København tidlig forår 2016 – nyd slotte, pladser, markeder, Inderhavnen og parker blandt det lykkeligste folk i verden.
Text and photos Erik K Abrahamsen.
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In march 2016 Denmark won the title of Worlds happiest country according to the World Happiness Report Update 2016, worldhappiness.report.
The report is released by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) for the United Nations, unsdsn.org.
Its Denmarks third title within the last five year. Denmark won the title in 2012 and 2013 – in 2015 Switzerland won the title.
On 20. april 2016 I drove by car 60 km from my home in North Sealand to Quarter Nørrebro 3 km north of Copenhagen City. In Quarter Nørrebro I can park freely and on my bike I drove the next 4 hours all over Copenhagen City – enjoying the spring atmosphere among the most happy people on earth.
We danes have had a long cold winter with danish “Hygge” (Cosy) inside our homes and we are now excited to come outside in the warm poetic atmosphere of Copenhagen on squares, parks, markets and outdoor restaurants.
Outdoor restaurants in Quarter Nørrebro as neighbour to Sortedam Lake:
Outdoor restaurant CAFE 22 in Quarter Nørrebro as neighbour to Sortedam Lake:
View to Sortedam Lake, Queen Louise Bridge (Dronning Louise Broen) and Copenhagen Inner City:
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View to Sortedam Lake, Queen Louise Bridge and Copenhagen City at left. Photo 20. april 2016 by Erik K Abrahamsen.
People enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on Queen Louise Bridge ( Dronning Louise´s Bro) passing Sortedam Lake between Noerrebro Quarter and Copenhagen City:
Queen Louise Bridge, Dronning Louise Bro – view in direction to Copenhagen City with Frederiksborggade in the distance:
Map of Copenhagen City:
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Outdoor Market “Torvehallerne” on Israel Square close to Frederiksborggade, Nørreport Station and Metro:
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Outdoor Market “Torvehallerne” on Israel Plads:
Outdoor Market “Torvehallerne” on Israel Plads:
500 meter from Nørreport Metro I take the entrance to Rosenborg Castle and Kings Garden (Kongens Have) builded 1606-38:
Rosenborg Castle:
In beginning of 1600 Kongens Have was a garden, which produced vegetables, fruits and berry to the Royal Court at Copenhagen Castle. It was situated outside the old ramparts alongside Gothersgade. In this garden King Christan 4th builded a summerhouse in 1606 and later on he builded and completed in 1638 Rosenborg Palace in style nederland-renaissance – a magnificent castle with a great hall, studies, bedrooms, bathroom with sinked tub and surrounded by moat.
Rosenborg Castle builded 1606-38 in style Nederland-Renaissance by King Christian 4, King of Denmark and Norway 1588-1648:
View to Kings Garden, Kongens Have from Rosenborg Castle surrounded by moat:
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A school class at the moat visiting Rosenborg Castle to learn about Danish History on he spot where it happened:
Rosenborg Castle in Kongens Have:
The barracks of the Queens Royal Guard is neighbor to Rosenborg Castle:
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I ride on my bike 1 km to Copenhagen Inner Harbour close to Amalie Garden (Amaliehaven) and Amalienborg Castle:
View in direction Copenhagen Inner Harbour, Naval Station Holmen and naval ship Peder Skram.
View from Amaliehaven to Copenhagen Opera House (Operaen) builded 2002-05:
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Amaliehaven designed 1983 by belgian garden architect Jean Delogne and with sculpture by it alien sculptor Arnaldo Pomodora:
View from Amaliehaven to Amalienborg Castle´s 4 Palaces designed 1750-54 by danish architect Nicolai Eigtved, the 8-edges Amalienborg Castle Square with equestrian statue of King Frederik 5 by french sculptor Jacques Saly in 1771 and the 60 metres high Marble Church (Marmorkirken) builded 1756-70 and finished 1877-94:
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Close to equestrian statue of King Frederik 5 (King of Denmark and Norway 1746-66) by french sculptor Saly I waited 15 min. together with hundreds of visitors:
– and the Queens Royal Guard which I saw leaving Rosenborg Castle barracks about 30 min´s before The Royal Guards arrival to Amalienborg Castle:
The Queens Royal Guard arrives to Amalienborg Castle Square:
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The Queens Royal Guard on Amalienborg Castle Square.
