Copenhagen[a] (Danish:København[kʰøpm̩ˈhɑwˀn]ⓘ) is the capital and most populous city in theKingdom of Denmark, with a population of 667 thousand people in the city and 1.4 million in theurban area.[8][9] The city is situated mainly on the island ofZealand (Sjælland), with a smaller part on the island ofAmager. Copenhagen is separated fromMalmö,Sweden, by theØresund strait. TheØresund Bridge connects the two cities by rail and road.
Originally aViking fishing village established in the 10th century in the vicinity of what is nowGammel Strand, Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century. During the 16th century, the city served as thede facto capital of theKalmar Union and the seat of the Union'smonarchy, which governed most of the modern-dayNordic region as part of a Danishconfederation withSweden andNorway. The city flourished as the cultural and economic centre ofScandinavia during theRenaissance. By the 17th century, it had become a regional centre of power, serving as the heart of the Danish government andmilitary. During the 18th century, Copenhagen suffered from adevastating plague outbreak and urbanconflagrations. Major redevelopment efforts included the construction of the prestigious district ofFrederiksstaden and the establishment of cultural institutions such as theRoyal Theatre and theRoyal Academy of Fine Arts. The city also became the centre of theDanish slave trade during this period. In 1807, the city wasbombarded by a British fleet during theNapoleonic Wars, before theDanish Golden Age brought aNeoclassical look to Copenhagen's architecture. AfterWorld War II, theFinger Plan fostered the development of housing and businesses along the five urban railway routes emanating from the city centre.
Copenhagen's name (København in Danish), reflects its origin as a harbour and a place of commerce. The original designation inOld Norse, from which Danish descends, wasKaupmannahǫfn[ˈkɔupˌmɑnːɑˌhɔvn] (cf. modernIcelandic:Kaupmannahöfn[ˈkʰœipˌmanːaˌhœpn̥],Faroese:Keypmannahavn[ˈtʃʰɛʰpmanːaˌhavn]), meaning 'merchants' harbour'(merchant in plural). By the timeOld Danish was spoken, the capital was calledKøpmannæhafn, with the current name deriving from centuries of subsequent regularsound change. The stemm-syllable has an au - o change as we see in Asbjörn - Osborn, Austrie etc, and this change inpronunciation happened sometime around 1400.
The Englishcognates of the original name would be "chapman'shaven".[10] The Englishchapman, GermanKaufmann, Dutchkoopman, Swedishköpman, Danishkøbmand, and Icelandickaupmaður share a derivation from Latincaupo, meaning 'tradesman'. However, the English term for the city was adapted from itsLow German name,Kopenhagen. Copenhagen'sSwedish name isKöpenhamn, a direct translation of the mutually intelligible Danish name.
The city's Latin name,Hafnia, is the namesake of the elementhafnium.[11]
Substantial discoveries offlint tools in the area provide evidence of human settlements dating to theStone Age.[12] Many historians believe the town dates to the lateViking Age, and was possibly founded bySweyn I Forkbeard.[13]
Multiple finds indicate that Copenhagen's origins as a city go back at least to the 11th century. The natural harbour and goodherring stocks seem to have attracted fishermen and merchants to the area on a seasonal basis from the 11th century and more permanently in the 13th century.[14] The first habitations were probably centred onGammel Strand (literally 'old shore') in the 11th century or even earlier.[15] Recentarchaeological finds in connection with work on the city's metropolitan rail system, revealed the remains of a large merchant's mansion near today'sKongens Nytorv fromc. 1020. The remains of an ancient church, with graves dating to the 11th century, have been unearthed near whereStrøget meetsRådhuspladsen. Excavations inPilestræde have also led to the discovery of a well from the late 12th century.
However, the earliest written mention of the town was in the 12th century whenSaxo Grammaticus inGesta Danorum referred to it asPortus Mercatorum, meaning 'Merchants' Harbour' or, in theDanish of the time,Købmannahavn.[16] Traditionally, Copenhagen's founding has been dated toBishop Absalon's construction of a modest fortress on the little island ofSlotsholmen in 1167 whereChristiansborg Palace stands today.[17] The construction of the fortress was in response to attacks byWendish pirates who plagued the coastline during the 12th century.[18] Defensive ramparts and moats were completed, and by 1177 St. Clemens Church had been built. Attacks by the Wends continued, and after the original fortress was eventually destroyed by the marauders, islanders replaced it withCopenhagen Castle.[19]
In 1186, a letter fromPope Urban III states that the castle ofHafn (Copenhagen) and its surrounding lands, including the town of Hafn, were given toAbsalon, Bishop of Roskilde (1158–1191) and Archbishop of Lund (1177–1201), by KingValdemar I. Upon Absalon's death, the property was to come into the ownership of theBishopric of Roskilde.[14] Around 1200, theChurch of Our Lady was constructed on higher ground to the northeast of the town, which began to develop around it.[14]
As the town became more prominent, it was repeatedly attacked by theHanseatic League. In 1368, it was successfully invaded during theSecond Danish-Hanseatic War. As the fishing industry thrived in Copenhagen, particularly in the trade ofherring, the city began expanding to the north of Slotsholmen.[18] In 1254, it received a charter as a city under BishopJakob Erlandsen[20] who garnered support from the local fishing merchants against the king by granting them special privileges.[21] In the mid 1330s, the first land assessment of the city was published.[21]
Børsen, the former stock exchange (completed in 1640)
In disputes prior to the Reformation of 1536, the city which had been faithful toChristian II, who was Catholic, was successfully besieged in 1523 by the forces ofFrederik I, who supportedLutheranism. Copenhagen's defences were reinforced with a series of towers along the city wall. After an extended siege from July 1535 to July 1536, during which the city supported Christian II's alliance withMalmö andLübeck, it was finally forced to capitulate toChristian III. During the second half of the century, the city prospered from increased trade across theBaltic supported by Dutch shipping.Christoffer Valkendorff, a high-ranking statesman, defended the city's interests and contributed to its development.[14] The Netherlands had also become primarily Protestant, as were northern German states.
During the reign ofChristian IV between 1588 and 1648, Copenhagen had dramatic growth as a city. On his initiative at the beginning of the 17th century, two important buildings were completed onSlotsholmen: theTøjhus Arsenal andBørsen, the stock exchange. To foster international trade, theEast India Company was founded in 1616. To the east of the city, inspired by Dutch planning, the king developed the district ofChristianshavn with canals and ramparts. It was initially intended to be a fortified trading centre but ultimately became part of Copenhagen.[24] Christian IV also sponsored an array of ambitious building projects includingRosenborg Slot and theRundetårn.[18] In 1658–1659, the city withstood a siege by theSwedes underCharles X and successfully repelleda major assault.[24]
By 1661, Copenhagen had asserted its position as capital of Denmark and Norway. All the major institutions were located there, as was the fleet and most of the army. The defences were further enhanced with the completion of theCitadel in 1664 and the extension ofChristianshavns Vold with its bastions in 1692, leading to the creation of a new base for the fleet atNyholm.[24][25]
Copenhagen lost around 22,000 of its population of 65,000 to theplague in 1711.[26] The city was also struck by two major fires that destroyed much of its infrastructure.[19] TheCopenhagen Fire of 1728 was the largest in the history of Copenhagen. It began on the evening of 20 October, and continued to burn until the morning of 23 October, destroying approximately 28% of the city, leaving some 20% of the population homeless. No less than 47% of the medieval section of the city was completely lost. Along with the1795 fire, it is the main reason that few traces of the old town can be found in the modern city.[27][28]
A substantial amount of rebuilding followed. In 1733, work began on the royal residence ofChristiansborg Palace, which was completed in 1745. In 1749, development of the prestigious district ofFrederiksstaden was initiated. Designed byNicolai Eigtved in theRococo style, its centre contained the mansions which now formAmalienborg Palace.[29] Major extensions to the naval base ofHolmen were undertaken while the city's cultural importance was enhanced with theRoyal Theatre and theRoyal Academy of Fine Arts.[30]
During the 18th century, theDanish slave trade, which began during the 17th century, underwent a rapid expansion. Between 1660 and 1806, Danish merchants, many of them based out of Copenhagen, transported approximately 120,000enslaved Africans to theDanish West Indies. These merchants were mostly affiliated with the slave-tradingDanish West India Company andDanish Asiatic Company, both of which were headquartered in Copenhagen. Many buildings in Copenhagen, such as theMoltke Mansion,Yellow Palace and theVestindisk Pakhus were funded with profits made from the Danish slave trade.[31][32] In the second half of the 18th century, Copenhagen benefited from Denmark's neutrality during the wars between Europe's main powers, allowing it to play an important role in trade between the states around the Baltic Sea. After Christiansborg was destroyed by fire in 1794 and another fire caused serious damage to the city in 1795, work began on the classical Copenhagen landmark ofHøjbro Plads whileNytorv andGammel Torv were converged.[30]
As a result ofBritish fears that Denmark would ally withFrance, aRoyal Navy fleet under the command of AdmiralSir Hyde Parker was dispatched to neutralize theRoyal Dano-Norwegian Navy. On 2 April 1801, Parker's fleet encountered the Dano-Norwegian navy anchored near Copenhagen. Vice-AdmiralHoratio Nelson led the main attack.[33] The Dano-Norwegian fleet put up heavy resistance, and the battle is often considered to be Nelson's hardest-fought battle, surpassing even the heavy fighting atTrafalgar.[34] It was during this battle that Lord Nelson was said to have "put the telescope to the blind eye" in order not to see Admiral Parker's signal tocease fire. The British ultimately won the battle, sinking or capturing most of Dano-Norwegian fleet, which led Denmark to agree not to ally with France.[35]
In 1807, as a result of continued British fears that Denmark would ally with France, another British fleet led by AdmiralJames Gambier was dispatched to Copenhagen with orders to seize or destroy the Dano-Norwegian navy. The British published a proclamation demanding the surrender of the Dano-Norwegian fleet, and the Danish responded with "what amounted to a declaration of war".[36] Gambier's forces responded by carrying out a naval bombardment of Copenhagen from 2 to 5 September. The bombardment, which saw the deployment ofCongreve rockets, killed 195 civilians and wounded 768, along with burning approximately 1,000 structures, including theChurch of Our Lady. Copenhagen's defenders were unable to respond to the bombardment effectively due to relying on anold defence-line whose limited range could not reach the British ships and theirlonger-range artillery. A British landing force of 30,000 men entered and occupied Copenhagen; during the battle, the British suffered almost 200 casualties, while the Danish suffered 3,000. Virtually the entire Dano-Norwegian fleet was surrendered to the British, who either burnt them or brought them back to Britain. Denmark declared war on Britain, leading to the outbreak of theGunboat War, which lasted until the 1814Treaty of Kiel.[37][38][39]
Despite the turmoil the Napoleonic Wars brought to the city, Copenhagen soon experienced a period of intense cultural creativity known as theDanish Golden Age. Painting prospered underC.W. Eckersberg and his students whileC.F. Hansen andGottlieb Bindesbøll brought aNeoclassical look to the city's architecture.[40] In the early 1850s, the ramparts of the city were opened to allow new housing to be built aroundThe Lakes (Danish:Søerne) that bordered the old defences to the west. By the 1880s, the districts ofNørrebro andVesterbro developed to accommodate those who came from the provinces to participate in the city's industrialization. This dramatic increase of space was long overdue, as not only were the old ramparts out of date as a defence system but badsanitation in the old city had to be overcome. From 1886, the west rampart (Vestvolden) was flattened, allowing major extensions to the harbour leading to the establishment of theFreeport of Copenhagen 1892–94.[41] Electricity came in 1892 with electric trams in 1897. The spread of housing to areas outside the old ramparts brought about a huge increase in the population. In 1840, Copenhagen was inhabited by approximately 120,000 people. By 1901, it had some 400,000 inhabitants.[30]
By the beginning of the 20th century, Copenhagen had become a thriving industrial and administrative city. With its newcity hall andrailway station, its centre was drawn towards the west.[30] New housing developments grew up inBrønshøj andValby whileFrederiksberg became an enclave within the city of Copenhagen.[42] The northern part ofAmager and Valby were also incorporated into the City of Copenhagen in 1901–02.[43]
As a result of Denmark's neutrality in theFirst World War, Copenhagen prospered from trade with both Britain and Germany while the city's defences were kept fully manned by some 40,000 soldiers for the duration of the war.[44]
In the 1920s there were serious shortages of goods and housing. Plans were drawn up to demolish the old part of Christianshavn and to get rid of the worst of the city's slum areas.[45] However, it was not until the 1930s that substantial housing developments ensued,[46] with the demolition of one side of Christianhavn'sTorvegade to build five large blocks of flats.[45]
The RAF's bombing of theGestapo headquarters in March 1945 was coordinated with the Danish resistance movement.People celebrating theliberation of Denmark at Strøget in Copenhagen, 5 May 1945. Germany surrendered three days later.
