Belgium–Denmark relations

Belgium–Denmark relations

Denmark	Belgium

Belgium–Denmark relations refers to the current and historical relations between Belgium and Denmark. Belgium has an embassy in Copenhagen, while Denmark has an embassy in Brussels.^[1][2] Both countries are furthermore members of the European Union and NATO.

Diplomatic relations were established on 25 February 1837 and are described as "excellent".^[3][4]

History

Early links (820–948)

Links between the two countries date back to before the

King of Denmark Canute IV of Denmark (r. 1080–1086) married Adela of Flanders, daughter of Robert I and he reasserted the rights of Denmark over England and in concert with the Count of Flanders and Olaf III of Norway prepared for the invasion of the island but a rebellion among his nobles at Aggersborg prevented the realization of such an invasion. King Canute had to flee and was ultimately killed and his wife Adela returned to Flanders with their son Charles who would become Count Charles the Good of Flanders. Count Charles was killed and is still buried in Bruges.^[7]

Belgian influence in Denmark (16–17th century)

In June 1521, Christian II visited Brussels where he was received by his brother-in-law Charles V. During his trip, he also had his portrait painted by Flemish painter Quentin Matsys. The visit to the Low Countries had a large impact on the administrative and legislative reforms of Christian II back in Denmark. With support from the Low Countries, Denmark aspired to supplant the Hanseatic League in controlling European trade. The Danish King then had around two hundred people from predominantly Nieuwpoort and Mechelen settle in southern Amager near Copenhagen (Hollænderbyen) to grow vegetables.^[8]

Throughout the 16th century and during the reign of

Following the reign of Charles V, Belgium ceased to exist and became known as Spanish Netherlands and later Austrian Netherlands. Although forgotten by its own Austrian and Spanish masters, Belgium was adored by the Danish writer Ludvig Holberg who wrote that if he had to live outside Denmark he would live in Brabrant or Brussels. After the tidal wave of 1634 which destroyed the island of Pellworm, Frederick III awarded contracts to Dutch and Flemish dyke-builders and over three hundred workers went to the area and settled in Nordstrand where a church was built for the spiritual needs of the workers.^[11]

In 1792, Belgium was annexed by France. In 1797, M.J.F. de Bie became consular agent of Denmark in Antwerp, while Christopher Düring succeeded him in 1808 as the first consul of Denmark in Antwerp. Düring was consul until 1833.^[11]

Early relations between Independent Belgium and Denmark (1837–1928)

Diplomatic relations between Belgium and Denmark were established on 25 February 1837 when Belgian Foreign Minister Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt appointed Baron R. van der Straten – Ponthoz as consul to Copenhagen. On 30 August 1837, the Danish king appointed Chamberlain, Baron C. de Coopmans as consul general in Belgium.^[3]

A treaty of trade and shipping was signed between the two countries on 18 June 1895 and Christian X and his wife Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin visited Belgium some weeks before World War I, where they were received by King Albert I. An agreement on aerial navigation was signed on 28 June 1923^[12] and King Albert with his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria visited Denmark on a state visit in 1928.^[13]

Modern relations (since 1949)

During the Nazi occupation of Belgium from May 1940 on, the representation of Belgium in Copenhagen was suppressed and diplomatic relations were suspended.^[14]

Both members are founding members of NATO as they both joined the organization on 4 April 1949.^[15] On 5 May 1949, both countries became founding members of the Council of Europe.^[16] The two countries exchanged ambassadors in 1956 and a cultural cooperation agreement was signed in 1958.^[17]

To strengthen the cordial relations between the two countries, King

From the 1900s to the 1930s, Denmark imported mainly industrial products and coal from Belgium, while Belgium mainly imported dairy products and meat from Denmark. World War I ceased trade between the two countries but it picked up again in 1921. As Belgium underwent reconstruction after the war, Danish imports exploded which the Great Depression impacted. In 1930, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries met in Antwerp to sign an agreement on "keeping the trade between them as high as possible". However, by 1933, both countries put forward protectionist policies to secure their economies. Between 1900 and 1910, Danish companies were selling butter, beer and canned foods to Belgian Congo. In 1911, Danish exports to Belgian Congo amounted to 0.8% of the total imports to Congo.^[24] In the late 1940s, a trade agreement was signed and trade between the two countries increased again albeit constraints due to the customs union Benelux among other things.^[25]

Trade numbers (1988–2020)

The following table shows the annual trade numbers between the two countries from 1998 to 2020 in euro:^[26]

Resident diplomatic missions

• Belgium has an embassy in Copenhagen.
• Denmark has an embassy in Brussels.

• 
  Embassy of Belgium in Copenhagen

See also

• Foreign relations of Belgium
• Foreign relations of Denmark

References

Further reading

• de Roover, Raymond (1960). Les relations diplomatiques entre la Belgique et le Danemark de 1830 à 1914: Mémoire présenté pour l'obtention du titre de Licencié en Sciences Politiques-Sociales (in French).
• van den Bussche, Emile (1881). Flamands et Danois: recherches sur les relations d'autrefois entre la Flandre et le Danemark (in French). Daveluy.
• Vandeputte, Guy (1976). "Kulturele betrekkingen tussen de nederlanden en denemarken [Ons Erfdeel. Jaargang 19 (1976)]". Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren (The Digital Library of Dutch Literature) (in Dutch).