Tuesday marked the 25th anniversary of the Øresund bridge, an iconic structure almost eight-kilometres long that has connected Denmark and Sweden since 2000.
Every day, an average of over 100,000 passengers travel across the bridge by car or by train.
According to Denmark’s Minister for Transport, Thomas Danielsen, the Øresund is not just about a physical connection between the two countries, but represents a symbolic connection of cooperation in the region.
“A permanent connection. This creates prosperity and positive development in the Øresund region. The Øresund region is probably one of the world’s strongest connected cross-border regions, so it has created incredibly good things,” Danielsen said.
According to the Mayor of Malmö, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, the bridge has significantly contributed to Sweden’s economy.
“The labour market in the region is growing. Many Danish companies want to recruit on the Swedish side,” she said.
“Lots of Malmö locals have suddenly gained access to a labour market that is much larger than it was. The proximity to Copenhagen and also the proximity to the world have contributed to companies choosing to establish themselves here and grow,” Jammeh added.
As part of the celebration, Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary, as well as Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia met on the Swedish side of the bridge.
The royal couples then drove in a motorcade across the bridge, stopping on the island of Peberholm in the middle of the Øresund, before concluding the ceremony on the Danish side.
When the bridge was built over two decades ago, it was expected to last about a hundred years. However, recently scientists at Lund University presented plans on how to double its lifespan.
