School trip to Copenhagen, the city Pernille grew up in

From 19 to 23 May 2025, the primary pupils of Da Vinci Private School, from CP to CM2 (ages 6 to 10), went on a school trip to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. With Pernille and a member of staff, they discovered a city full of history, from royal heritage to museums, architecture and green spaces.

This trip was special: Pernille, the head of the school and Danish by birth, took the children to the city where she grew up. It was a chance to discover Denmark through the eyes of someone who knows it from childhood, with her landmarks and her memories.

Over five days, the programme combined history, science and English in practice.

Discovering the city of Pernille’s childhood

Visiting a city with someone who grew up there means seeing it differently. Behind the monuments and the streets lie a personal story, memories and places that mattered.

For the children, it was a chance to get to know their head’s home country and another European culture, on the spot rather than in books. Streets, historic districts and architecture are easier to take in for real than in pictures.

For them, Denmark was also the country of the person who runs their school.

Diving into Danish history

On Tuesday 20 May, the children visited Rosenborg Castle, a former royal residence built at the initiative of King Christian IV in the 17th century.

Its rooms hold the historic apartments, period furniture and the Danish Crown Jewels: enough to picture how the kings and queens of the past lived.

The programme also included a visit to the Nationalmuseet, the National Museum of Denmark. Its collections on the Vikings and early human societies show how people used to live and how societies have changed over the centuries.

Exploring Copenhagen, from its canals to its monuments

The programme included several walks around the city, to discover its historic districts and traditional houses.

A boat trip along the canals was meant to show the city from another angle, with the harbour of Nyhavn and the statue of the Little Mermaid. The changing of the royal guard was also on the programme.

Another planned stop: Rundetaarn, the Round Tower. Built in the 17th century, it is known for its spiral ramp, which you walk up to a view over the city.

Science among living things

The trip also made room for science. A visit to the botanical garden was booked for Wednesday 21 May, with the Palmehuset, its large tropical glasshouse; the programme also included the butterfly house.

These places lend themselves to observation: looking at the shape of leaves, comparing species, wondering what a tropical plant needs to grow under a Danish sky. A way to feed the children’s curiosity about living things.

Living English beyond the classroom

At Da Vinci Private School, English does not stop at the classroom door. Abroad, the language becomes a tool for understanding what is going on around you and for communicating in real situations.

The visits were planned in English. The children were to hear it in other settings and connect what they learn at school with the wider world: that is what sets immersion apart from English lessons.

Travelling also means discovering other habits and learning to find your bearings somewhere new.

Growing through shared experiences

Going away for several days with classmates and teachers is another way of learning.

The children stayed at the Sleep in Heaven youth hostel, in the Nørrebro district. Group life means getting organised, keeping to times, taking others into account and playing a part in the group’s daily life: travel, meals and visits are all done together.

Days like these build each child’s independence, with the adults who supervise the trip.

Learning by opening up to the world

School trips extend what is learned in class: they bring children face to face with places, cultures and experiences they do not meet in everyday life.

In Copenhagen, history, architecture, science and English were the common threads of the trip. Pernille, who has known the city since childhood, added a personal touch.

That is what Da Vinci Private School, an international school near Montpellier, aims for: giving children chances to learn, to keep their curiosity alive and to open up to the world. Find out more about our bilingual primary school.