A

 

B

Bonn:   22.1.;

Bruxelles:  12.1.; 17.1.; 23.1.; 24.1.; 25.1.;

C

 

D

 

E

 

F

 

G

 

H

 

I

 

J

 

K

 

L

La Hulpe:  13.1.;

M

 

N

 

O

 

P

 

Q

 

R

Rhöndorf: 21.1.;

Rixensart:  most of the time

S

Spa:  1.1.;

T

 

U

 

V

 

W

Wavre:  5.1.;

Windhagen: 22.-22.1.;

OUR WHEREABOUTS IN 2011   

 

A 

Adelaide:  11.3.;

Akaroa:  20.3.;

Albany:  8.3.;

Allinge:  18.6.;

Alrø:  4.9.;

Asnæs:  14.6.; 23.6.; 25.6.;  21.7.; 30.7.; 14.8.;

Audebo:  10.7.; 14.7.; 21.7.;

Avernakø:  2.7.; 

Ayers Rock:  27.-30.3.;

 

B  

Banbury:  7.3.;

Beijing:  17.-20.11.;

Birkerød:  26.7.; 

Birmingham:  13.-16.5.; 

Blue Mountains:  25.3.; 

Bruxelles:  6.1.; 2.2.; 10.2.; 6.4.; 13.4.; 14.4.; 3.5.; 4.5.; 18.5.; 19.5.; 30.6.-1.7.; 13.11.;

Brøndby:  5.-7.2.; 

Burnie:  14.3.; 

C  

Charlottenlund: 29.12. – 2.1.;

Christiansø:  18.6.; 

D  

Doubtful Sound:  18.3.; 

Douro floden: 25.4. – 2.5.;

Dragsholm:  14.7.; 29.7.; 10.9.;

Dublin:  27.-30.10.;

Dueodde:  19.6.; 

Dunedin:  19.3.; 

Dusky Sound:  18.3.; 

E

Ebbeløkke:  26.6.;

Ebeltoft:  2.7.; 

Elsinore:  26.7.; 

Esterhøj:  14.8.;

F

Floreffe:  6.11.;

Fåborg:  2.7.; 

G

Gniben:  26.6.;

Grynderup:  28.8.;

Gudhjem:  17.6.;

H  

Havnebyen, Odden:  26.6.;

Havnsø:  6.8.; 

Hellerup :  14.9.;

Helsinki:  16.11.; 20.11.;

Hobart:  15.3.;

Holbæk: 12.7.; 13.9.;

Horsens:  3.9.;

Hundested:  12.7.; 16.7.;

I  

J

 

K  

Kalymnos:  23.8.;

Korsør:  29.7.; 

Kos:  19.-26.8.;

København:  5.-7.2.; 23.7.; 12.8.; 8.9.; 14.9.;

L

London Heathrow: 2.3.; 1.4.; 

Lyon:  10.5.;

Lyø: 2.7.; 

M

Malergaarden:  23.6.;

Melbourne:  13.3.; 

Milford Sound:  18.3.; 

N

Nexø: 19.6.;

Nivå:  1.1.;

Nørre Asmindrup:  8.7.; 23.7.; 29.7.;

O

Odense: 13.6.; 2.7.:

Ordrup:  10.7.;

Orø:  12.7.;

P

Paradisio:  8.5.:

Paris: 29.-30.6.;  

Perth:  3.-6.3.; 

Porto:  23.-25.4.;

Pserimos:  23.8.;

Q

Quickborn:  12.-13.6.;

R

Ringkøbing:  5.9.;

Rønne:  16.6.; 19.6.;

Rørvig: 12.7.; 16.7.; 30.7.;

S  

Salamanca:  28.4.;

Santiago de Compostela:  19.-21.4.;

Sidinge:  23.7.;

Singapore: 3.3.;

Skagen:  28.8.-3.9.;

Snekkersten:  26.7.;

Snogebæk:  19.6.;

Sondrup Bakker:  4.9.;

Svaneke:  16.-19.6.;

Sydney:  24.-27.3.; 30.-31.3.;

 

T

Tilst:  22.6.;

Tirsbæk Slotsstald:  3.9.;

U  

Ulvsborg:  30.7.;

V  

Vallekilde:  21.7.; 3.8.; 6.8.;

Veddinge Bakker :  5.2. ; 13.6. -

Vedersø:  4.-6.9.;

Venezia:  8.-11.11.;

Vesterlyng:  6.8.;

Vigo:  21.-23.4.; 

W

Warsaw:  25.-28.5.;

Waterloo:  4.5.; 9.5.; 4.11.;

Wellington:  21.3.; 

Y

Ystad:  16.6.;

Z

 

Æ

 

Ø

Østerlars:  17.6.;

Å

Aalborg:  31.8.;

Aarhus:  22.6.;

Årsdale:  19.6.;

 

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen  

e-mail:  kimbrer@gmail.com

 

21.11.2011

OUR WHERE-ABOUTS in 2010

( will be updated permanently )  

 

A

 

Ath, Belgium:  23.1.;

 

Auderghem:  16.1.;

 

B

Bad Münstereifel:  21.4.;

Beloeil:  22.1.;

Birmingham:  26.-29.3.;

Bredevoort:  11.6.;

Bremerhaven:  13.6.;
 

Bruxelles:  16.1.; 21.1.; 24.1.;  28.5.;

Bruxelles Airport: 4.1.; 2.2.; 3.2.; 1.3.; 15.3.; 12.5.; 17.5.;
 

C

Copenhagen:  23.6.;

D

 

E

 

F

Funchal:  1.-15.3.;

G

Gent:  13.5.; 19.5.;

Gozo:  2.-7.6.;

H

 

I

 

J

Jezus Eick:  29.1.;

K

 

L

 

La Hulpe:  15.1.;

 

M

Mainz:  25.-26.4.;

Malta:  30.5.-7.6.;

