are very cold, and frequent snowfalls and frozen lakes are a common sight.
The people of Denmark, known as Danes, speak Danish, the official language. Danes love football, their national sport, and enjoy water sports like sailing and swimming since they have good access to the coastline. The festive summer season and the winter months are spent leisurely by the Danes, what they refer to as the ‘hygge,’ a unique cultural concept of cosiness and friendliness. The locals greet the tourists warmly, pride themselves on their punctuality, and expect the same in return.
2024 marks 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and the Kingdom of Denmark, which began during Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Denmark in 1957, which laid the foundation for a friendly relationship between the two countries. Historically, Denmark–Norway was known to have held colonial possessions in India for more than 200 years. Today, the bilateral relations between India and Denmark are cordial and friendly, based on mutual agreement in politics, economics, research and academics.