Denmark

Bleek later dat ze verkeerd was aangesloten door een werknemer van Dicar Geel. De antenne was rechtstreeks aangesloten op het zonnepaneel in plaats van aan het 12V circuit. Bij levering werkte de antenne gezien er veel zon was en het zonnepaneel zijn volledige vermogen afgaf. Uiteraard, wanneer er weinig zon was, was er geen vermogen genoeg om de antenne te doen werken. Doch niet getreurd. Wij hebben steeds een harde schijf met talloze films mee op onze vakanties.

Op vrijdag 04/05/18 vertrokken we vol goede moed voor een initiatieweekend voor beginnende kampeerders. Dit op Kompas Camping Nieuwpoort, en ingericht door Pasar. We laadden de motorhome zoals we op een 14 daagse reis zouden vertrekken. Met volle watertank en volle brandstoftank. Vooraleer we naar de camping rijden gaan we toch eerst langs bij een weegbrug. De openbare weegbrug in Aalter. Kostprijs 2€! Je raadt het nooit! Te zwaar geladen; 20 kg te veel! Volgende keer vertrekken met een 40-tal liter water i.p.v. een volle tank. Dat scheelt ook weer 80 kg. Hoe doe je het als je met 4 of 5 aan boord bent, fietsen en speelgoed in de garage en misschien een bak bier?

After a corona infection thwarted our plans in June, we can still implement them. We left! Towards Denmark, where our journey of discovery will take us all around the country. From mainland Jutland we drive to the islands of Funen and Zealand and back through Jutland. From the south in Aabenraa, the east in Copenhagen, the north in Skagen, the west in Nykøbing Mors, we will drive back south to end in Ribe.
What makes Denmark such a beautiful travel destination?
Compared to Norway and Sweden, Denmark is more human-sized. There are no mountains in the strict sense of the word, but the versatile Danish landscape is not completely flat either. It swings from the pearling sea against elongated sandy beaches behind undulating dune landscapes. Nowhere in Denmark are you more than 50 km from the sea. Life progresses slowly on the rolling hills of the islands of Funen and Zealand. In the south of Zealand, immense chalk cliffs rise perpendicularly from the sea. And finally, in the very north of Jutland, Skagerrak (the North Sea) and Kattegat (the Baltic Sea) meet and the foaming waves are very unpredictable.
But above all it is the Danes themselves who make Denmark worth visiting. Their joie de vivre and desire for conviviality are extremely contagious.

Hence their motto: Hygge i Danmark (cosiness in Denmark).

Day 2
After a blissful night we continued our journey and after a quick check at the border we entered Denmark.
Our first stop is Aabenraa, a town in South Jutland. We install the motorhome at the camper place of the marina, located on the Aabenraa fjord. This is immediately our first confrontation with a beautiful sight that a fjord offers. An experience that we will have several more times. A gentle breeze blows over the water. A real cooling in this period of exceptionally hot days.
In the old centre of Aabenraa we walk past the beautifully preserved merchant houses from the 18th century. The ascending main street has many nice shops. There is a pleasant bustle on the central square. Soon we look for refreshment on a terrace. We do this with a local beer.

Day 4
The long-awaited rain has also reached Kolding. It is absolutely not as intense as they had at home (in Ghent). Around 9.30 am the rain stopped and the sun came out carefully.

Today we leave Jutland and drive over the Little Belt Bridge to the island of Funen. It is the old Lillebaelt bridge that we cross. This also serves as a railway bridge and you have the option of "bridge walking". Literally walk on top of the bridge. I looked but didn't see anyone walking.
Again we settle in a marina, on the strait "the Little Belt". The MS Sabine is just next to our camper. A boat with which you can spot porpoises. We are only here for 1 day and prefer to explore the town. We may even spot porpoises further on our journey.

It is a cosy place with half-timbered houses and pastel-colored houses. But the vibrant heart of Middelfart turned out to be the waterfront.
Many shops are located in the small main street of the old town. At the end of the street we arrive at a church and the eye-catcher of the town: the "Henner Friisers Hus".
A beautiful building, even if it is quite crooked here and there. Inside we see crooked doors and painted beams along the ceilings. The museum paints a picture of life in the time when this was an inn, where all kinds of people came who had to take the ferry to Jutland. Because there were no bridges then. For us 40 crowns we could also visit the Middelfart city museum. Not that interesting considering it was set up entirely for kids. What was authentic was the museum café. In a beautiful Danish interior we enjoyed a coffee with plum cake.

