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LOCAL DELICACIES IN A FRENCH STYLE We serve food made from the finest local ingredients. Our chefs give each dish a french twist in order to achieve the final result. By doing so we want to offer you the best experience possible from two exciting and traditional culinary worlds!
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE
REMA 1000 and BroBizz. Read all about the latest technology and business solutions coming out of the small but oh so influential southern Scandinavian country.
20 Annika Sörenstam – golf legend giving it everything Having won 72 official LPGA tours, ten majors and 17 European Tour titles, Annika Sörenstam is Sweden’s greatest golfer and an inspiring businesswoman. For our cover feature this month, we caught up with the golfing legend to talk about determination, inspiration and playing with the boys.
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DESIGN
60 Top 10 summer experiences in Sweden Enjoy classical music in a royal city setting, take part in a photography festival or go bananas for flora in Gothenburg. Visit Sweden this summer and you will be both inspired and entertained to the max.
73 Top places to visit in Norway in 2016
06 Feel the summer breeze
Enjoy classical music in a royal city setting, take part in a photography festival or go bananas for flora in Gothenburg. Visit Sweden this summer and you will be both inspired and entertained to the max.
Inspired by the much anticipated arrival of summer, we went to find floating linen dresses to suit the mood and discovered Swedish-produced aluminium boats for those who want to head for the archipelago.
92 Norway’s best farm experiences Escape the madness of the city and embrace both cultural heritage and nature’s peace with a holiday on a farm, allowing you to muck in with the animal care or simply kick back and watch the countryside in all its picturesque glory.
SPECIAL FEATURE 14 Denmark by tastebuds – and gut Our feature section this month brings you to Denmark, where we got to know an unusual Danish brewery and discovered an inn that has made an impressive recovery from near closure and blossomed into a much-loved eatery. We also spoke to a former HANSENBERG straight-A student to find out why vocational training was his first choice.
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Craft beer is all the craze these days, as are organic fruit and vegetable boxes delivered to your door. Norway is as on-trend as the next Nordic country, adding organic wines and biodynamic farming to the mix.
SPECIAL THEMES 26
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BUSINESS
Top golf destinations in Sweden Whether you are looking for rolling hills and far-reaching sea views or a handy golf course in the heart of the city, Sweden has the golf fix to satisfy your needs. Here are the top five golf destinations in Annika Sörenstam’s home country.
Top golf destinations in Norway Designed by some of Scandinavia’s most distinguished golf course architects, frequented by rabbits and other forest residents, and hosting Norwegian Championships for juniors and seniors alike, the clubs featured in our top three of Norwegian golf destinations offer golfing experiences as challenging as they are rewarding.
42 Enterprise Denmark We have upped our game even further for this month’s Danish business spotlight, speaking to the people behind Danish super brands including
A taste of Norway
40
On culture and language Business columnist Steve Flinders asks why we should bother to learn another language, while keynote writer Annika Åman Goodwille encourages you to mind that cultural gap. In summary, they are of the same opinion: communication is key, and if you only do it your way your business will suffer.
CULTURE 116 We love Norway In the month of Norway’s big day, 17 May, we dedicate the majority of our culture section to Norway. Meet singer and entertainer SiLyA, the guy who knows all about how to get on with Norwegians and their quirks, and Norway’s latest indie hopefuls, Highasakite. Then remember to raise a glass to the world’s oldest constitution.
REGULARS & COLUMNS 10 We Love This | 6 Fashion Diary | 103 Restaurant of the Month | 104 Activity of the Month 106 Experience of the Month | 108 Hotel of the Month | 110 Attraction of the Month | 114 Humour
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 3
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, I was never much of a sporty type. I did play unihoc for a good few years, mainly because I grew up in the town where the world’s first ever unihoc club was set up, so joining a team was kind of the done thing. But the truth is that I made a pretty poor sportswoman – and I was fine with that. Yet when we confirmed this month’s cover star, the golfing legend Annika Sörenstam, it felt exceptionally special. I could not tell you what a birdie is – but Sweden’s all-time golf hero made an impression far beyond the tee and the girls’ summer golf camps. I never realised back then what it meant for a young Swedish girl to see a professional sportswoman so naturally and rightfully take up space on TV and newspaper front pages. Only now I am starting to fully grasp the impact of her legacy in terms of sheer inspiration and awe. “If it’s important, you give everything,” Sörenstam told me. It sounds obvious but is worth giving some thought. Ask Jacob Knobel, co-founder of Densou Trading Desk, listed on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list and featured in our business section, and I am sure he would agree. As would Norwegian singer and entertainer extraordinaire, Silje Nymoen (SiLyA), who spent years trying to find her own voice while producers and record labels insisted on putting her in ill-fitting boxes.
The May issue of Scan Magazine is full of such tireless enthusiasts, from Gothenburg Botanical Garden’s head gardener and TV profile Anders Stålhand, to the passionate people behind Norway’s many farm holiday destinations and super brands REMA 1000 and BroBizz. They are all people with their eyes set firmly on a goal they believe in deeply, who are giving it everything because it is important. They are the people who make my job a privilege, constantly reminding me that the craziest of ideas can turn into the most fascinating and successful of ventures. “Don’t listen to them,” wrote Sörenstam in an open letter to her daughter, insisting that she can do anything, even play with the boys – though there will always be people who do not want her there. She is unquestionably Sweden’s most successful, inspiring golfer of all time, and she inspired all the team at Scan Magazine to a great, creative month. For a real inspiration boost from the best of Scandinavia, read on and enjoy.
Linnea Dunne, Editor
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Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary… The garden party season is upon us – an event that can be tricky in terms of outfit choice. It is the ultimate occasion to pair up some casual and breezy yet perfectly chic items to go with your Hor d’Oeuvres and dry Prosecco. Play around with prints and cuts or go classic with completely crisp whites. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Press photos
This belted, sleeveless top can act both as the playful garment of a classic style outfit, adding a less traditional kimono-inspired cut, or its neutral colour can be paired with a bottom-half piece or accessories that make a bit more noise. COS shirt, £59 www.cosstores.com
A cute splash of colour and print can be found in these lovely sandals. Heels can be a risky choice if the garden party is in an actual garden – which is of course likely – but these heels are robust enough to avoid those awkward stuck-in-the-grass situations. Alice sandals by Tiger of Sweden, £229 www.tigerofsweden.com
Acne strike again with their magic scissors, making this pencil skirt far from boring with its daring, asymmetric side slit. Though the fabric is on the heavy side, this skirt was created in a deliciously warm brown that will work exquisitely for a garden party if you pair it with a breezy top in a light material. Lynton Wo Si skirt by Acne, £470 www.acnestudios.com
6 | Issue 88 | May 2016
When you have to find a home for your lipstick, spearmint gum and credit cards – assuming you are not one of those lucky enough to be able to fit all the essentials in the back pocket – it better look good. Grab this sweet number from Filippa K and you will happily carry it around with you all night long. Tyra bag by Filippa K, approx £85 www.filippa-k.com
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
You cannot go wrong with a suit. Ever. However, that classic navy blazer may need a break to let you strut this delightful cotton denim ensemble. An innovative yet minimalistic cut gives you a new, stylish look without going too crazy. COS blazer, £125 COS trousers, £79 www.cosstores.com
Vintage feel is all the rage these days and a shortsleeved shirt is definitely a must-wear. Anerkjendt has upped the graphical ante with a tropical print, yet with a subtle base colour so it does not get too daring. Prana shirt by Anerkjendt, £40 www.stylepit.co.uk
If you really want to get noticed, in a fashionable way of course, these shorts from Norse Projects are sure to make your look really pop. Subtle colours like grey, white and navy will go smoothly with this pair. Aros shorts by Norse Projects, £75 www.norseprojects.com
The classic white sneaker never goes out of style, but it seems to completely dominate the style on the streets all over the world right now. This pair offers a funky alternative to the usual laces, so if you are ready to replace your Stan Smiths these are an impeccable successor. Triplo lo by Acne, £330 www.acnestudios.com
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 7
Scan Magazine | Design | Street Style
Nordic Humans of Tokyo Scan Magazine’s brilliant Sanna Halmekoski hits the streets of Tokyo to find out what the stylish and creative Scandinavians are wearing in this vibrant city. Text and photos by Sanna Halmekoski | Twitter: @suomigirl | www.suomigirl.com
Miikka Lehtonen, Finnish assistant professor at the University of Tokyo (www.miikkalehtonen.wordpress.com)
“I have a sock fetish. Today my socks are from Tabio’s collaboration with Able Art. I’ve matched them with my northern lights-illustrated Converse. In Japan people mostly wear formal clothes to work. My style stands out as I don’t have that typical professor look.”
Åsa Ekström, Swedish manga artist (www.asaekstrom.com)
“I used to dress in a manga-inspired Harajuku style, but I have grown out of it now and am trying to find my own style. Japanese women like bizarre make-up trends. Right now it is fashionable to use red blush under the eyes to look ill. My skirt is by Gina Tricot and my shoes are from Alta in Shinjuku. An omamori, a Japanese amulet, hangs from my Banana Republic bag.”
Miikka Lehtonen
Antti Törmänen, Finnish professional Go player (www.gooften.net)
“I am the first Westerner in 18 years to qualify as a professional Go player with Japan’s Go association. Since I now represent the association, I wear a formal suit out of respect, as this is the custom in Japan. I also wear this black suit and a tie when I compete.”
Åsa Ekström
Antti Törmänen
8 | Issue 88 | May 2016
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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this… There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly cut grass and an opportunity to soak up some sun. Only one thing can make it better: consuming delicious food and beverages. We collected an exquisite selection of sidekicks for your outside dining ventures, so you have everything you need for your homemade (or store bought, who are we to judge?) guacamole and cool bottle of rosé. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Press photos
There is nothing quite like a stylish carafe to house your fresh orange juice and add sophistication to your table spread. This one from Muuto is the epitome of Nordic minimalism with a quirky twist. Muuto Corky Carafe, £30 www.illumsbolighus.com
Marimekko has created the ultimate summer tableware for dining outside, serving you a piece of graphic nature on your plate. If you like it as much as we do, you will be happy to find that there are mugs, pitchers, bowls and coffee cups to match. Marimekko Tiara plate, £20 www.marimekko.com
Taking the barbecue to the table, you no longer have to shuffle between sipping wine and chatting to your guests and flipping salmon steaks. With this wonder from Eva Solo you can keep an eye on your goodies on the grill while enjoying the company gathered around the table. Eva Solo table grill, £200 www.evasolo.com
Oh, the horror of folding chairs. One wrong move and you can end up on your bum. Not ending up in that situation is an important criterion for a successful dinner party and these beautiful Drachmann chairs, matching the equally stunning table, will keep you and your guests at the appropriate seating level – and looking great while doing it. Skagerak Drachmann table from £699 Skagerak Drachmann chairs from £525 per piece www.skagerak.dk
10 | Issue 88 | May 2016
On really great summer nights, good company can keep you out on the porch or in the garden until the late hours of the night, even the wee morning hours. A good blanket is a must to keep bodies warm and the party alive. Brita Sweden Rainy Days wool blanket, approximately £130 www.britasweden.se
Scan Magazine | Design Feature | Ester Elenora
Spotlight on Swedish wanderlust Swedish fashion brand Ester Elenora combines Scandinavian style, vintage bohemia and luxury holiday vibes, creating affordable designs that have taken Sweden by storm. By Bella Qvist | Photos: Erik Carlsén There are few things as blissful as Swedish summers. Long, lazy days seamlessly turn into nights where the sun refuses to set and a warm breeze plays with the flowing textures of a light linen dress. Fast forward six months and the days are dark, the air crisp and many a Swede escapes the winter for warmth abroad. Ester Elenora combines these two notions of home and away beautifully. Set up in 2009 by Caroline Carlsén, Ester Elenora quickly established itself as a go-to label for boho-chic design and size-defying femininity. Initially selling scarves, the idea was to make women feel like goddesses in their everyday lives and word spread across the notoriously fashion-conscious Swedish market. “Within two years we had sold 50,000 items,” says Carlsén. “It was a dream start.”
The brand branched out to include gorgeous pieces of clothing alongside accessories and today Ester Elenora caters to every woman, as well as children. The items are holiday-inspired but with a Scandi twist, and founder and designer Carlsén says she draws inspiration from her nomadic lifestyle. “I love to travel,” she says. “I
bring a sketchbook wherever I go and I find that places, but in particular people, inspire me.” All items are one size, something Carlsén says customers appreciate: “The layering effect was very popular already when we launched and people have come to expect this from us; they love it,” she says, as if we need reminding why this brand has gone down a storm.
For more information, please visit:
esterelenora.com
The ALUKIN Cabin 750.
Founders and owners Maria and Peter Nikula. Photo: Roger Olsson.
TV profile and sport fishing guide Johan Broman.
Life at sea – simpler, safer and perfectly customisable Combining a passion for boats and the archipelago with genuine engineering expertise and marketing savvy, Alukin is a leader in the field of aluminium boat manufacturing in Scandinavia. Add a keen interest in their customers’ needs and desires, and the result is a boat that is not just solid and safe, but makes life that little bit easier.
boats and the archipelago,” says Maria. “The first boats we made were boats we needed ourselves and boats that would suit our lifestyle.” And the name? “We took our surname and flipped it!”
low-maintenance, practical and simple boat life,” says Maria. That Peter knew more than a thing or two about aluminium was fortunate to say the least. “It’s amazingly sustainable and completely recyclable, which is of course great for the environment and our waters. But aluminium has many advantages: it doesn’t require any maintenance to get it ready for the spring, and our welldesigned aluminium hulls give fantastic driving characteristics at all speeds.”
