Finger Plan
Encyclopedia
The Finger Plan is an urban plan
from 1947 which provides a strategy for the development of Greater Copenhagen
, Denmark
. According to the plan, Copenhagen is to develop along five 'funger', centred on S-train
commuter rail lines, which extend from the 'palm', that is the dense urban fabric of central Copenhagen. In between the fingers, green wedges are supposed to provide land for agriculture and recreational purposes.
this finger has been extended all the way to Malmö
. Under an official visit of the Swedish King in 2007 at the Copenhagen City Hall, Copenhagen Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard
caused a minor diplomatic incident by referring to Malmö as "København M" with an allusion to the Danish system of postal codes (Nørrebro
being København N and Vesterbro being København V for instance), indicating that Malmö had turned into just another Copenhagen bourough. Today 25,000 Danes live in Malmö.
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
from 1947 which provides a strategy for the development of Greater Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. According to the plan, Copenhagen is to develop along five 'funger', centred on S-train
S-Train
The S-train network is a combined urban rapid transit and suburban rail network of Metropolitan Copenhagen, Denmark. It connects the city center with the inner suburbs of Copenhagen, and has close to half of the stations within the urban city. The first line was opened in 1934...
commuter rail lines, which extend from the 'palm', that is the dense urban fabric of central Copenhagen. In between the fingers, green wedges are supposed to provide land for agriculture and recreational purposes.
The little finger
The northern suburbs form the little finger of the plan, and are traditionally the wealthiest of the suburbs. In popular language, the area is known as "The Whiskey Belt", although the area is mixed between mansions, larger houses, garden cities and mid-size houses. The area has a population of around 270,000 inhabitants.- Gentofte Municipality: KlampenborgKlampenborgKlampenborg is a northern suburb to Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located in Gentofte Municipality, directly on Øresund, between Taarbæk and Skovshoved. Like other neighbourhoods along the Øresund coast, Klampenborg is an affluent area with many large houses....
, Skovshoved, Charlottenlund, HellerupHellerupHellerup is a Danish town of Region Hovedstaden, located in the Gentofte Municipality in Denmark. It is bordered to the east by the sound Øresund and to the South by Copenhagen and counted among the most affluent areas in Denmark....
, Gentofte, Ordrup, Jægersborg, Dyssegård, VangedeVangedeVangede is a suburb 8 km northwest of central Copenhagen. The city is primarily made up of one and two family houses and two and three story apartment buildings. The suburb is connected with the S-train with 2 stations Vangede and Dyssegård.-Notable people:... - Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality: Kongens LyngbyKongens LyngbyKongens Lyngby is the main city in the affluent Danish municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk. Just north of Copenhagen, the city lies in the northern part of Denmark's largest island, Zealand...
, Ulrikkenborg, Brede, VirumVirum-Geography:Virum is a town in Denmark, located north of Kongens Lyngby on the island of Zealand in Region Hovedstaden. It is part of the northern suburbs of Copenhagen. Comprising mostly residential areas, Virum also has lakes, forests and recreational areas. The town is known for the local...
, SorgenfriSorgenfriSorgenfri is a neighbourhood in Lyngby-Taarbæk municipality in Greater Copenhagen lying just north of Kongens Lyngby. It is the site of Sorgenfri Palace....
, Lundtofte, Hjortekær - Rudersdal MunicipalityRudersdal municipalityRudersdal Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden in Denmark. It is situated approximately 20 kilometers north of Copenhagen...
: Søllerød, HolteHolteHolte is a town and the northernmost suburb of Metropolitan Copenhagen located in Rudersdal municipality, Denmark. It is located between Rudersdal and the top of Geel's Hill on the shores of the Furesø lake....
, ØverødØverødØverød is a neighborhood in Holte in the Copenhagen Metropolitan area. The district belongs to Rudersdal Municipality and is situated east of Via Regia and Rude Forest and north of Lake Søllerød. Øverød was originally an ancient village with its own city festival, but today Øverød is agglomerated...
, Gl. HolteHolteHolte is a town and the northernmost suburb of Metropolitan Copenhagen located in Rudersdal municipality, Denmark. It is located between Rudersdal and the top of Geel's Hill on the shores of the Furesø lake....
, TrørødTrørødTrørød is a small suburb located approximately 20 km north of central Copenhagen. Formerly Trørød was a separate town, but today it is a settlement located in the southern part of the Hørsholm urban area together with the neighbouring settlements of Vedbæk and Gammel Holte.-References:...
, NærumNærumNærum is a suburb of Copenhagen. 16km North of the city center. 5230 people live in Nærum, most of whom live either in low-rise concrete blocks or single-family houses. Nærum is situated on Nærumbanen, a single track train line which connects the suburb with central Lyngby and Jægersborg station....