One of these buildings with its 18th century interior has been set up as a museum: den Gamle Gaerd. Kitchen, living room, stables, bedrooms and office on the top floor. All furnished as they were then. The wooden floors creak due to the numerous visitors. Maybe the entrance fee has something to do with it. This one was free.
At the end of the afternoon it started to rain again. The rain, which is so much needed, soon comes to sting. Hopefully better weather tomorrow.

Day 6
Our last stop on the island of Funen. Tomorrow we drive over the large Belt Bridge into Seeland. The sun is shining brightly in Lundeborg; one of the last remaining fishing villages on Funen.
We installed the camper on the strait of the Great Belt. The view over the fjord is idyllic. A phenomenal view that you will not get tired of.
We decide to make it a quiet afternoon and enjoy the water. Occasionally a 'local' dives into the water from the jetty to cool off. Some ladies do this stark naked, a common thing in Denmark.

Day 7
We leave Funen and enter Seeland, crossing the large Belt Bridge. Together with the Oresund Bridge, which connects Denmark to Sweden, the only toll bridges in Denmark. All other bridges and roads are toll-free.
The bridge, which is a total of 18 km long, had a seriously high cost. The toll is proportional and also expensive! For one transition you pay for a motorhome, up to 3.5 tons and longer than 6m, 610 Danish kroner. This is about 82.30€.
For that reason I bought a transponder via Brobizz, comparable to Bip & Go in France, with the intention of getting a discount. To enjoy this discount, you must also have an agreement with the company that manages the bridge and have a motorhome agreement. The so-called: Storebælt Private Agreement and motorhome agreement.
All applications were approved and I had my transponder. When leaving the Great Belt Bridge, I arrived at the toll gates. I was able to continue immediately via the green express lanes. The price I have to pay is: 295 Danish kroner (39.80€), which is less than half.

Day 8
Today in Hillerød we visit the tourist attraction of the region: the beautiful Renaissance castle Frederiksborg, the largest Renaissance castle in Scandinavia. Built in the 17th century, Frederiksborg was converted into the National History Museum in 1878. You can view furniture, portraits and paintings. The collection of art is housed in more than 70 rooms, all of which are beautifully decorated. It is exceptional that photography is allowed inside.
The weather was thirsty and we ended the day on a terrace. Monique with an americano coffee and I with a 75cl Tuborg!

Day 9
Copenhagen is on the agenda. And to put it in the words of the Danes themselves: the cosiest capital of Europe. For our trips to, from and in Copenhagen and all paying attractions, we bought a Copenhagen Card. We also use the same (digital) map for our next visit to Roskilde. We bought a card for 3 days: cost € 108 per person (if I add up all train tickets, museum entrances, boat tours, bus and metro in Copenhagen, we would have paid more than € 180 per person without a card.

So, we left the campsite in Hillerød on foot to the station (approx. 20 min.) and took the train to Copenhagen. Tivoli Park is located just outside the main station. The park is the second oldest amusement park in the world, but it is more than just an amusement park. It is a historical gem and cultural wonderland in the heart of Copenhagen. We walked to the town hall and the house of Hans Christian Anderson (the famous fairy tale writer), because Tivoli only opened its doors at 11:00 am. It was fun to stroll around the park. We wisely let the world's highest chain carousels and the lightning fast roller coasters pass us by.
Meanwhile it was after noon and time for lunch. Our choice was quickly made: smørrebrød, the traditional Danish lunch dish that consists of many variations. It is a kind of open sandwich. In Denmark they use a kind of rye bread that is richly invested. We chose a “fiskplatte”, toppings with four types of fish, including marinated herring. It was exceptionally delicious.

After lunch we left Tivoli and continued our tour. We visit Christianborg Castle, a palace that used to be the royal residence, but is now home to the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After this visit we walk past various sights, such as the Thorvaldsens Museum, the Stock Exchange and Chamber of Commerce, the Holmens Kirke, ...
On the way back to the station we had no choice but to walk along the Strøget. A succession of hip shopping streets. A must for any Copenhagen resident.

