This Fredrikshavn Practical Information might satisfy your curiosity for interesting facts about this small Danish town. Read on if you want to learn more details about the population and economy of Frederikshavn, as well as if you want to learn some less frequently mentioned historical facts.

Population

Frederikshavn is home to a population of almost 25,000 people. All of them belong to the Danish ethnic group, which is part of the larger Scandinavian ethnic group, descending from ancient Germanic tribes (more specifically, the Jutes). That explains why all of the people here have bright white skin and blond hair, so foreign travelers are easily distinguished by the locals and you surely won't remain unnoticed.

Language

The language spoken in Frederikshavn (and in all of Denmark) is Danish. It is part of the Scandinavian group of Indo-European languages, specifically the Mainland Scandinavian group, along with Swedish and Bokmål, which is spoken in Norway. The similarity between these three languages makes them easily understandable by the local people. Most of the residents here speak either English or German as a secondary language, at a relatively good level.

Currency

The official currency used here is the Danish Krone. One Krone is subdivided into 100 Øre, and for about 6 Kroner you can buy $1. The name Krone derives from the local word for crown, and Øre derives from the ancient Latin word for gold. An interesting fact is that due to the high production costs, the only Øre coins left in circulation are 50 Øre. There are several other coins as well, but they are Kroner.

Economy

Since Frederikshavn is mainly a harbor town, most of the people are either fishermen, marine workers or sailors. Industrial fishing is one of the major activities in town. Translated in English, Frederikshavn actually means "Frederik's Harbor." In total there are six harbors in the town and some of them offer leisure activities. That attracts tourists, which is a big plus for the local economy.

History

Frederikshavn has a rich past. The town was formed back in the mid-1500s. Today there are a lot of preserved houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. For a long time the town was called Fladstrand (or Flat Beach). It was renamed Frederikshavn in 1818 after King Frederik VI, who was ruler of Denmark between 1808 and 1839.