1. The Vikings Are Here
Ambassador of Denmark
The Danish embassy in Washington is the first modern
embassy in DC and is a beautiful example of what has
made modern Danish architecture world famous. With its
clean and clear lines and structure it is a classic example
of functional, modern architecture of the mid 20th century.
The garden of the Danish Ambassador’s residence (photo courtesy - Embassy of Denmark)
T Lauritzen, famous also for designing Copenha- Minister has likewise met with the American
he United States and Denmark
gen Airport. The embassy’s interior is an eclectic President on a number of occasions in the last
have always shared a strong
and dynamic mix of the old and the new, which seven years.
bond with unbroken diplomatic rela-
characterizes the historic and yet modern country The economic ties between our two coun-
tions dating as far back as 1791. The
that is Denmark. tries are extensive, with the US as the largest
Royal Danish Embassy on the top of
The United States has not maintained such foreign investor in Denmark and our third largest
Whitehaven Street in the American
long and unbroken diplomatic ties with any other export market. The embassy’s commercial sec-
capital symbolizes this relationship.
country in the world. An example of the collabora- tion, the Danish American Business Council,
The land where the embassy
tion is the agreement between Denmark and the assists Danish companies aspiring to enter the
stands was purchased in 1952 by
US during World War II, authorizing the US to American market and vice versa.
Denmark’s Ambassador to the US
defend Greenland from German aggression and One of the big projects for the embassy
from 1939 to 1958, Henrik Kauff-
thus setting the foundation for the Thule Air Base now, and until the end of next year, is to promote
mann, with money donated by
as well as Denmark’s contributions to the global knowledge about and political will for an Ameri-
Danish-Americans. The land was, at
fight against terrorism. As a European country, can signature on an ambitious climate agreement
the time, part of Dumbarton Oaks
Denmark sees the US as a strategic ally in the when Copenhagen hosts the United Nations
where the cornerstones of the United
work for global peace and safety. Denmark cur- Climate Conference, COP15, from November
Nations had been formulated a little
rently has 800 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. 30 to December 11, 2009. The embassy itself
over a decade earlier. The location
In this sense, due to the longstanding good has implemented a quota trade system and has
was perfect for the embassy of a
relationship between Denmark and the US, the become carbon neutral, just as it incorporates
country which has always been a
Danish Embassy in Washington, DC, headed by sustainable energy solutions in all renovation
strong proponent of multilateralism
Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen, has a comfort- projects.
and a NATO member since 1949.
able job, building on the existing cooperation
The Danish Embassy was the
and understanding in its daily work. Visits from
first modern embassy in the Ameri-
Danish Parliamentarians who come to the US to
can capital and is a textbook example
meet with their American counterparts are thus
of mid-twentieth century Danish func-
Tel +1.202.234.4300
frequent and have especially been so during the
tionalist architecture. It was designed
www.ambwashington.um.dk
presidential election campaign. The Danish Prime
by the renowned architect, Vilhelm Danish Flag on tour boat (photo by Cees Van Roeden)
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