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10 Reasons Why Denmark's Jammerbugten Should Be Your Holiday Destination This Summer

Take a dive at the North Sea at Blokhus beach
Take a dive at the North Sea at Blokhus beach | © Blokhus.dk / Wikimedia Commons

In North Jutland, just an hour’s drive from Aalborg lies one of the most beautiful areas in Denmark – Jammerbugten. Also known as ‘The Bay Denmark’ or Misery Bay (direct translation) , this scenic location got its name due to sailors who lost their lives whilst out in the sea. Nowadays, The Bay Denmark is known for its long sandy beaches, vast forests and dunes and is a popular summer destination.

There are 13 long, sandy beaches

One of the reasons The Bay Denmark attracts thousands of tourists each year is due to its 55-kilometer-long white sandy coasts. There are 13 beaches in total in the area with Blokhus Beach, Slettestrand and Grønnestrand being among the most popular ones. You can take a dip in the North Sea’s waters, relax under the sun, or take a horseriding tour.

A sandy beach at the north of Denmark

The area is known for its diverse landscape

From forests and lakes to long coasts and dune plantations, Jammerbugten’s landscape is so diverse and beautiful that every globetrotter will be enchanted. Take a walk at Blokhus Klitplantage, a 642-acre wooded area and visit Bulbjerg, “The Shoulder of Jutland” as locals call it. It is the peninsula’s only rock and it spans 47 meters above sea level.

Hiking path at The Bay Denmark

The many choices for outdoor activities

The Bay Denmark offers plenty of choices to those who want to add outdoor activities on their lists. Many visitors choose to explore the vast forests and green plantations by taking long hiking tours while others prefer to play in the waves at the North Sea and test their skills in water sports. The area is also popular among experienced bikers who travel to The Bay Denmark to go on a bike ride at Svinkløv Klintplantage dune plantation, one of Denmark’s roughest mountain-bike tracks.

Mountain Biking at Jammerbugten

It’s a great destination for family holidays

The Bay Denmark is a great destination for family vacations as kids can dive in the beautiful beaches, play in the middle of the forest at one of the five playgrounds or go canoeing along the area’s large, calm lake. Moreover, with a variety of resorts and camping sites, it’s easy to find a suitable accommodation for families of all budgets and tastes.

Enjoying the view of the North Sea

Great dishes with traditional Danish delicacies

The Bay Denmark may not be home to Michelin-starred restaurants but foodies will definitely get a taste of authentic Danish cuisine. The area brims with cozy restaurants and inns that serve local dishes made with natural ingredients produced in North Jutland. Seafood dishes made of fresh fish caught in the North Sea, the region’s popular Vildmose potatoes and locally brewed beers are some of the things you’ll find in every restaurant’s menu.

Seafood dish with potatoes and herbs

You can take a one-day trip to Aalborg

Why not take a one-day trip from The Bay Denmark and visit Aalborg, Denmark’s fourth-largest city? It’s less than an hour’s drive making a fairly quick journey. Get a taste of the town’s cultural scene at Kunsten Museum, take a walk around the city’s scenic alleys or grab a beer at Jomfru Ane Gade, Aalborg’s most vibrant street.

Aalborg, Denmark’s fourth largest city

Visit Fårup Sommerland: Denmark’s largest water park

In Fårup, a town between Blokhus and Løkken, lies Fårup Sommerland, Denmark’s largest water park and one of the best amusement parks in Scandinavia. Founded in 1975, the award-winning amusement park has been welcoming thousands of visitors every summer for more than 40 years. Nowadays, the park is home to six roller coasters, dozens of rides and several water slides suitable for young and old.

Roller Coaster at Fårup Sommerland

Learn North Jutland’s history

North Jutland is a former fishermen’s region and was known as one of the country’s most important craft trading areas up until the end of the 18th century. Nowadays travelers can trace the area’s history by visiting the country’s last berth at the coast of Thorupstrand and witness locals working on the restoration of traditional clinker vessels at Slettestrand beach.

Boats at Slettestrand

The lifeguard station at the town of Blokhus

Blokhus town is one of the most popular destinations at The Bay Denmark. However, this coastal city was once the most dangerous passages due to heavy winds that wrecked ships and took the lives of many sailors. In 1852, the King ordered the construction of a lifeguard station in the area and over the following year, the 12 boatmen working at the station rescued more than 118 shipwrecks.

Today, tourists can visit a replica of the legendary lifeguards-saving station in Blokhus as, during World War II, the German forces removed the original.

Blokhus Beach at The Bay Denmark

Several festivals and events take place

Many events take place at Bay Denmark, with Jammerbugten being particularly popular during spring and summertime. The Wind Festival which takes place in May each year on the beach between Blokhus and Løkken is one of the most famous and attracts hundreds of paragliders, parachute jumpers and kite-surfers from around the world.

About the author

When she doesn't have her headphones on, Aliki likes to talk about cinema, the peculiar stories she has experienced during her various travels around the world, and her desperate attempts to capture landscapes and people with her lens. Originally from Athens, Greece, Aliki moved to Copenhagen to find out if Denmark is actually the happiest nation in the world (still looking into it) and at the same time study Film and Media.

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