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Strøget - Pedestrian Street
When the volume of traffic increased in the beginning of the 60s in the inner part of the old narrow streets and the expanding shopping areas around central Copenhagen and the sidewalks became more and more crowded with busy pedestrians - who was bumping in to each other and blocking the way - Copenhagen’s City Council decided in1962 to establish a car free pedestrian zone from the westerly Town Hall Square toKongens Nytorv (The Kings New Square) in the eastern part of the town called“Strøget” - which also includes a maze of small streets and historical squares that altogether are fanning out from “Strøget” - and the mediaeval part of Copenhagen, having a total length of almost 1,8 km - and being the oldest and longest pedestrian street system in the world.
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Part of the former pedestrian street in 1935, near Østergade and Amagertorv - where the traffic started to increase with different types of motorised vehicles.
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The longest coffee table in the world stretched from the one end of the pedestrian street to the other in connection with Copenhagen's 800 year jubilee in 1967.
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The Auto-free zone
The auto-free zone in Copenhagen is a great tourist attraction - and offers plentiful ofrestaurants - outdoor sidewalk cafes - fast food - specialty shops - art galleries - gift stores - department stores - street entertainment - theatres - museums and much more. Day and night there's always something to see and do on "Strøget".
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Near popular sights
On the west side entrance of “Strøget” you will find the Lure Blowers - Town Hall -Tivoli - Glyptotek - Vesterbrogade and Major Cinemas - and at the opposite east end of the car-free strip of “Strøget” - all the shops with the established international brands are located beside Kongens Nytorv - Nyhavn and the Royal Theatre.
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The pedestrian street in central Copenhagen is almost 3,2 km long - with all squares and additional streets included.
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There is a great extent of outdoor entertainment - and activities all day long and during late evening hours too at "Strøget".
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800 year jubilee
In 1967 - Copenhagen celebrated the cities 800 year jubilee and used the pedestrian and Shopping street “Strøget" to create the world’s longest coffee table by serving more than 800,000 cups of coffee - as well as 100,000 of the famous Town Hall pancakes- which are traditionally served on special occasions to official guests that visits the Town Hall.
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Existed for nearly 45 years
The pedestrian and Shopping “Strøget” was a great success from the very beginning and have since survived for nearly 45 years - and at the same time been a admired model and source of inspiration to hundreds of capitals and major cities around the world.
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Every noon the Royal Guard will march to Amalienborg Palace through “Strøget” - when the Royal family is in residence in Copenhagen. This tradition began in 1794 - when Amalienborg Palace became the prime royal residence.
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Many Cafes - bistros and cozy restaurants are located around the pedestrian area and the mediaeval part of the city - offering national as well as international menus and seasonal specialities.
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The Royal Guard
Every noon the Royal Guard and accompanying music band will march fromRosenborg Castle through the pedestrian street “Strøget” when the Royal family is in residence at Amalienborg Palace.
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The pedestrian street starts at the Town Hall Square and ends at Kongens Nytorv - or visa versa.
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Location of the strip "Strøget"
The pedestrian strip "Strøget" begins at Frederiksberggade at the Town Hall Squareand passes over Nytorv (New Square) and Gammeltorv (Old Square) - then runs through Nygade (the shortest street in the city) to Vimmelskaftet - then flows out ofAmagertorv and Østergade - where it ends at Kongens Nytorv (The Kings Square). At Amagertorv the pedestrian street continues by Købmagergade through Kultorvet(Coal Square) right up to Nørrevoldgade and Nørreport Station.
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Danish text: I 1962 blev verdens første gågade, ”Strøget” i København, åbnet.
Forud havde der været en kæmpe diskussion. Nogle – heriblandt flere detailhandlere - mente, at det ville være helt ødelæggende for omsætningen, og debatten i Borgerrepræsentationen var meget heftig. Man blev enige om en forsøgsperiode fra 17. november 1962 – foråret 1963, hvorefter man ville vurdere resultatet.
Og så skete det. Gågaden (Strøget i hele sin længde) åbnede med brask og bram og blev øjeblikkelig en succes. Senere er også torvene i tilknytning til Strøget blevet gåområder – oaser uden den hob af parkerede biler, der tidligere ”pyntede” på Højbro Plads, Gammel Torv og Nytorv. Sidst i 90erne og igen i starten af det nye årtusinde blev Kgs. Nytorv delvis renoveret og Rådhuspladsen i den anden ende blev også til delvist gåområde, således at byrummet endelig kunne udnyttes til cafeer, slentreområde og alle den slags aktiviteter, der hører til i en storby.
Strøget er nu kendt – brandingen er næsten ligeså stærk som Copenhagen og Tivoli. Kopieret over hele verden – bl.a. flere steder i Japan.
I den forløbne tid har vi oplevet et væld af forandringer. Butikstyper er ændret radikalt. Der er mange små specialforretninger med blot et par meters facade, større butikker bygget sammen i flere af de gamle huse, udenlandske og danske kapitalkæder, for hvem det er et ”must” at have ”et vindue til verden”.
Strøget afspejler livet og handelen i hele Danmark. Nye tendenser afprøves først her på godt og ondt. Så Strøget var først med pornobutikkerne og lagersalgene – men også først med at smide det ud igen.
Her oplever man hele tiden noget og noget forskelligt hver dag. Musik, spontan optræden osv. Det er også her man mødes – det har man for resten altid gjort. Helt tilbage i 1800-tallet var det her, man promenerede sidste nye moder, akkurat som nu.
Da man fik lov til at holde lang lørdag i begyndelsen af 1990erne blev det en ny øjeblikkelig succes. Flere og flere kommer til city og bliver der længere og længere. Man nøjes ikke med at shoppe, men går på cafe, museum, teater eller i biografen. Strømmen af gående er de seneste år steget næsten 20 % - en god lørdag kan der næsten ikke presses flere ind. Og turisterne elsker det. Nu er det så søndagen, der står for tur. Igen går diskussionen livligt: Skal Strøget have lov til at se anderledes ud bare en dag om ugen, eller er det bare den ideelle dag til en cafe- og shoppetur?
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