While the boat enthusiasts found inspiration in their own needs and desires, their range of boats were developed to suit professionals who use their boats every day and often in extreme weather conditions. “They’re now popular amongst people who love a sustainable,
The characteristics of Alukin’s boats make them attractive for a number of different types of boat lovers. Active fans of the archipelago get quality and sustainability combined, and the hassle-free nature of the aluminium design makes Alukin the perfect choice for anyone
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Alukin
Born and bred on the island of Åland, between Finland and Sweden, Peter Nikula is a boat designer and engineer with experience in plumbing and the construction of large vessels. His wife, Maria, has a background in marketing, sales and business development. When the couple set out to start their own business, the choice seemed obvious. “Peter has great expertise in welding technology and materials while I’m a true entrepreneur. We simply took our skills and experience and applied them to our shared passion for 12 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Scan Magazine | Design | Alukin
who wants to own a boat without having to spend hours on end on maintenance. “Many of our customers have a holiday home in the archipelago and need to be able to nip to and from the mainland quickly and easily,” Maria explains. “Others live and work on the islands, and then there are island-based businesses in need of a means of transportation for materials, people and machinery.”
The so-called Facebook boat, ALUKIN SCR 850.
Alukin designs and manufactures everything from open boats such as bowriders and sport fishing boats to different types of cabin boats, in addition to the ’Work’ series, boasting five different boats with bow ramps to make it easier to bring along machines, quad bikes and other awkwardly shaped or heavy items. All boats are made in Roslagen, Sweden.
A receptive approach Whatever the model, every Alukin boat comes with a number of customisation options – just another way for the company to celebrate the simple life, making life on and by the sea more accessible and practical. “You might want to customise the interior or the placement of the thwarts or storage compartments. We’ve also created a number of customised designs for different professional practices and hobbies such as diving and fishing,” says Maria. “This is key when it comes to accessibility as well: if for example you’re in a wheelchair, you’ll need a wider door, collapsible thresholds and space for the wheelchair itself.” The ability to listen to their customers and put their needs first is central to the business and, Maria guesses, one of the contributing factors to Alukin being named Growing Business of the Year last month. “An attractive top-quality product is at the core, but the reason we’ve achieved what we have so far is that we’re receptive to what our customers need,” she says. “This award is proof that we are on the right track, and it means that we’ll get valuable support in our ambition to establish Alukin in new markets.” A great example of Alukin’s receptive approach to innovation and design is the socalled Facebook boat, Alukin SCR 850, a
fast commuter boat with plenty of storage space and the possibility for a comfortable overnight stay in bunks in the bow. The boat was designed as a family dream boat, based on ideas and feedback from Facebook followers and boat fair visitors, and fans could follow the entire design and manufacturing process through social media. The final result was unveiled at the boat fair Allt för sjön (Everything for the lake), the largest boat show in the Nordics, in March this year. Next up in the world of Alukin is a custom-made sport fishing boat for Swedish TV profile and sport fishing guide Johan Broman. The final touches to the ALUKIN Pro Fishing 750 are being made this month. “Alukin’s boats are extremely robust with stunning hulls and fantastic sea keeping,” says Broman. “They also have a thorough and competent approach to safety, which is extremely important for me as a professional sport fisher.” Good enough for the professionals, customisable enough for anyone – that is Alukin in a nutshell.
For more information please visit : www.alukin.se or like facebook.com/alukinboats
Photo: Roger Olsson.
The ALUKIN Cabin Work 750.
Creating new Danish beer traditions For a century, Indslev Bryggeri (Indslev Brewery) was brewing traditional Danish ‘hvidtøl’ beer, until it closed in 1990. In 2006 it reopened with a new brand, taste and owner, creating a first in Denmark. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Indslev Bryggeri
Wheat beer is traditionally brewed in Germany or Belgium and had, until recently, yet to travel north of the border and into Denmark. When Anders Busse Rasmussen bought Indslev Bryggeri, he wanted to create something different. As the brewery’s master brewer was trained in the traditional production of wheat beer, their path was set.
ness can be found in all of our beers, but the different varieties have very individual tastes, so there’s usually something for everyone.” Denmark has recently experienced a beer revolution, with many micro-breweries opening up. This has led to a move away from the more traditional Danish beers and a taste for new and exciting flavours.
“It has a very soft, rounded taste compared to barley-based beers,” Rasmussen says about his wheat beer. “The soft-
Indslev Bryggeri currently makes eight different types of wheat beer available all year round, as well as two Christmas and
14 | Issue 88 | May 2016
two Easter brews. The beers range from the darkest of stouts to pale ales, but all have the twist of being brewed with wheat. The beers are unique as no other brewery in Denmark brews wheat beer. They are available at many restaurants, bars and supermarkets throughout Denmark.
Old and new traditions Although Indslev Bryggeri’s beers are different and new to Denmark, the brewery itself has a long-standing tradition of brewing beer. Rasmussen’s great-grandfather’s brother built the brewery in 1897 on the Danish island of Funen. Indslev Brewery was then producing the traditional hvidtøl, a low-alcohol beer, which has its roots in medieval beer.
Scan Magazine | Brewery Profile | Indslev Bryggeri
“I’ve always wanted to start something new, and when the opportunity arose to buy the brewery, I took it,” says Rasmussen. He grew up with a view of the brewery, living close to it throughout his childhood. And although the beer has dramatically changed, one thing has remained the same: the logo. “Companies from the Indslev area have traditionally used a swan as their logo, and Indslev Bryggeri is no different,” he says. “We wanted to keep that part of the tradition.” The bottles and logo from Indslev Bryggeri even won the Danish design prize in 2007.
Brewery tours If you are interested in finding out more about the history of the brewery and the production of the beer, a visit to the brewery is a must. “We open our doors to groups, usually around 15 people, and show them around the brewery,” explains Rasmussen. “We also offer beer tastings, which people really enjoy, especially as the beer is a little bit different.”
tober, and there is an official brewery day at the start of every summer. There are different events each year, so it is worth having a look at the website to see what is happening. This year, the brewery will be hosting more events than ever to celebrate its ten-year anniversary. If you are driving through Funen on a Friday or Saturday, drop by the brewery and visit the brewery shop where you can buy the beers and other local products.
Ugly Duck Brewing Co. Despite already pushing the boundaries of beer production in Denmark with its wheat beer, Indslev Bryggeri decided to take it one step further and opened Ugly Duck Brewing Co. in 2012 as part of the brewery. The beers produced here are the products of fantasies and experiments, while still being high-quality beers. “The Ugly Duck Brewing Co. is where we get to experiment a bit more; we use different techniques and try to push the boundaries of beer,” says Rasmussen.
The brew master at Ugly Duck is currently in California visiting craft breweries to bring back new ideas and production methods. Unlike those signed Indslev Bryggeri, the beers produced at Ugly Duck Brewing Co. are not limited to wheat beers but are produced using a variety of ingredients. Indslev Bryggeri is an innovative brewery, ready to challenge the norms of beer. It was the first brewery to create Danish wheat beer and is always looking to better itself. Instead of grabbing the usual beer, it is worth letting your taste buds experience something new. There is a Danish beer for everyone, whether it comes from Indslev Bryggeri or Ugly Duck Brewing Co.
For more information, please visit: www.indslevbryggeri.dk or www.uglyduckbrewing.dk
These tours need to be booked in advance, as the brewery is not generally open to the public. However, Indslev Bryggeri hosts certain events throughout the year, offering another opportunity to experience this historic brewery and its exceptional beers. Every year the return of the Christmas beer is celebrated around the end of Oc-
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 15
Located in Grindsted, a short drive from Billund Airport and LEGOLAND, Filskov Kro welcomes a broad mix of visitors, from business travellers to families and locals.
A taste of quality, innovation and tradition Combining the charm, warmth and heartiness of a local inn with the taste and elegance of a gourmet eatery, Filskov Kro has made an impressive comeback from the verge of closure. Located in Grindsted, central Jutland, the newly renovated and reopened inn has, with a blend of traditional Danish dishes and a gourmet tasting menu, managed to win over the hearts of locals and tourists alike. By Signe Hansen | Photo: Filskov Kro
Three years ago, things were looking rather bleak for the old Filskov Kro, which became a royally privileged inn in 1853. Having been in the hands of the same family for four generations, the inn was struggling and facing closure when it was bought up by a group of local investors. Determined to save the historic place, the new owners initiated an extensive renovation and modernisation and began looking for someone to bring the hotel and restaurant into the next century. The choice 16 | Issue 88 | May 2016
fell on Bent Sandfeld, an experienced local restaurateur, and his wife Louise Sandfeld. Today the inn is thriving again, not only thanks to its modernised interiors but also to a great extent because of the restaurant’s growing reputation for quality, innovation and tradition. Louise Sandfeld, who is in charge of the everyday administration of the inn while her husband heads up the restaurant, says: “The inn has been completely ren-
ovated, but it has obviously been done with respect for the unique history of the building. In the same way, when we took over the inn, we brought with us our own style of food but also continued the inn’s traditions. It’s typical inn food but with our own touch; we are marrying what many would call gourmet food and the food which the locals traditionally expect from an inn. Some may say that we are sitting between two stools, but actually for our situation I think we’ve hit the nail on the head.” The owners have indeed hit the nail on the head, verified by the many enthusiastic reviews Filskov Kro receives on sites as well as its growing popularity for special events such as weddings and birthdays.
Parties, dinners and business meetings Located a short drive from both LEGOLAND and Billund Airport, Filskov Kro receives a broad variety of guests, from families to business travellers and locals.
Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Filskov Kro
Many from the surrounding area visit the inn to celebrate special events, birthdays, weddings and confirmations, while during the summer it becomes the resting place for tourists visiting nearby attractions. “Many families like us because we offer a quiet and peaceful setting with a lot of space and natural surroundings. But we also have a lot of visitors who come here on work-related visits, both workmen and business people, and we house a number of conferences for companies that prefer the intimate and homely settings that we offer to the white walls of bigger conference centres,” says Sandfeld. Events are held in one of the hotel’s four beautiful banquet rooms, the largest of which seats up to 200 guests. Apart from meeting rooms, the inn comprises 26 double rooms, a fitness centre, a billiard and dart room, an outdoor tennis court and a newly established football golf course. During the renovation all rooms were refurbished and the whole building was energy optimised and made wheelchair accessible.
of Filskov Kro Restaurant. The menu includes both a five-course gourmet menu with courses such as home-smoked salmon with herb salad, pickled onions, dill, and homemade mustard mayonnaise, and an à la carte menu with local Danish dishes. All dishes are, however, based on the same principled approach to food and quality, stresses Sandfeld. “In our five-course menu we play around with the best of Danish ingredients and try out new things during the year – the menu changes every month. And then we have the à la carte menu with steak, homemade béarnaise sauce and stuff like that, hearty Danish food. But it still has a touch of something new; it’s based on good ingredients and, as far as possible, everything is homemade. We have
our own smoker and pickle everything ourselves. Of course it doesn’t make sense to do everything from scratch, but some things, like making our own mayonnaise, we would never think of doing differently.” FILSKOV KRO FACTS: Filskov Kro is located at Amtsvejen 34 in Grindsted, Jutland. The restaurant is open all week for lunch (12-2pm) and dinner (5.30pm-late). It is essential to make a reservation.
Call +45 75 34 81 11 or, for more information, please visit: www.filskovkro.dk
Fine food without the fuss The decision to cater to the taste of all its guests is plainly evident on the menu
Main course, starter, dessert: guests at Filskov Kro’s restaurant can choose between a five-course gourmet menu or a more traditional à la carte menu.
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 17
Scan Magazine | Education Profile | HANSENBERG Technical College
HANSENBERG technical college in Kolding offers 30 different vocational programmes.
Shaking up the conception of vocational education Vocational education is not just about learning how to attach bolts and fix pipes. No, at HANSENBERG technical college in Kolding, Denmark, a dedicated team of instructors helps young Danes enter a range of exciting and challenging professions from being a hairdresser and fitness instructor to a plumber and electrician – the possibilities are plentiful. Henrik Bull, winner of the Danish plumbing championships, explains why he, as a top-grade student, chose to enrol at HANSENBERG’s plumbing and energy programme. By Signe Hansen | Photos: HANSENBERG
When Bull decided that he wanted to become a plumber, it was not because he was not good at school or did not know what else to do. It was because he realised that plumbing was about much more than fixing pipes and toilets. The 19-year-old trainee explains: “Back in 18 | Issue 88 | May 2016
2010, my parents had a ground source heat pump installed at our farm, and that really jumpstarted my interest in energy saving and environmental improvements. It opened my eyes and made me realise that this was also what plumbing was about, that it was actually a big part of
it. Of course there are also the other things, the regular plumbing work like toilet installations and so on, but energy-optimising instalments are a big part of it because so much is happening in that area right now, so many new legal requirements, developments and needs.”
Scan Magazine | Education Profile | HANSENBERG Technical College
Top left: In February 2016, 19-year-old Henrik Bull won the plumbing championships. He enrolled at HANSENBERG to pursue his interest in energy-saving measures.
Despite the surprise of some of his teachers, Bull, a top-grade student, chose to take the leap and entered HANSENBERG’s plumbing and energy course straight after finishing ninth grade.
A world of opportunities At HANSENBERG, Bull met a team of dedicated instructors. The technical college, offering 30 different vocational programmes, takes pride in introducing youngsters to a world of challenging, interpersonal and exciting job opportunities. Bull, for one, certainly does not regret his choice neither when it comes to the college or the programme. “When I told my school counsellor what I wanted to work with, she recommended that I apply to HANSENBERG, both because of their focus on energy and because of their good instructors; I have definitely never regretted that I took her advice. Of
course, it’s not only down to the teachers. You have to have the interest but, if you do, they definitely give you the input you need to improve and learn. A big reason for my winning the championship and getting through the programme is that I’ve had great instructors to guide me, so I’m definitely not the only one who is leaving the college well trained; all the other students are too,” stresses a modest Bull, who spent 21 hours working on a bathroom installation before he could call himself plumbing champion in February 2016.