In 1945Ole Lippman, leader of the Danish section of theSpecial Operations Executive, invited the BritishRoyal Air Force to assist their operations by attacking Nazi headquarters in Copenhagen. Accordingly, air vice-marshalSir Basil Embry drew up plans for a spectacular precision attack on theSicherheitsdienst andGestapo building, the former offices of theShell Oil Company. Political prisoners were kept in the attic to prevent an air raid, so the RAF had to bomb the lower levels of the building.[49]
The attack, known as "Operation Carthage", came on 22 March 1945, in three small waves. In the first wave, all six planes (carrying one bomb each) hit their target, but one of the aircraft crashed near Frederiksberg Girls School. Because of this crash, four of the planes in the two following waves assumed the school was the military target and aimed their bombs at the school, leading to the death of 123 civilians (of which 87 were schoolchildren).[49] However, 18 of the 26 political prisoners in the Shell Building managed to escape while the Gestapo archives were completely destroyed.[49]
On 8 May 1945 Copenhagen was officially liberated by British troops commanded byField MarshalBernard Montgomery who supervised the surrender of 30,000 Germans situated around the capital.[50]
Shortly after the end of the war, an innovative urban development project known as theFinger Plan was introduced in 1947, encouraging the creation of new housing and businesses interspersed with large green areas along five "fingers" stretching out from the city centre along theS-train routes.[51][52] With the expansion of the welfare state and women entering the work force, schools, nurseries, sports facilities and hospitals were established across the city. As a result of student unrest in the late 1960s, the former Bådsmandsstræde Barracks inChristianshavn was occupied, leading to the establishment ofFreetown Christiania in September 1971.[53]
Motor traffic in the city grew significantly and in 1972 the trams were replaced by buses. From the 1960s, on the initiative of the young architectJan Gehl, pedestrian streets and cycle tracks were created in the city centre.[54] Activity in the port of Copenhagen declined with the closure of the Holmen Naval Base.Copenhagen Airport underwent considerable expansion, becoming a hub for theNordic countries. In the 1990s, large-scale housing developments were realised in the harbour area and in the west ofAmager.[46] The national library'sBlack Diamond building on the waterfront was completed in 1999.[55]
Since the summer of 2000, Copenhagen and the Swedish city ofMalmö have been connected by theØresund Bridge, which carries rail and road traffic. As a result, Copenhagen has become the centre of a larger metropolitan area spanning both nations. The bridge has brought about considerable changes in the publictransport system and has led to the extensive redevelopment ofAmager.[53] The city's service and trade sectors have developed while a number of banking and financial institutions have been established. Educational institutions have also gained importance, especially theUniversity of Copenhagen with its 35,000 students.[56]
An important development for the city has been the opening of theCopenhagen Metro railway system in 2002. The Copenhagen Metro was extended until 2007, transporting some 54 million passengers by 2011.[57] TheCopenhagen Opera House, a gift to the city from the shipping magnateMærsk Mc-Kinney Møller on behalf of the A.P. Møller foundation, was completed in 2004.[58]
In December 2009 Copenhagen gained international prominence when it hosted the worldwide climate meetingCOP15.[59] In 2019 Copenhagen was crowned thebest swimming city byCNN and Copenhagen harbour now has 13 official swimming zones and threeharbour baths. Illegal bathers are fined by the police.[60]
On 3 July 2022, three people were killed ina shooting atField's mall in Copenhagen. Police chief inspector Søren Thomassen announced the arrest of a 22-year-old man and said that the police cannot rule out an act of terrorism.[61][62]
Satellite image of CopenhagenThe red line shows the approximate extent of the urban area of Copenhagen.Copenhagen metropolitan area
Copenhagen is part of theØresund Region, which consists ofZealand,Lolland-Falster andBornholm in Denmark andScania in Sweden.[63] It is located on the eastern shore of the island of Zealand, partly on the island ofAmager and on a number of natural and artificial islets between the two. Copenhagen faces theØresund to the east, the strait of water that separates Denmark from Sweden, and which connects theNorth Sea with theBaltic Sea. TheSwedish city ofMalmö and the town ofLandskrona lie on the Swedish side of the sound directly across from Copenhagen.[64] By road, Copenhagen is 42 kilometres (26 mi) northwest ofMalmö, Sweden, 85 kilometres (53 mi) northeast ofNæstved, 164 kilometres (102 mi) northeast ofOdense, 295 kilometres (183 mi) east ofEsbjerg and 188 kilometres (117 mi) southeast ofAarhus by sea and road viaSjællands Odde.[65]
The city centre lies in the area originally defined by the oldramparts, which are still referred to as theFortification Ring (Fæstningsringen) and kept as a partial green band around it.[66] Then come the late-19th- and early-20th-century residential neighbourhoods ofØsterbro,Nørrebro,Vesterbro andAmagerbro. The outlying areas ofKongens Enghave,Valby,Vigerslev,Vanløse,Brønshøj,Utterslev andSundby followed from 1920 to 1960. They consist mainly of residential housing and apartments often enhanced with parks and greenery.[67]
The central area of the city consists of relatively low-lying flat ground formed bymoraines from the last ice age while the hilly areas to the north and west frequently rise to 50 m (160 ft) above sea level. The slopes ofValby andBrønshøj reach heights of over 30 m (98 ft), divided by valleys running from the northeast to the southwest. Close to the centre are theCopenhagen lakes of Sortedams Sø, Peblinge Sø and Sankt Jørgens Sø.[67]
Copenhagen rests on asubsoil of flint-layered limestone deposited in theDanian period some 60 to 66 million years ago. Somegreensand from theSelandian is also present. There are a few faults in the area, the most important of which is the Carlsberg fault which runs northwest to southeast through the centre of the city.[68] During the last ice age, glaciers eroded the surface leaving a layer of moraines up to 15 m (49 ft) thick.[69]
Amager StrandparkKalvebod Bølge – public beach within the city
Amager Strandpark, which opened in 2005, is a 2 km (1 mi) longartificial island, with a total of 4.6 km (2.9 mi) of beaches. It is located just 15 minutes by bicycle or a few minutes by metro from the city centre.[70] InKlampenborg, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from downtown Copenhagen, isBellevue Beach. It is 700 metres (2,300 ft) long and has both lifeguards and freshwater showers on the beach.[71]
The beaches are supplemented by a system ofHarbour Baths along the Copenhagen waterfront. The first and most popular of these is located atIslands Brygge, literally meaning Iceland's Quay, and has won international acclaim for its design.[72]
Copenhagen is in theoceanic climate zone (Köppen:Cfb).[73] Its weather is subject tolow-pressure systems from theAtlantic which result in unstable conditions throughout the year. Apart from slightly higher rainfall from July to September, precipitation is moderate. While snowfall occurs mainly from late December to early March, there can also be rain, with average temperatures around the freezing point.[74]
July is the sunniest month of the year with an average of over seven hours of sunshine a day. July is the warmest month with an average daytime high of 21 °C. By contrast, the average hours of sunshine are less than two per day in November and only one and a half per day from December to February. In the spring, it gets warmer again with four to six hours of sunshine per day from March to May. February is the driest month of the year.[75] Exceptional weather conditions can bring as much as 50 cm of snow to Copenhagen in a 24-hour period during the winter months[76] while summer temperatures have been known to rise to heights of 33 °C (91 °F).[77]
Because of Copenhagen's northern latitude, the number of daylight hours varies considerably between summer and winter. On the summer solstice, the sun rises at 04:26 and sets at 21:58, providing 17 hours 32 minutes of daylight. On the winter solstice, it rises at 08:37 and sets at 15:39 with 7 hours and 1 minute of daylight. There is therefore a difference of 10 hours and 31 minutes in the length of days and nights between the summer and winter solstices.[78]
Climate data for Copenhagen, Denmark (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1768–present)
Copenhagen Municipality is by far the largest municipality, with the historic city at its core. The seat of Copenhagen's municipal council is theCopenhagen City Hall (Rådhus), which is situated onCity Hall Square. The second largest municipality is Frederiksberg, an enclave within Copenhagen Municipality.
