Kronborg is perhaps best known as the setting for William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. Its history dates back to the 1420s when it was built by King Eric VII as one of two strongholds on opposing coasts of the Øresund, used to control the entrance to the Baltic Sea.

By controlling the Sound, the King was able to enforce a toll on foreign ships wishing to pass through it. The Sound Dues turned out to be quite lucrative as up to two-thirds of Denmark's income in the 16th and 17th centuries were due (no pun intended) to these tolls.