First choice When it comes to vocational training, there might be a misconception in some parts of society that it is something chosen only by those who have no other option, that the preferred choice would always be to continue to university. Like for many other
students, this was not at all the case for Bull, who was a straight-A student. But rather than spending his days inside at a desk, Bull is very happy that his choice has led him to an active and challenging trainee position. “The reality of the job has actually exceeded my expectations; I’m incredibly happy with my apprenticeship. Even as a trainee you get a lot of freedom, your own car and phone and a lot of tasks that really challenge you. It’s very character building to get to solve different situations and problems on your own. Often you are really put to the test and have to put all your brain power into figuring out what the right solutions is,” says Bull, who is training at a company specialised in energy efficient instalments and improvements. He rounds off: “I could not be happier about my choice.” HANSENBERG offers the following programmes: Tenth grade, technical high school, technical designer, data and communication, carpenter, mechanic, smith, media graphics, fitness instructor, hairdresser, gastronome, dental assistant, waiter, zookeeper, veterinary assistant, agriculture, store and terminal, electrician, web integrator, data technician, airport education, automation and process.
For more information, please visit: www.hansenberg.dk
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 19
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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam: golf legend giving it everything She has won 72 official LPGA tournaments, ten majors and 17 European Tour titles, and she tops the LPGA career money list with earnings of over $22 million (roughly £15 million). Scan Magazine spoke to Annika Sörenstam, Sweden’s greatest and mostloved golfer of all time, about wanting to be the best, helping young girls on their way to professional golfing, and writing history in 2003 as a woman in a man’s world. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: MotoFish
No woman had played in the Men’s PGA Tour in 58 years when the then 32-yearold Swede Annika Sörenstam took to the tee at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas on 22 May 2003. An estimated 80 per cent of the entire tour audience had gathered at the tenth tee, along with a hoard of journalists and camera crews, as she hit her first drive at 8.59am. She had been unmatched in the LPGA for some time, hitting longer than any other player and becoming the first ever woman to break the 60 barrier at the Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix two years previously. As speculations began of an invitation to the Men’s PGA Tour, the Swede was unequivocally positive. “It was the challenge I’d been waiting for,” she says. “I was ranked number one in the world at the time and was constantly trying to find new ways to motivate myself and improve, so it was perfect – it was exactly what I needed.” Unsurprisingly, not everyone thought it was perfect. A number of other PGA players found the invitation inappropriate, and a few were keen to make their opinions heard. Most notably Vijay Singh, then ranked the world’s seventh best player, who insisted it was not right and vowed to withdraw should he be drawn to play with
her. “I wasn’t there to show that women can beat men; I was there to improve and show that I had the capacity to rise to the occasion,” Sörenstam responds to the criticism. “We’ve got women’s and men’s tournaments and there’s a difference between the sexes, but I think it’s great to try to find different ways to learn from each other. I didn’t feel like an intruder. I was just a golfer, and indeed a lot of people ended up respecting me more as a golfer afterwards.”
‘If it’s important, you give everything’ Sörenstam’s experience as a young, ambitious golfer in Sweden has undoubtedly had a great impact on her views on the sport, and she often talks about her fond memories of playing in a club amongst other girls and boys, using handicap as a way to enable players to learn from each other regardless of experience. She also recalls how important it was for her to have a role model to look up to, and today she runs the ANNIKA Foundation, among other things teaching children the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle, offering aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. “I remember seeing Lotta Neumann when I was young. When you see other people make it, you start to dream,” she
says. Through ANNIKA Invitational, an elite junior golf championship, she gets to give that inspiration back to young female golfers. “I want to inspire these girls, teach them about diet and mental exercise, how to work with a caddy, talk about media training – and then have lots of fun. Our tagline is ‘more than golf’, and it really is like that; I hold clinics where I share my experience and they get to ask questions.” Perhaps the kind of support offered by the ANNIKA Invitational would have been beneficial to the young Sörenstam, who used to miss a putt or two on purpose to finish second in order not to have to give a victory speech. Luckily, her parents eventually figured out what she was up to and convinced the tournament directors to ask runners-up to address the crowd too. Sörenstam eventually learnt to deal with the nerves involved with giving a 30-second speech instead of feeling guilty for messing up. “I’m a bit of a perfectionist,” the star admits. “I’m a competitive type and I always will be, but the thing for me is that if I put time and effort into something I want to keep making it better. When I design clothes, I want people to buy them and love them, and they have to represent Issue 88 | May 2016 | 21
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Annika Sörenstam
who I am and what I stand for – that goes for everything I do.” So once she overcame her fear of public speaking, there was nothing stopping her. She decided that golf would be her thing, and she worked hard, trained and concentrated. “I dedicated my life to golf,” she says. “I’ve sacrificed a lot. It was important for me to be the best and I knew that I could be the best, so naturally I ended up letting go of other things,” she reflects. “I talk to the girls at the Invitational about this: how much do they really want this and how much are they willing to give? If it’s important, you give everything.”
Hall of Fame and Jerringpriset Sörenstam played well on the first day of that PGA Tour near Dallas in 2003, ending up in shared 73rd place of 113 players with 71 on the par-70 course. In the end, after a slightly tougher second day, she failed to make the cut. “I was exhausted afterwards, not physically but mentally. When I was finally there on that first tee after four months of preparation and constant media attention, it was almost like a release – like, this is it,” she says. “I was used to cameras and all that, but of course it was 22 | Issue 88 | May 2016
a lot more than I was used to. People were betting on me in Las Vegas.” But despite being disappointed not to qualify, Sörenstam walked away from the historic experience with her head held high. Commentators added that she had proved more than she set out to: it was the putting that let her down, not failing to hit long enough; and in regards to putting, there is very little separating men and women, so she was truly in with a chance. Two weeks later, she won her fifth major championship, and in July the same year she brought home the British Open, completing her grand slam. When she was selected to be included in the World Golf Hall of Fame on 20 October 2003, she cited journalist Ron Sirak during her acceptance speech: “‘Annika is no longer a female golfer. She’s a golfer’. That’s truly all I ever aspired to be.” As she ended her professional golfing career in 2008 she had not only won ten majors, 72 LPGA competitions and 17 European Tour titles – she had also been awarded the Swedish Jerringpriset for the best Swedish sports performance in 2003.
“A lot has happened, but I knew I wanted to continue working with golf. We now have six competitions and are warming up for our first Invitational Latin America in Argentina in October, and it’s lovely to be able to give something back this way,” says Sörenstam. “Other than that, it’s non-stop with the kids who are now six and four. I try to find that balance, to have as much time with them as I can.” As the Swedish golfing legend wrote an open letter to her daughter Ava recently, she gave her the advice of learning to say yes – and then learning to say no. ‘Remember this: I can do anything, but I can’t do everything. And you can do anything, Ava. Even play with the boys. […] A lot of people aren’t going to want you there. But don’t listen to them. I didn’t. And it led to the moment that would define my career.’ The ANNIKA Invitational Europe will take place on 1-4 August at Bokskogens Golf Club in Bara, Sweden. For more information, please visit: annikafoundation.org
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Henrik Stenson at the 2014 Nordea Masters. Photo: Nordea Masters.
Nordea Masters: a grand audience bash Established in 1991, the Scandinavian Masters has grown to become one of the most prestigious competitions of the PGA European Tour, attracting more spectators than any other mainland leg of the tour. For its 26th instalment, Nordea Masters returns this year to Bro Hof Slott – and Sweden’s own Henrik Stenson, currently sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking, is coming home to play. By Linnea Dunne
“There’s something for everyone,” says Marcus Dunér, head of marketing and communications at Nordea Masters. “There’s great food and drink, shopping in the Masters village where our new sponsor, Peak Performance, will also have their shop, and there are activities and events for children and people of all ages.”
year’s highlights. “It’s one of the finest golf courses in Europe and a golfing experience of absolute top class. There’s a lot of water around the course and it’s really long; it’s got an amazing layout and boasts views that are frankly hard to beat,” says Dunér. “But really, the main highlights are linked to the starting field.”
The return to Stockholm’s Bro Hof Slott Golf Course, after a couple of years at the PGA of Sweden National in Malmö, adds an element of excitement to this
Nordea Masters has a reputation for an exceptionally warm, celebratory atmosphere, especially when one of Sweden’s own stars takes to the green. “The season
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Golf fever
is short in Sweden, which contributes to this sense of a big audience party at key events,” says Dunér. “Add to that the fact that this is one of the biggest competitions of the European Tour, in terms of audience size, and you’ll see why it tends to be an unforgettable experience.” All around Sweden, clubs are starting to see an increase in memberships. When it comes to international tournaments, the public interest seems to be insatiable. The recent successes of names such as Henrik Stenson and last year’s Nordea Masters winner, Alex Norén, have made the national crowd go crazy for more Swedish golf splendour. This year’s event on 2-5 June will surely bring them the glorious golf victories they crave. “There are definitely goosebumps all round when the audience cheers on its favourite player,” says Claes Nilsson, sport director at the event. “The finishing holes are incredible to watch. No matter who’s playing, you can cut the tension with a knife.” Indeed, it is tense and exciting enough for the atmosphere
Scan Magazine | Golf Feature | Nordea Masters
to bring golf enthusiasts way beyond the course. The Nordea Masters has managed to bring golf into the homes of golfers and non-golfers alike, bringing people together through a tournament that continues to help sports fans discover the joy of golf and inspire newcomers to get into it.
International stars and hospitality This month, 156 players compete at Hills Golf & Sports Club in Mölndal outside Gothenburg as the Nordea Masters qualifiers will reveal which three players go through to the main event at Bro Hof Slott in June. Alongside Henrik Stenson, Peak Performance’s own player, Joakim Lagergren, is already confirmed for the big competition, previously won by Swedes including Jesper Parnevik and Alex Norén. Stenson has ended second more than once in the past and is a real favourite this year. New for this year’s event is the launch of a Saturday pro-am followed by a reception with the opportunity to mingle. The Castle Course provides the chance to take a quiet round of golf at your own pace, ideally enjoyed in the morning with the chance to head straight to a private lounge along the Victory Valley. Here you can watch the pros in action while enjoying some first-class refreshments. In terms of adding a silver lining to this year’s big golfing event, the hospitality package at Bro Hof Slott does a pretty stellar job.
Henrik Stenson at the 2014 Nordea Masters. Photo: Nordea Masters.
The clubhouse at Bro Hof Slott. Photo: Bro Hof Slott.
Whether you are entertaining clients, taking a few days off with the family or simply must be there during those historical golfing moments at Sweden’s most prestigious golfing event, the Nordea Masters is sure to tick every box. Add stunning scenery, fun activities and a luxurious touch, and you will see why the European Tour competition will not just make you hold your breath – but really kick back too. Nordea Masters 2-5 June 2016 Stockholm’s Bro Hof Slott www.nordeamasters.se
Bro Hof Slott Stadium Course, green 11. Photo: Bro Hof Slott.
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Vasatorp Golf Club. Photo: Mickael Tannus
A scenic quality golfing challenge Sweden has made a name for itself as a golfing nation with the success of golfing legend Annika Sörenstam and current tour players such as Anna Nordqvist and Henrik Stenson. This achievement is unsurprising given the quality of Sweden’s golf courses. By Christer Bergfors, chairman of the board at the Swedish Golf Federation
Golf is one of the biggest individual sports in Sweden, with almost 470,000 players and over 460 golf courses. The quality of the courses is very high and has fostered many tour players over the years, despite five-month-long winters. In the summer season, Sweden offers mild temperatures, mostly dry conditions and long hours of daylight, making it excellent for tourists eager to combine
Sankt Jörgen Park.
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golf and sightseeing. At the northern courses, above the Arctic Circle, the adventurous golfer can even tee it up in the middle of the night in the midnight sun. The main golf season is May to September, but many courses – especially in the southern parts – stay open much longer. Given Sweden’s geography and topography, the country is blessed with a variety of golfing landscapes and sceneries.
Bjäre Golf Glub.
There are courses by the coast line that offer stunning ocean views and windy conditions, parkland courses that take advantage of the rolling and open terrain of the Swedish country side, and courses that carve through hills and forests, giving golfers a challenge but also some spectacular vistas to admire. In addition to the high-quality golf courses, the majority of Swedes speak fluent English and take great pride in hospitality, which makes Sweden a great choice for golfing tourists from all over the world. For more information please visit: www.golf.se
Wäsby Golf Club.
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teams for all types of food. They prepare food in our test kitchens and have around 8,000 ingredients to choose from, to perfect the ideal product for you. Naturally you are welcome to get involved, as much as you want. So if you are looking to create a more nourishing soup, you are welcome to get in touch with us.
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Everything a golfer wants, right at the heart of the city “Golf takes a lot of time. An 18-hole round takes a while. So you don’t want to waste time travelling,” says Lisa Thorén. That hits the nail on the head of why Sankt Jörgen Park’s golf course is so popular. It has got everything a golfer might dream of, including a comfortable hotel complete with luxurious spa facilities and a sports club right in the centre of Gothenburg.
just one thing. Companies and organisations plan conferences that also give the participants the chance to play some golf, and golf enthusiasts often end up enjoying a spa treatment or two during their stay with us,” Thorén explains.
By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Sankt Jörgen Park
When marketing manager Thorén talks through the numbers, everything just seems to add up: wherever you are on the 18-hole golf course, you are never more than ten minutes away from the hotel; there are golf carts at the hotel for guests to use, and the club house is only 150 metres away; both Gothenburg Air28 | Issue 88 | May 2016
port and the Central Station are within a ten-minute reach.
