The Finger Plan () is an urban plan from 1947 which provides a strategy for the development of the Copenhagen metropolitan area, Denmark. According to the plan, Copenhagen is to develop along five 'fingers', centred on S-train commuter rail lines, which extend from the 'palm', that is the dense urban fabric of central Copenhagen. In between the fingers, green "wedges" are intended to provide land for agriculture and recreational purposes.
By the definition in the Finger Plan the metropolitan area has a population of 2,036,717 () and an area of over 34 municipalities.
Implementation
The little finger
The northern suburbs form the little finger of the plan and are traditionally the wealthiest. In popular language, the area is known as "The Whiskey Belt", although the area is mixed between mansions, larger houses, garden cities and mid-size houses. The area has a population of around 270,000 inhabitants.
Gentofte Municipality: Klampenborg, Skovshoved, Charlottenlund, Hellerup, Gentofte, Ordrup, Jægersborg, Dyssegård, Vangede Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality: Kongens Lyngby, Ulrikkenborg, Brede, Virum, Sorgenfri, Lundtofte, Hjortekær Rudersdal Municipality: Søllerød, Holte, Øverød, Gl. Holte, Trørød, Nærum, Vedbæk, Skodsborg, Birkerød, Kajerød, Bistrup Hørsholm Municipality: Hørsholm, Usserød, Rungsted, Vallerød, Smidstrup Allerød Municipality: Allerød, Lillerød, Blovstrød Fredensborg Municipality: Fredensborg, Asminderød, Humlebæk, Kokkedal, Niverød, Nivå.
The ring finger
The north-northwestern part of the suburbs forms the ring finger. The area is to a large extent formed by detached middle-class dwellings, with some exceptions of housing projects or upper-class areas. The area has a population of around 100,000 inhabitants.
Gladsaxe Municipality: Gladsaxe, Bagsværd, Buddinge, Høje-Gladsaxe, Mørkhøj, Søborg Furesø Municipality: Værløse, Farum, Hareskovby
The middle finger
The northwestern suburbs form the middle finger. It consists of a mixed area of both detached middle-class dwellings, widespread garden cities and large, low-rise public housing projects. The area has a considerable part of the industrial areas of metropolitan Copenhagen, mostly in the traditional sectors of manufacturing. The area has a population of around 110,000 inhabitants.
Herlev Municipality: Herlev, Hjortespring
Ballerup Municipality: Skovlunde, Ballerup, Måløv, Ågerup, Jonstrup, Egebjerg
Egedal Municipality: Smørumnedre, Stenløse, Ølstykke
The index finger
The index finger forms the western suburbs, which are those with the lowest income per capita and the highest crime rate. The suburbs vary from the petit bourgeois area of Glostrup to the widespread low housing projects of Albertslund and Taastrup. Of the total of 145,000 inhabitants, some 20% are immigrants of first or second generation.
Rødovre Municipality: Rødovre, Islev
Glostrup Municipality: Glostrup, Hvissinge, Ejby
Brøndby Municipality: Brøndbyøster, Brøndbyvester, Brøndby Nord
Albertslund Municipality
Høje-Taastrup Municipality: Taastrup, Høje-Taastrup, Tåstrupgård, Hedehusene
The thumb
The southwest suburbs, also called Vestegnen, along the coast form the thumb of the plan. While the central parts of these suburbs are dominated by high-rise housing projects and low-income inhabitants, the distant part is dominated by detached middle-class houses. These suburbs have a population of some 215,000 inhabitants, with a sizeable number of immigrants.
Hvidovre Municipality: Avedøre, Friheden, Hvidovre
Brøndby Municipality: Brøndby Strand
Vallensbæk Municipality
Ishøj Municipality
Greve Municipality: Hundige, Karlslunde, Greve
Solrød Municipality: Solrød, Jersie
Køge municipality: Køge, Ølby
The extra finger – contemporary planning in Copenhagen
When the finger plan was initially introduced, the island of Amager was not included as the infrastructure was inadequate for modern suburban life. It has since been improved and the suburbs on the island hold some 53,000 inhabitants. Amager is now one of the most modern suburbs of Copenhagen with increasing wealth. With the opening of the bridge to Sweden this finger has been extended all the way to Malmö.