N

Nürnberg:  21.-23.4.;
 

O

 

P

 

Poperinge:  23.1.;

 

Q

 

R

 

Rixensart:  3.1. - 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber:  23.-25.4.;

S

Schengen:  26.4.;

Sevilla:  2.-3.2.;

T

 

U

 

V

Valletta:  30.5.-2.6.;

Volkach:  23.4.;
 

W

 

Waterloo:  15.1.;

 

Watou:  22.-23.1.;

Worpswede:   11.-14.6.;

Y

 

Z

 

Æ

 

Ø

 

Å

 

 

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

 

e-mail:  kimbrer@gmail.com

 

1. Here is 2010:  ( will be permanently updated )

www.flickr.com/photos/oplevelser2010/


2. And here is 2009:

www.flickr.com/photos/oplevelser2009/  

OUR VISITS IN 2009  ( by December 31, 2009 )

 

A

Albert:  6.3.;

Alicante:  27.4. - 2.5.;

Amiens:  8.3.;

Anholt:  5.-8.9.;

Anneberg:  25.6.;

Arles: 29.12.;

Asnæs:  26.3.; 28.3.; 30.3.; 9.4.; 11.4.; 6.7.; 5.8.;

Avignon:  30.12.;

B

Ballerup:  27.3.;

Berlin:  17.-20.3.;

Bremerhaven:  12.-15.6.;

Bruxelles:  7.1.; 9.1.; 13.1.; 15.1.; 20.1.; 22.1.; 28.1.; 29.1.; 5.2.; 10.2.; 9.3.; 11.3.; 13.3.; 8.6.; 1.12.; 15.12.; 17.12.;

Bruxelles Airport:  2.1.; 30.1.; 17.3.; 24.9.; 6.10.; 29.10.:30.10.; 10.11.; 12.11.; 18.11.; 22.11.;

C

Catania:  24.-26.-9.; 6.10.;

Charlottenlund:  10.4.;

Cologne:  12.-13.12.;

Cuxhaven: 14.6.;

D

Dahlem:  17.3.;

Dammer Berge:  25.3.;

Dragsholm Castle:  5.7.;

Druskininkai, Lithuania:  2.-3.4.;

Dublin:  18-19.7.; 29.-30.10.;

Dunmore East:  11-18.7.;

E

Ebeltoft:  28.6.-4.7.;  4.-5.9.;

F

Forest Brothers' Farm, Estonia:  6.4.;

Fårevejle:  25.3.; 26.3.; 10.4.; 11.4.;

G

Glückstadt:  15.6.;

Grutas Park, Lithuania:  3.4.;

Grynderup:  2.9.;
 

H

Hanstholm:  21.-22.8.;

Hohen Schönhausen:  19.3.;

Holbæk:  6.8.; 7.8.;

Houjarray:  7.3.;

I

 

J

 

K

Kaunas, Lithuania:  3.4.;

Kenmare: 15.7.;

Kerteminde:  2.7.;

Killarny:  15.7.;

Kreuzberg:  19.3.;

Kunda, Estonia:  7.4.;

København:  27.3.;  26.6.; 9.9.; 10.-12.11.;

Københavns Lufthavn:  1.4.; 8.4.;
 

L

Ladbergen:  13.-14.9.;

La Herradura:  21.-22.9.;

La Hulpe: 17.1.; 27.2.;

Ligatne, Latvia:  6.4.;

Louvain-la-Neuve:  12.3.;

Lund:  11.11.;

Lyon:  28.12.; 31.12.;

M

Madrid:  21.9.; 22.9.;

Maison Jean Monnet:  7.3.;

Malaga:  21.9.; 22.9.;

Medininkai, Lithuania:  2.4.;
 

N

Neumünster:  25.-26.3.;

Nivå: 10.4.;

Nykøbing S:  14.6.;  25.6.; 5.8.;

Nørager:  2.9.;

Nørre Asmindrup:  28.3.;  14.6.;

O

Odense:  2.-3.4.; 2.-3.7.; 13.9.;

Ordrup Næs:  21.7.;
 

P

Piazza Amerina, Sicily:  29.9.-1.10.;

Plunge, Lithuania:  3.-4.4.;

Porec, Croatia:  20.-21.11.;

Pouzières: 6.3.; 8.3.;

Q

 

R

Riga:  4.-6.4.;

Ring of Kerry:  15.7.;

Ringsted:  4.8.;

Rønde:  8.9.;
 

S

Samsø:  18.-21.8.;

Sankt Vith:  13.12.;

Sidinge:  28.3.;

Sigersted:  4.8.;

Sillamäe, Estonia:  7.4.;

Siracusa:  26.-29.-9.;

Skagen:  22.8.-4.9.;

Skrunda, Latvia:  4.4.;

Snekkersten:  11.-12.11.;

T

Taormina, Sicily:  3.-6.10.;

Tallinn:  7.-8.4.;

Tartu, Estonia:  7.4.;

Tåstrup:  28.3.;

U

 

V

Valencia:  30.4.;

Veddinge:  15.6.-13.9.;

Venezia:  18.-22.11.;

Versailles:  6.-8.3.;

Vienne:  31.12.;

Vilnius:  1.-2.4.;

Vöru, Estonia:  6.-7.4.;

W

Waterford:  14.7.;

Wavre:  2.1.; 27.2.;

Wexford:  17.7.;


Y

 

Z

Zeline Missile Base, Latvia:  6.4.;

Zementija Missile Park, Lithuania:  4.4.;

Æ

 

Ø

 

Å

Aalborg:   2.9.;

Enjoy

 

RIXENSART

 

1.