Everything under one roof Sankt Jörgen Park is not only a golfer’s paradise, but also a haven for relaxation, great food and first-class conferencing. “Most people come here for more than
This is particularly suitable, perhaps, for groups and couples who want a weekend away but cannot agree on what type of weekend. The Get Away Spa and Get Away Golf packages offer exactly this: the chance to get away together but enjoy your own treats. Complete with a night in a double room, breakfast, admission to the spa and the sports club, green fee, and a
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Five Golf Destinations in Sweden
three-course dinner, this offer is the ideal getaway for golfers and health fans alike.
Top-quality Golf Academy It should be said, however, that the golf course is more than just a complementary feature, and more than just added value. Sankt Jörgen Park takes golfing very seriously indeed. With the Park Golf Academy next to the club house housing the highly advanced Trackman technology, the Rolls-Royce in golfing right now, this is good enough for a pro. This means that the Trackman helps you find a perfect swing, while the simulators take you to some of the world’s greatest golf courses, including Pebble Beach and St Andrews Old Course – and Sankt Jörgen Park’s own, of course.
Conferencing and corporate events “The combination of our high-standard golf course and excellent catering and
conferencing facilities makes us a popular spot for corporate events and staff away-days,” says Thorén. “It’s the totality that makes all the difference, that you can play golf, have meetings and enjoy great food.” And as if a wide selection of activities was not enough, with ayurvedic treatments, one-on-one golf sessions and plenty of exercise classes, you will also be spoilt for choice when you get hungry. No less than four different food and drink venues fit under the resort’s umbrella, offering everything from raw food and organic juices to a big lunch buffet and traditional Swedish cuisine. Thorén describes the resort as “a modern country club which is all about that active, healthy lifestyle”, and as one of the leading ritual spas in the Nordic countries with close to 30 professional
instructors across the different services, it certainly embodies all of the above. Surrounded by green spaces, despite its close proximity to the bustling city of Gothenburg, Sankt Jörgen Park offers a break from house chores and corporate office spaces to make room for whatever it is you need: a relaxing treat weekend, a few days of effective and inspiring conferences, or simply golfing all the way. Get Away Golf & Get Away Spa Enjoy a spa ritual or a round of golf as part of a weekend away. Starting at 1990 SEK per person, package deals include a night in a double room, breakfast, spa and sports club admission, two green fee, and a three-course meal.
For more information, please visit: www.sanktjorgenpark.se
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Five Golf Destinations in Sweden
Scandinavia’s leading golf experience Vasatorp Golf Club in southern Sweden welcomes players of all levels – from complete beginners to fully fledged European Tour members – to come and improve their game. Named Sweden’s best course in 2015 at the World Golf Awards, the impeccably designed Tournament Course is one of the many reasons Vasatorp has earned its status as a first-class facility. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Mickael Tannus
With an impressive total of 54 holes, Vasatorp offers four premier golf courses to suit all ages and abilities. You can work through the 18 holes of the flagship Tournament Course, improve your strategy on the Classic Course, embrace the different challenges of the full-length ninehole Alley Course or improve your short game on the sloped Western 9 course. Each course promises to well and truly test your skills, allowing you to raise every aspect of your game.
A championship course with a links feel “In 2008 we opened our Tournament Course, which was designed by Steve Forrest, combining nine holes of an existing layout with nine completely new 30 | Issue 88 | May 2016
holes,” says Marc Potter, Vasatorp’s CEO. “The undulating fairways and rolling greens give the course a links character that is quite unique to the Swedish market and makes it an extremely fun course to play. It quickly became recognised as one of the leading golf courses in the country.” Boasting 3,500 members, Vasatorp is Sweden’s busiest golfing facility, where more than 90,000 rounds of golf are played annually. The Swedish golfing season runs primarily from April to October, but the two nine-hole courses are open all year round, allowing the core group of members to go out and play no matter how snowy it gets. The
club house restaurant is a popular spot among both members and Helsingborg locals, who come to enjoy the delicious offerings on the lunch buffet.
Practise like a pro “Thanks to our wide array of practice facilities, you can train all facets of your game,” says Potter. “We have an excellent teaching programme in place and visitors can book individual lessons or choose from a variety of lesson packages.” Vasatorp recently entered into a strategic partnership with the new Radisson Blu Metropol Hotel in Helsingborg, meaning guests can take advantage of some great golf packages during their stay. With Copenhagen just an hour’s drive away and a local airport nearby, the club is well within reach for all golfing enthusiasts who are ready to raise their game. For more information, please visit: www.vasatorpsgk.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Five Golf Destinations in Sweden
Where golf and stunning views meet Are you an avid fan of golf? Want to play on one of Sweden’s best golf courses while enjoying the breeze and breathtaking views of Sweden’s second-largest lake? Head to Ombergs Golf Resort and you have made a hole-in-one choice.
Ombergs Golf Resort delivers magnificent views and experiences to every visitor.
By Nina Lindqvist | Photos: Jacob Sjöman
Located right on the cusp of Vättern, Sweden’s second-largest lake in the southeast part of the country, Ombergs Golf Resort has everything golf enthusiasts could hope for and a little bit more. The golf resort, home to one of Sweden’s top golf courses and some of the country’s most scenic landscapes, opened in 2002 and has since become Swedish professional golfer Anna Nordqvist’s favourite Swedish golf resort. This is an endorsement given by many others as well, according to owner and founder Ulf Tegnebo. “We pride ourselves on providing the best golf experience in Sweden and want our visitors to be content with every detail,” he says.
Quality to a tee is the driving force for Tegnebo and the staff at Ombergs Golf Resort. Facilities including the resort’s restaurant, which serves the finest of local ingredients, as well as the golf course itself are looked after with great care, ensuring the 20,000 guests visiting Ombergs Golf Resort every year get the best there is. “Our aim is to provide visitors with the complete golf resort experience. In addition to our top-of-the-line golf course and restaurant, visitors can enjoy a stay in one of our newly refurbished hotel rooms or spend some time in the resort’s sauna or Jacuzzi for that ultimate relaxing stay,” Tegnebo continues.
At Ombergs Golf Resort, providing the ultimate golf resort experience is their number one aim.
Ombergs Golf Resort also offers golf lessons headed by Terry Burgoyne, one of Sweden’s premier golf instructors, meaning the resort is also perfect for beginners eager to learn the intricacies of the sport.
For more information, please visit: www.ombergsgolfresort.se
Fun and stress-free golfing in Sweden’s Tuscany Well-maintained greens and stunning views across the ocean create a stress-free golf experience at Bjäre GK, near Båstad in southern Sweden. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Bjäre GK
“We are located high above sea and you have a nice view of the Bjäre peninsula and Kullaberg. In fair weather you can see all the way to Denmark,” says Thomas Nestenius, owner of Bjäre GK. Amazing views like these are hard to find in the region of Skåne, due to the flat scenery. But this particular part is referred to as the Tuscany of Skåne, thanks to its hilly landscape. The golf club is located 150 metres above sea level, close to Båstad and Helsingborg. “Our motto is quicker, happier golfing. It should be stress-free. We have for example fixed the golf courses to make it easier to find the ball and minimise unnecessary searching,” says Nestenius, adding that you can visit in all weathers. “The golf course is well drained and it
doesn’t matter how much it rains – we are always good to go.” Bjäre GK has been going strong for 26 years, but they are constantly making improvements and highly value guest feedback. The 18-hole golf course has many green fee guests and often enjoys high rankings and good reviews. Deals are available for anyone wanting the whole package including golf, dinner and accommodation. The restaurant serves a mixed à la carte and Swedish homely fare during lunch. It seats just over 100 guests, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
Well-maintained greens at Bjäre GK.
For more information, please visit: www.bjaregolfklubb.se Stress-free golfing in southern Sweden.
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 31
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Five Golf Destinations in Sweden
View of the golf course.
The complete golf experience – 20 minutes from arrivals Wäsby Golf offers a complete experience with stunning natural surroundings, a typical village atmosphere and excellent golf courses. The location? Ideal. You are only 20 minutes from Arlanda airport and 30 minutes from Stockholm. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Wäsby Golf
“Wow, this is so Swedish!” That is the most common reaction that Jennifer Allmark, CEO at Wäsby Golf, gets from golfers visiting from abroad. The local farm, Nibble gård, dates back to the 16th century and is the core of the area, where everything else was built up around it in an appropriate style. Think red wooden houses and a village-like atmosphere.
ervan facilities, meeting venues and a restaurant.
Wäsby Golf is located in UpplandsVäsby, around 20 kilometres from Arlanda airport and 30 kilometres from central Stockholm, making it the perfect golfing destination for Swedes and foreign golfers alike. The golf club offers camp-
Mixed nature and various options
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“The restaurant offers amazing panorama views of the golf course all year round, plus a large outdoor terrace where you can dine and enjoy views of the John Deere course and the ninth and 18th greens in particular,” says Allmark.
The large area offers a mix of greenery, forests and water, and the greens are known for being quick and even. The nine-hole golf course Nibble opened in 1992 and the 18-hole John Deere course
the year after, both designed by Swedish golf architect Björn Eriksson. The facilities also include the largest driving range in the region with room for 60 players – stretching 320 metres, making room for your longest hits. Putting greens are also at hand for extra practice, and if you are completely new to golf you can try the Pay and Play sixhole course with artificial grass on the greens. The latter means that it can stay open all year round, which is unusual in the Swedish climate.
The whole picture Allmark sums it up by using the word ‘complete’ to describe the club, but she adds that there is always room for improvement. “We have a distinct drive at the club to constantly improve the golf course, and we recently entered a col-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Five Golf Destinations in Sweden
laboration with golf architect Johan Benestam,” she says, adding that the improvements will make the game even more fun. One of their projects, Tee it forward, moves the tee closer to the hole, something beginners and anyone wanting to play a shorter stretch will benefit from. “Many clubs have started doing this because they see how it increases the options for different players,” explains the CEO. Improvements are also made to individual holes – like number 16 at the John Deere golf course, where the pond was extended with spectacular results, according to Allmark.
résumé also includes the Swedish national team, college golf in America and playing professionally on the Ladies’ European Tour – and it all started in a club just like this one. “I started my career in a cosy, welcoming club, and that is exactly what characterises Wäsby Golf too,” she says. “It is nice to spend time here, and that is just the feeling we want.”
For more information, please visit: www.wasbygolf.se
Wildlife moving into the forest The stretches of forest on the site house several ancient remains, but soon the woods will get new life. A project in collaboration with Upplands-Väsby municipality means that visitors will soon see wildlife here too. “This April, we got 13 fallow deer, placed in a large deer enclosure,” says Allmark. “One part of the large area where they will live is right by hole eight of the John Deere course. In the future a total of around 25 fallow deer will help keep the area tidy. We have made a small pond by number eight, where you can see them.” The club is one of only three in Sweden to cooperate with the American machinery manufacturer John Deere. “Thanks to this collaboration, we have a great assembly of machinery. We can do just about all the work on the golf course ourselves, and our fantastic staff know everything about how to take care of the golf course and the forest,” Allmark says. Prior to being CEO at Wäsby Golf, a position she started in February, Allmark has held several international management positions in marketing, communications and HR and been very involved in the world of golf. She spent the past ten years in Italy, first in the golf tourism industry and later as CEO of a 27-hole golf course close to Milan. Her
Top: Interior details create a homely feeling. Middle: Traditional Swedish houses create a village-like atmosphere. Bottom: Mixed nature paints a pretty picture.
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Celebratory and challenging golf Between Oslo city centre and the Airport lies Hauger Golf Club. They offer a special way of challenging the players, together with a rich variety of facilities such as an exclusive restaurant. “You will find a challenging golf course, and at the same time we welcome most people who play at different levels,” says day-to-day manager Bent Lundborg.
in comfortable and calm surroundings. It also offers sporty business travellers the possibility to rent equipment. “After a meeting in the city, you can easily stop by Hauger Golf Club before having to catch that plane,” says Lundborg.
