Aalborg |

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The arms are based on
the old seal of the city, which is known from 1358, but dates from around
1300. What building is shown is not known, the moon and crescent are maybe
symbols for the St. Mary. The waves in the base may be canting.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/a/alborg.htm
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Aarhus


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The arms are derived from the old seal of the city, known since 1356, but
dating from around 1250. The arms show St. Clement with the anchor and St.
Paul with the sword, the two patron saints of the local cathedral. In some
old versions of the seal and/or arms, the two saints are holding oars.
This is due to a misunderstanding of the city name as Åre-hus, oar-house.
Actually it is from Å-os, or river mouth.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/denmark.htm
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/a/arhus.htm
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Aeroeskoebing |

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The arms are based on
a seal of the city, which is known from 1629, but the arms may actually be
older. An older seal exists from the Ærø district, from 1442, which
shows two trees. The arms are partly canting, an ær is an acorn or a
birch.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/a/aeroskob.htm
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Esbjerg |

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The arms were granted
in 1903. The arms are based on the old seal of the Skast district, known
since 1556. The seal showed a linden tree, to which two anchors were
added. The anchors symbolize the fact that the city is one of Denmark's larger
harbors.
Between 1892 and 1903 the city used different arms, with a steamer and a
dolphin.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/e/esbjerg.htm
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Flensborg |

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Flensburg received
city rights already before 1270 and the oldest known seal dates from 1282.
The present arms were granted in 1938 and are based on this oldest seal.
The two lions are derived from the arms of the County Schleswig, to which
the city belonged. The tower and the waves symbolize the city itself. The
small shield with the arms of the counts of Holstein was added in the 15th
century. The arms were officially granted in 1901 and were only slightly
changed in 1938. |
Fredericia |

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Fredericia was founded
in 1650 as Frederiksodde (renamed in 1664) as a fortress. A seal with the
coat of arms (the lion) is known on a document from 1655. A new silver
seal, with the coat of arms engraved, was ordered by the town council in
1664. The motto was Pro pace armatus, or Armed for peace, which also
explains the laurel branch. The colors are the colors of the Oldenburg
dynasty, the royal family of Denmark. |
Frederiksberg |

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The arms were granted
by Royal decree in 1899. Frederiksberg was founded as a city with many
parks, which is symbolized by the wall and the trees. The crown is a
symbol for King Frederik. The three falcons are a symbol for the only
falcon training center in Denmark, which was situated in one of the parks
in the city.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/f/frederib.htm |
Frederikshavn |

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The arms were granted
by Royal decree in 1898. The old Fladstrand village was renamed in 1818 as
Frederikshavn, and the arms symbolize the royal crown and the anchor for
the harbor, thus making the arms canting. |
Frederikssund |

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The arms are used
since 1870, but the falcon has a much longer history. In 1630 the mayor of
nearby Slangerup introduced the ferry over the Roskilde Fjord. His name
was Falch Olsen and he lived in a mansion named Falkenborg. The name was
also used for the small village around it, which in 1660 became a city and
the new name Frederikssund. |
Helsingør |

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The arms show a ship,
as the city has been an important harbor for many centuries. The oldest
known seal, known since the 14th century, already shows a ship. The
present arms show the type of ship as seen on the seals from the 16th
century. A ship is also the symbol of St. Olaf, the patron saint of the
city.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/h/helsingo.htm
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Hjørring |

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The arms show St.
Catherine, the patron saint of the city. The saint first appears in a seal
known since 1469, but the style indicates an early 14th century origin.
The present arms are based on a second seal from the 16th century. |
Hobro
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The arms are known
since 1648. The arms are canting, showing two knights on a bridge (bro)
over the Ho, a part of the Mariager Fjord. Before 1648 the local seal
showed also a bridge, but without the knights.
http://www.visithobro.dk
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Holstebro |

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The arms are based on
a seal of the city, which is known from 1584, but are likely much older.
The arms show St. George with the dragon on a canting bridge (bro). St.
George was the city's patron saint.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/h/holstebr.htm
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Horsens |

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The arms of Horsens
are canting, the name is derived from Hors, old-Danish for horse. The
oldest seal from Horsens is known since 1368, but it probably dates from
around 1300. It already shows the horse (see below). The second and third
seals of the city all show the same composition. The only seal showing a
different composition, is the seal dating from 1660, which shows a
standing horse (rampant) instead of a walking horse. When the city applied
for the registration of its arms, the image from the oldest seal was used.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/h/horsens.htm |
København |

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Origin/Meaning:
The arms are based on the oldest seal of the city, known since 1254.The
original seal showed a city wall with towers, which gradually was
transformed in the three towers. The present arms were officially granted
in 1661 by King Frederik III, whose monogram is seen on the middle tower.
In addition to the shield itself, the arms showed three helmets, two lions
as supporters and many other symbols around the shield (see below). These
are no longer used. |
Kolding |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, known since 1250. The meaning of the arms is
unknown. It has been postulated that the arms are derived from the St.
Knuds Guild, who used a lily as their symbol and which was known as the
parrot-guild. |
Korsør |

