Design made in Denmark, of course!
Functional, elegant and minimal, Scandinavian design has class! Its clean lines contribute to the timelessness of its distinctive style, which has given Danish design its letters of nobility. It's a style linked to the Nordic people's intimate relationship with nature, both source of inspiration and raw material. Although wood is still omnipresent, it can be perfectly combined with other materials such as leather and textiles. In every era, Scandinavians have made the most of their environment, without frills or superfluity. Economy of means in the service of functionality... and design was born!
Kaare Klint (1888-1954) is considered the father of Danish design. A contemporary of Le Corbusier, he tried to rationalize man's everyday needs, focusing above all on the functionality of furniture and objects. His timeless lamp The Lantern, colloquially known as Le Klint, can be found all over Denmark, including at the Le Klint Boutique near Strøget in Copenhagen. Its soft light is filtered through the poetry of folded paper. Arne Jacobsen is the creator of the Ant chair, designed in 1952 for the Novo Nordisk company canteen. It was the first mass-produced molded chair in Denmark. A simple contour line, optimized and streamlined to be perfectly adapted to modern life and industrial production. Then came the Egg Chair, with its round, enveloping shapes, and the Swan armchair with its outstretched wings, both developed after assiduous tinkering in the garage of his Klampenborg home in 1958.
These iconic chairs can be found in department stores such as Magasins du Nord and Illum, whose shelves are overflowing with 100% Danish design products and accessories. An opportunity to discover the very young RAAWII brand, barely 3 years old but already renowned for its ceramics designed by Nicholai Wilgh Hansen: jugs, bowls, salad bowls, vases with cubist lines and monochrome colors embellishing everyday objects; Kay Bojesen and her colorful, childlike wooden animals, including the cute little monkey to hang on a shelf; Kähler (born 180 years ago), whose vases in pure shapes, fluted or highlighted with colored stripes, remain timeless; ZONE and its bathroom or kitchen accessories that we collect so much their simplistic look makes us addicts; or VIPP and its dustbins so beautiful that we don't want to hide them.. so much so that they're on display in the collections of New York's MOMA! But let's face it, other brands such as Normann Copenhagen, Bo concept, Hay, Flying tiger or Søstrene Grene also offer beautiful collections of objects at often more affordable prices.
Finally, our smart idea for treating yourself without breaking the bank: a visit to the Designmuseum Danmark. A modernized museography, original pieces from yesterday and today and, above all, the chance to try them on! Or stop off at the magnificent showroom of Louis Poulsen Lighting, a major publishing house that has been manufacturing top-of-the-range lighting fixtures since 1892, including those by Poul Henningsen, or more recently, in 2019, Olafur Eliason's OE Quasi suspension, composed of two interlocking polyhedrons made from 90% recycled aluminum. A visit to the land of light guaranteed. What better way to think, dream and live design! And you can take home pictures!
Gourmet food!
Sweet tooths are in for a treat. Cookies and chocolate will delight them. Starting with Danish Butter Cookies from Royal Dansk, Kelsen or Bisca. They're famous for their pretty blue tin. Inside, several layers of delicious buttery shortbread. Although they're available in many different countries, this is where you'll find a wide variety of decorations on the lid, in particular illustrations showing the country's most characteristic places. An eco-gourmand gift, since you can reuse the box once its contents have been devoured! Half-biscuit, half-choco, flødebollers or "cream buns". A soft, marshmallow-like meringue, a chocolate-covered almond mousse in the shape of corks. The Danes are crazy about them, eating at least one every day of the year. Any patisserie or chocolate shop worthy of the name offers them.
Are you more into chocolate? Toms is one of the world's leading chocolate producers. Founded in 1924 in Copenhagen under the name Tom Chokoladefabrik A/S by chemists Hans Trojel and Victor Hans Meyer, this brand can be found in every supermarket in the country. Don't miss Toms Skildpadde, a chocolate torte filled with rum, cream and caramel, which has been growing in popularity since 1948. At the higher end of the market, Svend Mikelsen has been supplying the royal family since 1933. Its products are exclusively gluten-free. Fabergé eggs are a highly original gift. These graceful boxes, inspired by the famous jeweler's creations for Tsar Alexander III, are filled with tasty little eggs! As for confectionery, Karamelleriet or Lakrids by Johan Bülow will tickle your taste buds. Two houses, each with its own basic recipe, one with caramel, the other with licorice, both flavored with different fragrances and presented in the form of marbles. A delicacy born on the island of Bornholm in Svaneke.
And to quench your thirst? Drink without moderation (or almost): tea. From A.C. Perch's Thehandel, a Danish institution that has been the official supplier to the Danish court since 1835, with over 210 references. Our favorites are "Koeben Blend" and "Un jardin en été", to be enjoyed both hot and iced. Nute is a young, innovative brand of organic teas, packaged in attractive wooden boxes that blend Scandinavian aesthetics with Asian tradition. To be drunk in much greater moderation: spirits. To quench your thirst during the day, the range is wide when it comes to traditional beers: Mikkeller, BRAW (Nørrebro Bryghus), Flying Couch, Carlsberg or Føroya bjór, the national beer of the Faroes (only in bars, restaurants or state monopoly stores).
In the evening, conviviality goes hand in hand with an ice-cold shot of aquavit, the national drink: Fisk, Dr. Nielsen, Gammel Dansk. A potato-based "brandy" flavored with herbs or spices, mainly cumin and dill. Be careful, it's a real head turner! Gin lovers won't be disappointed with Møn Island Gin, a brand created in 2016. The bottle evokes the days of Danish sailors and pirates who plied the seas following their maritime charts!
Traditional but always up to date!
Collectors and lovers of traditional objects will also find something to their liking. Delicate, timeless blue and white porcelain from Royal Copenhagen, THE internationally renowned Danish porcelain factory. The Royal factory was founded in 1775 by Queen Juliane Marie. A wide variety of plates, cups, teapots and bowls which, 240 years later, still grace the tables of virtually every household in Denmark. Particularly at traditional festivities like Christmas, when Nisse comes out of the closet. A mischievous elf who makes a mess and plays jokes. To win him over, on Christmas Eve we traditionally prepare a bowl of rice pudding or porridge, in the hope that it will please him. In souvenir stores and Christmas market stalls, you'll recognize him by his gray woolen garments, white clogs and stockings, and red bonnet.
A land of traditions, tales and games, your basket will be well stocked. From Flensted cardboard and paper mobiles (in the SMK and Royal Library stores), light and airy, inspired by the sea (birds, boats, fish, ocean breezes...), geometric shapes, the silhouettes of little drakkars or characters from H. C. Andersen's fairy tales; to the famous LEGO bricks, created in 1933 by a visionary carpenter in Billund, Jutland, to keep his children occupied. Whether at LEGOLAND® Billund Resort or at the boutique in Copenhagen, you'll find never-before-seen LEGO bricks that can only be found here and nowhere else! Why not take home a poster illustrating vintage Copenhagen to decorate your walls - two stores offering a wide choice: Poster & Frame and Posterland - or a stamp collection. Philatelic enthusiasts will find their paradise in the Faroes, where the stamps are truly magnificent (tales and legends, biblical history, landscape and nature...) with endless themes... Several new collections each year, with the 150th anniversary of the Faroese Post Office in 2021. https://fr.stamps.fo/
Viking jewels, a combination of Danish history and the art of adornment. Denmark is the ideal destination for all admirers of these daring navigators and enterprising traders. The country abounds in museums (the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde) and monuments where you can find beautiful replicas of these jewels. Both functional, used as clothing fasteners (fibulae, rings or brooches...) and symbolic with religious motifs (spirals, wheels, hammers...) or runic writing, they attested to the social position and wealth of their wearers, as well as the exceptional talent of the craftsmen. Equally cultural were amber jewels. "The tears of the gods". This is how this fossilized resin, derived from coniferous forests swallowed up by the sea, is poetically nicknamed. Its translucent honey color made Copenhagen rich. It can be found in abundance on Danish beaches, where hunting for "Baltic gold" is a winter tradition. House of Amber, founded in 1933 by Dane Einer Fehrn, makes jewelry from this natural material as beautiful as a ray of sunlight.
Fashion accessories between hype and hygge!
Dressing in the Danish style not only looks chic and casual, it also means being prepared for the day's weather! One item of clothing that Danes don't leave home without is a scarf. The reason: cool temperatures and wind. Very practical when riding a bike all day. Designer Henrik Vibskov is the benchmark for good taste and originality. In 2021, the brand celebrated its 20th anniversary. His colorful scarves have become a must-have in Denmark. The rain is about to fall! With a Rains bag or accessory, you can face the elements with complete peace of mind. Raincoats, windbreakers, headwear... beautiful materials and trendy colors. It doesn't get any cooler than this! For fun, kids will love the t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring Vikings (including a very funny bearded man named Erik) at Danefae; finally, for those who want something fun and inexpensive, check out !.Solid in Copenhagen.
If there's one thing to bring back from the Faroe Islands, it's a garment made from sheep's wool! Hats, scarves, gloves or socks... knitwear yes, tradition yes, but brought up to date (beware, you'll need a bit of a budget). At Guðrun & Guðrun, original knits and flashy pop colors. You'll certainly recognize one of the sweaters: the Star jumper, worn by Sobie Gråbøl (Sarah Lund) in the famous Danish TV series The Killing. At Sirri, it's a bit like Game of Thrones, Celtic mixed with hippie chic!
To complete the ensemble, why not indulge in a piece of jewelry? The Georg Jensen boutique is the address for you. From the high tradition of silversmithing, created in the Copenhagen workshop as early as 1904, a specialist in silver and slightly luxurious refinement. More recently, Pilgrim has developed a range of costume jewelry that uses no nickel, which is great for allergy sufferers. Contemporary designs that are a pleasure to accumulate! At Pernille Corydon, you'll find refined, discreet and subtle glamour, with poetic pieces called Esther, Rêverie, Ombre, Ella... More plant-based, in enameled lacquer or colored porcelain, the creations of Scherning Kobenhaven. Now it's your turn to choose!