 

Rixensart is a Belgian municipality about 25 km south-east of Brussels.  The area is called “LesArdennes Brabanconnes”, the Brabant Ardennes, because like the real Ardennes it has a lot of “ups and downs” – hills, valleys and steep slopes with lots of small rivers across the countryside. You also talk about the “Six Valleys” – les Six Vallées – which are part of this area. The “mini-rivers” have often – in the name of development and civilisation – been permanently covered. This is the case in the valley in front of our house, so we have to imagine the water there. But not the hills!

 

The Region is called Brabant-Wallon. And the whole area carries the name Wallonia – or laWallonie. It means “the hilly country” – le pays walloné. Unlike Flanders further north, which almost everywhere is mostly flat like a pancake.  You can also HEAR that from the word Vlaanderen.

 

See more about the region on this site:  http://www.brabantwallon.be/  

 

And it was through the area of Rixensart and Wavre that the Preussian general Blücher and his troops rushed to the assistance of  Wellington in the very last moment in his fierce fight with Napoleon in June 1815, when Napoleon was VERY close to winning the Battle of Waterloo. If that had happened, many things in Europe would have been different today. But not necessarily better!  So when we occasionally dig in our garden, we expect to find Preussian left-overs! Perhaps we haven’t been digging deep enough. Yet!

 

You want more on the Battle in 1815:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo 

 

2.

 

The name Rixensart with the ending –sart is typical for this area. “Sart” means in old Belgian language a place in the forest, which had been opened. We have exactly the same very common ending in Danish ( - strup) with the same meaning. There are lots of –sarts in this area – such as Profondsart, Roffessart, Grandsart, Maransart, and many more. The beginning of the name: Rix comes from the name Rix – a celtic name from before the Medieval ages.

 

The name for Rixensart in the Walloon language is: Rixenso.

 

3.

 

About a hundred years ago and many years after the Rixensart-Genval area was a very popular areafor excursions and holidays for the more well-off population in Brussels. Trams, normally with horses in front, came here all the way from Brussels until the 1930’ies. And there were small pensions,  hotels and about 40 bars and cafés until sometime in the 1950’ies. They have all gone now.  But the nice atmosphere is still here. And so is beautiful nature. The Genval Lake was created as an artificial lake about a hundred years ago. It has a depth of only a ½ to 1 meter, and it is still a very popular destination for excursions. It will take you about 35 minutes to make a walk all around it – at an agreeable speed. Unless you somewhere on the way get tempted by one of the nice cafés and restaurants! Then it might take much longer!

 

See more on the 100 year old lake here:  http://www.lacdegenval.be/

 

 

 

 

 

4.

 

The Municipality of Rixensart was created about 35 years ago by the merger of three small municipalities: Rixensart, Genval and Rosières. It has today about 20.000 inhabitants – almost all of them French-speaking Walloons. The number of non-Belgians is very small – and the Flemish inhabitants you can count on two hands. Not because any of them/us are not welcome here. On the contrary. But simply because it IS like that. It is expected though – in particular due to the easy train connections to Brussels – that many new inhabitants not least from the ten new EU member states will settle here. This would be very nice.

 

If you want to see the official website of Rixensart – here it is:   http://www.rixensart.be/  

 

The railway from Brussels is the main rail connection from the capital to South-East Belgium (Namur, the Ardennes and Arlon) – and further on to Luxembourg, Eastern France (Strasbourg and Alsace), Switzerland and Italy. From the “Central Railway Station” in Rixensart we have connections to Brussels 2-4 times an hour.  The only drawback is that the last train from Brussels in the evening leaves around 22.45. Not always very popular, when you are in town in the good company of yourself and perhaps even other nice people! A taxi back will cost you about 90 €.

 

For train connections to Rixensart, see:  http://www.belrail.be/E/timetables/index.php   

 

The mayor of the Municipality of Rixensart is Mrs. Jacqueline Herzet. She is one of the leaders of the liberal party in Wallonia, and she was earlier also a member of the Belgian federal parliament. From the new year the new mayor will be  Jean Vanderbeken.

 

5.

 

There is a lot of history in Rixensart. I have already mentioned the link to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Older – and more peaceful – is the Château de Rixensart -the Castle of Rixensart. It is a very beautiful Renaissance castle from the 17^th century. It has over the last hundred years been in the possession of the Merode family – a royal/noble family, which has played an important role in the history of modern Belgium. Recently the castle was for sale – at a rather high price. You can also rent an apartment of about 400 sq.m. in the castle – at the price of about 2.000 € a month. We haven’t tried any of it.

 

More on the castle:  http://www.biere2005.be/informations/bier_attraction/EN/C/V/17269.html 

 

Rixensart also has two monasteries. One is a very old one and is called  “Froidmont”  (“the cold mountain”). This is the monastery of the Dominicains – those carrying a rope around their clothes. There are only a few monks left – 19 altogether. In the area of the monastery (which by the way was an old Walloon farm) you find the very nice local catholic church ( in the old barn) and also a small and very cheap hotel (about 5 € per person per night!)

 

See more about the monastery here:  http://www.dominicains.be/index.php?p1=4&p2=&p3=  

 

The other monastery dates from the 1960’ies and belongs to the Order of the Benedictines.  It is a monastery with about 35 nuns, who keep very much to themselves, and who all work outside the monastery as nurses, social workers, teachers, etc.

 

More here:  http://www.benedictines.rixensart.catho.be/ftp/vieconsacree/asmb/urc/rixen/accueil.htm

 

6.

 

Rixensart also has several important and exciting companies in its area.  Until the 1950’ies you could find one of Europe’s biggest paper factories in Genval. It made business with the whole of Europe and was very well known. Today the best known big companies are Schweppes (which makes the very well known tonic water), Phibo (ex-Pfizer) (where Viagra was invented), and Smith-Klein- Glaxo (another giant medical company, which created the polio medicine in the 1950’ies). Smith-Klein-Glaxo has now bought Phibo.

 

7.