, VedbækVedbækVedbæk is a small town in the municipality of Rudersdal , Denmark. It is located on the Øresund coast of Zealand, between Rungsted to the north and Skodsborg to the south. The town has a station on the busy Kystbanen railway line, approximately midway between Copenhagen and Helsingør...
, SkodsborgSkodsborgSkodsborg is a small town/suburb approx. 20 km. north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The town has a population of 1,169 and lies in Rudersdal Kommune. The town is a coastal town but doesn't have a marina....
, BirkerødBirkerødBirkerød is a town and was a municipality in Frederiksborg County on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark...
, Kajerød, Bistrup - Hørsholm MunicipalityHørsholmHørsholm Kommune is a municipality in the Copenhagen Capital Region in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 31 km², and has a total population of 24,197...
: HørsholmHørsholmHørsholm Kommune is a municipality in the Copenhagen Capital Region in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 31 km², and has a total population of 24,197...
, Usserød, RungstedRungstedRungsted is a neighborhood in the city of Hørsholm in the Hørsholm Municipality of Øresund, north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The center of Hørsholm is located two kilometers west of Rungsted...
, Vallerød, Smidstrup - Allerød MunicipalityAllerød municipalityAllerød Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 67 km², and has a total population of 23,493...
: AllerødAllerød municipalityAllerød Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 67 km², and has a total population of 23,493...
, LillerødLillerødLillerød is a Danish town, seat of the Allerød Municipality, in the Region Hovedstaden. Its population 1 January 2011 was of 15,775 .-Geography:...
, Blovstrød - Fredensborg MunicipalityFredensborgFredensborg is a railway town with a population of 8,377 located in Fredensborg Municipality, Denmark at the railroad between Hillerød and Helsingør....
: FredensborgFredensborgFredensborg is a railway town with a population of 8,377 located in Fredensborg Municipality, Denmark at the railroad between Hillerød and Helsingør....
, Asminderød, HumlebækFredensborg municipalityFredensborg Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden . The municipality covers an area of 112 km2, and has a total population of 39,240...
, KokkedalKokkedalKokkedal is the municipal seat of Fredensborg municipality and a northern settlement in the urban area of Hørsholm, located on the coastline of northern Zealand, Denmark, between the two towns, Nivå and Hørsholm, 30 km. north of Copenhagen...
, Niverød, NivåNivåNivå is a town with a population of 7,869 in the municipality of Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark. Nivå is a residential town on the coast of the Øresund...
.
The ring finger
The north-northwestern part of the suburbs forms the ring finger. The area is to a large extent formed by detached middle-class dwellings, with some exceptions of housing projects or upper-class areas. The area has a population of around 100,000 inhabitants.- Gladsaxe Municipality: Gladsaxe, BagsværdBagsværdBagsværd is a suburb approximately 12 km northwest of Copenhagen, in the Gladsaxe Municipality. Its center is dominated by the Bagsværd Towers, two high-rise apartment blocks...
, BuddingeBuddingeBuddinge is a suburb 10 km. North-West of Copenhagen. The suburb was formerly a small village, but was by the 1960s reach by nearby suburban areas, and then also became a suburb. The suburb is part of Gladsaxe municipal and is connected with S-Train with 2 stations Buddinge and Kildebakke....
, Høje-GladsaxeHøje-GladsaxeHøje Gladsaxe is a large housing project, approximately 10 km northwest of central Copenhagen, Denmark. The project contains five 15-story blocks and two 8-story blocks containing around 6,000 apartments. The project was finished in 1966...
(Gladsaxe Heights), MørkhøjMørkhøjMørkhøj is a suburb 10 km northwest of central Copenhagen, Denmark. The area is mixed with single-family homes and public housing....
, SøborgSøborg CastleSøborg Castle , in its heyday, was the strongest castle in Denmark ,and was also used as a prison . It was inhabited until the Count's Feud in 1535, when it is speculated that it was destroyed... - Furesø MunicipalityFuresø municipalityFuresø Kommune is a municipality in Denmark. It has a population of 37,667 and an area of 55.68 km² . The municipality belongs to the Copenhagen Capital Region and lies 20 km northwest of Copenhagen. Its mayor is Ole Bondo Christensen, a member of the Social Democrats political party...
: VærløseVærløseVærløse was a municipality consisting of only one parish also named Værløse in the former Copenhagen County on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 34 km², and in 2005 had a total population of 18,649...
, FarumFarumFarum is a town in the northeast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, 20 km northwest of Copenhagen. The town has a population of 18,521 .The town is part of Furesø municipality. Until 2006, it constituted Farum municipality....
, HareskovbyHareskovbyHareskovby, or Hareskov By, is a small suburb to Copenhagen, partly within Furesø municipality, partly Herlev municipality on the island of Zealand, Denmark. The part of Hareskovby lying within the Furesø municipality has its own school and library...
