Zealand, Denmark

The Baltic Sea island of Zealand (Sjælland) is the largest of the Danish islands. Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, is located on Zealand, and more than half of the island’s 2.1 million residents live in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. The island serves as a transport link between western Denmark and mainland Sweden. Fixed connections in the form of bridges and tunnels extend from Zealand in both directions: the Great Belt Bridge westward to the island of Funen and the Øresund Bridge to Malmö in Sweden to the east. The northeastern part of Zealand belongs to the Danish-Swedish Øresund Region, considered one of the most dynamic development regions in all of Europe.
The island’s name originally comes from the Old Norse word for seal, sel. Only later was it reinterpreted as sjö (sea) and translated accordingly into German. 
Zealand appeals to tourists with its many holiday destinations and attractions, and is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Denmark [ADVERTISEMENT]. Besides Copenhagen, the main cities of interest are Helsingør —home to the famous Hamlet castle, Kronborg—and Roskilde , with its cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both reflect Denmark’s rich and well-documented history. But Zealand’s natural landscapes also have much to offer visitors. In the southeast, the chalk cliffs of Stevns Klint rise up to 41 metres above the beach. The Isefjord cuts into the island from the north, creating scenery as beautiful as that found on the small islands off the northwest coast. 
For a family holiday on Zealand, top choices include the “BonBon-Land” amusement park between Næstved and Rønnede in the south, and Sommerland Sjælland, home to the island’s largest water park, near Nykøbing Sjælland. Family-friendly beaches are found especially around Køge Bay in the east and near Næstved in the southwest. The Baltic Sea island of Zealand is considered the most diverse of the Danish islands: it is home to Denmark’s only major metropolitan area, Copenhagen, yet also offers a wealth of natural variety on a smaller scale, making every holiday an experience to remember.