 

If you want to have fun and be entertained, this is also very possible in Rixensart. The RixensartCinema is well known in the entire Brussels area, because it often presents the very newest films – and in the original language. It is built and run like a real cinema – as we all remember it “from the good old days”. There is also a huge sports centre with swimming pool, badminton, football and athletics facilities – and a nice sports bar! The Genval Lake (see above) is very popular for sailing for children.  Nice walking tours in the beautiful and hilly nature are just in front of your doorstep (also on prepared walking paths, if that is what you prefer). If you want to test your personal skills in special shooting you can join the very special association for shooting with bows and arrows in Genval.  Shooting in a vertical direction – directly upwards. It takes place inside a special and rather high tower.  You have to try to hit some very special feathers at the top of the vertical room – and then make sure to get out of the way before the arrow returns! In most cases it returns very quickly. It is an old Belgian (Flemish ?) sport, which in the local language is called “tire à l’arc”.

 

Finally, it should be recommended to visit a very special cemetery in Rosières. A graveyard foranimals, where dogs, cats, birds and other dear pets have got their nice burials with gravestones, photos, names and flowers. A very special experience!

 

8.

 

If you at some stage simple cannot resist the temptation to go to a restaurant, Rixensart is also able to offer you that. One of the region’s best Chinese restaurants can be found in the main street ( on the avenue de Merode). It is called “Délices de l’Orient”. The food is excellent, and they have the very good Chinese beer. The Chinese wine is less recommendable.  A new Chinese restaurant near the cinema is: Les Lyces d’Asie. Very recommendable too.

 

Another restaurant is Belgian and therefore very good: “Le St. Quai Toile”  - just next to the cinema (see above). It belonged earlier to the owner of the cinema.

A bit further away – in Rosières – you can find the also very Belgian “Chanteclaire” (“Clear Bird singing”).

And if you want a very solid and also cheap meal, then try “Le Grilloir” in Genval.  Finally, if you fancy really good Italian food, then you should try “La Fontanell” on the same side of the Genval Lake as the Chateau.

.

 

If you want something real good, top class and therefore also quite expensive, then you should go to the restaurant at Château du Lac by the Genval Lake or to “Ferme de la Brire” on the way from Rixensart to Lasne –  see more:  http://www.resto.be/ware/details.jsp?businessid=452 or to “Le Salicorne” in Genval.  Uhhhmmmm!

 

9.

 

If you want to go shopping Rixensart and surroundings also offer lots of possibilities. Among the supermarkets we in particular recommend the magnificent Delhaize in La Hulpe. If you are looking for the normal daily necessities you can use either GB or Colruyt in Rixensart. There are also two small Delhaize in Rixensart – one on the way towards Wavre and another one just across the cinema at a gas station.

 

But Belgium is also known for its small and very tempting food stores next to all the huge supermarkets. Go to the main street of Rixensart – avenue de Mérode – and visit the Italian foodshop Rossi – or the excellent Belgian butcher next door. The eyes and the mouth will get an experience beyond the normal one! And you are not broke, when you leave the shops. The shop with fruit and vegetables is also excellent – and cheap. So are the four bakers. The best bread and the best tartes you get with the baker in the Kennedy Centre.

 

If you are looking for jewels, watches and other similar goodies Vincent Nuyt in the main street is a must.

 

And if you are in need of flowers or goodies for your garden you should visit Philippe around the corner from the cinema. Or Central Jardin in Rosières, which is an even bigger place.

 

On Saturday mornings you can visit a very nice market on the parking area next to the station.

 

10.

 

When you have enjoyed all that you perhaps want to make an excursion.  Brussels is an evident destination. But try also our regional “capital” Wavre.  See:  http://www.wavre.com/  A very nice town with pedestrian streets, markets (esp. on Wednesdays and Saturdays), lots of nice shops, even tempting restaurants.

 

If you want to go further away the Ardennes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardennes - are always very tempting with very nice towns like LaRoche (the best) - http://www.la-roche-en-ardenne.be/ , Durbuy - http://www.trabel.com/durbuy/durbuy.htm , Dinant, and Bastogne - http://www.trabel.com/bastogne/bastogne-battleforbastogne.htm. Namur – the capital of Wallonia – is certainly also worth a visit.

 

If you go south from Namur along the river Meuse you first come to the village of Wépion – the mother of Europe’s best strawberries!  See:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%A9pion   And further down the Meuse river you will see very courageous young people try to climb the very steep mountain walls with their bare fingers. Further south – in Dinant – you are in the town, where Henri Sax invented the Saxophone more than a hundred years ago.  More:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinant   

 

If you on the motorway E411 pass Namur and La Meuse you absolutely have to visit the book village Redu !  You find it 2-3 km from exit 24. Here you can visit about 30 bookshops selling new and used books of all sorts. They cost next to nothing, and it is good fun. This is part of a larger European project, where these book villages are created to try to prevent old and small villages from dying out. Redu is a fantastic success story. More than 350.000 visitors a year. The village also offers small restaurants and even mini-hotels, if you need a rest from buying (or selling) old books. This is really an experience, which you cannot live without!  See more here: http://www.redu.info/    And here:  http://www.eupedia.com/belgium/redu.shtml 

 

Have good fun with it all!

 

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

 

5th edition.

October 2006. 

Enjoy

 

VEDDINGE BAKKER

 

( The Hills of Veddinge )

 

 

1.

The Hills of Veddinge in the Danish region of Odsherred has a history, which goes all the way back to the latest ice age, which ended about 10.000 years ago. The impressive hills were created by the ice glaciers, which pushed lots of soil in front of them. And when the ice melted and step by step disappeared from this area the nice hills remained.  Hills which were linked to the rest of the island of Zealand ( Sjælland ) only by a very narrow piece of land. Here the castle DRAGSHOLM was built about 900 years ago to keep enemies and other unwanted visitors away from what from then on was called Ods Herred  ( “the OdsCounty” ).

