Odense is situated on the island of Funen, right in the heart of Denmark, and is the country’s third-largest city with 200,000 inhabitants. The city is one of Denmark’s oldest, granted town rights in the year 988, and was originally named Odins Vé, as a place of worship for the Nordic god Odin. It was once the site of a Viking ring fortress on the banks of the Odense River. Due to this rich history, it has for centuries been a favorite destination for visitors. Today, it is well known as the hometown of the celebrated author Hans Christian Andersen.
The city invites guests to wander its cozy cobblestone streets with shops and rows of cafés. Odense is easy to reach, easy to navigate, and easy to feel at home in. Everything is within comfortable walking distance, creating an intimate infrastructure and a feeling of security. As the home of numerous students, Odense has a lively city center with many bars and restaurants, and concerts, performances, and events throughout the week.
The city of Odense has a strong vision for its continuous growth and welfare, encouraging big dreams and challenging the norms, for example, through festivals, congresses, and other events on an international scale. An ambitious urban development plan is currently reshaping major parts of the city, which are connected by an environment-friendly tramway. This transformation will further consolidate Odense’s position as a center of innovation, knowledge, and education, where strong clusters in the fields of software, robotics, drones, and health technology are booming.
