Munich is so Danish: Architecture, St. Hans and Danish Dynamite

Denmark plays one European Championship match in Munich

Denmark will play a group match at UEFA EURO 2024 in Munich: On June 25, the Scandinavians will face Serbia at 9 p.m. in the Munich Arena.

Thousands of fans are expected in Munich. They will be following in the footsteps of famous Danes who have left their mark on the Bavarian capital: From impressive buildings and royal visits to rattling concert spectacles.

Danish architecture: Nordic eye-catchers in Munich

Danish know-how is in demand when building in Munich. This was already the case under the Bavarian King Ludwig I in the 19th century. He admired the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen so much that he not only commissioned him to create the striking equestrian statue of Maximilian I on Wittelsbacherplatz. The restoration of the Aeginetes - one of the greatest treasures of the Munich Glyptothek - was also entrusted to Thorvaldsen. A street in Munich is still named after the Dane today.

But Danish professionals also have a hand in modern buildings: a Danish architectural firm designed the SAP Garden, which will be the new home of FC Bayern Basketball and the ice hockey club EHC Red Bull Munich in the Olympic Park. Public ice skating will also be possible in the modern arena with its striking green roof.

Other buildings by Danish architectural firms include the Siemens headquarters not far from Odeonsplatz and a new hybrid timber building in the Werksviertel district.

For fans of Danish miniature construction, the Lego store in Munich city center also has models of Munich City Hall as well as traditional Bavarian costumes, pretzels and more made from building blocks.

Danish party: Munich also celebrates St. Hans

The St. Hans Festival also falls in the middle of the group stage of UEFA EURO 2024. This is the Danish version of the Nordic Midsommar festival on the summer solstice. The Danish traditionally celebrate St. Hans on the evening of June 23 - this year, two days before the Danish match in Munich.

If you want to join in the celebrations, there are several opportunities in Munich. For example, Bahnwärter Thiel regularly organizes a Midsommar festival. Scandinavian-German cultural associations meet in the English Garden around the summer solstice to celebrate and dance together.

Just outside Munich, the Midsommar Festival with workshops and live music also takes place in Untereit from June 21 to 23.

Danish language and culture: Munich learns "hygge" here

The Danish term "hygge" has long been a household word in Germany. It describes the peculiar, homely coziness of your own four walls when it gets dark and cold outside. While some design stores in Munich have dedicated themselves to this Danish feeling, the Danske Skole in Munich attaches great importance to the Danish language.

Usually on two Saturdays a month, children aged 0 to 14 can attend lessons and activities in Danish. The international school is run by an association.

Are you a fan of Danish literature? Then there's something for you in the supporting program of the annual International Crime Festival Munich. Danish authors are also in the spotlight there - for example at the Danish Crime Night, that took place on March 12, 2024 at Pressehaus Bayerstraße.

Danish delicacies: Why everyone in Munich knows Kanelsnegle

Danske Kanelsnegle is a Danish delicacy. A yeast dough with a filling of sugar, cinnamon and butter. The Kanelsnegle is known in Germany as a "Zimtschnecke" (cinnamon bun) and can be found in countless Munich cafés and bakeries.

There is a risk of confusion with two well-known fish dishes: the Scandinavian stockfish and the Bavarian Steckerlfisch. While air-dried stockfish is often eaten raw in Scandinavia, Steckerlfisch is served freshly grilled. Stockfish is available seasonally at the Viktualienmarkt, among other places. The Steckerlfisch is part of the repertoire of the vast majority of Munich beer gardens. Perhaps one or two Danish fans will be converted to the Bavarian version during the European Championships.

Danish personalities in Munich: From king to kicker

Denmark has a new king - and of course he has already been to Munich! King Frederik X visited the Bavarian capital with his Mary of Denmark back in 2015 - back then as Crown Prince and Crown Princess. His mother last visited Munich as Queen in 2021. But it's not just the Danish royals who have taken a liking to the Isar metropolis:

Pernille Harder, one of the biggest stars in women's soccer, is currently playing for FC Bayern Munich. The two-time European Women's Player of the Year is a key player for the Munich team.

Danes have already left their mark on the men of FC Bayern: Johnny Hansen was a defender from 1970 to 1976 as part of the legendary team that won the European Cup three times in a row as well as three German championships.

In the 80s, Sören Lerby was twice champion with Bayern. His time as Bayern coach from October 1991 to March 1992 was less successful. Lerby is the only coach in the club's history to have a negative Bundesliga record (4 wins, 5 draws, 6 defeats). Nevertheless, Lerby stands for full commitment to the Danish-Munich relationship: As a player, he curiously played two games in one day on November 13, 1985. First for Denmark in Ireland, then six hours later with Bayern in Bochum. Danish international Brian Laudrup also became a crowd favorite at FC Bayern, scoring eleven goals in 53 games for Munich from 1990 to 1992. 

And then there's another world-famous Dane who will be gracing Munich in 2024: drummer and Metallica founding member Lars Ulrich will be kicking it up a notch with his band at two concerts in the Olympic Stadium on May 24 and 26.

Denmark at UEFA EURO 2024: Will it be the next coup?

The Danes achieved their unforgettable feat at the 1992 European Championships: Denmark's footballers only came to the tournament in Sweden as a replacement for the Yugoslavians who had been excluded due to the civil war. In the end, they became European champions - with Brian Laudrup from Bayern Munich - after beating Germany 2:0 in the final.

Denmark were also one of the biggest tournament surprises at the last European Championships in 202 and were only stopped by England in the semi-finals.

The Danes could also go far in 2024: Youngster Rasmus Højlund from Manchester United is the hopeful up front. In midfield, Tottenham's top performer Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who played 17 competitive matches for FC Bayern from 2013 to 2016, pulls the strings. Andreas Christensen from FC Barcelona, among others, provides defensive stability. Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), who had to be resuscitated on the pitch at the last European Championship after suffering a cardiac arrest, was also recently back in the Denmark squad.

In the European Championship qualifiers, Denmark came out on top of their group ahead of European Championship participants Slovenia. During UEFA EURO 2024, national coach Kasper Hjulmand's team will be based in Freudenstadt in Baden-Württemberg.

Incidentally, Munich was a good place for Denmark at the European Handball Championship 2024: the eventual European runners-up won each of their three group matches in the Bavarian capital.

Denmark's group matches at the EURO:

• Sunday, 16.6.2024, 6 p.m. in Stuttgart: Slovenia - Denmark 1:1
• Thursday, 20.6.2024, 6 p.m. in Frankfurt: Denmark - England 1:1
• Tuesday, 25.6.2024, 9 p.m. in Munich: Denmark - Serbia 0:0