 

In the beginning of the 1870’ies the owner of DragsholmCastle, Count Zypthen-Adeler, decided that the low-water sea on the land-side of the Hills of Veddinge should be dried out to become farm land.  This area was – and still is – called LAMMEFJORDEN  ( “the Fjord of Lambs” ). This grand project was part of the reaction to Denmark’s loss of 10 % of its total area in 1864, when it after a bitter war lost Slesvig and Holstein to Germany. The motto of the time was: “What you loose externally you have to gain internally”.  The project was launched. The fishermen protested – but it didn’t help. Today this area is very fertile. And the best carrots and potatoes in Denmark now come from here.

 

2.

The name VEDDINGE goes back to ancient times ( 2-3000 years ago ). We know no more than that. The neighbouring village HØVE ( the highest placed village in Denmark ) also goes back to those times.  The other nearby villages ASNÆS and FÅREVEJLE are much more recent – at least in their present form.

 

3.

Our house in Veddinge Bakker is at the address Sandbakken 2. It is part of the Strandgaarden area. Strandgaarden was until 1963 the heart of a fruit plantation, which covered this part of the Hills. The fruit plantation stopped and the area was sold to people who wanted a second house at the coast. A number of restrictions were implemented from the start such as a limit of max. 2 ½ m height to all trees in the area. In this way everybody would have a view on the sea. And the walks up and down the hilly roads in the area are supposed to be very healthy J They also give you great moments of joy with beautiful views, sunshine ( sometime ) and a permanently refreshing air J    Our house here was built in 1977-78 and later modernised in 2005.

 

 

 

4.

The view from our balcony is towards the north – towards the Bay of Sejerø.  Across the Bay the distance from beach to beach is 18 km. Normally a great surprise to everybody. But as the weather normally is very clear and bright you have a beautiful view. In the Bay itself the depth is often very high – due to the strong rivers coming way back from the melting ice area. Normally you see no ships in the Bay. One exception was in March 1808 when the Danish naval officer Peter Willemoes with his ship tried to win a battle with two British frigates in this very Bay. He lost. And you can today see his grave and those of his crew at the Odden Cemetary.  A special event with a new “battle” between Danish and British naval ships is foreseen next spring to commemorate the 200 years anniversary.

 

5.

If you want to go to the beach you just walk on the down-hill roads for about ten minutes. You will see very few people there – even in the middle of the summer.

 

If you want to swim you can do it anywhere on the beach. Some places are, though, better than others. But you find the sand beaches very easily.

 

Near the village of Høve you will find the most children friendly part of the beach.

 

6.

If you want to try something different you should go to ESTERHØJ near Høve. It consists of three funeral mounds from the Bronze Age. The highest one is 63 m above sea level and has not been excavated. At the top of that hill local people in 1920 raised a monument to celebrate the re-unification of the South of Jutland with Denmark. The monument is an 11 ton stone, which people at the time with the help of many horses and many men took all the way from the beach to the hill top. It took them eleven days.

 

The other bronze age hill on this spot is very special in the sense that it is the burial site of Mr. Ole Olsen, the director of Nordisk Film – the very first film company in the world. He founded and owned it in the beginning of the 20^th century. He was born at a poor farm not far from here. When he became a rich man he bought the farm nearby as his “summer house”. It is now the local school. When his wife died in 1936 and her urn was stolen from the cemetary in Bispebjerg in Copenhagen – and later found – he got permission to have his family grave in this bronze hill at Esterhøj. The grave chamber was beautifully decorated by local artists, and Ole Olsen himself joined his wife in there, when he passed away in 1943. He decided that the chamber can only be opened 200 years after his death. But local people tell that the Olsen family organises a great party in the chamber every year on the birthday of their famous ancestor.

 

You have a fenominal view from Esterhøj. In all directions. And you even have benches from where you can enjoy the view.

 

7.

If you want to make a walk in the area there are lots of possibilities. You can walk on the roads next to all the summer houses. You can go to the nearby forest. Or you can decide to walk on a path across the nearby fields and perhaps make yourself a very nice bouquet of flowers in all sorts of colours.

 

8.

More to the west you can drive to the SKAMLEBÆK area. Here you will see the TV tower. From the hill of that tower you have the best view on the Bay from anywhere here. Next to it you will see a lot of less impressive antennaes. They are part of LYNGBY RADIO, which is at the service of all ships in the seas around Denmark.

 

9.

If you really want to enjoy the fresh air and a fantastic scenery you have to go to ORDRUP NÆS.  You can park your car at several places. And you walk along the beach into an open, hilly and very beautiful grass area – only surrounded by very peaceful sheep, cows and wild birds. Bring your coffee or – better – your wine. And enjoy moments of total joy at the edge of the steep slopes towards the sea J Your world comes to a stand-still !

 

10.

If you really want to get an experience which you never had before you go to the small harbour of HAVNSØ. From there you take the very small ferry-boat to NEXELØ. It takes about 20 minutes. Now you are in a completely different world. It’s a small island, where they have no cars (apart from a few without number plates).  You see a couple of local farms, a scouts centre and a colony of seagulls. The level of noice is about the same from the two of them. But not a problem at all.  You can walk around the coast of the island in about two hours. You will meet nature at its best. Hilly, natural and green. With the blue sea all around.  The local birds will now and then object to your presence. And remember to bring your own food and drink. You can’t buy anything on the island.  A tiny medieval age church is the most interesting building there.  And remember to catch the last ferry-boat back J

 

11.

When shopping is concerned it is impossible NOT to recommend Mr. ADOLFSEN, the butcher in Fårevejle, too much. He is simply one of the best boutchers north of the South Pole. Also when ready-made dishes are concerned.

 

The COOP  ( Superbrugsen ) in Asnæs is also a must, not least if you want to buy wine. The director ( his name is Leo ) is a champion when wine is concerned. He often says: “ If youdon’t like the wine, just call me. Then I will come and drink it!”