Amalienborg Castle – 4 Palaces constructed 1750-54 by architect Nicolai (Niels) Eigtved (1701-54):
Levetzaus Palace (Christian 8 Palace, today museum), Borckdorff Palace ( Frederik 8 Palace, Home of Crown Prince Frederik and Cronprincess Mary with their 4 children), Schacks Palace ( Christian 9 Palace, Royal Residence of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe 2 and His Majesty Prince Henrik and Moltkes Palace (Christian 7 Palace).
View to Levetzaus Palace (Christian 8 Palace).
I now follow the 4 Palaces on the 8 edge Amalienborg Square “against the clock”:
View to Brockdorff Palace (Frederik 8 Palace):
Frederik 8 Palace, Home of Crown Prince Frederik and Crownprincess Mary with their 4 children).
View to Schacks Palace (Christian 9 Palace) at left, The Collonnade (Harsdorff Kolonnaden) in middle and Moltkes Palace (Christian 7 Palace) at right:
Schacks Palace ( Christian 9 Palace), Royal Residence of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe 2 and His Majesty Prince Henrik.
The Queens Royal Guard.
Changing of the Queens Royal Guard (Vagtparade) on Amalieborg Castle at 12.05 PM.
View to C. F. Harsdorffs Kolonnade with 8 columns builded 1794 by architect Caspar Frederik Harsdorff (1735-99).
At right Moltkes Palace (Christian 7 Palace).
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Changing of the Queens Royal Guard (Vagtparade) on Amalieborg Castle at 12.05 PM:
My next stop on my bike to Copenhagen Inner Harbour is New Harbour (Nyhavn) – only 500 meter west of Amalienborg Castle:
New Harbour- Nyhavn constructed 1671-73 by King Christian 5 (King of Denmark and Norway 1670-99):
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New Harbour- Nyhavn constructed 1671-73, 400 m long, 25 m wide and 4 m deep:
I continue my walk/bike on the eastern/northern side of the canal, “the sunny side” along the houses and wharf (bolwark) of the canal King Christian 5 builded in 1671-73.
The canal is 400 meter long, 25 meter wide and 3 meter deep. The king wanted to stimulate trade and to get a direct acces to the new central square Kongens Nytorv. From now on merchantships could do their loading and piloting close to the merchantyards- and houses in Nyhavn.
Today Nyhavn is one of the most popular recreational areas in Copenhagen with in- and outdoors restaurants and cafees, picnics on the bolwarfs and a meeting place with families and friends to enjoy life in day- and nighttime.
Nyhavn – “the sunny side”:
Nyhavn – view to western side of New Harbour:
The eldest house in Nyhavn builded 1681:
Nyhavn – an atmosphere of joy and freedom at the bulwark:
Nyhavn – more atmosphere of joy, fun and freedom for all ages:
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Nyhavn Canal – 400 meter long and 25 metres wide, view in direction to Copenhagen Inner Harbour:
Kongens Nytorv – Kings New Square constructed 1669 is only 100 metres from Nyhavn:
View in direction to Hotel A´Angleterre.
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Kongens Nytorv – Kings New Square constructed 1669:
From Kongens Nytorv a walk 500 metres with my bike through the main shopping street Østergade to Amagertorv – Square of Amager:
Amagertorv with Storkespringvandet – Fountain of cranes constructed 1894.
Old Mayer House in Nederland-Renaissance style builded 1616 by Copenhagen Mayer Matthias Hansen.
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Amagertorv with Storkespringvandet – Fountain of cranes constructed 1894 and the Old Mayer House builded 1616 in the background:
Amagertorv with Storkespringvandet – Fountain of cranes constructed 1894:
I walk with my bike through main shopping street Købmagergade 1 km to Nørreport Station/Metro and ride 2 km on bike to my car parked in a free parking area at Jagtvej in Quarter Nørrebro in Copenhagen.
