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Fun facts about Denmark

The Scandinavian country of Denmark can be found in Northern Europe. Home to 5.8 million people, Denmark is the smallest of the Scandinavian countries. Here are 10 more fun facts about Denmark. 

  • A happy country
  • The oldest flag in the world
  • Danish pastries
  • Danish alphabet 
  • The oldest amusement parks in the world
  • Lego 
  • Copenhagen harbour 
  • Unofficial Danish law 
  • A bicycle nation 
  • Same-sex marriage

A happy country 

Denmark has held the title of the world’s happiest country on multiple occasions. According to the UN World Happiness Report for 2020, Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, is the 5th happiest city in the world. Why is Denmark such a happy country? According to The World Happiness Report, happiness is closely linked to social equality and community spirit, both of which Denmark has in abundance. 

The oldest flag in the world  

The Danish flag, ‘Dannebrog’, is the oldest state flag in the world that is still in use by an independent nation. It was first acknowledged in 1219 and can be seen across Denmark as a symbol of pride. The Dannebrog is often flown during celebrations such as birthdays and can even be seen on Christmas trees. 

Danish pastries 

This may come as a surprise, but Danish pastries are not actually Danish. In the 1840’s a group of Austrian bakers settled in Denmark and began making, what we all now know as, Danish pastries. In Denmark, they actually call Danish pastries wienerbrød or Viennese bread. 

Danish alphabet 

Danish is an incredibly complex language to learn. Not only are there an abundance of silent letters and difficult pronunciations, but there are also an additional three letters in their alphabet, Æ, Ø and Å. 

Image by Mira Cosic from Pixabay

The oldest amusement parks in the world

If you are in Denmark and looking for something fun to do, then you could visit the two oldest amusement parks in the world.

Originating in 1583, Bakken is the oldest amusement park in the world. Originally, people would flock from Copenhagen to bathe in the natural spring at the park, whilst being entertained by local performers. Nowadays you can visit vendors, watch a variety of entertainers, and enjoy the rides. What is more, entrance to the park is free. 

Tivoli Gardens is the second oldest theme park in the world. Opened in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is home to a variety of themed buildings, rides, and even a scenic railway. You can find the park a two-minute walk away from Copenhagen’s central train station. 

Image by Curtis Gregory Perry

Lego

The world-famous Lego brick was invented by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen in 1932. The name Lego is an abbreviation of ‘leg godt’, which means ‘play well’. The company has been passed down through the generations, and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, grandchild of Ole Kirk Kristiansen. In Denmark you can explore the original Legoland, and learn more about the history of Lego at the Lego House. 

Copenhagen harbour    

In Denmark you are never more than 52km from the ocean. If you don’t fancy going to the beach, you can take a dip in Copenhagen harbour. There are a handful of harbour baths along Copenhagen’s harbour, such as Islands Brygge and Nordhavn. These baths are clean enough to enjoy a quick dip in.

Unofficial Danish law 

A key part of the Danish culture and mentality is that everyone is accepted and equal. The unofficial Danish law, ‘Janteloven’, dates back to a fictional book written by Norwegian author Axel Sandemose in 1933. The book is set in the Danish town of Jante, and narrates the unwritten social codes that the residents followed of living equally. These social codes reflected the way that the Danes did, and still do, maintain peace and acceptance in their country. 

A bicycle nation 

There are more bicycles in Denmark then there are people and, in Copenhagen, a person will cycle an average of 3 km a day. This adds up to cycling 35 times around the world every day. Many people in Demark cycle rather than drive because cars are taxed highly to discourage people from driving. Additionally, Denmark, as a country, is particularly flat, with the highest peak being 170m. 

Same-sex marriage 

Scandinavian countries are known for being progressive, and Denmark is no exception. In 1989 Denmark became the first country to legalise same-sex unions, and in 2012 they legalised same-sex marriage. Opinion polls in Denmark show that 86% of the public support same-sex marriage and unions.

At Laundryheap, we are very excited to have officially launched in Copenhagen. If you are in Copenhagen, book your Laundryheap service by heading to the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app.


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Fun facts about Qatar

Image by Konevi from Pixabay

Qatar is a country in the Middle East, home to 2.8 million people. Here are some fun facts that you may not have known about it. 

