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Denmark: Vikings, fairy tales and empty beaches

  • 3 min read

The wind in your hair, wandering through the dunes, searching for amber on the beach and strolling through small villages. The idea that I might 'be allowed' to go to Denmark this year makes me very happy. Because I'm looking forward to a week of rest, space and nature. For about five years now we take the car at least once a year and drive north in just under eight hours. First with the two of us, but since last June also with our little girl.

Denmark resembles the Netherlands in terms of landscape and size, but where we have to share the space here with more than 17 million people, in Denmark there are less than 6 million. And you will notice that when you cross the German-Danish border at Flensburg; the landscape is undulating, few buildings and the highway is empty. Well, not really empty of course, but compared to the Dutch A1 or the German A7 it certainly is.

Of course there are the big cities like Copenhagen, Arhus, Aalborg and Odense, where together about 20% of the entire population lives. And yes, it can be a bit busier there. But other than that it's nice and quiet.

Into nature

As I wrote before, Denmark is a bit like the Netherlands in terms of landscape. So don't expect spectacular high mountains or dramatic rock formations. But then what? How about no less than 7314 km of coastline! Or from Rold Skov, 80km2 of forest to get lost in between pine trees, beech trees, streams and lakes. In addition, Denmark is made up of over 400 islands, many of which hold their own geological treasures.

My favorite area is west Jutland. You are far away from the big cities, it is wonderfully quiet and you can rent houses that are practically on the beach. You can choose and book your ideal holiday home via www.dansk.nl . And since there are so many miles of beach here, chances are you'll have a piece to yourself. Plenty of space to sunbathe, search for treasures and build sandcastles

Vikings on Jutland

Historically, Denmark has played an important role in the Viking Age. These Normans (and women!) went on a rampage to England in 789 AD and then plundered Europe. But there was more than this barbaric practice; Vikings were also farmers, shipbuilders, craftsmen and merchants. In Denmark there are a number of places where you can get a good picture of their daily life. There is a Viking open air museum in Ribe and you can visit a museum in Jelling where all aspects of Viking existence are beautifully depicted.

Odense on Funen

If you would like to visit a city, Odense is highly recommended in my opinion, even with children. It is located on the green island of Funen and is the birthplace of the famous fairy tale writer Hans Christiaan Andersen. Think The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea and even Frozen. His spirit is everywhere in the center. There are a number of large bronze statues depicting his stories, you can go to the HC Andersen Hus to immerse yourself in his fairy tales and you can go back in time in the Møntergarden experience museum, when this man was still a child himself. To end the day it is nice to go to Storms Pakhus. There is something delicious for everyone in this food hall just outside the center

Odense

If you want to get even more into a Scandinavian atmosphere, take a look at my webshop Studio Kvinna . There you will find a lot of cards, prints and home accessories to get you in the mood.

Femke Hesselink of Studio Kvinna
Femke - married, mom of Annika (2019), Hengelo - has a great love for Sweden and that is reflected in her fresh and cheerful illustration style, see also studiokvinna.nl ( Happlify crew ) and femkehesselink.nl . She knows a lot about the far north and is happy to share it with us. Which is very contagious!

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