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Jewish life outside of the greater Copenhagen area
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While today's Jewish life in Denmark is centered in Copenhagen, there were Jewish communities in other parts of Denmark before the 20th century. In some locations, you can still see remnants of Jewish life - and deaths - in the old days.
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Go-getters to infuse the economyIn order to attract talented business and craftsmen to the Jutland fortress town of Fredericia, founded in 1650, the King offered new residents freedom of religion and other privileges. In 1719, the first formal Jewish community in Denmark was established in Fredericia.
The Jews were allowed to settle in Fredericia and in several other towns in Denmark. They were also permitted to establish businesses – on the condition that their activities did not interfere with established professions, companies or monopolies. The Jews in Denmark specialized in textiles and tobacco spinning, dealing in coffee, teas, hides and fur as well as financial activities.
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By the middle of the 20th century, Jewish life in the provinces of Denmark had ended. Most Jews had either completely assimilated or moved to Copenhagen.
Read more about the Jews in the small towns of Denmark.
 Jewish exhibition and cemetery in Fredericia
Outside of the greater Copenhagen area, the historic town of Fredericia offers the most to see for visitors who are interested in Jewish history. In Fredericia, you can visit the city’s Jewish cemetery which is the oldest and largest outside of Copenhagen. There are approximately 550 burial plots with the oldest dating back to around the late 17th century. During the summer, a former chapel building holds changing exhibits related to Jewish history.
The museum/chapel as well as the cemetery have very limited opening days/hours but you can borrow a key to the museum/chapel and the cemetery by contacting the Fredericia Bymuseum (the cemetery is not open to the public on Saturdays).
 The Fredericia Bymuseum, the town museum of Fredericia, also provides a glimpse of early Jewish life in Denmark as part of their permanent exhibition.
Read more about what to see and do in Fredericia. |
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Jewish communities around the countryOther cities with a Jewish community were Aalborg, Horsens and Randers in Jutland, the towns of Faaborg, Assens and Odense on the island of Funen, and Nakskov on the southern Zealand island of Lolland. In these towns and cities, there are still Jewish cemeteries which are supervised by the Danish Jewish Religious Community Mosaiske Troesssamfund. However, not all Jewish cemeteries are open to the public. Cemeteries that are open to the public can be found in Horsens and Fredericia. In the cities of Horsens and Faaborg, you can still view from the outside the old synagogue buildings which are nowadays used for other purposes (the buildings are not open to the public).
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 The Rescue Route
Take a day trip from Copenhagen to experience the locations relating to the rescue of the Danish Jews during WWII. Go to The Rescue Route.
Historic hotelsIf you are interested in history, how about staying at one of Denmark's historic manor houses, castles, romantic hotels, old travel & ferry inns or seaside hotels with each their own history? Find out more at historic hotels of Denmark.
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