 

You can also buy great things at different farms in the area. One of the best you will find in Høve.

 

If you want to buy fish ( not me, sorry ! ) you should go to Odden Havn. Or to Rørvig. In both places you will find very, very good shops for that sort of stuff J

 

12.

 

Finally, you might ask about good restaurants in our region. My first recommendation is Restaurant BOTHWELL.  You find it in the club house at the local new golf course in Fårevejle. Everybody is more than welcome. You don’t need to have a golf club in your hand to be allowed to eat (and drink)  there. Nice food at democratic prices. You can also sit outside – weather permitting.

Another nice place is DEN BLÅ GED (“The Blue Goat” ) in Ordrup. The owner, Petrus van Dijk, is of Dutch origin. And I feel a bit involved as I have arranged that he can sell a special Belgian beer there, called Petrus (of course). Today he can hardly sell anything else.   Wake up, Carlsberg L

 

In the forest near Høve you will find the HØVE SKOVPAVILLION  ( “The HøveForest Pavillion” ). They are in particular active in weekends – also with popular outdoor music events. You can enjoy drinks, food and coffee there – also outside weekends during the summer.

 

If you want to spend more on a very good meal you can go to restaurant “Den Gyldne Hane “ ( “The Golden Cock” ) at the Odden peninsula.   The restaurant at HAVNSØ HOTEL some km to the west is certainly also recommendable.  So is BROMØLLE KRO some 20 km to the south ( an old inn from 1147 ).   In the town of Nykøbing to the north you will find “MADSTEDET” on the main street – very good too. And if you really want something very special you go to LODSOLDERMANDSGAARDEN  at the harbour in Rørvig  ( about 18 km to the north ).  Uhmmm…..

 

Have GOOD FUN – whatever you decide to do here in this gorgeous area!

 

 

LISELOTTE and NIELS JØRGEN THØGERSEN

 

August, 2007

Enjoy

 

S K A G E N

 

 

1. Skagen – the top of Denmark, the landscape of light. Why is there significantly more sunshine there than in most other parts of Denmark? Because the town and the whole area is surrounded by water on three sides and therefore is like an island. There is too little land to warm up the air, so it can move upwards, be cooled down and give rain. The same phenomenon exists in Veddinge Bakker and on the Baltic island Bornholm.

 

      2.   History:  The Skagen Peninsula was 4-500 years ago covered by grass, and the area was  

            producing horses, which were sold for use in wars in foreign countries. There wasn’t

            mush fishing at that time. There were lots of trees. But when the population started cutting

            the forests (for ships, firewood and for making more areas with grass) a catastrophy started.

            The sand took over very quickly. In 1795 the old red church in Skagen had to be definitively

            closed, the furniture removed together with parts of the walls. What was left was the font,

            the walls up to 1 ½ m and the church tower. The tower was later painted white and used as

            navigation mark. The new church was built in New Skagen much later. The railway came to

            Skagen from Frederikshavn around 1900, and the harbour was opened shortly after. A

            regular road to Skagen was only ready in 1932 !

 

3        The original Skagen, Gammel Skagen (Gl. Skagen) or Højen (in the local dialect: Høwi)

is today to a large extent influenced by tourism, not least at the 3 previous seaside hotels

(Jeckels, Traneklit and Skagenklit), which now are modern time-share apartments. It gives

life and activity to the area all year. Ruths Hotel has been totally modernised in 2004 and is now one of the country’s best hotels, not least the restaurant and the brasserie.

 

Jeckels was built as a seaside hotel by Rudolf Jeckel at the end of the 19^th century. It existed for many years as an illustrious hotel with thousands of guests from around the country, not least from Copenhagen. Prime Minister Stauning (in the 1930ies) was a frequent guest. This meant smoking big cigars and drinking good aquavit in the nice salons!

 

New Skagen started existing with the development of the fishing fleet and with the big state habour. It was also here that the famous Skagen painters lived and worked. The drawback with New Skagen is that you now and then meet an awful stink (often from semi-rotten fish). This never happens in Gammel Skagen.

 

4.      About visits to Skagen: try to avoid the school holidays. Then EVERYBODY will be up

there. Queues everywhere (of cars and people) – children making a lot noice in the remaining places. Apart from that all seasons are Skagen seasons, incl. the winter.

 

5.      Ideas for activities in Gammel Skagen : Solnedgangskiosken (the “Sunset Kiosk”) has a

fantastic position. If the sun is viewable you can find no better place to see the sunset. Hundreds of people assemble at this place every evening. It almost gives the impression that the sea is boiling, when the sun slowly disappears.

Sømærket (the nagivation mark on the top of the dunes) behind Ruths Hotel gives a fantastic view in all directions. Also in the evening with a fantastic sky of stars and with the ships, which slowly pass by at the sea.  How can you in the dark see, in which direction a ship is sailing? Easily. The lowest light is always in the front of the ship. Or said in another way: if the two lights on the ship are vertically above each other you’d better get away very quickly. Because then the ship is coming right towards you!

 

6.      About swimming in the sea : you can go bathing just outside Gammel Skagen. Be careful

about undercurrent. It is much better to walk the couple of km to the other side of the peninsula at the Kattegat side to go swimming. Quiet and nice.

 

7.      The beach : go for long walks along the beaches. See how it changes every day. You can

also walk on the prepared footpaths in the dunes. A free superb idea: take a walk along the coast via Grenen! Start in Gammel Skagen in northern direction. Pass the white lighthouse, go to the very top of the peninsula and go back along the east coast, via the harbour (time for a hotdog and a cold beer!), further south passing Klitgaarden (former royal summer house, now used by artists and researchers),  then walk via the church sanded up in 1795, and back to Gammel Skagen. The distance is 23 km , and it takes about 5 ½ hours. In all ways a fantastic experience!