  • The wealthiest country in the world 
  • A flat country 
  • City dwellers 
  • No rainforest 
  • Natural disasters 
  • Robot camel racing 
  • A population of men 
  • The best airline 
  • Lamp bear 
  • 2022 world cup 

The wealthiest country in the world 

Qatar’s per capita GDP is $130,475, making it the richest country in the world. The second richest country is Luxembourg, with a per capita of $116,808.

Image by Vintage Printery

A flat country 

You won’t find any hills or mountains in Qatar. The average elevation is 28 meters, making it the second flattest country in the world. The first is the Maldives. 

City dwellers 

Doha, the capital city of Qatar, is one of the most urbanised places in the world. 99% of people live in the city or surrounding towns. 

No rainforest 

Qatar is made up of mostly desert. Only 5% of the land is used for agriculture. As such, it is one of the four territories with no rainforest. The other countries are San Marino, Greenland, and Oman. 

Natural disasters 

According to the World Risk Report, Qatar is the least likely country for a natural disaster to occur. In fact, there is a 0.1% chance of an earthquake occurring in Qatar. 

Image by Konevi from Pixabay

Robot camel racing 

One of the favourite local sports for Qatar residents is camel racing, however, rather than using jockeys, robots ride the camels. You can catch a race in the small town of Al Shahaniya.

A population of men 

Qatar is home to around 2.8 million people, however, only around 700,000 of them are women.

The best airline 

Qatar’s airline, aptly named Qatar Airways, has won ‘The Best Airline of the Year’ award five times at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. It is the only airline in history to have achieved this. 

Lamp bear 

As soon as you touchdown in Hamad International Airport you are greeted with the friendly presence of Lamp Bear. Lamp Bear is an art installation by Swiss artist Urs Fischer. The piece cost roughly $6.8 million. 

Image by Nelo Hotsuma

2022 world cup 

In 2022 Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup, making it the first World Cup to be hosted in the Arab World and only the second world cup to be held in Asia. In addition to this, it is the smallest nation by land size to ever host the world cup. 

If you are residing, or travelling, in Qatar, don’t let laundry get in your way. Book your Laundryheap service by heading to the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Fun facts about Bahrain

Image by onasama from Pixabay

Bahrain is a sovereign state in the Persian Gulf. Here are 10 fun facts about the country.  

  • A small Asian country
  • Bahrain’s population
  • The Bahraini dollar 
  • Wind turbines 
  • The first Middle East Grand Prix
  • Biggest consumer of electricity 
  • Al-Fateh Mosque
  • The Tree of Life 
  • Chicken Machboos 
  •  Al Khalifa family

A small Asian country 

Bahrain is the third smallest country in Asia, and the smallest sovereign state in the Middle East. The only two Asian countries that are smaller are Singapore and the Maldives. 

Image by Francisco Anzola

Bahrain’s population 

As of October 2020, the population of Bahrain was 1,701,575. Most of the population live in Manama and Al Muharraq, the two main cities of Bahrain.

The Bahraini dinar

The Bahraini dinar is the official currency of Bahrain. It was introduced in 1965 to replace the Gulf rupee. It is the worlds second most valuable currency after the Kuwait dinar. 

Wind turbines

The Bahrain World Trade Center was the world’s first skyscraper to integrate wind turbines in its design. Standing 240 meters tall, it is a twin-tower complex that can be found in Manama. The towers are connected by three sky bridges, each holding 225 kW wind turbines. They are estimated to provide 11-15% of the tower’s total power consumption. 

Image by Arne Bevaart

 The first Middle East Grand Prix

In 2004 Bahrain staged the Middle East’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix. The first race took place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 4th April 2004. The event was such a success that it was given the award for “Best Organised Grand Prix” by the FIA. 

Image by JaffaPix +6 million views-w

Biggest consumer of electricity 

Per-capita, Bahrain is the biggest consumer of electricity in Asia and the third largest in the world. The only two countries that use more electricity are Iceland and Norway. 

Al-Fateh Mosque 

Al-Fateh Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world. Built in 1987, it takes up 6,500 square meters and can hold over 7,000 worshippers at one time. In 2006, Al-Fateh Mosque became the site of the National Library of Bahrain. 

Image by Jacobs – Creative Bees

The Tree of Life 

The Tree of Life is a single mesquite tree that was planted in the southern desert around 1583. Despite there being a severe lack of rain in Bahrain, and no obvious water source close to the tree, it continues to flourish. It has become somewhat of a tourist attraction and is visited by approximately 65,000 people per year. 

