The Princess and Holger the Dane

By Dorthe Hansen and Bodil Stavnsbjerg Henriksen, Helsingør Byskole

Visitors from nine Arab countries visited Princess Marie at Kronborg Castle and got a guided tour from the 5th graders

HRH Princess Marie reads for the student at KronborgArab school visit
Students and teachers from Helsingør Byskole (Elsinore City School) are waiting with excitement after much preparation for a busload of participants in UNESCO's Youth Workshop 2011. The visitors have come to see the school and its World Heritage Site, Kronborg Castle.
The bus arrives and students and teachers from nine Arab countries descend from the bus into a bitterly cold March morning, clearly used to a milder climate. But the children from Byskolen are ready with buns, coffee and hot tea – and a dance: Les Lanciers, as danced at the court of Kronborg Castle 500 years ago.
In small groups 5th graders take the visitors on a guided tour of the school – in English. And the Arab students have prepared a small presentation of their various World Heritage sites, which they present to the older classes at the school.

A Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale
After lunch they set out for Kronborg Castle, where we are all looking forward to the arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Marie. The mood is full of anticipation – some of the Arab children change into fine traditional garb. Finally the Princess arrives. She steps onto the red carpet and is received by the Mayor of Elsinore and the Castle Overseer. Amalie from the 5th grade hands the Princess a bouquet of flowers.
Princess Marie has promised to read a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen to the children. She has chosen "Holger the Dane", which is about a hero who awakens from his sleep under Kronborg Castle whenever Denmark is in danger.
Afterwards students from St. Georges School in Beirut present their World Heritage Site Byblos with pictures that they themselves have taken.
The 5th graders from Helsingør Byskole present a computer game that they have produced, and which has got them 1st prize in WHE's competition to produce the best game themed on a World Heritage Site.

The secrets of Kronborg Castle
Now the 5th graders take over the show. They divide the visitors into groups and give them a tour, telling them all the good stories – in English, of course. In the store room they show them the big brine tubs where provisions were kept, and there are food samples for everyone. Princess Marie – who is French – and the Arab visitors for the very first time taste salted herring, which 500 years ago was the main staple in the soldiers' daily fare. "It is your fault if I get sick", jokes the Princess (who did not bring her taster) to a boy.
Then it is off to the ramparts where a stiff, cold wind blows from the Sound as the children tell the story of the Sound Dues, which for centuries constituted the most important contribution to the king's coffers.
The tour ends in the castle's yard where the Danish students enact a historical fencing match. After taking leave of Princess Marie, the visitors are free to explore the town. The day ends with a light supper – a juicy burger –before the bus again returns to Copenhagen.