But throughout the world there are those for whom the name of Aalborg is the name of aquavit, also known as "snaps". Aquavit has been distilled in Aalborg since 1846 and the Danish Distilleries is still one of the bestknown firms in a city boasting a broad range of business enterprises. The Aalborg tradition of trade and industry is centuries old. In the Middle Ages, Aalborg's role as a port trading with Norway and Sweden made it one of the busiest and liveliest of all Scandinavian cities.

Today, thousands of tourists from Norway and Sweden visit the city every year. Whether they come as one-day trippers or longterm holiday makers, they come to a city that welcomes foreign visitors with a wealth of activities.

This constant stream of visitors from abroad has given the business life of the city its own speciel international character. There is a whole series of specialist shops, side by side with the large department stores and supermarkets.

The centre of the city of Aalborg has a network of pedestrian areas lined with shops and with benches and flower beds creating a relaxed atmosphere for the shopper. From a bench in the pedestrian area, the colourful life of the city, enhanced in the summer by the many pavement cafés, can be observed and enjoyed.

Aalborg has about 300 bars, cafés and restaurants, with something for all tastes. Restaurants with cuisine of international standard, humble pubs with draught and bottled beer, and lively spots where the dance music only stops when the light of dawn is in the sky.