Sometimes in life, you visit somewhere and wonder why you haven't been there before? When you get the chance to visit, you simply don't want to leave. That's how I felt on my latest trip to Scandinavia and the pieceful country of Denmark. For many years now I have been interested in visiting this country, it has always interested / intrigued me, with its closeness to nature and great outdoor lifestyle. Luckily, I was able to experience all of those nice elements during my latest visit, which was arranged on behalf of the Danish Tourist Board and Landal GreenParks. I will lead you through 5 highlights I visited in the Top of Denmark, which I think you shouldn't miss!

We flew the relatively short journey from Amsterdam, Schiphol to the northern city of Aalborg in sunny skies. It was a perfect flight, allowing us to see the islands to the north of the Netherlands and Germany and also the beautiful landscape and coastline of Denmark. On arrival at the airport it struck me how clean, efficient and stylish it all was and just how quiet it was. It was hard to believe, but it almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, which we really enjoyed. We headed north west with the car, some 30 km or so to our base for the week, the Dayz by Landal GreenParks resort at Grønhøj.

1) Grønhøj beach

The beaches here are just...wow! Don't miss out Grønhøj beach when you visit this area. Our Landal GreenParks resort was perfectly located close to the beach of Grønhøj. As it was just a short walk, some 400 metres, it leads you through the spectacular dunes (or perhaps a little longer journey by car). I mention the car, as it is  one of the only beaches I have been to where you can drive your car onto the actual beach which is so cool! Make sure not to get stuck with your car on the soft sand though.

The sands are simply perfect and stretch both north and south, for as far as the eye can see. From here you have a view on
Rubjerg with it's stunning lighthouse. While we took a stroll along the beach a man beside us took to the sky in his para-sail.
It was a wonderful sight, watching him use the coast winds to enjoy the spectacular surroundings.

2) Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse

Since being invited by the Danish Tourist Board, one of the places I'd personally longed to visit was the lighthouse on the edge of Rubjerg’s never-ending sand landscape. From the many images I'd previously seen of this stunning lighthouse, it was a place that had always been on my wishlist. Not only because it was a significant landscape feature, but the sand dunes that surround the lighthouse are truly magnificent and the sand forever shifting, as they are constantly at the mercy of the elements. The lighthouse is estimated to only remain standing for another 10-15 years, before the ocean will consume it and I am so glad I have been there now. I took so many pictures of this place, but decided to come back again at sunset to shoot a video from above too:

Once up in the lighthouse, you can see for many miles. It is amazing to see how the quick the landscape changes here through the years, and even as I am watching the sand being blown into the air from the dunes, it is easy to believe this place will never lo the same. Such an incredible and unforgettable place and defintely a must see!

3) Lønstrup

Nestled close to the lighthouse at Redburg... is the fabulous seaside village of Lønstrup. Positioned close to the sea it has a small and quaint harbour, with a rich heritage in fishing. The harbour serves as a perfect base for small fishing boats, that fish out in the North sea beyond. Lønstrup is a great place, but has been affected by coastal erosion over the years, which is forever shaping this particular part of the coast.

4) Skagen (and the Tilsandede Kirke)

As you meander the beautiful country roads in a north easterly direction, you eventually reach the seaside town of Skagen at the very tip of northern Denmark. It is name was originally associated with the peninsula of sand.  At Grenen, a few kilometres north of the town, you can stand with each of your feet in a different sea. It is here, at the northernmost tip of Jutland, that the Kattegat meets the Skagerrak. Here you can jump on “Sandormen”, which is a ride that takes you to Grenen. Such a weird experience arriving there, it's like waves having an argument with each other all the time. 

The two seas Kattegat and Skagerrak colliding.

On both sides of Grenen, you will find child-friendly and beautiful beaches. Thanks the beautiful seascapes, fishermen and evening light here, towards the end of the 19th century it became popular with a group of impressionist artists now known as the Skagen Painters. They utilised the great light, water and wide open spaces to paint some of the finest artwork. Once again the area is home to some of Denmark's fine sandy beaches, colonies of seals and the eye catching lighthouse at Skagen Grenen. 

The Tilsandede Kirke
A short distance and drive from Skagen is the Tilsandede Kirke. Here you will find a quite remarkable sight. Located in the sand dunes, close to the sea is the sunken church, which has become somewhat engulfed by the ever changing direction of the shifting sands. Here I used my drone to get up high and grab a completely different perspective.

5) Råbjerg Mile (Coastal sanddunes)

Råbjerg Mile covers a 2 km2 area and is Denmark’s larges drifting dune. The dune moves about 15 meters every year due to the north-easterly wind and has a height of 40 m (130 ft) above sea level. The dune contains a total of 4 million m3 of sand, which is incredibly much. Over 250,000 people visit the dune every year and I think you should be one of them, since this is quite an amazing and unique place to see for yourself!

My first visit to the top of Denmark, will hopefully not be my last. I found this wonderful part of Denmark to be so inviting and pieceful, that I hope to one day come back and experience even more. Fresh air, sandy beaches and stunning natural landscapes made for a visit that shall not be forgotten. 

This blog is made in collaboration with VisitDenmark and Landal GreenParks. If you would like to find out more about the top of Denmark and it's surroundings, then visit the Top of Denmark website.

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