Image by Omar Chatriwala

Chicken Machboos

Chicken Machboos is Bahrain’s national dish. Consisting of tender chicken and rice flavoured with a blend of spices and dried loomi (dried and brined limes). 

Image by ~W~

Al Khalifa family 

The Al Khalifa family began ruling over Bahrain in 1782. Interestingly, the family are still in power today. As of 2010 roughly half of the cabinet ministers of Bahrain are members of the Al Khalifa family, as is the country’s prime minister. 

Image by priyatnadp

If you are living or travelling in Bahrain make sure to use Laundryheap. We will pick up, dry clean, and re-deliver your clothes to you. To book your Laundryheap service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


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New York City Fun Facts

Photo by Roberto Vivancos from Pexels

New York is one of the most famous cities in the world. From The Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty, everyone knows at least something about The Big Apple. But, did you know any of these 10 New York City fun facts?

  • The meaning behind The Big Apple
  • The languages of New York 
  • The story of the Statue of Liberty
  • The length of the Subway system
  • The Empire State Building
  • New York’s coastline
  • Rich New Yorkers
  • The Pizza Principle
  • The whispering gallery
  • The New York City library

The meaning behind The Big Apple

New York City is lovingly known by many as The Big Apple. There are many rumours about how this nickname came about, including a nod to the Great Depression when prior financiers would sell apples to make money. The first published use of the term was in the 1920’s when sports writer John J Fitzgerald used the phrase to describe New York’s horse racing track. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the name The Big Apple began to be widely used in reference to New York itself.

The languages of New York

There are over 800 different languages spoken in New York, making it one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. As a result of the cities’ rich immigration history, Only 51% of its residents solely speak English, the other 49% are bilingual. The second most popular language in New York is Spanish, followed by Chinese and Russian.

The story of The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is arguably New York’s most notable landmark. Standing 83 metres tall, The Statue of Liberty is a historic American landmark that millions marvel at every year. The statue arrived in New York in 1885, in 214 crates and 350 pieces. It was a gift from France to celebrate America’s centennial celebration. Interestingly, the statues iconic arm holding the torch arrived in America a decade earlier in 1876. It was put on display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia to raise money for the construction of the whole statue.

Photo by Jesús Mirón García from Pexels

The length of the Subway system

New York’s Subway system is one of the largest urban mass transportation systems in the world. Each year, approximately 1,727,366,607 passengers use the underground system, consisting of 34 lines and 469 stops. If you were to travel to every stop on the system, without leaving the Subway, it would take you 21 hours and 49 minutes. 

The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is another of New York’s famous landmarks. Standing 102 stories high in Midtown Manhattan, it has been a New York highlight since 1930. Despite being a notable NYC landmark, The Empire State building is very unlucky. There is a 1 in 9 million chance of being struck by lightning twice in your lifetime. The Empire State Building is struck 23 times every year!

New York’s coastline

When you think about American coastlines, New York will not be the first place you think about. That being said, New York actually has a coastline of 520 miles, which is longer than the coasts of Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco combined.

Rich New Yorkers

New York is the only city in the world that is home to more than 100 billionaires. There are actually 113 billionaires currently living in the city, the richest of which is former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has an estimated net worth of $60.1 billion. Asides from the billionaires, there are also more than 380 million millionaires living in New York City. 

The Pizza Principle

For over 50 years the average price of a Subway ride and the average price of a slice of pizza has been relatively the same. Whenever one of the prices goes up or down, so does the other. Economists have lovingly named this the Pizza Principle. 

Image by Mike Licht

The whispering gallery

Grand Central Terminal is a commuter rail terminal in Midtown Manhattan and home to the whispering gallery. If you were to stand at one corner of the platform and have a friend stand at a diagonal corner to yourself you will be able to whisper to each other. This secret conversation can happen because of the perfectly curved arches that make up the platform. 

Image by Andreas Wulff

The New York City Library

The New York City Library is the third biggest library in the world and the second biggest library in America. It is home to 50 million books and when the library first opened in 1911 it was the largest marble building ever built in America. Today 3.5 million people inhabit the library and explore its extensive collections.

If you are in the New York City area don’t forget to book your Laundryheap dry cleaning service. Use the code FIRST10 to get $10 off of your first order. To book your slot head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.