Halsnæs in North Sealand offers lots of things to do. The Top-10 best activities focus on nature, culture, sports and food. See the list here.

The surroundings in Halsnæs in North Sealand are dominated by water: The Kattegat Sea to the north-west, the Ise Fjord to the south and Roskilde Fjord to the west, the largest lake in Denmark; Arresø, to the east. Therefore the top-10 summer activities in Halsnæs include water activities! Enjoy water sports such as canoeing, fishing and surfing. Relax on one of our perfect beaches while the kids play in the shallow water; or take a boat trip on Ise fjord or Arresø.

But there are lots of other things to do in Halsnæs: whether you are a couple, a group of friends or a family with kids. You can explore the area by bike, learn about the local history by visiting our museums, shop local arts and crafts, or take the kids on a picnic in the lush woods. Take a look below for the ten most popular activities in Halsnæs!

 

1. Liseleje Beach – one of the best beaches in Denmark – and a wonderful playground

One of the top ten best summer activities in Denmark is going to the beach. Almost the entire Northern coastline of Halsnæs is one long stretch of beautiful beaches: a major attraction for visitors from Copenhagen. Here you will find one of the best beaches in Denmark: Liseleje Beach. It is sandy with shallow water, and there are lifeguards during the summer months. You can park and buy ice cream near the beach, and cafés and restaurants are easily found.

If the kids get bored or sun burnt, you could visit the Sea Bull, a nature playground close to the beach. It has been designed around the local legend of the Sea Bull, who took revenge on the little fisherman's town and covered it in sand; reportedly because the inhabitants had tried to steal the children of the Sea People.

Every swing, slide and tree hut is crafted from natural tree trunks and carved to look like different figures. The centrepiece is the impressive Sea Bull climbing frame that has given the playground its name. There is a covered picnic area as well.

 

2. Visit Lynæs for kite surfing, bathing and other experiences

Another very popular summer activity in Denmark is water sports. Lynæs is the paradise for surfers in North Sealand, one of the two best kite surfing places in Denmark, and among the finest in Europe. Lynæs Surfcenter provides a wide range of water sports including kayaking, wind surfing, kite surfing or paddle surfing. Try it out on your own or get an instructor.

The sandy beach at Lynæs is ideal for children to play in the shallow water and for watching the colourful kite surfers. There is a small parking lot at Lynæs Harbour.

For those less interested in water sports there are other things to do. The surf center also provides table tennis, basketball, barbecuing, and a large grassy area ideal for sun bathing. Lynæs also has an idyllic harbour, a beautiful church, and a nice inn where you can enjoy a cold beer or a meal after surfing.

In Lynæs Harbour sailors are welcome; there is always room for large and small boats, and it is a perfect location as a base for a wonderful summer cruise in Ise Fjord and Roskilde Fjord if you are doing a sailing tour of Denmark.

At the foot of the cliffs on the shore, just east of Lynæs Harbour, an ancient holy water well named Boes Kilde used to flow out into the sea. In the 18th century it was much sought-after for its miraculous effects; among other things for curing eye diseases.

If you need a place to eat or a place to stay in North Sealand, the village of Lynæs offers a selection of nice restaurants as well as different accommodation opportunities including Bed&Breakfasts and shelters by the harbour (free of charge).

 

3. Go sailing!

Denmark is a country of islands: and traffic crossing waters is part of the everyday life here. However, sailing is also a popular leisure activity and tourist attraction. Bordered by the Kattegat Sea, the Ise Fjord and Lake Arresø, Halsnæs is a brilliant place for adventures on the water.

Jump on the tour boat M/S Frederikke, which takes you safely across the largest lake in Denmark: Arresø. It takes about an hour and it’s a lovely nature experience for the whole family; the lake has a very rich bird and floral life, and there is a chance of spotting a beaver.

Ise Fjord is a branched arm of Kattegat into Sealand. It has a narrow entry between Hundested and Rørvig and stretches 35 km inland from there, dividing the northern part of Sealand into the peninsulas of Odsherred, Hornsherred and North Sealand. Some of the branches have their own names, such as Roskilde Fjord that forms the eastern boundary of Halsnaes. The banks of Ise Fjord are filled with interesting flowers and plants.

Take a ferry across the fjord from Hundested to Rørvig – a pleasant summer house area only 25 minutes away. Rørvig Harbour has a charming atmosphere with restaurants, large ice creams and children fishing from the wharf. 