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The arms are based on a seal of the city, which is known from 1608. The
arms are canting, "kors" meaning cross. |
Lemvig
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The arms are based on a seal of the city, which is known from 1608. The
arms show the local church tower and two unidentified plants. |
Løgstør |

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The arms are used
since 1900 and show the local church, built in 1892-3. The stars are
decoration and have no meaning.
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Mariager |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, which is known from 1584. The anchor is a
typical symbol for the harbor town.
http://www.visitmariager.dk/
Wonderful old city by the Fjord - you should go there once
www.mariager.dk
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Middelfart |

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The arms are based on
the oldest known seal, dating from 1535. The city is an important harbor,
which explains the ship. Sometimes the city uses a small fish in the base
of the shield to distinguish the arms from similar arms, such as from Kerteminde
and Bogense. |
Næstved |

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The two keys in the
arms are known from the oldest seal of the city, which is known from 1280.
The keys are the symbol of St. Peter and are most likely derived from the
St. Peter monastery in the town, which was founded in 1135. The crown was
added in the late 13th or early 14th century. The waves in the base symbolize
the Suså river.
After the reformation, the keys were removed, being a Catholic symbol. The
town then used arms with only the crown. In the 17th century, the arms
showed three crowns. These arms were used until the early 20th century
when the old arms were restored. |
Nørresundby |

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Nykøbing Mors |

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The arms are canting,
showing a dove for the old monastery of the Knights Templar near the city.
The monastery was named Dueholm and was founded around 1370 by Jens
Nielsen Due. Due means dove. |
Odense
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The arms are based on a seal known
from 1460, which may be dating from around 1400. The arms show the H. King
Knud, who was buried in the local church and, after he became a saint, was
renamed the King Knuds Church. The other church besides the saint is the
Church of Our Blessed Lady.
The fleur-de-lis is already present on the oldest seal, and it is the only
symbol in the smaller seals of the city. |
Randers |

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The arms are known
from a seal dating from 1524. The arms show the local castle and bridge
over the local river. Previously Randers used a different seal, only
showing a crescent.
http://www.visitranders.com/
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Ringsted |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, which dates from around 1300. The arms are
highly religious, showing under the hand of God, the St. Mary with child,
and a monk, both as a symbol for the important local Benedictine
monastery. The two other figures are Duke Knud Lavard (died 1169/70), who
was considered a saint and whose shrine is in Ringsted, and his great
grandson King Erik (with crown and flowers), who was killed in Slien in
1250 and who is buried in Ringsted. |
Roskilde |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, which is known since 1286, but which dates
from around 1250. The seal shows a bird over a stream or water, surrounded
by a wall. The stream is canting, "kilde" meaning well or
spring. The roses first appear in 1384.
The meaning or origin of the bird is unknown. It has been postulated that
the bird is an eagle, derived from the German Imperial eagle (the
treasurer of the city was a German in the 13th century), or the eagle may
be canting (from Høgekøbing, or hawk-city). It has also been stated that
the bird is the symbol of one of the main guilds in the city. |
Rudkøbing |
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The arms are based on
the oldest known seal, dating from 1535. The main source of income for the
city is fisheries, which explains the arms. |
Sæby |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, which is known from 1584, but it is likely to
be older, due to the Catholic character. The local church was devoted to
the St. Mary. |
Silkeborg |

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The arms are granted
by Royal decree in 1900. The arms show the medieval castle and fortress of
the bishops of Århus.
According to legend, the castle was founded on the spot where the silk hat
of bishop Peter washed ashore, as it was blown off his head when he was
crossing the lake. |
Skagen |

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The arms show a grill
and a fish. The grill is the symbol of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of
the first church in Skagen. The grill also appears on the oldest seals,
known since 1535.
http://www.ngw.nl/int/den/s/skagen.htm
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Skive |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, dating from 1579, and show the bridge over the
Skive Å. The fish indicates the importance of fisheries for the city. In
1976, at the 650th anniversary of the city the city used the arms wrongly,
with the fish facing left. |
St. Heddinge |

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The arms are known
from a seal dating from the 14th century, which may actually be even
older. It already shows the church, star, moon and goat. The origin of the
goat is not quite sure, but it has been stated that the goat is derived
from the Klintekongen, a mythological beast or troll roaming the kliffs on
the Stevns peninsula. |
Svendborg |

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Svendborg. SWINÆBURG
INSIGNA CIV DE. Marked Kjoebenhavn Made in Denmark B&G 9.5" |
Thisted |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, which is known from 1584, but as it shows the
St. Mary with child, it dates from the Catholic times. The St. Mary was
most likely the patron saint of the city. |
Tønder |
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Civium De Tønder
Insignia 24 cm |
Viborg |

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The arms are based on
the oldest seal of the city, which is known since 1355, but the style
indicates an early 13th century origin. The two figures, dressed as Roman
senators, are of unknown origin. It has been postulated that these are two
saints, but more likely they are judges or senators. Viborg was the seat
of an important court at the time, the main court in Jutland (Jylland). |
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Literature
: Achen, 1982 |
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