 

8.      Other walks or tours on a bike :  Try Flagbakken (between the main road to Skagen and the

“hidden” church). Fantastic view over both seas. And a regular meeting point for ornitologues, because lots of migratory birds pass by here. Especially birds of prey.

Take a stroll to Klitgaarden, which was built in 1912 as the people’s present to King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine. A few years ago the royal family sold the property. It has now been reformed into a socalled “Refuge”, where you can rent a room if you are writing a book, doing research, painting, etc. Inspiring surroundings just at the coast of Kattegat.

Concerning bikes: you can rent them in the shop Skagen Cykeludlejning in New Skagen and on the Youth Hostel in Gammel Skagen.

 

9.      Skagen Naturcenter : This is a MUST. You find it right north of New Skagen near the radar

station (which by the way will disappear soon). The architect behind the Centre is Jørn Utzon (the “father” of the Sydney Opera) and is VERY impressive. It tells via films, plates and interactive media everything about the Skagen peninsula. You can even say hello to a real live viper from the area! The skilled staff of the Centre is happy to give further explanations about it all. The Centre also has a nice restaurant.

 

       10. Grenen is, of course, an absolute MUST.  Every year it is made ca. 10 m longer with sand,

             which the North Sea brings from the west coast (around Gammel Skagen and south of it).

             There are 65 km from Grenen to the Swedish coast, so you can calculate, when Denmark

             again is connected with Sweden!  The look of Grenen changes all the time – also the beach

             on the way out there. Seals are also living in this area. In the summer of 2004 we met a

             young seal, which was very cute and very curious – not scared at all.

 

             And remember that Grenen is NOT Denmark’s most northern point. You find that close to

             White lighthouse – to the west of the Skagen Naturcenter and the radar station.

 

       11. In New Skagen there is a lot to see. Skagen Museum, of course, with all the lovely Skagen   

       paintings. Anchers Hus near by. Drachmanns Hus in the other end of town (with special

       Drachmann evenings in the summer season). The yellow church (built by architect Ulrik

       Plesner) is worth a visit. So are the fishermen’s houses at the harbour – built by architect

       Bindesbøll. At the part of the harbour closest to the sea you should visit the new art gallery

       called “Katedralen” (in the buildings of the shipyard Karstensen). A group of very skilled

       Russian painters from St. Petersburg has their exhibition here – most of their works done in

       Skagen. An exhibition where you can buy the paintings. A nice and different experience.

 

12.    Shopping :  Try the new “Torvet” – a building next to the City Hall in direction of the

harbour. Here you can buy many different foods and drinks like fish of all sorts, wine (good

ones), very nice home made bread, etc. The butcher Munch on the main street (near Anchers Hus) is one of Denmark’s best. The cheese shop on Havnevej can be recommended strongly – for the many different cheese sorts ( try the “Klemensker” from Bornholm)  as well as for the very special rye bisquits from Jutland. Much better than the better known bisquits from Bornholm. If you want to shop in a supermarket go to “Superbrugsen” in New Skagen  - or to “EuroSuper” on Nordsøvej.

 

13.    Eating out :  “Pakhuset” on the harbour front in New Skagen is the best around there.

Outside (in the summer) as well as inside (all year round). “Bodilles Kro” is very good, if you want very special Danish food, including fish of all sorts. The Italian restaurant “Toscana” on Havnevej is also worth a visit.

 

In Gammel Skagen the new restaurant on Ruths Hotel is second to none. No cheap buy – but still. “Sømærket” is really good and nice. So is “Jeckels Café”.

If you are looking for a bar, then go to “Hyttefadet”s bar with sand on the floor. “Skaw-Kroen” on Havnevej in New Skagen is also special. Not least because it offers beers from around the world, including the best ones – the Belgian beers!

 

If you just want to enjoy an afternoon coffee you should go to “Strandhotellets Café” in Gammel Skagen. Make your choice among their very tempting pastries. But don’t go every day!

 

14.    Excursions :  Lots of possibilities, especially if you have a car. Just a few to be mentioned

       ere: The North Sea Centre in Hirtshals. The Eagle Centre in Tuen by Aalbæk. Raabjerg

       Mile ( the biggest moving dune in the world). Kandestederne (you can also walk to there

       From Gammel Skagen along the sea). Skiveren (the summer address of former Danish

       Prime minister Jens Otto Krag). And much more.

 

Have a lot of fun – and enjoy it! Very special indeed.

 

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

e-mail:  niels@niels-jorgen-thogersen.dk 

OUR VISITS TO MANY PLACES ( by 31.12.2008 )

 

 

 

 

A

 

Als Nørreskov:  14.8.;

Asnæs:  8.1.; 16.5.; 19.5.; 21.5.; 31.5.; 5.6.; 10.6.; 20.6.; 23.6.; 28.6.; 03.07.; 07.07; 09.08.; 5.9.; 18.9.;

Athlone: 15.9.;

Aumühle:  21. - 23.9.;

B

Beograd: 10.10.;

Bergen-Belsen:  12.7.;

Berlin:  9.-12.3.;

Bierges:  30.4.; 1.8.;

Birmingham:  29.3.;

Bogense:  16.6.;

Bourgois:  4.5.;

Bournville:  28.-31.3.; 22.-26.12.;

Bratislava: 13.10.;

Broager:  14.8.;

Bromølle Kro:  23.5.;

Bruxelles: 12.1.; 16.1.; 24.1.; 27.1.; 29.1.; 30.1.; 6.2.; 12.2.; 13.2.; 15.2.; 21.2.; 25.2.; 26.2.; 2.3.; 5.3.; 13.3.; 17.3.; 2.4.; 4.4.; 11.4.; 23.4.; 25.-26.4.; 5.5.; 6.5.; 15.7.; 18.7.; 5.8.; 26.9.; 29.9.; 2.10.;