 

4. Trails ‘n’ tracks

A good way to experience our unique nature is going for long walks or runs in the forests and along the many tracks and trails all over Halsnæs. You can also rent a bike and go all the way to Helsingør (Elsinore) along the coast, if you are ready for a 69 km challenge! In North Sealand we have quite a few sign posted cycle routes marked by a blue sign with a white bike and a number.

The Halsnæs Path (Halsnæsstien) – hike or bike

An incredibly beautiful walk/ride around Halsnæs. You can walk or cycle on the banks of the sea and the fjord, and cross changing landscapes as well as through idyllic villages. The entire route is 12 km long, but you can shorten it as you like.

 

Bicycle Route 47

On the north coast of Sealand, from Hundested to Helsingør, the beaches are comparable with the best in Europe. We call this stretch The Danish Riviera; follow the cycle route 47 and see for yourself! Most of the just about 70-kilometer route is on paved roads, but sometimes you will also find yourself on quiet cottage roads and gravel paths.

From Hundested, you can continue along the Fjordstien, through Lynæs and Sølager to Frederiksværk where you will be able to spot Roskilde Fjord and the lush banks on the other side.

 

Fjordstien (The Fjord Path)

Follow Fjordstien by foot from near Hald Strand to Hundested, mostly along the coastline. It is suitable for inexperienced hikers. The path takes you past the old fishing village, Kikhavn, Enjoy a cup of coffee and the amazing views in the garden of Knud Rasmussen's house, and end up in Hundested harbour. Continue to Lynæs Harbour where you can have dinner in the bright summer’s night. The path is clearly marked and popular with both pedestrians and cyclists.

 

Kappelhøj Kilen

The route is 4.3 km long and passes through the protected "Kappelhøj Kile" area. There are several burial mounds in this part, including "Maglehøj", which is the highest point in the area (70 meters above sea level). From here, you can see Roskilde Fjord, Kattegat and Arresø. The mounds can be reached by passing through a side path from the marked route.

 

Halsninoen

The signposted hiking route, Halsninoen, takes you on a varied 52 km. trip from Hundested in the west to Strø Bjerge in the south. Experience the hiking trail in more miniature stages or in its full length, at once or over several days. It is possible to hop on and off the local train and begin the route in several places. 

5. Hundested Harbour – meet a fish, eat a fish and shop artworks

Hundested Harbour used to be fishing harbour and busy ferry port. It is situated on the northern coast of Sealand between the bay and the ocean, and right in the centre of Hundested. The harbour offers plenty of activities for the whole family. In the morning, the local fishermen catch their fish and later on you can visit galleries, restaurants, a glass factory and the local Halsnaes Brewhouse.

For the kids, there is an experience platform where they can pat the fish and catch crabs. Other things to see include the amazing annual sand sculpture festival, displaying huge sand sculptures created by the best international sand artists.　

 

Hundested is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, and the first harbour was built here in the late 19th century. The name Hundested originates from royal seal hunts on a reef named "Hunderevet" or "Seal reef". The seals are still here, but now you can mainly see them at the island Hesselø further out in the Kattegat Sea and scattered around the town and port in the form of sculptures. See if you can spot them!

The beach in Hundested town has a lifeguard during the school summer holidays; it is a sandy beach ideal for kids, bordered with dunes and flying the blue flag which indicates superb bathing water. There is disabled access, changing facilities, outdoor showers and parking at Skansevej and the harbour.

 

6. The House of Knud Rasmussen near Hundested

Greenland is part of Denmark and the famous Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen was born there in 1879. In his home here in Halsnæs, located in the beautiful scenery near the lighthouse Spodsbjerg Fyr, Knud Rasmussen wrote his books and prepared his expeditions crossing the inland ice of Greenland and going as far as Canada and North America.

Enjoy the magnificent views over the Kattegat Sea as well as the pleasant atmosphere inside the house, which appears almost as it did when Knud Rasmussen lived here until he died in 1933. You can see his original furniture, Arctic artwork, authentic dog sledges, kayaks and other equipment from his expeditions. The house almost has an intimate feel of still being lived in and that makes it well worth a visit.

When you are here, do not forget to take a short walk up to the lighthouse and enjoy one of the most fabulous views in Denmark; steep slopes falling down towards the sea, sandy beaches and the blue sea.

 

7. Visit Torup and the first sustainable eco-village in Denmark

Torup is a small town in Halsnæs known for its eco-village Dyssekilde: the first of its kind in Denmark. http://dyssekilde.dk/uk

Torup is the name of the original village dating back to the 11th century. Like many other villages in Denmark, Torup was gradually abandoned in the early 1990s, when founders of the eco-village bought the Dyssekildegård farm and attached land in order to create a vegetarian, spiritual and humane village.

