Denmark
Der er et yndigt land
There Is a Lovely Land
1819
1835
Adam Oehlenschlager
Hans Ernst Kroyer
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage |
Key Facts
- 1. The royal anthem 'Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast' is typically played for military and royal occasions, while 'Der er et yndigt land' is used at civilian and sporting events, and Danes instinctively know which one fits each situation.
- 2. The melody was composed by Hans Ernst Kroyer in 1835, sixteen years after the lyrics were written, replacing an earlier tune that never gained popular acceptance.
- 3. Beech trees, celebrated in the anthem's opening line, are so central to Danish identity that Denmark's forests are roughly 70% beech, and the tree is the unofficial national symbol.
Lyrics
Der er et yndigt land,
det står med brede bøge
nær salten østerstrand;
det bugter sig i bakke, dal,
det hedder gamle Danmark
og det er Frejas sal.
Der sad i fordums tid
de harniskklædte kæmper,
udhvilede fra strid;
så drog de frem til fjenders mén,
nu hvile deres bene
bag højens bautasten.
Det land endnu er skønt,
thi blå sig søen bælter,
og løvet står så grønt;
og ædle kvinder, skønne møer
og mænd og raske svende
bebo de danskes øer.
Vort gamle Danmark skal bestå,
så længe bøgen spejler
sin top i bølgen blå.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten by Adam Oehlenschlager in 1819, the anthem describes Denmark's natural beauty. Denmark is one of few countries with two national anthems: this civil anthem and the royal anthem 'Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast'.