What Makes Denmark Special: Heritage, Design and Danish Pride

Denmark is a small country that has made a large mark on the world: Viking heritage, the castle that inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet, the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, design admired everywhere, cities built for bikes and the comfort of hygge. Here is what makes it special.

World Heritage from Vikings to ice

UNESCO lists 13 World Heritage properties for Denmark, including Greenland. Among them:

• Kronborg Castle, at Helsingør, the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet
• Roskilde Cathedral, burial place of Danish monarchs
• Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church, monuments from the birth of the Danish kingdom
• Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland, where giant icebergs enter the sea
• Wadden Sea, a tidal wetland shared with the Netherlands and Germany

Stories for the world

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, from The Little Mermaid to The Ugly Duckling, have been translated into more languages than almost any other stories.

Design that changed homes everywhere

Danish furniture and design, known for simple, functional beauty, are admired around the world. Denmark is also the home of the famous plastic toy brick that children everywhere build with.

Cities built for bikes

In Copenhagen and other Danish cities, cycling is how many people get everywhere, in every season.

Hygge

Hygge, the warm feeling of comfort and togetherness, is part of everyday Danish life, especially during long, dark winters.

Food and tables

Rye bread, open sandwiches and pastries are everyday Danish foods, and New Nordic cooking has made Danish restaurants famous.

Carrying the pride with you

Vikings, fairy tales, design and hygge: Denmark gives its people a great deal to celebrate. That pride is what our Denmark designs are made for, and our guide to choosing a gift based on someone's home town shows how to make it personal.