when did denmark claim greenland

Denmark’s claim to Greenland goes back to the early 18th century, but international recognition of full Danish sovereignty came only in the early 20th century.

Core timeline

• In 1721, the missionary Hans Egede, under the joint Danish‑Norwegian crown, began a new colonisation of Greenland; modern Danish rule is usually dated from this expedition.

• Denmark‑Norway based its claim on earlier Norse (medieval Norwegian) sovereignty and asserted rule again when contact was re‑established in the 17th–18th centuries.

• After the union of Denmark–Norway dissolved in 1814, Greenland remained with Denmark as one of Norway’s former overseas possessions.

Formalising the claim

• On 4 August 1916, the United States formally stated it would not object to Denmark extending its political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland, clearing a major diplomatic obstacle to Denmark’s claim over the entire island.

• On 21 May 1921, Denmark issued a formal declaration that all of Greenland was subject to Danish rule, turning earlier historical claims into a clear, modern statement of sovereignty.

Summary answer

So, in simple terms:

• Denmark (as Denmark‑Norway) effectively claimed and began modern colonisation of Greenland in 1721.

• Denmark’s full, internationally recognised claim over the whole island was cemented between the U.S. declaration of 1916 and Denmark’s own formal declaration in 1921.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.