Bruxelles Lufthavn:  23.1.; 27.1.; 18.2.; 27.2.; 2.3.; 9.3.; 12.3.; 5.8.;

Brøndby: 2.-3.1.; 1.-2.3.;

Budapest:  12.10.;

Buerup:  23.5.;

Bøjden:  13.8.;

C

Casciana Terme:  18.4.;

Celle:  11.-13.7.;

Charleroi Lufthavn:  13.4.; 21.4.;

Charlottenlund:  1.1.; 22.6.;

Constanta:  5.10.;

D

Danfoss Universe:  14.8.;

Dejret:  29.6.;

Dublin: 12. - 16.9.;

Dyvig:  14.8.;

E

Ebeltoft: 14.6.; 29.6.;

Egen:  14.8.;

F

Flensburg:  15.8.;

Frederiksberg:  10.6.; 17.6.;

Freiburg: 17.10.;

Frøslev:  15.8.;

Furtwangen:  17.10.;

Fårevejle:  8.1.; 15.5.; 23.5.; 27.5.; 31.5.; 10.6.; 11.6.; 10.7.; 09.08; 12.9.; 16.9.; 20.9.;
 

G

Gammel Skagen: 16.-30.8.;

Gentofte: 5.-6.1.;

Genval:  24.1.; 6.5.; 17.7.; 7.8.;

Gislinge:  23.5.;

Grenen: 18.8.; 29.8.;

Grez-Doiceau:  18.3.;

Grinzing:  14.10.;

Grynderup:  14.6.;

H

Helved: 14.8.;

Hill 62:  17.2.;

Hoeilart:  13.1.;

Holbæk:  23.5.; 27.5.; 20.6.; 21.6.;

Hunawihr:  18.10.;

Hundested:  3.7.;

Højby: 3.6.; 7.7.;

Højby Lyng:  6.6.;

Hønsinge:  19.5.;

Høruphav:  13.-16.8.;

Hørve: 7.9.;

Høve:  23.6.;

I

Ieper:  17.2.;

Ivanovo:  8.10.;

J

Jernporten: 9.10.;

Jyderup:  23.5.; 16.6.; 8.8.;

K

Kalocsa: 11.10.;

Kastrup Lufthavn: 12.9.; 16.9.;

Kegnes:  14.8.;

Kelstrup:  21.5.;

Klarup:  14.6.;

Korsør:  27.6.;

Kupfermühle / Kobbermølle:  15.8.;

København:  3.1.; 27.-28.2.; 2.3.; 17.5.; 10.6.; 17.6.; 10.9.;

L

La Hulpe:  21.1.; 26.4.;

Landet:  13.8.;

Langemark:  17.2.;

Lasne:  6.4.;

Limal:  2.2.; 27.4.;

Linz:  16.10.;

London:  25.-26.3.;  23.-27.7.;

Loro Ciuffenna: 15.-16.4.;

Louvain-la-Neuve: 12.1.; 16.2.;

Lucca: 19.4.;

Luxembourg:  4.10.;

Lüneburg: 10.1.;

Lyngby: 2.1.; 17.6.;

M

Marina di Pisa:  20.4.;

Melk:  15.10.;

Mohacs: 11.10.;

Montecatini Alto:  19.4.;

Montecatini Terme:  19.4.;

Mørkøv:  23.5.;

N

Namur:  22.1.; 16.2.;

Nivå: 2.1.; 5.1.; 17.6.; 3.7.; 5.7.; 10.9.;

Nordborg:  14.8.;

Nordstrand:  18.6.;

Novi Sad:  10.10.;

Nr. Asmindrup: 21.5.; 5.9.; 18.9.;

Nykøbing Sjælland:  18.6.; 18.9.;

O

Odden Færgehavn:  29.6.; 5.5.;

Odense: 28.2.-1.3.; 15.5.; 29.6.; 11.7.; 30.8.;

Olmenita: 7.10.;

Ordrup: 7.9.; 18.9.;

Ottignies:  21.3.;

Overijse:  1.2.; 9.2.;

P

Paris:  14.-16.12.;

Pattensen:  23.9.;

Perugia:  13.-15.4.;

Pisa:  16.-21.4.;

Puszta-farm:  11.10.;

Q

 

R

Radde:  16.4.;

Rebild:  30.8.;

Redu:  5.8.;

Riquewihr: 17.-18.10;

Rixensart:  10.1. - 14.5.;

Roffessart:  2.2.; 27.4.;

Rosières: 13.1.;

Ruze / Rousse:  7. - 8.10 ;

S

Sabro:  16.8.;

Salzhausen: 9.-10.1.;

San Gimignano:  18.4.;

Schleswig: 14.-15.5.;

Sidinge:  21.5.; 5.9.;

Skagen:  17.8.; 18.8.; 20.8.; 28.8.;

Skippinge: 7.9.;

Skodsbøl:  14.8.;

Strasbourg:  4.- 5.10.; 16.-17.10.;

Sønderborg:  15.8.;

T

Tecklenburg: 7.-8.8.;

 

Tervueren:  20.12.;

 

Tirrenia:  20.4.;

Tulcea: 5. - 6. 10;

Tyne-Cot:  17.2.;

Tåsinge:  13.8.;

U

Ulvsborg:  25.5.;

V

 

Vallekilde: 7.9.;

Vedbæk: 10.9.;

Veddinge Bakker:  1.- 9.1.; 15.5. -

Vedersø:  14.-16.6.;

 

Venezia:  20.-23.11.;

Vig:  21.5.;

Volterra: 18.4.;

W

Waterloo:  5.4.; 7.5.; 8.5.; 20.7.;

Wavre:  24.1.; 16.7.;

Wepion:  22.1.;

Wien:  14.10.;

Y

York: 26.-28.3.;

Æ

 

Ø

 

Å

Aalborg:  27.-28.8.;

Ålbæk: 24.8.;

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen  31.12.2008