25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies in Berlin

Topic: Report

21 October 2024

On 21 October Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier payed tribute to Germany’s close relations with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. We share intensive ties with these five countries not only in the EU and NATO, but also in the economic and cultural spheres.

 
Group photo of the heads of state of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Germany at the nordic embassies in Berlin

The Nordic countries enjoy close ties not only with Germany, but also with each other in an extraordinary way. One expression of this is the joint building housing the Nordic Embassies, the Felleshus, in which the five diplomatic missions have been working under one roof for 25 years. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden opened the Nordic Embassies in October 1999 under the motto Each autonomous and yet together.

Group photo of the Nordic heads of state in October1999

The Federal President and Elke Büdenbender attended the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Felleshus, together with the Danish royal couple, President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Iceland Halla Tómasdóttir, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, as well as Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden.

At a ceremony, Federal President Steinmeier paid tribute to the close cooperation between the five Nordic countries: “We are proud that Germany has been the host of such a great innovation, and that our shared history unites us in this way, too.”

In the morning, Federal President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender received King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark at Schloss Bellevue with military honours on their first official visit to Germany.

The Federal President and Elke Büdenbender together with King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark during a discussion

President of the Republic of Iceland Halla Tómasdóttir, who has been in office since August, made her first official visit in the early afternoon.

Federal President Steinmeier and the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, walk down the military honor formation

In the evening, the Federal President and Ms Büdenbender hosted a gala dinner at Schloss Bellevue in honour of King Frederik X. and Queen Mary of Denmark, of the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and Suzanne Innes-Stubb, of the President of the Republic of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, and Björn Skúlason, of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, and of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden.

Programme

  • 10.30 a.m., Schloss Bellevue
    Welcoming of King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark with military honours
  • 1.00 p.m., Schloss Bellevue
    Welcoming of Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, with military honours
  • 3.00 p.m., Berlin, Nordic Embassies
    Attendance of a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies in Berlin
  • 7.30 p.m., Schloss Bellevue
    Dinner on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies in Berlin with the guests of honour:
    • King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark
    • Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, and Suzanne Elizabeth Innes-Stubb
    • Halla Tómasdóttir, President of the Republic of Iceland, and Björn Skúlason
    • Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
    • Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden