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Ulf Hjorth-Moritzsen 

The area around Helsingør (Elsinore) 
has been settled since the end of the last Ice Age, some 15,000 years ago. The town has developed at the narrowest spot between what is today Sweden and Denmark . The exact age of the town is not determined and numerous archaeological excavations in the area have not provided further clarifications. The town was first mentioned in a Property Summary issued by king Valdemar at the beginning of the 1200’s. Later, in 1288, a fortress must have already been built as a Norwegian king, “Erik the Clergyman-hater”, receives credit for having burned the town and wiped out the fortress.

A giant development for Helsingør was the introduction of Øresundtollen, a taxation of all vessels sailing the Danish waters. The tax was introduced by the king Erik of Pommeren, and this happened in 1420. To accomplish the collection of the taxes a number of fortress was built along the coastline in order to assure that no vessel could pass unattended. Erik of Pommeren started immediately the construction of Kronborg castle at a point north east of Helsingør. All vessels sailing through Øresundet was obliged to stop at Helsingør and pay the required taxes. Helsingør did not receive any of the money collected, they were meant for the king, but the taxation operation created jobs for the local people. A custom service was established and also a number of Guard ships operated out of Helsingør. The passing ships did also use the opportunity to get fresh supplies onboard and the sailors were probably granted permission to go ashore in order to blow off steam. The small town flourished and was overflowed by foreign sailors and craftsmen. 

A major uncertainty has been related to Hamlet and how Shakespeare had possessed the extensive knowledge of Danish customs described in the play. Some Schools uphold that he received information from sailors and other people who had visited Denmark . 

Other Schools uphold that Shakespeare himself had visited Denmark and that this visit happened during the period 1585 to 1592 of which we do not know any thing of the writer's life. 

During the winter of 1585 – 1586 an English group of Actors resided at the Royal Court of Kronborg. Three of the actors, William Kempt, Thomas Pope and George Bryan, later became friends of Shakespeare and performed in many of his plays. Also other English citizens resided in Helsingør during these years. They were mostly people of humble means; working as peddlers and craftsmen. But this leaves no doubt that Shakespeare easily could have received information from second-hand sources. People of the 16 Century were also probably better storytellers and their oral communication skills and memory were probably better than of the 21. Century man, making them fit to provide Shakespeare with the necessary details to be able to write the play.

An other objection against "the Shakespeare in Denmark theory" is that if Shakespeare had visited Denmark, why would he chose Kronborg as the back cloth for his play, while Copenhagen a few miles further south had a medieval and more noble castle for the Royal family.  

Whatever school is right, the fact is that every year, in summertime as well as wintertime, hordes of tourists pours in to see Kronborg, the castle of Hamlet .  

An other fact is that Helsingør with its unique atmosphere from narrow streets and well preserved old buildings is worth a visit anytime.

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