By Linda K. Gaarder | Photos: Hauger Golfklubb
The course was designed by Jeremy Turner, one of Scandinavia’s most distinguished golf course architects, and is characterised by a long and hilly terrain in a beautiful landscape. Playing might be tough at times, but the experience is heightened by signs telling you the story about various celebrities. “Not many golf courses have been lucky enough to host Seve Ballesteros,” Lundborg points out, adding that other stars such as Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam have played here too. Today, in the footsteps of the celebrities, players can test themselves additionally with the Hauger Challenge, running all season with an award awaiting the lucky ones. A day is easily spent at Hauger Golf Club. Next to the restaurant with chefs from the most luxurious establishments in 34 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Oslo, there is a fireplace, a golf shop and more. Still, the golf course is the heart of the club. “While offering opportunities for everybody, big or small, we are a championship golf course,” Lundborg insists. Hauger Golf Club hosts Nordic championships and has been rated by Scangolf as one of Norway’s best golf courses. “Golf can be played by anybody! It is this fact that makes the sport of golf so fascinating,” the manager says. Moreover, and perhaps less widely known, golf has a proven positive effect on people’s health, much thanks to it being an outdoor sport. At Hauger Golf Club, exercising outside is a sociable experience, going from hole to hole on a beautiful yet challenging golf course. Within a stone’s throw of the highway to the airport, Hauger Golf Club is set
This year, Hauger Golf Club celebrates 20 years. Discover the club’s various offers and be a part of their anniversary. For more information, please visit: www.haugergolf.no
Playing a round of golf in the wild With numerous high-quality golf clubs around, what sets one apart from the other? At Kjekstad Golf Club, they have embraced the rural surroundings of wildlife, forests and lakes to the full and integrated it into the courses. The result is two entertaining and challenging courses loved by semi-professionals and beginners alike. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Kjekstad Golfklubb
This year, the golf club celebrates 40 years of establishing itself as one of the finest clubs in the region with an 18-hole and a nine-hole course. When kicking off last month it was one of the first in the area to open for the season – and it will be one of the last to close too. “Ours are known for being fun and challenging courses, where you may very well end up playing your way across forest ponds,” says managing director Bjørn Lohne. While the two impeccable courses are the focal points, the thing that really sets Kjekstad Golf Club apart is the surroundings. Located in the middle of the forest, the courses are integrated into the original scenery with trees, lakes and hills. Do not be surprised if a rabbit or two come jumping onto the course. “Our slo-
gan is ‘you get the nature experience for free’,” says Lohne. “I once asked a couple how the day had been. They replied that they had an amazing time but could not remember how the actual game had ended.” Kjekstad Golf Club is located in Røyken, approximately half an hour south of Oslo. It is easily reached by public transport, although a car is recommended to bring your treasured gear along. It is also possible to rent full equipment at the club. “We have 1,200 eager members, but more and more tourists and day visitors stop by for a round or two,” Lohne ends. For inspiration and booking, please visit: www.kjekstad-gk.no
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 35
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Three Golf Destinations in Norway
Do not let the stunning fjord view get in the way of golfing Norway is full of aesthetically pleasing golf courses, but few are as stunning as Stjørdal Golf Club outside Trondheim. Celebrating 20 years this year, it has one six-hole short course and one 18-hole course overlooking the Trondheimsfjord. When you come here, we warn you: the view may get in the way of your golfing. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Stjørdal Golfklubb
Stjørdal Golf Club has been a meeting place for locals as well as visitors over the past 20 years. Located only five minutes from Trondheim Airport Værnes, it is a natural place to stop by on your way to or from further travels, with the sixhole short course giving you the perfect quick fix and the 18-hole course offering an excellent excuse to be outside all day. “We are open as long as the daylight allows, which means nearly 24/7 during the summer,” says the chairman of the board, Morten Gjønnes. The courses are of top-notch quality, so good in fact that Norwegian Champion36 | Issue 88 | May 2016
ships for both juniors and seniors have been hosted here. “The 18-hole course is made up by both woodland and parkland, offering some extra challenges and variation,” Gjønnes says. However, you do not need to be a semi-professional to enjoy at day at the club. “The six-hole course is particularly popular among beginners, as well as those popping in after a day’s work,” says Gjønnes and adds that they also offer practicing facilities with a large driving range, practice bunkers as well as a chipping and putting area. Moreover, you will find facilities including a pro shop with a small cafeteria and banqueting room for larger groups.
Stjørdal Golf Club enjoys one of the longest seasons in the region, normally open between mid-April and the end of October. With its short distance both to the airport and to Trondheim city centre, it is easily accessible both by public transport and by private car. To view the courses and book a game, please visit: www.stjordalgolf.no
Craft Spirits from Sweden www.hven.com
Scan Magazine | Business | Keynote
Scan Business Keynote 38 | Business Calendar 40 | Meet Jacob Knobel 41 | Enterprise Denmark 44 | Active Denmark 58
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Mind the cultural gap Cultural differences have always fascinated me. A year in the States in the ‘70s whetted my appetite. Then followed France, Germany, Switzerland, Iran and Dubai before I settled down in multicultural London – so my enthusiasm for understanding cultures has never waned. Even so, it has taken me many years to understand the difference between what I hear and what Brits actually mean. Interesting! Since Goodwille’s inception in 1997 we have helped many foreign companies set up business in the UK. Over the last few years, I have noticed an increasing awareness of the cultural differences between countries – and of the need for a greater depth of understanding than just the ability to speak English fluently, crucial though that is. Our interconnectedness through modern technology, I think, has deceived many people into thinking that instant communication equals immediate comprehension. I came across an interesting survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit entitled How Cultural and Communication Barriers Affect Business. It points out that cross-border communications and collaboration are becoming more critical to the financial success of companies with international aspirations. Around one-half of the executives surveyed ad38 | Issue 88 | May 2016
mitted that ineffective communication or inadequate collaboration had hindered major international transactions, resulting in financial loss or project failures. Yet culture rarely figures highly on the deal makers’ agenda. “In deal making, culture is generally disregarded – one of the reasons failure statistics are about 85 per cent,” says Prof. Dr. Steven H. Appelbaum, PhD, of the Department of Management at Montreal’s Concordia University. An overwhelming majority of those surveyed (close to 90 per cent) believe that if their company’s cross-border communications could be improved, then profit, revenue and market share would also improve. Almost two-thirds of respondents said that differences in language and culture make it difficult to gain a foothold in unfamiliar markets. The current economic downturn is, perhaps surprisingly, spurring companies to becoming more international. So countries with more diversified populations may stand a better chance in new international markets than others. The survey says that 77 per cent believed their company will soon have an operational presence in more countries than now. Young people today are much more aware of the importance of learning new language skills and living abroad to ex-
tend their experience and networks. Yet it takes time for all this to seep through. Maybe it is time to have not only language skills on the school curriculum, but also cross-border communication and cultural awareness. I have no doubt it would be a worthwhile investment.
Annika Åman Goodwille CEO of Goodwille Limited All you need to set up and run a company – from bricks and mortar to people and processes.
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Opto Design creates design products together with the most famous designers in Scandinavia
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Scan Magazine | Business | Column/Calendar
Why learn another language? That might seem a pretty needless question to nearly all Scandinavians, who top the rankings for non-native fluency in English. Moreover, in a recent UK survey on Brexit, it was found that Brits who speak a foreign language are more likely to be pro-EU than those who do not. Unfortunately the Brits, along with the Irish, are at the bottom of the EU league table for languages, so we are talking about a minority here. “Why should I bother when everyone speaks English?” is the typically lazy British response to this question. I can think of any number of reasons. “To possess another language is to possess another soul,” said Charlemagne. We see the world differently and gain new cultural perspectives through each new language lens. For the more hard-headed, there is the business maxim: ‘The language of business is the language of the client’. Speaking the local language provides inestimable advantages: even learning just a handful
By Steve Flinders
of words of your client’s language can magically open doors and help to build relationships. And although British cultural insularity and language ignorance go hand in hand, this phenomenon is growing rarer in the modern networked world. Children increasingly learn not just English, the global language, but also another major language such as Spanish, Chinese or Arabic, as well as their own. Given the right environment, most people seem to be able to master two or three or more languages without too much difficulty. Only schools manage to make it seem hard. Having preached the virtues of language learning, I should confess to being a mediocre linguist myself: I can only offer one other language (French) besides my native tongue – although I can order a beer in lots. I do offer the next best thing, however: unlike many of my compatriots, I am a good international communicator in English. But that is the subject of another article.
Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com
Scandinavian Business Calendar
By Mette Hindkjær Madsen
Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month May Link Up Drinks It is time for the Swedish Chamber’s last Link Up Drinks before the summer. As usual the event will include presentations from new members, but this time the Council Members will also be present. Bring your colleagues, loosen your tie and grab some drinks and canapés for a fantastic networking opportunity. Date and time: 18 May 6.30pm-8.30pm Venue: Kreab London’s offices, 90 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9RA www.scc.org.uk
Nordic Drinks Every last Thursday of the month, members and friends of the Finnish, Danish and Norwegian Chambers of Commerce in the UK gather for Nordic Networking Drinks in a nice venue somewhere in Central London. This month the drinks will be at MASH (Modern American Steak House). Date and time: 26 May, 6pm–8pm 40 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Venue: MASH, W1F 9ZN www.fbcc.co.uk
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Question time with Klas Eklund Join the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in a breakfast discussion on the fragmentation of Europe, led by Klas Eklund, senior economist at SEB, adjunct professor of economics at Lund University, and chairman of the Government’s committee for analysis of the labour market of the future. Topics including Greece, Brexit and immigration will be covered. Date and time: 20 May, 8.30am-10am Venue: SEB London offices, 1 Carter Ln, London EC4V 5AN www.scc.org.uk
After the oil and gas shock In partnership with Nordea Private Banking, the Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce
presents an event exploring the shifts in the oil market and the implications of the freeze to oil production agreed by Saudi Arabia and Russia. Thina Saltvedt, chief macro/oil analyst at Nordea Bank, will hold a presentation, followed by contributions by speakers from Statoil (TBC), KBR, DNV GL and Wikborg Rein. Date and time: 25 May, 6pm-9pm Venue: TBC
Scan Magazine | Business Feature | Jacob Knobel
‘Pave your own way for a problem-free ride’ He is 25 years old, works 80 hours a week and is on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. Yet Danish Jacob Knobel is just getting started.
than solid. It’s been said that he basically decides what people buy,” says Knobel.
By Mette Hindkjaer Madsen | Photo: Victor Stawicki
A piece of advice
At 6.30am his alarm goes off. Avocado, eggs, bacon. He arrives at work around 8am, and meetings start an hour later. A long working day in an even longer working week has commenced. “My work is incredibly technical, but I can’t get enough of speaking with our developers,” says Knobel, co-founder of Densou Trading Desk. “I love selling our product and seeing it grow. Wearing many different hats all at once is my favourite part, which I wouldn’t do as an employee at another firm.” Meetings, ongoing dialogue with software developers and emails are the three key elements of a typical working day.
Motivational role models “I always tease my mother saying that she has one amazing son – my brother
who’s a lawyer – and then there’s her other son who dropped out of university: me,” Knobel smiles. “She has a classic view of education while my father is an entrepreneur too, so I suspect he thinks what I do is cool.” Knobel studied insurance mathematics, something he found incredibly boring. He dropped out and got a student job instead. This is where he met his business partner, Anders Elly, with whom he decided to build a company from scratch. But he is aiming even higher, working full throttle to transform the market of advertising. For inspiration he looks to an ambitious role model: marketing mogul Martin Sorrell, a man who controls 50 per cent of advertising globally. “He is canny and exceptional at what he does – my role model for building a business that’s more
Drunken weekends with friends have been sacrificed for his business venture, but Knobel comes to a simple conclusion: “It’s amazing to sit on top of a cake built of blood, sweat and tears. I don’t regret not having free weekends or going to festivals drunk out of my mind. My kids should be able to do whatever they want, but my goal has always been clear.” If he had to give his younger self a piece of advice? “Think of how you shape your life – the value of immersing yourself in what you enjoy and removing the things you don’t. Pave your own way for a problem-free ride.” 25-year-old Dane Jacob Knobel founded Densou Trading Desk with Anders Elley in 2014. The company develops technology to automate digital advertising for publishers and advertisers on a local and global scale.
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 41
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Value at a discount With an official goal of becoming the world’s most value-driven company, the Scandinavian discount store Rema 1000 does not shy away from its social responsibility. But that has not meant a lack of success. Last year, the Norwegian franchise expanded with 13 new grocery stores in Denmark, reaching a total of 270 Danish outlets, and increased its turnover by one billion DKK. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rema 1000
With more than 800 stores in Denmark and Norway, Rema 1000, which entered the Danish market in 1994, has become one of the biggest grocery stores in Denmark. Furthermore, several listings place the store at the top when it comes to popularity. The success should not just be attributed to competitive pricing, but also to the store’s distinctive focus on value. Value saturates every part of the hugely 42 | Issue 88 | May 2016
successful family-owned Reitan Group, which Rema 1000 is part of, resulting in a string of advantages including better employees, stronger customer relations and higher product quality. CEO of Rema 1000 Denmark, Henrik Burkal, explains: “The mission of the Reitan Group is to become known as the most value-driven company in, well, before it was in Scandinavia, but today it’s just the most value-driven
company full-stop. The way the company defines value-driven management is that we believe in building strong people and inspiring them to action through trust. I think that’s an amazing mission and definition, and it’s one of the main reasons I’m part of the company.”
Believing in people The management philosophy of Rema 1000 is reflected in the structure of the company, which is set up as a franchise with each store run independently. This not only gives more freedom to co-workers but also closer relationships to customers, stresses Burkal. “It’s about finding the right balance between freedom and structure. We are a
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
REMA 1000 AND THE REITAN GROUP AT A GLANCE: - Rema 1000 is a franchise of more than 800 independently run stores in Norway and Denmark.
discount store and that means creating a cost-efficient system, not lowering quality. But while most people think that efficiency is about centralised, uniform and strictly governed structures, we believe that it comes from decentralised, unified and value-driven structures.” It is not just in terms of the relationships between people that Rema 1000 is principled, but also when it concerns the relationships between people and their surroundings. “We want our customers to be able to buy and consume our products with a tasteful experience both in a literal sense – in that even though we are a discount store, we want to offer good quality and taste – and indirectly, in the way that our products are produced and affect society,” Burkal explains.
Reducing waste, increasing quality In 2008, Rema 1000 was the first grocery store to enter a partnership with the Danish Stop Wasting Food movement. As their first step, the franchise decid-
ed to discontinue all multi-buy deals. But while today food waste is one of the hottest topics in the food industry, back then many met Rema 1000’s decision with incredulity. “The extra products in multi-offer deals very often end up in the bin because people feel pressured to buy more than they need, and that’s why we decided to get rid of them. As we chose to reduce the individual price to match the previous multi-buy prices, our customers received the initiative positively, but many of our competitors were shaking their heads in disbelief. And, of course, they were right in that we did lose some of the extra sales, but we feel that it’s better to give our customers the free choice,” explains Burkal and adds: “We don’t want to preach to our customers or pressure them, but we want them to have more options also when it comes to making healthier choices. Of course, we don’t tell anyone that they can’t eat sweets or sugar, but we want to give them some alternatives, like wholegrain bread and sugar-free and fat-reduced products.”