They restored the farm and started building sustainable houses in a former potato field. Today, the eco-village has around 300 inhabitants, bound together by shared values such as ecology, sustainability, tolerance and respect. Dyssekilde is divided into six housing groups functioning as small enclaves within the village. The village is car free – there is a parking lot by the entrance for both visitors and inhabitants, and the local train stops at Dyssekilde Station.

Visit Dyssekilde on your own or take a guided tour.

 

While in Torup, visit the Torup market and shop for local vegetables, honey, mustard and jams as well as locally produced arrows and crafts. The eatery offers organic food and drinks.

In Torup you will also find Møllekilde Golf Course, the first organic golf course in North Sealand, open from April until October.

For local arts take a look in the Cellar Gallery (Kældergalleriet) under the local shop in Torup (Brugsen), which is open to visitors Monday-Saturday.

The association Torup Bogby is working towards turning Torup into the first Danish book town. A Book town is a small rural town with particular focus on books, often characterized by many second hand bookshops, talks and lectures by writers, and other literature and book related events.

 

8. Frederiksværk - a modern town built on industrial development

Explore the history of this old industrial town; selected as a national cultural heritage site for its unique industrial history. 

Frederiksværk is often described as "Little Venice" because of the many bridges and the canal flowing through the town. In 1717, King Frederik IV had the canal dug between Lake Arresø and Ise Fjord in order to prevent the area from being flooded, and this same canal still runs though the town. The lively commercial street is beautifully situated between the canal and the wood.

 

Take a walk through Frederiksværk and discover the many old, well preserved buildings telling the story of how Danish industrialization was born here.

Visit the Frederiks Værk Museum of Industry or ask for a guided tour.

 

There are restaurants, cafés and places to stay in Frederiksværk. There is also a cinema, a library and a wonderful cultural center; Gjethuset, with art exhibitions, concerts and other events.

 

In a walking distance from the town center of Frederiksvaerk, the marina provides a pleasant ambience with an authentic fish shop as well as active yachting, canoeing and rowing clubs and a smaller playground for the younger audience.

At the very end of Slaggemolen – the pier – the views through Roskilde Fjord and towards Nordskoven and Kulhusrenden are staggering.

 

9. Gjethuset - from cannons to culture

Halsnaes Municipality’s cultural center, Gjethuset, is located in Frederiksvaerk. The building was constructed during the 1760s and originally served as a cannon foundry. The name "Gjet" originates from the German word "Giessen" which means ‘to cast’. "Huset" is Danish for ‘the house’. Here, cannons and cannon balls for the Danish army and marine were cast until 1928, and Gjethuset was used for heavy industry until 1976. The building underwent a restoration and reopened in 1996.

Gjethuset has served as a cultural center ever since and is one of the top places to visit in Halsnæs. The center hosts different cultural events for tourists and local visitors. From classical music matinees to rock concerts; changing art exhibitions by both local and international artists; theatre plays and much more. In the summer, Gjethuset hosts Frederiksværk Music Festival with lots of interesting classical concerts. Entrance is free for exhibitions or just a walk around in the beautiful building.

 

10. Summertime is festival time

In Denmark, we love festivals: especially during the summer months where you can find a festival to your taste both in and outside Copenhagen. In Halsnæs, too, there is a lot going on everywhere in the municipality:

 

Hundested:

The sand sculpture festival in Hundested Harbour showcases 10 giant sand sculptures, created by the best international sand artists, and will be on display throughout the summer. Nearby, there is a large children’s area with various activities. Ice cream, beer, soft drinks and coffee are available, and you can bring your own picnic basket.

 

Book festival: Every year, an art and book festival takes place in Torup, offering the public the possibility to attend lectures and readings by local and national writers.

 

Folkely Festival, a new local born festival every year in August.

 

Frederiksværk:

If you are fond of classical music, you should not miss Frederiksværk Music Festival: one of Denmark’s most extensive chamber music festivals with 17 concerts every July. The concerts are held in the former cannon foundry, Gjethuset, in Frederiksværk.

The festival programme includes masterpieces of classical chamber music, renowned ensembles and new ones from the international sphere of classical music, as well as some of the foremost singers from Denmark and from abroad.

The festival presents unusual instrumental combinations, with rarely heard instruments, and a blend of early and brand new music.

 

Please enjoy your time in Halsnæs!

Sidst ændret:

torsdag, 03. august, 2023 - 10:24