Most of Denmark's top legal courts and institutions are based in Copenhagen. A modern-style court of justice,Hof- og Stadsretten, was introduced in Denmark, specifically for Copenhagen, byJohann Friedrich Struensee in 1771.[90] Now known as theCity Court of Copenhagen (Københavns Byret), it is the largest of the 24 city courts in Denmark with jurisdiction over the municipalities of Copenhagen,Dragør andTårnby. With its 42 judges, it has a Probate Division, an Enforcement Division and a Registration and Notorial Acts Division while bankruptcy is handled by theMaritime and Commercial Court of Copenhagen.[91] Established in 1862, the Maritime and Commercial Court (Sø- og Handelsretten) also hears commercial cases including those relating to trade marks, marketing practices and competition for the whole of Denmark.[92] Denmark'sSupreme Court (Højesteret), located inChristiansborg Palace on Prins Jørgens Gård in the centre of Copenhagen, is the country's final court of appeal. Handling civil and criminal cases from the subordinate courts, it has two chambers which each hear all types of cases.[93]
TheDanish National Police and Copenhagen Police headquarters is situated in the Neoclassical-inspiredPolitigården building built in 1918–1924 under architectsHack Kampmann andHolger Alfred Jacobsen. The building also contains administration, management, emergency department and radio service offices.[94]
TheCopenhagen Fire Department forms the largest municipal fire brigade in Denmark with some 500 fire and ambulance personnel, 150 administration and service workers, and 35 workers in prevention.[95] The brigade began as the Copenhagen Royal Fire Brigade on 9 July 1687 under King Christian V. After the passing of the Copenhagen Fire Act on 18 May 1868, on 1 August 1870 the Copenhagen Fire Brigade became a municipal institution in its own right.[96] The fire department has its headquarters in theCopenhagen Central Fire Station which was designed byLudvig Fenger in theHistoricist style and inaugurated in 1892.[97]
Copenhagen is recognised as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.[98] As a result of its commitment to high environmental standards, Copenhagen has been praised for itsgreen economy, ranked as the top green city for the second time in the 2014Global Green Economy Index (GGEI).[99][100] In 2001 a large offshorewind farm was built just off the coast of Copenhagen atMiddelgrunden. It produces about 4% of the city's energy.[101] Years of substantial investment insewage treatment have improvedwater quality in the harbour to an extent that theInner Harbour can be used for swimming with facilities at a number of locations.[102]
Middelgrunden offshore wind farm
Copenhagen aims to becarbon-neutral by 2025. Commercial and residential buildings are to reduce electricity consumption by 20 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, and total heat consumption is to fall by 20 per cent by 2025. Renewable energy features such as solar panels are becoming increasingly common in the newest buildings in Copenhagen.District heating will be carbon-neutral by 2025, by wasteincineration and biomass. New buildings must now be constructed according to Low Energy Class ratings and in 2020 near net-zero energy buildings. By 2025, 75% of trips should be made on foot, by bike, or by using public transit. The city plans that 20–30% of cars will run on electricity orbiofuel by 2025. The investment is estimated at $472 million public funds and $4.78 billion private funds.[103]
The city's urban planning authorities continue to take full account of these priorities. Special attention is given both to climate issues and efforts to ensure maximum application oflow-energy standards. Priorities includesustainable drainage systems,[104]recycling rainwater,green roofs and efficientwaste management solutions. In city planning, streets and squares are to be designed to encourage cycling and walking rather than driving.[105]
The Municipality of Copenhagen is by far the most populousin the country and one of themost populous Nordic municipalities with 644,431 inhabitants (as of 2022).[4] There was a demographic boom in the 1990s and first decades of the 21st century, largely due toimmigration to Denmark. According to figures from the first quarter of 2022, 73.7% of the municipality's population was ofDanish descent,[107] defined as having at least one parent who was born in Denmark and has Danish citizenship. Much of the remaining 26.3% were of a foreign background, defined as immigrants (20.3%) or descendants of recent immigrants (6%).[107] There are no official statistics onethnic groups. The adjacent table shows the most common countries of origin of Copenhagen residents. Largest foreign groups are Pakistanis (1.3%), Turks (1.2%), Iraqis (1.1%), Germans (1.0%) and Poles (1.0%).
According to Statistics Denmark, Copenhagen's urban area has a larger population of 1,280,371 (as of 1 January 2016[update]).[4] The urban area consists of the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg plus 16 of the 20 municipalities of the former countiesCopenhagen andRoskilde, though five of them only partially.[87]Metropolitan Copenhagen has a total of 2,016,285 inhabitants (as of 2016[update]).[4] The area of Metropolitan Copenhagen is defined by theFinger Plan.[109] Since the opening of theØresund Bridge in 2000, commuting betweenZealand andScania in Sweden has increased rapidly, leading to a wider, integrated area. Known as the Øresund Region, it has 4.1 million inhabitants—of whom 2.7 million (August 2021) live in the Danish part of the region.[110] In Copenhagen, more than 50% of the households consist of only one adult.[111]
A majority (56.9%) of those living in Copenhagen are members of the LutheranChurch of Denmark which is 0.6% lower than one year earlier according to 2019 figures.[113] The National Cathedral, theChurch of Our Lady, is one of the dozens of churches in Copenhagen. There are also several other Christian communities in the city, of which the largest isRoman Catholic.[114]
Foreign migration to Copenhagen, rising over the last three decades, has contributed to increasing religious diversity; theGrand Mosque of Copenhagen, the first in Denmark, opened in 2014.[115]Islam is the second largest religion in Copenhagen, accounting for approximately 10% of the population.[116][117][118] While there are no official statistics, a significant portion of the estimated 175,000–200,000 Muslims in the country live in the Copenhagen urban area, with the highest concentration inNørrebro and the Vestegnen.[119] There are also some 7,000 Jews in Denmark, most of them in the Copenhagen area where there are several synagogues.[120] It has a membership of 1,800 members.[121] There is a long history of Jews in the city, and the first synagogue in Copenhagen was built in 1684.[122] Today, the history of the Jews of Denmark can be explored at theDanish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen.
For a number of years, Copenhagen has ranked high in international surveys for itsquality of life. Its stable economy together with its education services and level of social safety make it attractive for locals and visitors alike. Although it is one of the world's most expensive cities, it is also one of the most liveable with its public transport, facilities for cyclists and its environmental policies.[123] In elevating Copenhagen to "most liveable city" in 2013,Monocle pointed to its open spaces, increasing activity on the streets, city planning in favour of cyclists and pedestrians, and features to encourage inhabitants to enjoy city life with an emphasis on community, culture and cuisine.[124] The city is voted 2024 second most liveable city byEconomist Intelligence Unit.[125] Other sources have ranked Copenhagen high for its business environment, accessibility, restaurants and environmental planning.[126] However, Copenhagen ranks only 39th for student friendliness in 2012. Despite a top score for quality of living, its scores were low for employer activity and affordability.[127]
Copenhagen is the major economic andfinancial centre of Denmark. The city's economy is based largely on services and commerce. Statistics for 2010 show that the vast majority of the 350,000 workers in Copenhagen are employed in theservice sector, especially transport and communications, trade, and finance, while less than 10,000 work in the manufacturing industries. Thepublic sector workforce is around 110,000, including education and healthcare.[128] From 2006 to 2011, the economy grew by 2.5% in Copenhagen, while it fell by some 4% in the rest of Denmark.[129] In 2017, the widerCapital Region of Denmark had a gross domestic product (GDP) of €120 billion, and the 15th largestGDP per capita of regions in the European Union.[130]As of Copenhagen Green Economy Leader Report made byLondon School of Economics and Political Science – Copenhagen is widely recognised as a leader in the global green economy. The Copenhagen region accounts for almost 40% of Denmark's output and has enjoyed long-term stable growth. At a national level, Danish GDP per capita is ranked among the top 10 countries in the world. At the same time, the city's growth has been delivered while improving environmental performance and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
Former Scandinavian headquarters for theSwiss pharmaceutical companyFerring Pharmaceuticals which has now relocated to the neighbouring Tårnby municipality.