- ‘Rema’ is a contraction of the ‘Reitan’ family name and the Norwegian word ‘mat’ (food). - The Reitan Group had a turnover in 2015 (including franchise sales) of 86 billion NOK. - The group employs 36,700 people in Scandinavia and the Baltic region.
THE REITAN GROUP’S SUCCESS BUILDS ON EIGHT CORE VALUES: 1: We focus on our business idea 2: We keep a high business moral 3: We are committed to being debt-free 4: We encourage a winning culture 5: We have a positive and proactive mindset 6: We talk with each other, not about each other 7: The customer is our ultimate boss 8: We want to have fun and be profitable
For more information, please visit: www.rema1000.dk or www.reitangruppen.no
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 43
The secret behind software success Systematic A/S is the story about how the aim to make a difference with software leads to a global company serving in excess of 47 markets and five industries. It all began at a hotel in Copenhagen. By Malene Emilie Severinsen | Photo: Christian Sølbeck
It was a summer’s day in 1985. Michael Holm went to Copenhagen to meet a potential business partner in a hotel lobby. They had never met. “He said that I would easily recognise him, sitting in a chair smoking a cigarette and drinking a premium beer. That was it. Systematic was established.” Thirty years later, Systematic has grown into a global enterprise with a 68-million-euro turnover and more than 100,000 users worldwide. Systematic is the workplace of over 500 employees. “The team is indisputably the key to success, and we never lost sight of our aim – to make a difference with high-quality software and solutions,” CEO Holm points out. Systematic simplifies critical decision making with software that removes complexity and increases effectiveness, 44 | Issue 88 | May 2016
productivity and safety – the most difficult solutions to build, but the core competence of Systematic. “We know that software contributes to a better world. We see it daily with our customers,” Holm says. Systematic operates in five different industries: healthcare, intelligence and national security, defence, public and private, and library and learning. Being close to customers is part of the success. “Our key to success is our high quality, anchored in our capability to focus on and understand the needs of our customers. We want to be the best in class.” Leadership is an important tool to achieve that. “We focus on leadership to ensure that we can make the right decisions at the right level at the right time,” says Holm. “Push the power of decision mak-
ing to where knowledge is – then you stay agile, gain speed and drive innovation.” Global presence is a key priority for the CEO. Systematic has offices in ten different countries worldwide. “It is not enough to go to market with outstanding software. You need products. A software company without products is like a company without identity. Products make you able to identify customers, but they also make customers able to identify you, which is important when you want to break the sound barrier in new markets.” Holm enjoys visiting customers to see software from Systematic in use. “Software is not an art form, but a craft you can learn. It is about building the right solution with the right customer and changing things for the better. Then you make a difference. After 30 years with software, that is still my fuel – to make a difference.”
For more information, please visit: www.systematic.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Making modern-day technology It is incredible to think how much electronics influence our world today, from mobile phones to washing machines and machinery. And yet, most of us rarely think about the technology behind it all. That is not the case for the Nilsens, owners of the printed circuit board (PCB) company Elprint, who have produced PCBs for all types of businesses, including toy creators and space explorers, since the 1970s. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Elprint Elprint was set up by Helge Nilsen in a cellar in Bergen, Norway, in 1973 when he was a newly graduated engineer. The business eventually became one of the biggest and most advanced PCB factories in northern Europe, spreading to Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Germany. Helge moved to Denmark, where he married the Danish Elprint manager,
In 2008, Elprint moved most production to China, setting up its own office to quality check and monitor production. The Elprint businesses work closely together across borders, taking advantage of each other’s strengths and bulk-buying materials to lower prices. “We also developed two unique systems to improve efficiency: the MIX
Nanna, and they continued developing the Danish branch. “Helge’s vision was to make the entire process from design to production as simple and modern as possible,” Nanna explains. “This has lowered prices, made the ordering process easy, and allows us to deliver in 24 hours when necessary.”
principle and the Macaos Enterprise,” Nanna explains. “Macaos Enterprise is an ordering system that neatly and reliably details everything from prices to materials to design specifics. It includes features like track ‘n’ trace and makes ordering much easier for the customer.” The MIX-principle
collects several smaller orders of print circuits on the same base board, letting smaller companies take advantage of bulk-order prices too. Elprint is currently launching a web shop selling all sorts of equipment related to PCBs to provide an even higher level of service to its customers.
For more information, please visit: www.elprint.dk
Do you know if your house is healthy? New Nordic Engineering creates the technology to collect information about your building – everything from the carbon dioxide level to how many people are in it at any given time. And they can keep you updated on when your kids are home from school, when you should open a window to air out a certain room or connect you with your baby to hear them crying from a mile away. If you have ever felt a bit tired slumming it on your couch or at the office, you are certainly not the only one. But there could be a simple explanation and solution to it. CEO of New Nordic Engineering, Stig Dahl-Hansen, explains: “We test our sensors at an office workplace, where the employees are tired and unhappy with the indoor climate. After a few days of monitoring the indoor climate of the office, it is easy to see where the problem is: too much CO2 in the air. New habits for opening the windows and a few other adjustments and the problem is solved,” explains Dahl-Hansen, who himself has many sensors in his own house. Using wireless sensors and a device to collect the data, New Nordic Engineering can cross analyse the collected data from all kinds of sensors you might have in your building and update or alert you if there is something you
By Mette Hindkjær Madsen Photos: New Nordic Engineering
should be aware of. “We make sensors to collect data for different needs, so, for instance, you can save money by knowing if you’re using too much energy,” says the CEO. Whether you are a private person or a big corporation, New Nordic Engineering can help you get to know your building’s health, prevent and solve problems and even optimise your health within your own walls.
For more information, please visit: www.n.build
Stig Dahl Hansen
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 45
Director of Dynalogic, Bo Schrøder, measures his company’s success on the long-term effect it has on its clients’ businesses.
IT solutions that maximise bottom-line results Experience and innovation are both keywords at Dynalogic, one of Denmark’s leading resellers of the ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems Dynamics NAV and Dynamics C5. The Jutland-based company has developed a string of additional modules such as JobManager for NAV, which provides companies with comprehensive shop floor and workforce management tools facilitating greater control and data accuracy. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Dynalogic
As an offspring of Thy Data, one of Denmark’s largest suppliers of IT solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics, Dynalogic has extensive experience in the implementation of Dynamics NAV and Dynamics C5. The company’s accumulated know-how is not just used to help organisations build quick and efficient IT solutions but also to ensure that the sys46 | Issue 88 | May 2016
tems add real value to the bottom line. “Our vision is to ensure that our clients optimise their IT investment, because too often an IT investment doesn’t affect the bottom line enough; one of the things we focus on, which we believe adds extra value, is to create simple standard solutions that are easy to update and more agile than individually created compound
systems,” explains director of Dynalogic, Bo Schrøder. “We want our clients to measure our performance on the longterm effect we have on their business.” Since its foundation five years ago, Dynalogic has indeed been providing real results and today provides ERP solutions for some of Denmark’s leading multina-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
tional companies within production, service and logistics.
JobManager One of the tools Dynalogic uses to develop more accurate data collection, greater efficiency and ultimately better bottom line results is the JobManager module. The easy-to-use, powerful job recording solution automates time keeping, attendance tracking, job costs and data collection in NAV. Eliminating the need for inefficient paper timesheets, the module digitally handles and calculates attendance registration, break time and absence through personalised client PCs and apps. The data collected enables companies to register time spent on production orders, service orders, projects and internal work and view notes attached to orders and jobs. Furthermore, the added tools for data collection ensure that existing systems function optimally, explains Schrøder:
“JobManager is a good example of how much difference an optimal data input makes – it reaches all the way out to the welder on the production floor. If the numbers and data from there are not reported correctly, it will, in the end, be the wrong numbers that end up in the budgets.” This can be avoided with JobManager, as the unit’s third module enables companies to set up highly flexible data rules for generating payroll transactions and finally apply real-cost prices to products and services based on salary paid.
Minimising the hassle Dynalogic was founded in 2011 as a result of the acquisition and division of Data Thy and has since built a solid reputation as one of the leading resellers of Dynamics NAV and Dynamics C5. This has led to a strong client base within leading production, service and logistic companies in Denmark, several with divisions all over the world. The success is largely
down to a combination of experience and know-how, which enables the company to create new solutions but also to understand when it is necessary or not necessary to do so. “When a client is about to choose an IT partner, there are several things to take into consideration on top of deciding what system to choose. There are still many old ERP systems running in Denmark and many IT partners don’t know the new systems well enough to implement them. This might mean that they will make unnecessary adjustments and additions because they don’t know the system intimately enough to know that it has those features already,” explains Schrøder and rounds off: “We have the knowhow that means we can focus much more on a dialogue with the client, and usually that reveals that the ERP system already delivers around 80 per cent of what they need. We can then spend our time and resources focusing on the gaps – the areas that actually add extra value to the project and the bottom line.”
DYNALOGIC IN BRIEF: Dynalogic specialises in ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions for companies in the production, service and logistics sectors. ERP is a category of business management software used to collect, store, manage and interpret data from business activities, such as product planning, purchase, manufacturing or service delivery. Dynalogic employs 15 ERP specialists. Dynalogic also provides support services for Dynamics NAV/AX/XAL/C5. The company is located in Thisted in Thy, north-west Jutland. Dynalogic was founded in 2011 as an offspring of Thy Data.
Top left and right: Via personalised client apps and PCs, JobManager can eliminate the need for inefficient paper timesheets by digitally handling and calculating attendance registration, break times and absence. Bottom: JobManager reaches all the way out to the production floor, making the input of data more reliable and easier to control.
For more information, please visit: www.dynalogic.dk
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 47
Cutting-edge workmanship Specialising in the machining of stainless and high-alloy steel, Triplecut has built solid success based on precision, quality and flexibility. The fact that the Danish company, in contrast to many of its competitors, has been able to keep its production in Denmark is thanks to its readiness to go that extra mile for its clients, no matter if it concerns a single prototype or thousands of standard components.
Today, Triplecut, which is located in Vejle, Jutland, employs 30 staff, has a production area of 2,400 square metres and produces machine parts for organisations all over northern Europe.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Triplecut
Danish workmanship
Founded ten years ago by three colleagues, Triplecut has been growing in size and number ever since. Two years ago, the owners and founders Michael Henningsen and Anders Hjerrild (the third founder chose to leave the firm due to illness) acquired their competitor and previous employer, Brd. Jensen Eftf. Though the two owners embody humility, when asked, Henningsen concedes that the success is down to skills as well as hard work. “There is nothing that’s impossible to us; something might take a 48 | Issue 88 | May 2016
little longer to do, but we will get it done. We always strive to offer our clients the best possible service even for the smallest orders – that way we run our business a little differently than other companies,” he says. “We manufacture critical parts for our client’s machines, ones that just have to fit regardless of tolerances and surface requirements, and that is why we put quality at the centre of everything we do. We deliver the highest precision in combination with the finest surfaces.”
Despite the fact that many Danish companies based on workmanship and production have moved to the East or Far East, the owners of Triplecut are adamant that staying within the borders of Denmark has been essential to the company’s success. “Working with prototypes and development as well as with serial productions, it is essential for us to be able to work closely with our customers to optimise their products and find the best possible way to manufacture them. Everything we do to fulfil our customer’s demands we can
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Triplecut manufactures critical parts for machinery that requires both the highest precision and the finest surfaces.
The owners of Triplecut, Michael Henningsen (left) and Anders Hjerrild (right), are dedicated to their craft and the success of their company.
do thanks to a quality-conscious and well-trained staff of operators, a modern and optimised cnc-machine park and a well-chosen selection of tools and suppliers,” explains Hjerrild. Besides, he adds, he and Henningsen are very happy to be able to help keep the Danish workmanship alive and help the next generation along by employing 30 production workers, including four trainees. “From a social point of view it is not good to outsource all the production; we need jobs for the young people who want to carry on our workmanship traditions – we can’t all be academics.”
Dedication and hard work Maintaining production in Denmark means that Triplecut is capable of delivering a high level of documentation and traceability. Another recognisable benefit is that the company can move with short notice to produce emergen-
cy solutions in case of breakdowns and so on. “When our clients have an emergency, we all put our forces together to solve their problem and, obviously, while a delivery from the Far East might take up to eight weeks, we can act and deliver almost immediately,” says Henningsen. The company’s ability to provide an exceptional service is based not just on its highly skilled team of staff, which also includes four robots, but also its top modern cnc-machine park, 90 per cent of which is computer controlled. This means that part of the production can run unmanned 24/7. Still, the owners ensure that all new trainees are first and foremost introduced to the manual machines and processes just like all trainees were when the company first started out. “We are ourselves from the old school of machine workers, but today our profession is called industrial technicians because it became unfash-
ionable to be a worker,” jokes Hjerrild. “We started out on the production floor; I guess this proves that you don’t have to go to university to make something of yourself.” Henningsen agrees but adds: “Yes, but obviously a project like this is not something that comes easily; we’ve put in lots of lots of hours and it is important to have the family on board as well.”
For more information, please visit: www.triplecut.com
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 49
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Keep track of your goods from start to end Lost goods, goods that are damaged upon arrival and goods that show up in the wrong place are all scenarios that are bad for business, whether your company is the sender or the recipient. That is why Danish bosoLog has developed a simple multisensor system that makes it easy to follow and monitor goods wherever they are.
approaches all clients with humility and a dedicated focus on their specific requirements. “We are humble and honest, meaning that we perceive our client’s value creation as our own value creation, and that’s why our aim is to only attract clients where our concept adds real value to their business,” stresses Jacobsen. “That also means that we have absolutely no ties; the potential in this area is so great that we only want satisfied clients.”