The middle finger
The northwestern suburbs form the middle finger. It consists of a mixed area of both detached middle-class dwellings, widespread garden cities and large, low-rise public housing projects. The area has a considerable part of the industrial areas of metropolitan Copenhagen, mostly in the traditional sectors of manufacturing. The area has a population of around 110,000 inhabitants.- Herlev MunicipalityHerlevHerlev Kommune is a suburban municipality in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 12 km², and has a total population of 26,567 . Its mayor is Kjeld Hansen, a member of the Social Democrats political party...
: HerlevHerlevHerlev Kommune is a suburban municipality in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 12 km², and has a total population of 26,567 . Its mayor is Kjeld Hansen, a member of the Social Democrats political party...
, Hjortespring - Ballerup Municipality: SkovlundeSkovlundeSkovlunde is a small town in Ballerup Municipality and a suburb of Copenhagen Denmark with approximately 12,000 inhabitants and is part of the S-train net in Copenhagen.-Overview:...
, Ballerup, MåløvMåløvMåløv is a suburb within Ballerup Municipality, closely attached to Smørumnedre approx. 20 km. west of Copenhagen. The suburb had in 2006, 8681 inhabitants. The suburb is made up by single-family houses and a housing project. 93% of the inhabitants are native danes. The suburb is connected...
, Ågerup, JonstrupJonstrupJonstrup is a town in the outskirts of Furesø Municipality. The town is separated from the town of Måløv by Mølledalen, Møllemosen, and Værebro å. This town houses the Jonstrup seminarium and academy of officers. Furthermore all entrance examinations for joining the army takes place at the military...
, EgebjergEgebjergEgebjerg is the name of several places in Denmark:* Egebjerg, Horsens Municipality, a town in Horsens Municipality* Egebjerg, Odsherred Municipality, a village in Odsherred Municipality* Egebjerg, Ballerup Municipality, a village in Ballerup Municipality... - Egedal MunicipalityEgedal municipalityEgedal Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden in Denmark. It covers an area of with a total population of 40,533...
: SmørumnedreSmørumnedreSmørumnedre is a suburb in Egedal Municipality, the Capital Region of Denmark in Denmark, adjoining with Måløv in Ballerup Municipality. approx. 20 km west of Copenhagen. The suburb has a population of 9,388 and 19,059 in the total urban area including Måløv . The majority of the population...
, StenløseStenløse MunicipalityThe former Stenløse Municipality covered an area of , and had a total population of 13,384 .Main town was Stenløse.-History:On January 1, 2007 Stenløse municipality ceased to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen . It was merged with Ledøje-Smørum and Ølstykke municipalities to form the new...
, ØlstykkeØlstykkeØlstykke is a town and a former municipality in Egedal municipality, Region Hovedstaden. The town is on the northern part of the island of Zealand , in eastern Denmark. The former Ølstykke municipality covered an area of 29 km², and had a total population of 15,358...
The index finger
The index finger forms the western suburbs, which are the suburbs with the lowest income per capita and the highest crime rate. The suburbs vary from the petit bourgeois area of Glostrup to the widespread low housing projects of Albertslund and Taastrup. Of the total of 145,000 inhabitants, some 20% are immigrants of first or second generation.- Rødovre Municipality: Rødovre, IslevIslevIslev is a suburb, located approx. 10km. west of Copenhagen. The suburb is made up by Single-family detached home and a commercial area. The suburb is connected with S-train. Islev Station is located in the eastern part of Islev....
- Glostrup MunicipalityGlostrupGlostrup Kommune is a suburban municipality and town in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand approx. 10 km west of Copenhagen in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 13 km², and has a total population of 20,673 . Its Zip code is 2600...
: GlostrupGlostrupGlostrup Kommune is a suburban municipality and town in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand approx. 10 km west of Copenhagen in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 13 km², and has a total population of 20,673 . Its Zip code is 2600...
, Hvissinge, Ejby - Brøndby Municipality: Brøndbyøster, BrøndbyvesterBrøndbyvesterBrøndbyvester is a Danish town, seat and main settlement of the Brøndby Municipality, in the Region Hovedstaden.-History:The town is the original core of Brøndby and sometimes is simply named in that way.-Geography:...
, Brøndby Nord - Albertslund MunicipalityAlbertslundAlbertslund Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 23 km², and has a total population of 27,602 . Its mayor is Steen Christiansen, a member of the Social Democrats political party...
- Høje-Taastrup Municipality: Taastrup, Høje-Taastrup, Tåstrupgård, HedehuseneHedehuseneHedehusene, a railway town in Denmark, lies between Copenhagen and Roskilde. The town started its slow development in 1847, when the railway between Copenhagen and Roskilde was finished....
