South Jutland and North Schleswig have had a turbulent existence being thrown back and forth between Denmark and Germany. The chaning position of the border has had a great impact on the inhabitants of the area and is, therefore, an important part of the local history and development.

Before 1864, the border between the Kingdom of Denmark and the Duchy of North Schleswig was at the Kongeå River and Kolding Å. Denmark surrendered Schleswig to Germany in 1864 and, as compensation, was given 8 parishes (namely Vonsild, Dalby, Sdr. Bjert, Sdr. Stenderup, Hejls, Vejstrup, Taps and Ødis) in Schlweswig. Consequently, the borderline was drawn south of Taps. Here, guests can visit the site of the old border. The Den Gamle Grænsekro (The Old Border Inn) and the Museum of the Reunion.

During the First War of Schleswig that lasted from 1848-51, Kolding really learned what it meant to have the position as a border town. Schleswig-Holstein rebels fought to make Schleswig-and Holstein a federal state in the new German confederation, resulting in a large and bloody battle in the Kolding area on April 23, 1849. The wounded from both sides were taken to the camp hospital in Christiansfeld, which at that time was situated in Schleswig. In commemoration of the battle, a ceremony is held on this day each year in Christiansfeld.


The Fight for Reunification
The present frontier to Germany was fixed in 1920 when the Schleswiger people voted the region home to Denmark, and the Reunion was a reality. Today, the Municipality of Kolding comprises areas both north and south of the old frontier between the Duchy of Schleswig and the Kingdom of Denmark
The age-long fight for reunification was initiated with meetings at Skamlingsbanken in the 1840’s and when Schleswig was lost to Germany in 1864, Kolding was the place where the Danesmost emphatically voiced that they would fight to get North Schleswig back. This is why Kolding is a town full of monuments for the First War of Schleswig and the Second War of Schleswig in 1864.


One of the national traditions from those days still exists. In 1913, Mr. Jens Jensen, a hospital superintendant, decided to celebrate Valdemar Day – June 15. It is on this day, according to legend, that the Dannebrog - the Danish flag - fell from the sky. Since then, Valdemar Day has been celebrated everywhere in Denmark. On June 15 each year, the Denmark Society hands out flags to Danish organisations. In Kolding, the flags are handed out by Count Ingolf (the Queen’s cousin) at Koldinghus.