By Signe Hansen | Photos: bosoLog
Founded by Jesper Ravn Jacobsen, Jørn Hansen and Michael Pedersen in 2014, bosoLog has successfully established a diverse client base. From medical to oil and industry, businesses in a wide range of sectors are aware of the value this simple yet versatile monitoring solution offers. The system bridges the digital and industrial worlds by allowing clients to monitor their goods digitally on PCs or tablets. Through their devices, businesses can keep track of everything from the temperature the goods are stored at, to whether goods have been overturned, are on the right way, are exposed to too much humidity or have been opened or bumped
excessively. Being able to see if, when or where something goes wrong can be hugely beneficial to businesses of all kinds, says director of bosoLog, Jesper Ravn Jacobsen: “Our concept means that our clients minimise warranty claims if the goods arrive in an unsatisfactory state, and that is value added directly to their bottom line figures. On the other hand, they can also use it to create more value for their own clients and in that way it facilitates a multidimensional value creation.” Though being among the frontrunners within industrial digitalisation, bosoLog
Jørn Hansen, Jesper Ravn Jacobsen and Michael Pedersen (left to right) founded bosoLog in 2014.
50 | Issue 88 | May 2016
For more information, please visit: www.bosolog.com
With bosoLog’s new multi-sensor system, companies can monitor everything from temperature to location of their goods during delivery.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Flemming Beltoft, founder of mySupply.
Easy and efficient e-commerce By 2018 all EU countries will be required to have standardised electronic invoices. This means that many companies will have to change their electronic infrastructure to suit the new e-commerce standards. mySupply has been working with e-commerce since 2005 and is at the forefront of the solutions to these new changes. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: mySupply
The Danish government changed to e-billing in 2005, hence all trade conducted with the government needed to follow certain standards. mySupply was quickly chosen as a company that could ensure that these standards were maintained, and has since then been a market leader in e-commerce. “All kinds of companies use us, everything from big multinational companies to sole traders,” Beltoft explains. mySupply uses its own software, VAX 360, which is easily installed and constantly optimised to provide the best solution for all clients. The software provides the client with a template so that all the invoices maintain the same standard. VAX 360 can be installed in local IT environments or used as a cloudbased service.
Time and money saving “In recent years we have started trading more across borders, with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain and Italy being
some of the main areas,” says Beltoft. As such, their software also has templates for invoicing across borders. “We currently have about 80 different standards saved, ensuring it’s quick and easy to send something.”
since it started, we have extensive knowledge that would be hard to find anywhere else,” says Beltoft. It is important to get ahead of the game and get your business ready for the change in 2018. Most businesses in the EU trade across borders and therefore need to be set up and ready to go by 2018. mySupply can provide you with a personalised, quick and efficient solution. Give them a call to find out more.
Beltoft continues: “Importantly, what we provide is efficient and saves money. The invoices that are sent through our customers’ software are automatically registered within the company’s database, eliminating human error and saving time. We can sometimes set companies up with everything they need in a day, although it usually takes about a week.”
New legislation The new EU legislation, PEPPOL, which will be implemented in 2018, is based on the Danish way of producing these electronic documents. mySupply is playing an active part in the negotiations that are currently taking place, and will be the frontrunners once the legislation is in place. “As we’ve worked with e-commerce
Trading areas: white dots for international trade and yellow dots for domestic trade.
For more information, please visit: www.mysupply.dk
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 51
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Skanderborg’s mayor Jørgen Gaarde.
Where innovation and businesses thrive Dansk Industri (DI), the Confederation of Danish Industry, ranked Skanderborg third best amongst Denmark’s 98 municipalities for businesses last year. Situated in Business Region Aarhus, Skanderborg benefits from its proximity to Denmark’s second-largest city and has excellent transport links to Copenhagen, the rest of Denmark and Germany. Most importantly, the local council values and listens to its local businesses. By Louise Older Steffensen | Press photos
One million people live in eastern Jutland in the area between Aarhus, Silkeborg and Horsens, and the area known as Business Region Aarhus has the highest growth rate outside the capital. “I think our council’s biggest strength, however, is that we’re personable,” says Jørgen Gaarde, the mayor of Skanderborg. “We really appreciate the economic and social value that the businesses and innovators add to the area, and the municipality’s size allows us to be on first-name terms with many of the people who run them.” In its report, DI commended the municipality for the equal and proactive service it provides to businesses, noting in particular the council’s ability to understand the point of view of the area’s businesses and carry out effective and equal dialogue. At just 2.4 per cent, Skanderborg has one of the lowest unemployment rates 52 | Issue 88 | May 2016
in Denmark. “We have easy access to highly qualified people,” Gaarde notes. “When young people graduate in Aarhus, they look for jobs here. We’re only 20 kilometres from Aarhus, have great public transport links, and lots of our local businesses are hiring.” The quality of life is very high: some of Denmark’s bestknown nature spots are on the doorstep, including Himmelbjerget, Jutland’s biggest lake, and the source of Denmark’s longest river, Gudenåen. In the summer, the municipality hosts Smukfest, the second-largest and arguably most beautiful festival in Denmark, in Skanderborg’s beech forests. What is more, Billund Airport is just an hour away – an added benefit for employees and businesses alike. Companies in Skanderborg work with everything from furniture assembly to construction and food production. Skanderborg’s population has an unu-
sually high rate of engineers and, with the town on the main railway lines and just by the motorway connecting Copenhagen and Germany, there are plenty of opportunities for all kinds of traditional production. In recent years, IT, communication and technology businesses like Kamstrup have also prospered. “We’re a reasonably small municipality, which gives us room at the council to get to know Skanderborg’s businesses, whatever size or shape they come in,” Gaarde adds. “That creates a great working environment and a sense of unity for the individual companies and the council alike.”
For more information, please visit: www.skanderborg.dk
Quality, safety and flexibility in the offshore market Working on rigs in heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas might not be for everyone, but for Safe Ocean Service this is part of the daily routine. Since the company’s beginnings in 2012, they have worked towards achieving the highest safety and quality standards, while also maintaining steady growth. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Safe Ocean Service
Safe Ocean Service supplies all services related to the offshore, oil, gas and wind industry. “We work on everything from rig upgrades to inspections,” explains Thomas Nielsen, business development manager. Nielsen co-founded Safe Ocean Service with Chris Durhuus in March 2012. The company, which is based in Hirtshals, Denmark, now employs 60 people and opened a new office in Houston, America in January 2015. “It’s important that we have qualified personnel working for us, so we’re always trying to find the best people and continually educate them on the newest technologies and methods,” explains Nielsen. Safe Ocean Service is also looking to make its own work more sustainable and has recently invested a great deal in green technologies.
Ambition, safety and quality Safe Ocean Service is an ambitious company with an outlook to the future. De-
spite the recent drop in oil prices, the company has continued to grow steadily. “We’re a small company, but that also means that we can remain flexible and adapt to everyone’s needs and budgets even when times are hard,” says Nielsen.
ty, and we always try to better the work that we do.” Safe Ocean Service boasts an impressive and international clientele, sending their experienced engineers across the world to work. The enthusiasm they have for their work is infectious; this personable, trustworthy company works only to the highest levels of professionalism and quality standards.
The company is also working extensively in the wind industry, helping to maintain the numerous windmills based around the Danish coast and beyond. “We have a lot of expertise in Denmark when it comes to wind energy, and we’d like to see more windmill parks worldwide,” Nielsen continues. Remaining safe in the offshore industry is essential. Safe Ocean Service will soon be celebrating 1,500 LTI-free (lost time incident) days, an impressive record in this industry. “We want to be known for doing things properly, so proper safety and quality regulations are an essential part of our work,” Nielsen explains. “We never compromise on people’s safe-
To find out more, please visit: www.safeoceanservice.com
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 53
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Jeppe Laursen (left) and Kasper Krogh (right) were the first in Denmark to found a company offering 3D technology as a service.
A world in 3D With high-precision 3D scans and measurements, Zebicon has helped numerous Danish companies reduce production risks and costs. As the first company in Denmark to offer 3D technology as a service, Zebicon has experience with a wide range of production parts, from the tiny plastic segments for hearing aids to the gigantic blades of wind turbines. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Zebicon
Founded by Jeppe Laursen and Kasper Krogh more than a decade ago, Zebicon has become a leading specialist in 3D scanning and industrial measurement technologies in Denmark. Thanks to its state-of-the-art equipment and extensive know-how, the company has achieved a growth rate of more than 40 per cent and doubled its employee numbers to a total of 16 in the last two years. “We had the privilege of being the first company to make this technology available to the entire Danish industry. Before then it was only available to companies that had the resources to purchase the hardware,” CEO Jeppe Laursen explains and adds: “Of course when a business is successful, competitors will follow, but as with all other technologies know-how 54 | Issue 88 | May 2016
is fundamental, and the key element in our competiveness on the market today is that we have built up extensive expertise.” Both Laursen and Krogh came from a background in LEGO, where the two technical engineers had worked with 3D scanning and reverse engineering for several years. When they set up their own company 13 years ago, they stayed in the region, and Zebicon is today based in Billund. Apart from providing a complete 3D technology service, Zebicon is also the distributor of optical measuring systems from the German company GOM. “It’s a nice combination because it means that when a customer is sufficiently acquainted with the technology to find it trustwor-
thy, we have the privilege of helping them with the next step, organising their internal process and sharing our experience with them,” explains Laursen. While Zebicon has gained a global perspective through its many international clients, the company also maintains a strong commitment to its local community and takes in young trainees as well as people with reduced work capabilities. As a result, the company was awarded the local community prize as Company of the Year by Billund municipality in 2015.
For more information, please visit: www.zebicon.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Enterprise Denmark
Reduce the complexity of your business forecasting By taking over the complex part of business forecasting, Sophub has helped several major international companies achieve proven forecast accuracy improvements. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Sophub In a market dominated by strict budgeting demands, business forecasting has become more essential than ever. But not all companies have the in-house knowledge required to get the most out of existing systems. “What we offer is to take over the complex part of the process, which means that you don’t need in-house statistical forecast knowledge in your own organisation,” explains CEO Fredrik Olsson. As a spin-off of Syncronic Management Consulting, the people behind Sophub have more than a decade’s worth of experience within business forecasting, and it was this experience that led the firm to develop its own add-on service to existing ERP systems.
“We struggled to achieve good results with the standard tools available – many of them are either not advanced enough or so complex that very few companies have the inhouse competence to use them optimally,” says Olsson. Brian Byskov, research and development director, adds: “Our vision is to be the preferred app to support all competence and process requirements to deliver a worldclass sales forecast. We provide an innovative tool to split signals from noise, reduce time used on forecasting, and deliver transparency and value for our customers.” So far the result has not just been less hassle for clients, but also an accuracy improvement of up to 50 per cent. Sophup is a
Left: CEO of Sophub, Fredrik Olsson, aims to make business forecasting easier and more accurate for organisations. Right: Research and development director Brian Byskov.
cloud-based service and comes with standard plug-in adapters for the most common ERP systems. The Sophub tool is currently offered as a complete service, meaning that there is no need to install software or hardware, but it will soon be available as a DIY version as well.
For more information, please visit: www.sophub.com
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Easy access to all of Scandinavia BroBizz® gives companies and their employees more freedom and possibilities than any other ‘bizz’ transmitter on the Danish market. Despite its name (‘bro’ means ‘bridge’ in Danish) the wireless transmitter not only works on bridges but also provides automatic, quick and secure payment at ferries, toll roads, airport car parks and parking facilities all over Scandinavia. By Signe Hansen | Photos: BroBizz
BroBizz guarantees you swift and easy payment for passage through more than 55 toll booths on bridges, ferries, roads and car parks in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Together with an easily accessible and manageable online account, this means employers and their staff can save a great deal of hassle by signing up to BroBizz’s corporative service. Customer service manager Marie Mikkelsen explains: “The advantage is that it’s easy and simple for corporate clients to gather everything in one place. They can pay for both bridges, ferries and parking and have everything settled together, which means that you get rid of various paper receipts which you would otherwise 56 | Issue 88 | May 2016
have to collect, add up and present to accounting.” BroBizz works with nine ferries in Denmark, Sweden and Germany and can also be used for payment at Copenhagen Airport and Billund Airport. If staff have individual corporate credit cards, BroBizz can be set up for this or alternatively linked to the company’s main account. No matter what, it is easy and quick to access the company’s online account and get a full view of expenses.
Not just for crossing the Great Belt Though BroBizz started out as a division of the Great Belt Bridge in 2013, BroBizz
became an independent company and is by no means just for trips across the bridge. As a partner in the EasyGo partnership, BroBizz can be used for payment at more than 50 locations in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Austria. BroBizz’s strategy is to continuously work to spread its road cover to more EU countries so that it will eventually cover all of Europe, while at the same time adding other relevant applications and services. With this many possibilities, some may fear that getting an overview of expenditures might be difficult or that there is a high risk of misuse, but that is not the case. On their personal online account, companies or individual clients can quickly view all expenditures and, if anything worries them, block their BroBizz. They can also order extra BroBizz units and update personal information such as license plate and credit card information. “For a company that has, for instance, ten sales people driving around the country
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Active Denmark
with only sporadic face time at the business’ headquarters, it is a great advantage to be able to quickly log in and get an overview of all expenditure in one place. For the individual sales person, it means that they don’t have to get out a credit card or deal with local currency and collect receipts,” explains Mikkelsen.
Extra advantages Attached inside the windscreen, BroBizz works securely by transmitting a unique BroBizz number to the toll booths the vehicle passes through. When the toll booth has received the number, the toll barrier lifts and the vehicle can drive through without waiting as the payment is deducted automatically on the debit or credit card associated with the BroBizz. But there are other advantages apart from the convenience and security of the system, stresses Mikkelsen. “Obviously it’s an advantage for both our corporate and private clients that they can save time and trouble when travelling through Scandinavia. Another advantage, which is especially popular with our corporate clients, is the fact that BroBizz offers the possibility of buying special tickets that guarantee immediate access to several of the ferries that are part of our agreement. You don’t need to book but are secured a space on the next ferry; that gives a lot of freedom and flexibility, which is much appreciated by companies using the crossing on a regular basis.”