The thumb
The southwest suburbs along the coast form the thumb of the plan. While the central parts of these suburbs are dominated by high-rise housing projects and low-income inhabitants, the distant part is dominated by detached middle-class houses. These suburbs have a population of some 215,000 inhabitants, with a sizeable number of immigrants.- Hvidovre MunicipalityHvidovreHvidovre Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden near Copenhagen on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 22 km², and has a total population of 49,380...
: AvedøreAvedøreAvedøre is a south-western suburb of Copenhagen located in Hvidovre Municipality. The city is mostly made up of concrete blocks and row-housing. One major high-rise block called "Store Hus" dominates the suburb's skyline. The city has a relatively high rate of crime and many inhabitants are...
, FrihedenFrihedenFriheden is a suburb in Hvidovre municipal, located 8 km south-east from central Copenhagen. The area is a working class suburb and most activity takes place around the Friheden S-Train station, where a shopping mall also is placed...
, HvidovreHvidovreHvidovre Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden near Copenhagen on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 22 km², and has a total population of 49,380... - Brøndby Municipality: Brøndby StrandBrøndby StrandBrøndby Strand is a suburb in Brøndby Municipality, approximately 13 km south-west of central Copenhagen, Denmark-Overview:...
- Vallensbæk Municipality
- Ishøj Municipality
- Greve MunicipalityGreve municipalityGreve Municipality is a municipality about 21 km south-west of Copenhagen in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 60 km², and has a total population of 47,773...
: HundigeHundigeHundige is a suburb south-west of Copenhagen. The town has a relatively high rate of crime, most of which are done in the large housing project called Askerød in the northern part, of the suburb ....
, KarlslundeKarlslundeKarlslunde or Karlslunde Strand is a suburb 25 km south-west of central Copenhagen, Denmark. The suburb is a part of Greve municipality. The suburb is connected with the S-train network.- External links :*...
, GreveGreve municipalityGreve Municipality is a municipality about 21 km south-west of Copenhagen in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 60 km², and has a total population of 47,773... - Solrød MunicipalitySolrød municipalitySolrød is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand in east Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 40 km², and has a total population of 20,759 . Its mayor is Niels Hörup, a member of the Venstre political party...
: SolrødSolrød municipalitySolrød is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand in east Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 40 km², and has a total population of 20,759 . Its mayor is Niels Hörup, a member of the Venstre political party...
, JersieJersieJersie or Jersie Strand is a suburb south-west of central Copenhagen and form the southern part of the Solrød Strand urban area. The suburb is connected with the radial line Køgebugtbanen, a part of the S-train network, at the Jersie station.... - Køge municipalityKøgeKøge Municipality is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand approx. 40 km. southwest of Copenhagen. The municipality covers an area of 255 km² , and has a total population of 56,637...
: KøgeKøgeKøge Municipality is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand approx. 40 km. southwest of Copenhagen. The municipality covers an area of 255 km² , and has a total population of 56,637...
, ØlbyØlbyØlby is a neighbourhood north of the town of Køge divided into two parts, the village of Ølby and east of the village near the shore of the Bay of Køge a suburb named Ølby Lyng 35 km south-west of Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the northern part of Køge...
The extra finger of Amager and Malmö
When the finger plan was initially introduced, the island of Amager wasn't included as the infrastructure was inadequate for modern suburban life. Later it has been improved, and the suburbs at the island hold some 53,000 inhabitants. Amager is now one of the most modern suburbs of Copehagen with increasing wealth. With the opening of the bridge to SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
this finger has been extended all the way to Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
. Under an official visit of the Swedish King in 2007 at the Copenhagen City Hall, Copenhagen Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard
Ritt Bjerregaard
Ritt Bjerregaard is a former Danish politician. She is a member of the Danish Social Democrats, and was Lord Mayor of Copenhagen from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2009...
caused a minor diplomatic incident by referring to Malmö as "København M" with an allusion to the Danish system of postal codes (Nørrebro
Nørrebro
Nørrebro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is northwest of the city centre, beyond the location of the old Northern Gate , which, until dismantled in 1856, was near the current Nørreport station.-Geography:...
being København N and Vesterbro being København V for instance), indicating that Malmö had turned into just another Copenhagen bourough. Today 25,000 Danes live in Malmö.
- Tårnby Municipality: Tårnby, KastrupKastrupKastrup is a suburb of Copenhagen, on the east coast of Amager in the Tårnby Municipality.Kastrup is best known as the site of Copenhagen Airport. In Danish, the airport is often called Kastrup Lufthavn or Københavns Lufthavn, Kastrup .Scandinavian Airlines System has its Denmark offices in Kastrup...
- Dragør Municipality