Exchange Diary | 04 Six Little Secretes about Copenhagen | Copenhagen, Denmark
I share some interesting little things about Copenhagen in this article.
1. Polar Bears
It is the fifth city hall of Copenhagen. It looks pretty like a castle in Italy. On the top of the roof, there are two animals. What are they?
The answer is POLAR BEAR!
Are there polar bears in Denmark? No…and YES.
Polar bears do not appear in “egentlig Danmark” (Mainlan Denmark) but in Greenland. The two bears, therefore, represent Greenland.
2. The Origin of “Copenhagen”
Copenhagen in Danish = København
Køben = Trading; Havn = Port
Therefore, København (Copenhagen) = a trading port.
3. A City Burned Down Twice
Copenhagen experienced a severe fire in 1728 and 1807 respectively. It ruined the majority of buildings in the city. Therefore, it is hard to find a building built before the 18th century.
It’s hard, but you still can find it near the center of the city~
4. The Smell of Money
What is the smell of money? In Danish slang, money smells like cow dung.
Eww..w? Wait a moment. It actually is a positive description.
Stock farming is a really important industry for Denmark. So does in ancient times. Therefore, when you smell cow dung, it means that there must be valuable animals nearby.
5. Super Flat Country And The Bicycle Life
Denmark is flat. The highest point in the country, the top of Yding Skovhøj, is 174.54 meters.
The geographical features make Denmark a good place for bicycles. Bike is one of the major vehicles for the locals. No matter whether it is cold, rainy, or windy, people ride a bike.
6. Super High Tax Rate
Nordic countries are known for their high tax rates. Do you know how high it is? The tax rate which is highly related to everyone, regardless you are a resident or traveller, is the sales rate. I take the sales tax rate for example.
The sales tax rate in Denmark stands at 25 percent.
Yes, it is 25%. It means that the tax occupies one-fourth of the price.
The sales tax in the UK is 20%. The tax in New York City is 4%, and it is 10% in Japan.
The good news is that the price usually includes the tax. You don’t pay more than the price labeled.
