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6
- Other sectors
The
multiple transport possibilites make Denmark a
gateway for the whole of Scandinavia.
Since the autumn of 1998 Denmark has adopted a
series of essentially fiscal measures with the
intention of attracting large international groups.
At the same time Parliament has lowered company
taxes and abolished some of the incorporation
charges, to emphasise its policy of encouraging new
companies to set up and expand in Denmark. Denmark
is the only country which accepts a joint taxation
for a company which has the parent company abroad
and a Danish subsidiary. This policy of taxation
makes it possible to deduct the deficit of one
company from the profits of the other. Also, the
taxes paid by the foreign subsidiary can be
deducted from those which the parent company have
to pay to Denmark.
Half the trade is
done within Europe. The Council of the Baltic
States has been reinforcing cooperation between the
Scandinavian countries and northern Europe since
1992.
France Telecom,
called Mobilix in Denmark, is the biggest French
investor at the moment.
The sale of French
cars has really increased since 1994 (+22.6% in
1998), the three French brands have nearly 20% of
the Danish market : Peugeot (8.6%), Citroën
(7%) and Renault (3.6%).
According to Danish
statistics, over the last 10 years France ranks as
only the 6th foreign investor with 5.2 billion
francs. The Trade Commission in Copenhagen analyses
that "the reason French investment in Denmark is so
low is partly because, apart from Saint Gobain,
France Telecom, Alcatel, Elf and Legrand, the 90
French companies in Denmark are mostly commercial
subsidiaries, even when they are part of big groups
like Pechiney, L'Oréal, Bull and Rhône
Poulenc".
7
- Population
The population stands at 5,301,000 in 2000, made up
of 97% Danes and some minorities, there are 1.7%
Germans in North Schleswig.
0-14 years :
18.10%
15-64 years : 67.25%
65 and over : 14.65%
birth rate : 1.75
life expectancy : 75.78 years
urban population : 85.22%
population growth : 0.32%
It is the
Scandinavian country with the highest population
density, 125 inhabitants per square kilometer over
all, broken up as 251 per km2 in Seeland and 65 per
km2 in Jutland. At the beginning of the century the
urban population was much smaller (Copenhagen 1.4
million), the population growth rate in the towns
is 0.36%
GNP per inhabitant:
$32,170
Average
household expenditure 1997 (208,800
FF)
- accomodation
20%
- food : 11.44%
- leisure-travel : 11.35%
- transport et communication : 9.57%
- drinks-tobacco : 6.7%
- electricity-heating : 5.89%
- purchase of a car : 5.6%
- clothing: 5.26%
- health : 2.44%
- other goods and services : 20.21%
(source Trade Commission in Copenhagen)
8
- Languages
The
official language is Danish. English and German are
also widely spoken. In the south-west a dialect
called Frison is spoken.
9
- Religion
Most of the
population are Lutherans (91%), there are also
Protestants, Roman Catholics and Muslims.
10
- Weights, measures &
.......voltages
Electrical current : 220V.
The metric system is in use.
11
- Money
Currency
: Danish Kroner
1 FF = 1.14 DKK, I
DKK = 0.88 FF
1$ = 5.870 DKK
1 euro = 7.4527 DKK
Banks are open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday from 9.30am to 4pm, on Thursday from 9.30am
to 6pm. Out of Copenhagen banks will usually be
closed between 12 and 2pm.
12
- Main towns
Copenhagen,
the capital of Denmark is situated on the eastern
coast of the Island of Seeland and partly on the
neighbouring isle of Amager. It is on the Oresund
opposite the Swedish town of Malmö.
Since the 11th century, due to its strategic
position, it has been developed as a trading
centre. Copenhagen has been destroyed by war and by
fires several times (most of the houses are in
wood), and there are few remaining buildings dating
earlier than the 17th century.
This town, built on the water's edge is very quaint
with its multicoloured houses along the port and
the headquarters of ancient big commercial
companies along the canals, which are now
transformed into luxurious residences or
museums.
The town is at its most beautiful seen from the
sea, and it's the sea which gives this northern
capital its special cachet.
Buildings are rarely more than four or five stories
high.
Copenhagen is the biggest Scandinavian town and its
million and a half residents represent nearly a
third of the Danish population, but in spite of the
crowd which animates the wide avenues, there is no
stress.
The charm of this capital is well symbolized by the
Tivoli gardens which are really in the heart of the
town, where the Danes stop by regularly to
rest.
Each morning the Royal Guard leaves the barracks at
the Rosenborg castle to the sound of pipes and
drums and go up Stroget, the pedestrian street
which cuts through the town.
Bicycles are part of everyday life in Copenhagen, a
network of cycle lines keep cyclists out of the
main traffic circulation.
A thousand bikes are available free of charge for
citizens and visitors.
The port is very busy and the industries
flourishing.
The Tivoli, which is a large park full of games, is
one of the principal attractions.
The Little Mermaid (den Bille Havfrue), a famous
bronze statue sitting in the port, a memorial to
the writer Hans Christian Andersen, is the symbol
of the town.
Museums : the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek : a splendid
collection of art through all the centuries, in a
building which has the proportions of a Greek
temple with a winter garden.
(see the page 'Observations' for visits in
Copenhagen).
Aarus,
situated on the east coast of Jutland opens onto
the Jutland gulf. It is the second port in Denmark
with a geographical situation which has been good
for trading. It is an industrial town, particularly
shipbuilding. There is a very beautiful university,
with lovely architecture.
Odense,
in the centre of the island of Fionie, is one of
the most ancient towns, and has remained intact. It
is a commercial centre, on the banks of the Odense
river, linked to the sea by a navigable canal.
13
- Climate
The best period to visit Denmark is from the end of
May to mid-September. There are numerous beaches,
but the temperature of the sea rarely goes above
17°C even in August in both the North Sea and
the Baltic.
Generally speaking the country has an ocean
climate. There are frequent fogs in winter but they
are swept away during the summer by the strong
winds from the Atlantic. In winter the temperatures
rarely go below zero, in summer they seldom go
above 16°.
There is frequent rain except in the south-west
where there is only 8 cms a year.
Winter is cold and rainy, very windy, with a
ceiling of low clouds. The nights are long.
Snow only lies for three or four weeks per
year.
In the summer the days are long and the evenings
are light and cool. June is less rainy than July
and August.
Average
temperatures (max/min)
J F M A M J
J A S O N D
Viborg 2/-3, 2/-4, 5/-2, 11/1, 16/5, 19/9, 21/11,
21/11, 17/8, 12/5, 7/2, 4/-1
Copenhague 2/-2, 2/-2, 5/-1, 10/3, 16/7, 19/11,
22/14, 21/13, 17/10, 12/7, 7/3, 4/1
Sea
temperatures : monthly average
J F M A M J
J A S O N D
Baltic Sea 3 3 3 6 9 14 17 17 14 12 7 5
North Sea 4 4 4 6 9 13 16 16 14 12 9 7
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