Life science is a key sector with extensiveresearch and development activities.Medicon Valley is a leading bi-national life sciences cluster in Europe, spanning the Øresund Region. Copenhagen is rich in companies and institutions with a focus onresearch and development within the field of biotechnology,[134] and the Medicon Valley initiative aims to strengthen this position and to promote cooperation between companies and academia. Many major Danish companies like Novo Nordisk andLundbeck, both of which are among the50 largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the world, are located in this business cluster.[135]
Shipping is another important sector with Maersk, the world's largestshipping company, having their world headquarters in Copenhagen. The city has an industrial harbour,Copenhagen Port. Following decades of stagnation, it has experienced a resurgence since 1990 following a merger withMalmö harbour. Both ports are operated byCopenhagen Malmö Port (CMP). The central location in the Øresund Region allows the ports to act as a hub for freight that is transported onward to theBaltic countries. CMP annually receives about 8,000 ships and handled some 148,000TEU in 2012.[136]
Copenhagen has some of the highest gross wages in the world.[137] High taxes mean that wages are reduced after mandatory deduction. Abeneficial researcher scheme with low taxation of foreign specialists has made Denmark an attractive location forforeign labour. It is, however, also among the most expensive cities in Europe.[138][139]
Denmark'sFlexicurity model features some of the most flexible hiring and firing legislation in Europe, providing attractive conditions forforeign investment and international companies looking to locate in Copenhagen.[140] InDansk Industri's 2013 survey of employment factors in the ninety-six municipalities of Denmark, Copenhagen came in first place for educational qualifications and for the development of private companies in recent years, but fell to 86th place in local companies' assessment of the employment climate. The survey revealed considerable dissatisfaction in the level of dialogue companies enjoyed with the municipal authorities.[141]
Tourism is a major contributor to Copenhagen's economy, attracting visitors due to the city's harbour, cultural attractions and award-winning restaurants. Since 2009, Copenhagen has been one of the fastest growing metropolitan destinations in Europe.[142] Hotel capacity in the city is growing significantly. From 2009 to 2013, it experienced a 42% growth in international bed nights (total number of nights spent by tourists), tallying a rise of nearly 70% for Chinese visitors.[142] The total number of bed nights in the Capital Region surpassed 9 million in 2013, while international bed nights reached 5 million.[142]
In 2010, it is estimated thatcity break tourism contributed to DKK 2 billion in turnover. However, 2010 was an exceptional year for city break tourism and turnover increased with 29% in that one year.[143] 680,000 cruise passengers visited the port in 2015.[144] In 2019 Copenhagen was ranked first among Lonely Planet's top ten cities to visit.[145] In October 2021, Copenhagen was shortlisted for theEuropean Commission's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award along withBordeaux,Dublin,Florence,Ljubljana,Palma de Mallorca andValencia.[146]
The city's appearance today is shaped by the key role it has played as a regional centre for centuries. Copenhagen has a multitude of districts, each with its distinctive character and representing its own period. Other distinctive features of Copenhagen include the abundance of water, its many parks, and thebicycle paths that line most streets.[147]
Nyhavn is a 17th-century waterfront lined by brightly coloured townhouses.
The central square,Amagertorv, dates back to the Middle Ages.
Classic building in Copenhagen from around the 1890s. Areas likeVesterbro,Nørrebro andØsterbro were developed around 1890.
The oldest section of Copenhagen'sinner city is often referred to asMiddelalderbyen (themedieval city).[148] However, the city's most distinctive district isFrederiksstaden, developed during the reign ofFrederick V. It has theAmalienborg Palace at its centre and is dominated by the dome ofFrederik's Church (or the Marble Church) and several elegant 18th-centuryRococo mansions.[149] The inner city includesSlotsholmen, a little island on whichChristiansborg Palace stands andChristianshavn with its canals.[150]Børsen on Slotsholmen andFrederiksborg Palace in Hillerød are prominent examples of theDutch Renaissance style in Copenhagen. Around the historical city centre lies a band of congenial residential boroughs (Vesterbro,Inner Nørrebro,Inner Østerbro) dating mainly from late 19th century. They were built outside the old ramparts when the city was finally allowed to expand beyond its fortifications.[151]
Sometimes referred to as "the City of Spires", Copenhagen is known for its horizontal skyline, broken only by the spires and towers of its churches and castles. Most characteristic of all is theBaroque spire of theChurch of Our Saviour with its narrowing external spiral stairway that visitors can climb to the top.[152] Other important spires are those ofChristiansborg Palace, theCity Hall and the former Church of St. Nikolaj that now houses amodern art venue. Not quite so high are theRenaissance spires ofRosenborg Castle and the "dragon spire" ofChristian IV's former stock exchange, so named because it resembles the intertwined tails of four dragons.[153]
Copenhagen is recognised globally as an exemplar of best practiceurban planning.[154] Its thriving mixed use city centre is defined by striking contemporary architecture, engaging public spaces and an abundance of human activity. These design outcomes have been deliberately achieved through careful replanning in the second half of the 20th century.