We walk towards Ved Stranden, the mooring place of the boats that provide the tours. After registering with the Copenhagen Card, we take a seat on the boat. During the cruise we discover Copenhagen again, this time from the water. The sun burns on our skin and along the quays people are roasting in the sun. One dressed in swimming trunks, the ladies in bikinis. Other ladies sunbathe in monokini. A single gentleman was even stark naked, as I said: the most normal thing in Denmark.
The last sight we visit is the Round Tower, the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. I walk up the spiral (without stairs) to reach the top. At the top I have a beautiful 360 degree view of Copenhagen. A nice end to our visit to Copenhagen.

Day 11
The last day we use our Copenhagen Card. We track to Roskilde, which turns out to be a bit more difficult. In Copenhagen we have to change trains. No problem, everything is well marked on the signs, until the train suddenly arrives on a different track. Broadcasting was only in Danish. But immediately, and without us asking anything, we were escorted by several people to the right platform. After an otherwise very quiet train ride (we were in a silent carriage; talking and smartphone sounds are prohibited!) we arrived in Roskilde. Until about the year 1400 the capital of Denmark. High above the water, the cathedral dominates the panoramic view. It is located in the middle of the old city centre. When we visit this imposing church, the numerous sarcophagi stand out. The deceased Danish kings are buried in this cathedral to this day.
We stroll around the traffic-free center and we head for the Viking Ship Museum. Here we pass the Market Square. This square is surrounded by the Cathedral, the Palace and the Gothic Town Hall.

In the 10th century Roskilde was the residence of the king and presumably to ward off an attack on the city the harbor entrance was closed by loading five Viking ships with boulders until they sank. From 1962, these wrecks were brought to the surface and they turned out to be in surprisingly good condition. The remains have been used to reconstruct the boats. You can view this result in the main hall of this Viking ship museum. So they are the oldest remains of Viking ships. It was very special to be able to view these boats. All replicas can be viewed in the harbor. With this visit we concluded our trip on the island of Zealand. Tomorrow we travel on to North Jutland.

Day 12
We are up early and under a radiant sun we leave the campsite in hillerød. After about 420 km we stop in Hadsund for the night. The RV park I had planned was not available. This was fully rented for the weekend by an association.
We found a small campsite further on on the instructions of residents. Cheap (for Denmark) and with a beautiful view. The campsite is on the slope and our place has an immense view of Kattegat (the strait between Sweden and Denmark and which connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea). We can't ask for more!

Day 13
The more we drive north, the narrower the part of the country becomes. We are in Skagen, the most northerly point of Denmark. Via the Grenen car park we go onto the beach and follow the stream of people who have all come for the same spectacle, the collision of two seas. After half an hour of walking along the waterfront, we finally reach the very tip of the beach. To our left: Skagerrak (the North Sea), to our right: Kattegat (the Baltic Sea). But the seas are very calm and collisions are amicable. Yet it gives a very strange feeling, waves rolling over your feet from left and right. The feeling of the sand being sucked away from under your feet, now from both sides!
A seal swimming in front of the beach watches the many people who marvel at him and at the convergence of the seas. It is the first seal we spot on this trip.
We then return to the parking lot. We do this with the tractor train. These tractors with trailer transport visitors to and from the car park via a bumpy track.

Day 14
The day starts promising with sun, some clouds and a blue sky. But by noon the north wind picks up and the dark clouds drift in.
In the afternoon we walk to the centre of Skagen. Soon we get to deal with a first rain shower. Skagen was originally a fishing village. Now it is a quiet village that looks cheerful thanks to the many yellow houses with red roofs. In the centre there are not many people to be seen. Most residents and tourists are located at the harbour, where the terraces of the many restaurants are packed.
We end the somewhat cold afternoon with a coffee and a piece of warm chocolate cake.

Day 15
We drive back south. The end of our exploration of Denmark is in sight. Over an iron bridge we drive onto the island of Mors, which is surrounded by the Limfjord. We install the motorhome at the marina of Nykobing Mors. The pedestrian street connects the harbor with the town, and so we walk into the small centre in the afternoon. This town has an industrial past and is home to the Christensen Ironworks, which still make its mark on the town. For example, the library is located in the old main building of the foundry.
In the early evening the sun is still shining and we enjoy even more on a couch on the banks of the harbor.

