ECONOMY: AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND FISHING
Agriculture has traditionally been the basis of Danish economic successes. Although it no longer plays the leading role of past centuries, it remains an essential factor in the country’s well-being in the economic landscape of the 21st century and, from an organizational point of view, is among the most advanced in the world. Originally based eminently on the cultivation of cereals, it has already undergone a decisive reconversion in the last century, placing itself at the service of livestock (from which 70% of the income relating to the primary sector derives), which has been gradually rationalizing itself with results that are difficult to match.. Agricultural activity traditionally has a cooperative organization (cooperatives of medium and small farmers), with a commercial orientation, which has given the Danish countryside that tidy and characteristic face which justifies the nickname given to Denmark as the “farm of Europe”. Thanks to the intense specialization and mechanization of the sector, only 4% of the active population is employed in the sector. Most of the arative it is occupied by cereals: barley, wheat, rye and oats. There are also extensive crops of potatoes and sugar beets, whose by-products are used for breeding. Even cereals are to a large extent at the service of livestock farming, which has a considerable livestock heritage: cattle and pigs above all, in addition to poultry. The cattle are raised for milk production, used with large and modern dairy plants for the production of butter, traditionally exported to Great Britain, of cheeses and of preserved milk; pork is instead used above all for the production of sausages, mostly sent to Germany. Active is fishing, carried out in the North Sea; the catch (mainly cod and herring) is largely destined for export and only partially used for the production of fish meal and oil. There are numerous fishing centers in Jylland: Esbjerg, Skagen, Hirtshals, Thyborøn are the major ones.
ECONOMY: COMMUNICATIONS, TRADE AND TOURISM
Internal communications are highly developed, despite the difficulties connected with the country’s island fragmentation; ferries quickly connect island to island and operate mainly along the main lines linking the Scandinavian peninsula to central Europe. The function of ports is fundamental in a country like Denmark, both for internal traffic and for those with foreign countries; the merchant navy fleet is in fact very efficient. Copenhagen it is by far the busiest seaport, as well as being home to the largest airport, Copenhagen-Kastrup, an important link between the Arctic and Scandinavian routes and those directed to the southern capitals of Europe and the United States. There are also minor airports in the cities of Karup, Ålborg and Århus. Air services are ensured by SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System), an aeronautical consortium active since the last century in which Sweden and Norway also participate. The Sjælland and Funen islands are connected to each other and to Jylland by bridges. In addition, since July 2000 the road and rail tunnel bridge (16 km long) has been in operation, which crosses the Øresund strait connects Copenhagen to the city of Malmö., in Sweden. Foreign trade is naturally very lively, according to a tradition that is part of the very life of Denmark (the trade takes place essentially with Germany, Great Britain and Sweden). The traditional exports of meat, dairy and livestock products in general, fish, etc., are currently encountering more difficulties than in the past. Today, machinery and various industrial products (chemicals, petrochemicals, etc.) are also exported, and to an ever-increasing extent, as well as shipbuilding. However, industrialization necessarily involves a continuous need to import both machinery and above all raw materials, particularly oil. This dependence weighs heavily on the country’s trade balance, which however remains profitable despite the difficult international economic situation. The central bank is Danmarks Nationalbank, and the banking sector appears heavily concentrated in the hands of a few large groups that occupy the majority share of the credit sector. There is an active stock exchange in Copenhagen. Tourism thrives, coming mainly from the countries of Northern Europe. The main destination is Copenhagen; of great interest are also the Renaissance royal residences, the numerous natural areas, the open-air parks in the area.
Aalborg
Aalborg, Aalborg [ ɔ ː lb ɔ r], fourth largest and the oldest city Denmark s, capital of North Jutland, 113 400 residents, on the south coast of Limfjords (railway and road bridge and six lane highway tunnel according Nørresundby); University (founded 1974), Conservatory of Music; Historical museum, art museum; large parks and gardens. Aalborg is a port and industrial city with communication technology, construction of wind turbines, tobacco, spirits and textile factories, chemical, cement and metal industries, shipyard; Air connections to Copenhagen and Norway. Visit shoe-wiki for Brief Information About Denmark.
Cityscape
Town houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, including Jens Bangs Stenhus in the Dutch Renaissance style (1623–24) and Jørgen Olufsen’s Gård (1610), bear witness to the town’s earlier heyday; The east wing of the palace complex (1547–57) has been preserved; Gothic cathedral church Sankt Budolfi (around 1430, rebuilt several times, especially 1941–43), Liebfrauenkirche (built as a monastery church in the 1st half of the 12th century, rebuilt in 1879); Holy Spirit Monastery (started in 1431). The art museum by Elissa and A. Aalto and J.-J. Baruel (1968–72) (modern and contemporary art). The Utzon Center (2008; by J. Utzon) is part of the university. Musikkens Hus i Nordjylland (opened in 2013) is a modern concert hall designed by Coop Himmelb (l) au.