Recent years have seen a boom in modern architecture in Copenhagen[155] both forDanish architecture and for works by international architects. For a few hundred years, virtually no foreign architects had worked in Copenhagen, but since the turn of the millennium the city and its immediate surroundings have seen buildings and projects designed by top international architects. British design magazineMonocle named Copenhagen theWorld's best design city 2008.[156]
Copenhagen's urban development in the first half of the 20th century was heavily influenced by industrialisation. After World War II, Copenhagen Municipality adoptedFordism and repurposed its medieval centre to facilitate private automobile infrastructure in response to innovations in transport, trade and communication.[157] Copenhagen's spatial planning in this time frame was characterised by the separation of land uses: an approach which requires residents to travel by car to access facilities of different uses.[158]
The boom in urban development andmodern architecture has brought some changes to the city's skyline. A political majority has decided to keep the historical centre free of high-rise buildings, but several areas will see or have already seen massive urban development.Ørestad now has seen most of the recent development. Located nearCopenhagen Airport, it currently boasts one of the largest malls in Scandinavia and a variety of office and residential buildings as well as theIT University and a high school.[159]
Copenhagen is a green city with many parks, both large and small.King's Garden (Kongens Have), the garden ofRosenborg Castle, is the oldest and most frequented of them all.[160] It wasChristian IV who first developed its landscaping in 1606. Every year it sees more than 2.5 million visitors[161] and in the summer months it is packed with sunbathers, picnickers and ballplayers. It serves as asculpture garden with both a permanent display and temporary exhibits during the summer months.[160] Also located in the city centre are theBotanical Gardens noted for their large complex of 19th-century greenhouses donated byCarlsberg founderJ. C. Jacobsen.[162]Fælledparken at 58 ha (140 acres) is the largest park in Copenhagen.[163]
In Copenhagen, manycemeteries double as parks, though only for the more quiet activities such as sunbathing, reading and meditation.Assistens Cemetery, the burial place ofHans Christian Andersen, is an important green space for the district ofInner Nørrebro and a Copenhagen institution. The lesser knownVestre Kirkegaard is the largest cemetery in Denmark (54 ha (130 acres)) and offers a maze of dense groves, open lawns, winding paths, hedges, overgrown tombs, monuments, tree-lined avenues, lakes and othergarden features.[168]
It is official municipal policy in Copenhagen that by 2015 all citizens must be able to reach a park or beach on foot in less than 15 minutes.[169] In line with this policy, several new parks, including the innovativeSuperkilen in the Nørrebro district, have been completed or are under development in areas lacking green spaces.[170]
The historic centre of the city,Indre By or the Inner City, features many of Copenhagen's most popular monuments and attractions. The area known asFrederiksstaden, developed byFrederik V in the second half of the 18th century in theRococo style, has the four mansions ofAmalienborg, the royal residence, and the wide-domedMarble Church at its centre.[171] Directly across the water from Amalienborg, the 21st-centuryCopenhagen Opera House stands on the island ofHolmen.[172] To the south of Frederiksstaden, theNyhavn canal is lined with colourful houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, many now with lively restaurants and bars.[173] The canal runs from the harbour front to the spacious square ofKongens Nytorv which was laid out byChristian V in 1670. Important buildings includeCharlottenborg Palace, famous for its art exhibitions, theThott Palace (now the French embassy), theRoyal Danish Theatre and theHotel D'Angleterre, dated to 1755.[174] Other landmarks in Indre By include the parliament building ofChristiansborg, theCity Hall andRundetårn, originally an observatory. There are also several museums in the area includingThorvaldsen Museum dedicated to the 18th-century sculptorBertel Thorvaldsen.[175] Closed to traffic since 1964,Strøget, one of the world's oldest and longest pedestrian streets, runs the 3.2 km (2.0 mi) from Rådhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv. With its speciality shops, cafés, restaurants, andbuskers, it is always full of life and includes the old squares ofGammel Torv andAmagertorv, each with a fountain.[176]Rosenborg Castle onØster Voldgade was built by Christian IV in 1606 as a summer residence in theRenaissance style. It houses the Danish crown jewels andcrown regalia, thecoronation throne and tapestries illustrating Christian V's victories in theScanian War.[177]
Christianshavn lies to the southeast ofIndre By on the other side of the harbour. The area was developed byChristian IV in the early 17th century. Impressed by the city ofAmsterdam, he employed Dutch architects to create canals within itsramparts which are still well preserved today.[24] The canals themselves, branching off the centralChristianshavn Canal and lined with house boats and pleasure craft are one of the area's attractions.[178] Another interesting feature isFreetown Christiania, a fairly large area which was initially occupied by squatters during student unrest in 1971. Today it still maintains a measure of autonomy. The inhabitants openly sell drugs on "Pusher Street" as well as their arts and crafts. Other buildings of interest in Christianshavn include theChurch of Our Saviour with its spiralling steeple and the magnificent RococoChristian's Church. Once a warehouse, theNorth Atlantic House now displays culture from Iceland and Greenland and houses theNoma restaurant, known for its Nordic cuisine.[179][180]
Vesterbro, to the southwest of Indre By, begins with theTivoli Gardens, the city's top tourist attraction with its fairground atmosphere, itsPantomime Theatre, itsConcert Hall and its many rides and restaurants.[181] TheCarlsberg neighbourhood has some interesting vestiges of the old brewery of the same name including theElephant Gate and theNy Carlsberg Brewhouse.[182] TheTycho Brahe Planetarium is located on the edge ofSkt. Jørgens Sø, one of the Copenhagen lakes.[183]Halmtorvet, the old hay market behind theCentral Station, is an increasingly popular area with its cafés and restaurants. The former cattle market Øksnehallen has been converted into a modern exhibition centre for art and photography.[184]Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, built by Danish architect and designerArne Jacobsen for the airlineScandinavian Airlines System (SAS) between 1956 and 1960 was once the tallest hotel in Denmark with a height of 69.60 m (228.3 ft) and the city's only skyscraper until 1969.[185] Completed in 1908,Det Ny Teater (the New Theatre) located in a passage betweenVesterbrogade andGammel Kongevej has become a popular venue for musicals since its reopening in 1994, attracting the largest audiences in the country.[186]
Nørrebro to the northwest of the city centre has recently developed from a working-class district into a colourful cosmopolitan area with antique shops, non-Danish food stores and restaurants. Much of the activity is centred onSankt Hans Torv[187] and aroundRantzausgade. Copenhagen's historic cemetery,Assistens Kirkegård halfway up Nørrebrogade, is the resting place of many famous figures includingSøren Kierkegaard,Niels Bohr, andHans Christian Andersen but is also used by locals as a park and recreation area.[188]
Just north of the city centre,Østerbro is an upper middle-class district with a number of fine mansions, some now serving as embassies.[189] The district stretches from Nørrebro to the waterfront whereThe Little Mermaid statue can be seen from the promenade known asLangelinie. Inspired byHans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, it was created byEdvard Eriksen and unveiled in 1913.[190] Not far from the Little Mermaid, the oldCitadel (Kastellet) can be seen. Built byChristian IV, it is one of northern Europe's best preserved fortifications. There is also a windmill in the area.[191] The largeGefion Fountain (Gefionspringvandet) designed byAnders Bundgaard and completed in 1908 stands close to the southeast corner of Kastellet. Its figures illustrate a Nordic legend.[192]
