See the Danish palace at the Abbaye Neumunster

(CS) Marking the birthday of Danish Queen Margrethe II, an exhibition on the Danish royal palace was opened by Danish Ambassador Louise Bang Jespersen at the Abbaye Neumunster on Monday.

The Ambassador highlighted the many things that Luxembourg and Denmark have in common as two “not so large countries” in the EU, saying that both countries have “a lot to learn from each other and a lot of inspiration to give on another.”

While the evening was a celebration of the Danish Queen, the Ambassador did not fail to strike a more serious chord, addressing the ongoing challenges the EU is facing. Ms Jespersen said she hoped the coming spring would also see a growth in optimism, with Denmark, currently holding the EU Council Presidency, trying its best to encourage cooperation to find a way through the difficulties.

Speaking to guests including political figures such as Finance Minister Luc Frieden, as well as former Luxembourg City mayor Paul Helminger, the Ambassador commented how easy it was to feel “at home in the heart of Europe,” earning a round of applause for a few words spoken in Luxembourgish.

Touring the Danish palace in pictures

Some 2,200 Danes live in Luxembourg, and the exhibition is meant to enable them to see what people living in Denmark were able to see at first hand, explained Klaus Bondam, director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Brussels.

When the refurbished palace opened its doors in 2010, it was open to the public for some six months. Now, the photo exhibition will serve as a way for the public to see how the Crown Prince of Denmark and his family live.

Posing the same challenges as all restoration works, designers and artists had to tread the fine line between keeping the palace's cultural heritage alive, as well as adjusting the palace to the needs of “a young modern family with four small children,” said Bondam.

The result is a stunning mix of old and new, of centuries-old stucco combined with contemporary art.

The exhibition can be seen every day until April 24. For more Danish highlights at the Abbaye Neumunster this week, please visit CCRN.lu, and for further events please see the Danish Embassy's cultural calendar.