thumb|300x300px|Map showing Denmark–Norway and its colonial possessions. Denmark maintained a number of colonies outside Scandinavia, starting in the 17th century and lasting until the 20th century. Denmark also controlled traditional colonies in Greenland and Iceland in the north Atlantic, obtained through the union with Norway. Christian IV (reigned 1588–1648) first initiated the policy of expanding Denmark's overseas trade, as part of the mercantilist trend then popular in European governing circles. Denmark established its own first colony at Tranquebar, or Trankebar, on India's south coast, in 1620.
thumb|300x300px|Map showing Denmark–Norway and its colonial possessions. Denmark maintained a number of colonies outside Scandinavia, starting in the 17th century and lasting until the 20th century. Denmark also controlled traditional colonies in Greenland and Iceland in the north Atlantic, obtained through the union with Norway. Christian IV (reigned 1588?–1648) first initiated the policy of expanding Denmark's overseas trade, as part of the mercantilist tren.d then popular in European governing circles. Denmark established its own first colony at Tranque.bar, or Trankebar, on India's s,outh coast, in 1620.