Day 16
We leave the island and continue our way along the Limfjord. The image is so beautiful that we stop at the shore to enjoy the view. Further along the fjord is the town of Thisted. We decide to spend the day here and get a place at the Thisted campsite. Here too we have an immediate view over the fjord. It is wonderful to walk along the water.
As in many places in Denmark, the port also plays a leading role here.
Via the pedestrian shopping street we arrive in the heart of the town. The main attractions are the Thisted Kirke, with a beautiful gilded altarpiece and organ, dating from 1768 and then the old town hall from 1853. In the streets around the centre you will find the typical yellow Danish houses.
We end the day with a view of the water.

Day 17
We are on our way to our last stop in Denmark: Ribe, the oldest city in the country. A journey of about 250 km. We drive along the west coast towards Ribe. Past Ringkøbing we drive onto the provincial road 181. It is literally surrounded by water. On one side the Ringkøbing fjord, on the other side the North Sea. A strip of about 35 km and where the sea is separated by a row of dunes. In the dunes there are old houses with a thatched roof here and there. A picturesque image that goes on for miles. There are holiday homes in the almost complete row of dunes. Truly a paradise for lovers of beach holidays.
About halfway we stop in Hvide Sande for lunch. The town is located exactly on the passage from the fjord to the North Sea. There were a few camper pitches there, but the place is one construction site and is being industrialised.
After a last look at the North Sea, we continue our way and arrive in the afternoon at the Ribe campsite where we settle in a beautiful camper place for the next two nights.

We then walk on and wander along old streets to the heart of the city: the Cathedral Square. All around are beautiful buildings such as the cathedral, the "kannikegården", a building in which, behind glass, you can see the ruins of what is probably the oldest building in Denmark: a pre-1145 kannike abbey.
We also walk past the old town hall and the oldest hotel in Denmark on the town square. The hotel Dagmar is a beautiful stone house with a cellar for guards. It dates from 1581. We then stop for a bit of rest and refreshment on the terrace.

Bauernhof Hoyer - official camper place - Hochelstener Straße 1A, Bakum - 15 € / 10pl - all amenities included - arrival until 9 p.m. - supermarket 5 km - centre 200 m - very friendly and helpful people, dog always came to say hello - there were a lot of flies and they bit hard

Aabenraa Sejl Club - Kystvej 55, 6200 Aabenraa – 22€/56pl – all amenities – centre 1 km

Kolding Lystbådehavn - Skamlingsvejen 5, Kolding – 29 € / 20pl – facilities, electricity payable – at the harbor - centre 2 km

NyHavn2 Middelfart - Havnegade 4, Middelfart – 27€/20pl – all amenities included – GPS: N 55.50472 E 009.73784 – centre 200m

Fåborg Havn - Værftsvej 7, 5600 Faaborg – 24.5€/6pl – all amenities – located in the centre

Lundeborg autocamperplads - Hesselager - 21 € / night - all amenities - pitches immediately on Kattegat - very nice view - quiet on the harbor

Hillerød camping - Blytækkervej 18, 3400 Hillerød – €36/night (with a discount) – all amenities – arrive from 2 pm – castle 1.4 km – center 500 m – station 1.3 km (we visit Copenhagen and Roskilde by train from Hillerod) – very nice campsite (voted best of 2022), modern cozy kitchen with stoves, ovens and microwave ovens, dining room – nice sanitary facilities – pleasant stay around these blocks, with tables, chairs, lots of plants and candles everywhere in the evening – very friendly owners

ALS campsite – Helberskovvej 15, Als Hadsund – 60 DKK/pers/night, 30 DKK electricity = 150 DKK (21€) – beautiful place with a direct view of Kattegat

camping CampOne Grenen Strand - Fyrvej 16, Skagen – €28.7/night (acsi price €23 + TB) – all amenities – on the beach – centre 2 km

Morsø Sejlklub og Marina - Holmen 19, Nykøbing Mors – 24.5€/14pl – all amenities – free Network: Morsoe Marina, mors1234 – centre 500m

Thisted camping – Iversensvej 3, Thisted – €34.5/night – all facilities – water view – centre 1.5 km

Ribe camping - Farupvej 2, 6760 Ribe – 41€/night ! (acsi price 22 € to 20/6) - all amenities - possibly quick stop price (is only from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.) - very nice campsite - spacious camper pitches - sanitary facilities, kitchen, dining area and lounges all very modern - centre 1.5 km