On my way I stopped on Sct. Hans Torv – the most popular square in Quarter Nørrebro with many outdoors restaurants and cafe´s:
Sct. Hans Torv with Sct. John Church (Sct. Johannes Kirke) and the new Research Centre of Faculty of Medicine, Copenhagen University in background:
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Sct. Hans Torv with Sct. John Church (Sct. Johannes Kirke) and the new Research Centre of Faculty of Medicine, Copenhagen University in background:
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I hope that you have enjoyed my little 4 hours ride through early spring in Copenhagen among 5,6 millions danes and visitors in the happiest country in the world!
Reported observations in the World Happiness Report 2016 (To read the report in full click: worldhappiness.report) on subjects:
- Explained by freedom to make life choices,
- Explained by GDP per capita,
- Explained by generosity,
- Explained by healthy life expectancy,
- Explained by perceptions of corruption,
- Explained by social support.
- (Source: See www.medicaldaily.com/world-happines-report and Sustainable Development Solutions Network under United Nations (SDSN) unsdsn.org)
Come and visit us here in Denmark!
This article I have written in Honour to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with the Word from the Bible, Psalm 84, verses 5-6:
- Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
- Blessed are those who’s strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
- As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
Note: “The Valley of Baka” is The Valley of Tears (Weeping).
Reference: The NIV Study Bible, New International Version, Hodder and Stoughton 1987.
And from Norwegian Bible, Oslo, Det Norske Bibelselskaps Forlag, 1952, Salmenes bok, 84, 5-6:
- Salige er de som bor i ditt hus; de skal stadig love dig. Sela.
- Salig er det menneske som har sin styrke i dig, de hvis hu står til de jevne veier*. *d.e. veiene til Guds hus.
- Når de vandrer gjennem tåredalen, gjør de den til en kildevang, og høstregnet dekker den med velsignelse*. *d.e. endog de største trengsler blir dem til velsiognelse. Salm. 23,4; 126,5.6.
And from La Bible, Ancien and Nouveau Testament, Traduite de l`hébreu et du grec en français courant, ALLIANCE BIBLIQUE UNIVERSELLE, 1990. Psaumes, 84,5-6:
- Heureux ceux qui habitent chez toi et peuvent te louer sans cesse!
- Heureux ceux qui trouvent chez toi un refuge et qui ont à cæur ce pèlerinage!
- Quand ils passent par vallée du Baumier, Dieu la change en oasis; et mémé la pluie d´automne la couvre d´étangs.
And from Die Heilige Schrift, Aus dem Grundtext übersetzt, 1952, Verlag R. Brokhaus Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Die Psalmen, Psalm 84, 4-6:
Glückselig , die da wohnen in deinem Hause! stets werden sie dich loben. (Sela)
- Glückselig der Mensch, dessen Stärke in die ist, in deren Herzen gebahnte Wege sind!
- Durch das Tränental gehend, machen sie es zu einem Quellenort; ja, mit Segnungen bedeckt es der Frühregen.
Since 15. november 2012 I live 60 km. north of Copenhagen in a summerhouse area in North Sealand only 2 km from Kattegat Sea.
After 25 years living in Copenhagen (1983-2012) I decided to live permanently in my summerhouse as pensioner. In Denmark you are allowed by law to stay permanently in your summerhouse all year around, when you have status as pensioner and owned the summerhouse in 8 years.
Early spring in my garden in my house in Melby, North Sealand, Denmark:
Sunset 28. april 2016 7.30 PM – beauty of nature and light:
Sunset 28. april 2016 7.30 PM:
And same view 2 weeks later 12. may 2016 7.30 PM with 21 degrees Celcius:
Trees in full leaf:
Oak in middle of garden, birk and beech at left and cheery tree at right.
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Sunset april 2016 – view in direction to Melby Church builded about 1200 A.C. and to Melby Mill constructed 1878:
Text and photos copyright Erik K Abrahamsen 2016
All rights reserved
Enjoy life – be happy!
Melby, North Sealand, Denmark 24. april 2016
With Love
Erik
Updated 12. may 2016