The neighborhood
The coast towns
The 13th fairy left again
There are 12 towns along the Strandvejen north of Copenhagen, from Hellerup to Elsinore. In the past, between Taarbæk and Skodsborg, you would have found Springforbi (Jump By), a neighbourhood known for its elegant country houses. In the 1930s however, it was decided to let nature win out and most of the houses were demolished to give the coast back to the people.
Bellevue
A promise of eternal summer
Just south of Taarbæk is the 0.4 mile long and 22-24 yard wide Bellevue Beach with its iconic blue-and-white striped lifeguard towers. Bellevue’s appearance has remained the same since 1932 but it has always been a destination for a day off.
The Strandvejen villas
A charming mix
Taarbæk’s modest fishermen houses received some new neighbours when in the 1850s the distinctive Strandvejen villas first arrived. After decades of country houses in the forests and by lakes, people wanted uninterrupted views of the sea. But they stuck to the Romantic tradition of giving houses names, from Empress Dagmar’s high-lying Hvidøre south of Bellevue to the now demolished Weehawkee in New Taarbæk.
Knud R. & Arne J.
Two cool guys
Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen looks out over the water from Hvidøre pier. Erected in 1963, the statue is a landmark that tells you where to turn the kayak, bike or walking boots. In the same area, architect Arne Jacobsen has sprinkled chalk-white 1930s Nordic “funkis” (functionalism): the Skovshoved Filling Station, Bellevue Sea Bath and the White City (the Bellevue Theatre and the Bellavista housing estate).
One for all
Dyrehaven, Bakken, Eremitagen
Dyrehaven (the Deer Park) is a natural forest of 2,700 acres, containing 2,000 deer, the amusement park Bakken (built 1583) and King Christian VI’s Eremitageslot (the Hermitage Palace, completed 1734-36). Dyrehaven is the setting for the Hubertus Hunt in November, theatre in the summer, limited car driving on Wednesdays, and riding, running and cycling all year round.
Klampenborg St.
The Picnic Railway
Before the Klampenborg railway was completed on 22 July 1863, you could only get from Copenhagen to Dyrehaven (the Deer Park) one of two ways: along the dusty Strandvejen or by ship from Toldbolden. Now a listed building, coming into Klampenborg train station today, you are greeted by its classic Swiss-style wooden architecture.
Mølleåen
From paper to paddle
Mølleåen (the Mill Stream) runs through Dyrehaven and forms the border between the municipalities of Lyngby-Taarbæk and Søllerød. At the mouth of the stream in the Sound lies Strandmøllen (the Beach Mill), which for more than 300 years (until 1897) was the market leader in paper production using the stream’s hydropower. Today, Mølleåen is mainly used for canoeing, kayaking, rowing and paddleboarding.
Kbh. Golf Klub
Birdies, eagles and deers
Scandinavia’s oldest golf club is located in Dyrehaven, where deer roam freely on the course. The Royal Copenhagen Golf Club, KGK, was founded on 6 December 1898 with the premise for the holes being covered after the end of the game. The winner of the first golf match (23 April 1899) was Ms. Ingeborg Aagesen with approximately seven strokes per hole.