Frederiksberg, a separate municipality within theurban area of Copenhagen, lies to the west of Nørrebro and Indre By and north of Vesterbro. Its landmarks includeCopenhagen Zoo founded in 1869 with over 250 species from all over the world andFrederiksberg Palace built as a summer residence byFrederick IV who was inspired by Italian architecture. Now a military academy, it overlooks the extensive landscapedFrederiksberg Gardens with itsfollies, waterfalls, lakes and decorative buildings.[193] The wide tree-lined avenue ofFrederiksberg Allé connectingVesterbrogade with the Frederiksberg Gardens has long been associated with theatres and entertainment. While a number of the earlier theatres are now closed, theBetty Nansen Theatre and Aveny-T are still active.[194]
Amagerbro (also known as Sønderbro) is the district located immediately south-east ofChristianshavn at northernmostAmager. The old city moats and their surrounding parks constitute a clear border between these districts. The main street isAmagerbrogade which after the harbour bridgeLangebro, is an extension ofH. C. Andersens Boulevard and has a number of various stores and shops as well as restaurants and pubs.[195] Amagerbro was built up during the two first decades of the twentieth century and is the city's southernmost block built area with typically 4–7 floors. Further south follows the Sundbyøster and Sundbyvester districts.[196]
The Little Mermaid statue, an icon of the city and a popular tourist attraction
Apart from being the national capital, Copenhagen also serves as the cultural hub of Denmark and one of the major hubs in wider Scandinavia. Since the late 1990s, it has undergone a transformation from a modest Scandinavian capital into a metropolitan city of international appeal, in the same league as cities such asBarcelona andAmsterdam.[199] This is a result of huge investments in infrastructure and culture as well as the work of successful new Danish architects, designers and chefs.[155][200]Copenhagen Fashion Week takes place every year in February and August.[201][202]
Other museums include: theThorvaldsens Museum, dedicated to theoeuvre of romantic Danish sculptorBertel Thorvaldsen who lived and worked in Rome;[208] theCisternerne museum, an exhibition space for contemporary art, located in formercisterns that come complete withstalactites formed by the changing water levels;[209] and theOrdrupgaard Museum, located just north of Copenhagen, which features 19th-century French and Danish art and is noted for its works byPaul Gauguin.[210]
Copenhagen has a significantjazz scene that has existed for many years. It developed when a number of Americanjazz musicians such asBen Webster,Thad Jones,Richard Boone, Ernie Wilkins,Kenny Drew,Ed Thigpen,Bob Rockwell,Dexter Gordon, and others such asrock guitaristLink Wray came to live in Copenhagen during the 1960s. Every year in early July, Copenhagen's streets, squares, parks as well as cafés and concert halls fill up with big and small jazz concerts during theCopenhagen Jazz Festival. One of Europe's top jazz festivals, the annual event features around 900 concerts at 100 venues with over 200,000 guests from Denmark and around the world.[215]
The largest venue forpopular music in Copenhagen isVega in theVesterbro district. It was chosen as "best concert venue in Europe" by international music magazineLive. The venue has three concert halls: the great hall, Store Vega, accommodates audiences of 1,550, the middle hall, Lille Vega, has space for 500 and Ideal Bar Live has a capacity of 250.[216] Every September since 2006, the Festival of Endless Gratitude (FOEG) has taken place in Copenhagen. This festival focuses onindiecounterculture,experimental pop music andleft field music combined with visual arts exhibitions.[217]
TheRoyal Library, belonging to theUniversity of Copenhagen, is the largest library in the Nordic countries with an almost complete collection of all printed Danish books since 1482. Founded in 1648, the Royal Library is located at four sites in the city, the main one being on the Slotsholmen waterfront.[222] Copenhagen's public library network has over 20 outlets, the largest being the Central Library (Københavns Hovedbibliotek) onKrystalgade in the inner city.[223]
Noma (previous location shown) is an example of Copenhagen's renowned experimental restaurants, and has gained threeMichelin stars.
As of 2014[update], Copenhagen has 15Michelin-starred restaurants, the most of any Scandinavian city.[233] The city is increasingly recognized internationally as a gourmet destination.[234] These include Den Røde Cottage, Formel B Restaurant, Grønbech & Churchill, Søllerød Kro, Kadeau, Kiin Kiin (Denmark's first Michelin-starred Asian gourmet restaurant), the French restaurant Kong Hans Kælder, Relæ, Restaurant AOC with two Stars, andNoma (short forDanish:nordiskmad, English: Nordic food) as well asGeranium with three. Noma was ranked as theBest Restaurant in the World byRestaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012, and again in 2014,[235] sparking interest in theNew Nordic Cuisine.[236]
Apart from the selection of upmarket restaurants, Copenhagen offers a great variety of Danish, ethnic and experimental restaurants. It is possible to find modest eateries servingopen sandwiches, known assmørrebrød – a traditional, Danish lunch dish; however, most restaurants serve international dishes.[237]Danish pastry can be sampled from any of numerous bakeries found in all parts of the city. The Copenhagen Bakers' Association (Danish:Københavns Bagerlaug) dates back to the 1290s and Denmark's oldest confectioner's shop still operating,Conditori La Glace, was founded in 1870 in Skoubogade by Nicolaus Henningsen, a trained master baker fromFlensburg.[238]
Copenhagen has long been associated with beer.Carlsberg beer has been brewed at the brewery's premises on the border between theVesterbro andValby districts since 1847 and has long been almost synonymous withDanish beer production. However, recent years have seen an explosive growth in the number ofmicrobreweries so that Denmark today has more than 100 breweries, many of which are located in Copenhagen. Some like Nørrebro Bryghus also act asbrewpubs where it is also possible to eat on the premises.[239][240]
Copenhagen has one of the highest number of restaurants and bars per capita in the world.[241] The nightclubs and bars stay open until 5 or 6 in the morning, some even longer. Denmark has a very liberal alcohol culture and a strong tradition for beer breweries, although binge drinking is frowned upon and the Danish Police takedriving under the influence very seriously.[242] Inner city areas such asIstedgade andEnghave Plads in Vesterbro,Sankt Hans Torv in Nørrebro and certain places in Frederiksberg are especially noted for theirnightlife. Notable nightclubs include Bakken Kbh, ARCH (previously ZEN), Jolene, The Jane, Chateau Motel, KB3, At Dolores (previously Sunday Club), Rust, Vega Nightclub and Culture Box.[243][244]
Copenhagen has several recurring community festivals, mainly in the summer.Copenhagen Carnival has taken place every year since 1982 during theWhitsun Holiday inFælledparken and around the city with the participation of 120 bands, 2,000 dancers and 100,000 spectators.[245] Since 2010, the old B&W Shipyard atRefshaleøen in the harbour has been the location forCopenhell, aheavy metal rock music festival.Copenhagen Pride is aLGBT pride festival taking place every year in August. The Pride has a series of different activities all over Copenhagen, but it is at theCity Hall Square that most of the celebration takes place. During the Pride the square is renamed Pride Square.[246]Copenhagen Distortion has emerged to be one of the biggest street festivals in Europe with 100,000 people joining to parties in the beginning of June every year.[247]
Dyrehavsbakken, a fair-ground and pleasure-park established in 1583, is located inKlampenborg just north of Copenhagen in a forested area known asDyrehaven. Created as an amusement park complete with rides, games and restaurants byChristian IV, it is the oldest surviving amusement park in the world.[248]Pierrot (Danish:Pjerrot), a nitwit dressed in white with a scarlet grin wearing a boat-like hat while entertaining children, remains one of the park's key attractions. In Danish, Dyrehavsbakken is often abbreviated asBakken. There is no entrance fee to pay andKlampenborg Station on theC-line, is situated nearby.[250]
TheTivoli Gardens is an amusement park and pleasure garden located in central Copenhagen between theCity Hall Square and theCentral Station. It opened in 1843, making it the third-oldest amusement park in the world, the second beingWurstelprater in Vienna. Among its rides are the oldest still operating rollercoasterRutschebanen from 1915 and the oldestferris wheel still in use, opened in 1943.[251] Tivoli Gardens also serves as a venue for various performing arts and as an active part of the cultural scene in Copenhagen.[252]
The University of Copenhagen is Denmark's oldest university founded in 1479. It attracts some 1,500 international and exchange students every year. TheAcademic Ranking of World Universities placed it 30th in the world in 2016.[259]
The Technical University of Denmark is located inLyngby in the northern outskirts of Copenhagen. In 2013, it was ranked as one of the leading technical universities in Northern Europe.[260] The IT University is Denmark's youngest university, a mono-faculty institution focusing on technical, societal and business aspects of information technology.[261]
Copenhagen Marathon, Copenhagen's annualmarathon event, was established in 1980.[272]Round Christiansborg Open Water Swim Race is a 2-kilometre (1.2-mile)open water swimming competition taking place each year in late August.[273] This amateur event is combined with a 10-kilometre (6-mile) Danish championship.[274] In 2009 the event included a 10-kilometre (6-mile) FINA World Cup competition in the morning. Copenhagen hosted the2011 UCI Road World Championships in September 2011, taking advantage of its bicycle-friendly infrastructure. It was the first time that Denmark had hosted the event since 1956, when it was also held in Copenhagen.[275]
The greater Copenhagen area has a very well established transportation infrastructure making it a hub in Northern Europe.Copenhagen Airport, opened in 1925, is Scandinavia's largest airport, located inKastrup on the island of Amager. It is connected to the city centre by metro and main line railway services.[276] October 2013 was a record month with 2.2 million passengers, and November 2013 figures reveal that the number of passengers is increasing by some 3% annually, about 50% more than the European average.[277]
Copenhagen has an extensive road network including motorways connecting the city to other parts of Denmark and to Sweden over theØresund Bridge.[278] The car is still the most popular form of transport within the city itself, representing two-thirds of all distances travelled. This can however lead to serious congestion in rush hour traffic.[279] The Øresund train links Copenhagen with Malmö 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Copenhagen is also served by a daily ferry connection toOslo in Norway.[280] In 2012, Copenhagen Harbour handled 372 cruise ships and 840,000 passengers.[280]
TheCopenhagen S-Train,Copenhagen Metro and the regional train networks are used by about half of the city's passengers, the remainder using bus services.Nørreport Station near the city centre serves passengers travelling by main-line rail,S-train, regional train, metro and bus. Some 750,000 passengers make use of public transport facilities every day.[278]Copenhagen Central Station is the hub of theDSB railway network serving Denmark and international destinations.[281]
TheCopenhagen Metro expanded radically with the opening of theCity Circle Line (M3) on 29 September 2019.[282] The new line connects all inner boroughs of the city by metro, including theCentral Station, and opens up 17 new stations[283] for Copenhageners. On 28 March 2020, the 2.2 km (1.4 mi) Nordhavn extension of the Harbour Line (M4) opened.[284] Running fromCopenhagen Central Station, the new extension is a branch line ofM3 Cityring to Østerport.[285] The new metro lines are part of the city's strategy to transform mobility towards sustainable modes of transport such as public transport and cycling as opposed to automobility.[286]
Copenhagen is cited by urban planners for its exemplary integration of public transport and urban development. In implementing itsFinger Plan, Copenhagen is considered the world's first example of atransit metropolis,[52] and areas around S-Train stations likeBallerup andBrøndby Strand are among the earliest examples oftransit-oriented development.[287]
Copenhagen has been rated as one of the mostbicycle-friendly cities in the world since 2015, with bicycles outnumbering its inhabitants.[288][289][290] In 2012 some 36% of all working or studying city-dwellers cycled to work, school, or university. With 1.27 million km (790,000 mi) covered every working day byCopenhagen's cyclists (including both residents and commuters), and 75% of Copenhageners cycling throughout the year.[291] The city'sbicycle paths are extensive and well used, boasting 400 kilometres (250 miles) of cycle lanes not shared with cars or pedestrians, and sometimes equipped with their own signal systems – giving the cyclists a lead of a couple of seconds to accelerate.[290][292]
Rigshospitalet is one of the largest hospitals in Denmark.
Promoting health is an important issue for Copenhagen's municipal authorities. Central to its sustainability mission is its "Long Live Copenhagen" (Længe Leve København) scheme in which it has the goal of increasing the life expectancy of citizens, improving quality of life through better standards of health, and encouraging more productive lives and equal opportunities.[293] The city has targets to encourage people to exercise regularly and to reduce the number of people who smoke and consume alcohol.[293]
Copenhagen University Hospital forms a conglomerate of several hospitals inRegion Hovedstaden andRegion Sjælland, together with the faculty ofhealth sciences at the University of Copenhagen;Rigshospitalet andBispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen belong to this group of university hospitals.[294] Rigshospitalet began operating in March 1757 as Frederiks Hospital,[295] and became state-owned in 1903. With 1,120 beds, Rigshospitalet has responsibility for 65,000 inpatients and approximately 420,000 outpatients annually. It seeks to be the number one specialist hospital in the country, with an extensive team of researchers into cancer treatment, surgery and radiotherapy.[296] In addition to its 8,000 personnel, the hospital has training and hosting functions. It benefits from the presence of in-service students of medicine and other healthcare sciences, as well as scientists working under a variety of research grants. The hospital became internationally famous as the location ofLars von Trier's television horror mini-seriesThe Kingdom. Bispebjerg Hospital was built in 1913, and serves about 400,000 people in the Greater Copenhagen area, with some 3,000 employees.[297] Other large hospitals in the city includeAmager Hospital (1997),[298]Herlev Hospital (1976),[299]Hvidovre Hospital (1970),[300] andGentofte Hospital (1927).[301]
The Aller Media conglomerate building in Havneholm
Many Danish media corporations are located in Copenhagen.DR, the major Danishpublic service broadcasting corporation consolidated its activities in a new headquarters,DR Byen, in 2006 and 2007. SimilarlyTV2, which is based inOdense, has concentrated its Copenhagen activities in a modern media house inTeglholmen.[302] The two national daily newspapersPolitiken andBerlingske and the twotabloidsEkstra Bladet andBT are based in Copenhagen.[303]Kristeligt Dagblad is based in Copenhagen and is published six days a week.[304] Other important media corporations includeAller Media which is the largest publisher of weekly and monthly magazines inScandinavia,[305] theEgmontmedia group[306] andGyldendal, the largest Danish publisher of books.[307]
Copenhagen has a large film and television industry.Nordisk Film, established in Valby, Copenhagen in 1906 is the oldest continuously operating film production company in the world.[245] In 1992 it merged with the Egmont media group and currently runs the 17-screenPalads Cinema in Copenhagen.Filmbyen (movie city), located in a formermilitary camp in the suburb ofHvidovre, houses several movie companies andstudios.Zentropa is a film company, co-owned by DanishdirectorLars von Trier. He is behind several international movie productions as well and founded theDogme Movement.[308]CPH:PIX is Copenhagen's international feature film festival, established in 2009 as a fusion of the 20-year-oldNatFilm Festival and the four-year-old CIFF. The CPH:PIX festival takes place in mid-April.CPH:DOX is Copenhagen's international documentary film festival, every year in November. In addition to a documentary film programme of over 100 films, CPH:DOX includes a wideevent programme with dozens of events, concerts, exhibitions and parties all over town.[309]
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^Farmer, Brian R. (2010).Radical Islam in the West: ideology and challenge. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. p. 8.ISBN978-0-7864-5953-7.Muslims living in the West are also concentrated in urban area. Muslims are currently estimated to compose almost one-fourth of the population of Amsterdam. one-fifth of Marseilles, and 15 percent of Paris, Brussels, and Birmingham. Muslims are currently make up approximately 10 percent of the populations in London and Copenhagen.
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