BroBizz started out as a part of the Great Belt Bridge, but today is an independent company offering quick and secure payment at ferries, toll roads and parking facilities all over Scandinavia.
BroBizz works with nine ferries in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Some, like Mols-Linien, offer special advantages to BroBizz clients.
Among the ferries to offer BroBizz tickets that guarantee first access for BroBizz customers are Mols-Linien and Scandlines. Another advantage of BroBizz is that it gives access to a string of discounts and benefits from the company’s many business partners.
BroBizz - what is it? A BroBizz is a wireless transmitter placed inside a vehicle’s windscreen which makes use of a debit or credit card to insure that you drive quickly through automatic toll booths.
For more information, please visit: www.brobizz.com
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 57
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Active Denmark
Our gardens in safe hands With innovative technology, high-quality tools and excellent customer service, STIHL and VIKING make the perfect team for garden maintenance – so that you can free up your time to focus on the more fun and creative side of gardening, or whatever else takes your fancy. By Malin Norman | Photos: STIHL and VIKING
STIHL Group was founded in Germany by Andreas Stihl in 1926, when he had the idea for his first chainsaw. Growing from a one-man business into a global company, it has been the world’s biggest-selling chainsaw brand since 1971. Celebrating 90 years in the industry this year, STIHL is still a family-owned business with around 14,000 employees worldwide and nearly 3.3 billion euros in revenue.
for garden and landscape maintenance, the construction sector and private users. Though best known for its premium power tools for professionals, the consumer side is growing fast in Scandinavia. The company markets its products under two brands: STIHL for all portable power tools, and the Austrian subsidiary VIKING, specialised in lawn mowers and grass care.
Today, STIHL develops, manufactures and distributes power tools for professional forestry and agriculture as well as
With passion for green
58 | Issue 88 | May 2016
The big new trend on the consumer side is robotic lawn mowers, the ideal help-
ers for the garden. VIKING has been a lawn care specialist a long time and has seen rapid growth particularly in the past five years. “Scandinavia is the leading market for robotic lawn mowers, probably because of the relatively big gardens we have over here, and people are keen on keeping up with ecological trends as well as new innovative products,” explains marketing manager Jari Heiskanen. “The lawn really is the base of the garden. If it can take care of itself with the help of our lawn mower, people can focus on the more fun side of gardening, such as designing the garden space and choosing the combination of trees and plants.” The robotic lawn mowers are available in different models and sizes, suitable for private gardens but also for hotels and
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Active Denmark
conference centres, as well as public spaces. They require no staff, are quiet and can be programmed to work at times when no-one is around, such as late evenings or early mornings. The principle is similar to robotic vacuum cleaners, with the mowers working independently according to a pre-set plan and charging automatically when needed. Buyers also get access to garden planners, lawn mowing time calculators and gardening tips on the iMow microsite. It is simple enough, and with professional guidance on the planning and installation process, specialised dealers are also available for on-site help.
tablet regardless of where you are, for example to adjust its activity according to the weather or if your plans change.”
The future is cordless
Cordless products are also quickly gaining ground with new battery-powered technology, much appreciated in forestry but particularly in gardening. Heiskanen continues: “We are sensitive to what people want. With the battery-powered products there are no exhaust fumes, they are very quiet and also easy to set up and use, which is important for today’s consumers.” Most popular in the cordless compact line are grass and hedge trimmers, understandable as few want the hassle and limitation of cables when they work in their garden.
So how does the future look in the green space? Heiskanen explains how manufacturers are developing apps to control lawn mowers, to further facilitate gardening maintenance for the consumers. “You can follow the movements of the robot and control it via a smartphone or
The broad range of pioneering power tools and garden products is no doubt part of the company’s success, but further keywords seem to be trust and safety. Back in the day, Andreas Stihl emphasised high quality and service,
and these are still part of the company’s core values. For instance, STIHL and VIKING products can be found exclusively from approved dealers. Consumers get personal advice on which product to choose, how to set it up and guidance along the way if necessary to facilitate the work at hand. “In Scandinavia, we have little patience with poor-quality products,” Heiskanen says. “Our time is precious and we don’t want the frustration of having to deal with cheap products of bad quality, our priorities are elsewhere and we prefer the safer and better option.” STIHL and VIKING products are available at approved dealers in over 160 countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. For more information, please visit: www.stihl.com and www.viking-garden.com
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 59
R E M IN em M Th l ia SU CES ec p N S TE IEN EN P R D TO XPE WE S E e:
City festivals, archipelago life and schnapps songs It is already getting warmer in Sweden and we are all looking forward to summer. Summer in Sweden is all about being outdoors as much as possible to make the most of the sunlight. Most Swedes take a month-long holiday in July or August to allow time for some real relaxation in their summer houses or just by a nearby lake or the sea. By Anna Hjerdin, communications manager at Visit Sweden | Photos: imagebank.sweden.se 60 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
Photo: Carolina Romare
to 21 June, the longest day of the year. This is when Swedes head outdoors to pluck flowers for garlands and wreaths, make a maypole to dance around while pretending to be little frogs during the Små Grodorna (literally ‘little frogs’) dance, and of course eat herring, new potatoes and strawberry cake with lots of cream, drinking schnapps and singing schnapps songs. Having survived the Midsummer celebrations, it is very nearly time for the long summer holiday. The Swedish cities tend to feel quite empty during the summer months, but it is a great time to visit. Restaurants and bars move outside and festivals take place in all the main cities, including music festival Way out West in Gothenburg, which celebrates ten years this year, and the Malmö Festival.
Photo: Ola Ericson
This year boasts a very special warm-up to the summer in Sweden, as the Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted in the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm this month. Scandinavians are known for making the most of Eurovision fever, so there is no better place to enjoy the party, just as the beer gardens start to fill up. The main event of the Swedish summer is of course Midsummer, taking place on whichever Friday is the closest
If you are in Gothenburg or Stockholm, make sure to hop on a boat and travel out in the archipelago. You do not need to go far to find an island paradise. Fjäderholmarna is just 15 minutes away from central Stockholm. On the west coast you can travel by tram from Gothenburg to Saltholmen and then on to the boats that take you out into the archipelago.
Utö Stockholm archipelago. Photo: Henrik Trygg
For more information and to plan your summer trip to Sweden, please visit: www.visitsweden.com/sweden
Ribersborgs beach in Skåne. Photo: Jaque de Villiers
If you are in Skåne in the south of Sweden you can enjoy long sandy beaches and picturesque seaside villages, cycle along the coast line and even visit Swedish vineyards. Or travel to Swedish Lapland way up north to experience the midnight sun, when the sun never sets over the magnificent national parks. Issue 88 | May 2016 | 61
Photo: Martin Cejie Hegardt
From the series Wonderful Occupations. Photo: Svetlana Khachaturova
The highlight of photography in Scandinavia During ten days in August, photography lovers will get the chance to experience world-class displays in an intimate atmosphere, all within easy walking distance of Landskrona city centre. By Malin Norman
Landskrona Foto Festival takes place from 19 to 28 August. For the fourth year running, this small city on the southwest coast of Sweden will be a meeting place for anyone interested in photography. With more than 20 exhibitors from all over the world, international seminars and artist talks amongst other activities, this is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and learn about trends in the industry. The festival is arranged by Landskrona Foto, an initiative to make the city a centre for photography in Scandinavia. Renowned photographers such as Duane Michals, Nan Goldin, Lars Tunbjörk and Tacita Dean have exhibited at previous festivals. “Landskrona Foto Festival is be62 | Issue 88 | May 2016
coming an established name internationally,” says communications coordinator Josefin Garpvall. “Being a smaller city is a great advantage; we can host a big festival but keep the intimate atmosphere.” This year presents a new artistic direction with French curator and author Christian Caujolle and Landskrona-born photographer, teacher and gallery owner Jenny Nordquist. The duo brings a combination of international focus and local anchorage, and will develop the festival further in offering exciting and innovative displays. Much of the photography has never been shown in Sweden or Scandinavia. One example is AgNO3 - Histories of Science
and Photography in Sweden at Landskrona museum. The exhibition spans 11 rooms with stories of photography in science. Garpvall explains: “Nothing like this has ever been shown in Sweden. Some of the photos may lead to laughter, others to dejection. In any case, they will provoke emotions and reactions.” Another highlight is Landskrona Foto: View Ireland, where Irish photographers relate to the visual cliché of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Similarly, in the outdoor exhibitions, international photographers reflect on their local environments. For instance, Jason Larkin showcases photos of rush hour in Johannesburg and Denis Darzacq displays images of youngsters falling off buildings in Paris. The festival also sees internationally acclaimed photographers Elina Brotherus and Joan Fontcuberta, as well as work from new talent such as Dorothée Smith, Åsa Johannesson and many more. Related to the festival’s Photo Book Days is the Landskrona Foto & Breadfield Dummy Award. The photographer with the most interesting photo book idea will get their project published. A panel of reviewers will also select the best portfolio, allowing the chosen photographer to take part in the official exhibition programme at the 2017 festival. For more information and tickets, please visit: www.landskronafoto.org
Popular street party celebrates 50th anniversary There is always something happening in Karlshamn, from a busy street festival to adventurous wildlife safaris, peaceful archipelago excursions and curious scientific experiments. By Malin Norman | Photos: Visit Karlshamn
During four fun-filled days in July, Karlshamn Baltic Festival (Östersjöfestivalen) puts on a free street party with a broad programme of national and international performances, markets and food stalls along its streets and squares, shopping and other activities. This year, the festival celebrates its 50th anniversary with Eurovision Song Contest winner Måns Zelmerlöw, DJ duo Rebecca & Fiona, and hard rock band Hardcore Superstar all performing at the opening concert on 20 July. During the festival’s Baltic Song Contest, performers from Sweden and neighbouring countries will compete in a grand musical battle. A new skateboard ramp will provide skating enthusiasts with a meeting place to practise, socialise and compete. For sports fans, the 2XU Island Challenge with a combination of swimming and running is not to be missed, and there is an array of other things to do, such as checking 64 | Issue 88 | May 2016
out the Carlshamn Classic Car show. With around 120,000 visitors per year, the festival is no doubt an important event. “This is a huge street party,” says tourism manager Lena Axelsson, “and the atmosphere is fantastic!”
Archipelago, wildlife safaris and science Apart from the festival, Karlshamn is known in particular for its closeness to nature. The archipelago is refreshingly unexploited, with opportunities to visit the islands by boat to find one’s own undisturbed bay. Nature reserve Tjärö is a gem with its charming accommodation and renowned restaurant, but there are plenty more. In addition to its coastline, the region boasts beautiful lakes, rivers and streams such as Mörrumsån, famous for its sports fishing opportunities and fish conservation. Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve is also a great experience with wild boars, deer
and European bison, once owned by nature photographer and film maker Bengt Berg. During the summer months, visitors can even see the safari park from their own car. And for the more curious, Karlsham has its own science centre, Kreativum, with a focus on technology and natural science. Located in an old spinning mill, it is an experimental playground for young and old. Other recommended events are Karlshamn’s annual Culture Night in October and Sweden Rock Festival on 8-11 June in nearby Sölvesborg, with a programme of classical rock, hard rock, metal and blues. The list goes on and Axelsson sums up: “There’s always something happening here!”
For more information, see: www.visitkarlshamn.se and www.karlshamn.se/Ostersjofestivalen.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
Rent a cottage on the premises...
...and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Explore a green lifestyle this summer Is your lifestyle sustainable? Explore new ways to go green this summer at Nynäs Manor in Sörmland, Sweden. The well-preserved, authentic and historic setting is found in the region’s largest nature reserve, featuring temporary exhibitions – this year with a double focus on sustainability. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Sörmlands Museum
Nynäs Manor is a complete family destination with parks and gardens, exhibitions, activities, restaurants and the option to stay overnight in a cottage or hostel. The manor is located in county Sörmland’s nature reserve, between Trosa and Nyköping, 90 kilometres from Stockholm. “The manor is unique and the collections, interiors and inventories are all extremely well preserved. The kitchen is more or less complete with everything from tablecloths to kitchen utensils,” says Natalia Berggren, communications manager at the Sörmland Museum and Nynäs Manor.
from kitchen and bathroom to living room and workshop. “It is all about how we can use traditional craftsmanship today and connect it with a sustainable lifestyle and development,” says Helena Åberg, manager of the handicraft department. The exhibition explores topics such as reuse and how to give your kitchen a plastics detox. It opens on 5 June, the World Environment Day 2016, with workshops and activities. The second upcoming exhibition, All About Clothes – an Exhibition About Clothing and Sustainability, is raising
All in all, you can choose between six exhibitions at Nynäs Manor this summer. The season starts in mid-May and runs until September. “It is a smorgasbord with a little bit of everything,” says Berggren.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Sustainable Home, 5 June–18 September All About Clothes, 25 June–21 August Nynäs Nature Reserve, To be Loved or Eaten and The Baroness had No Bananas, 25 June –18 September
The first known record of the manor is a letter dated 1328, but the estate is likely even older.
The History in Sörmland – the Manor, permanent (outdoor exhibition)
Green inspiration The manor house doubles up as a venue for temporary exhibitions during the summer season, and this year it is filled with green inspiration. Sustainable Home takes you around 80 square metres –
awareness about clothes and why and how we consume them. Did you know that we buy around 15 kilogrammes of textiles per person every year, while at the same time throwing away eight kilogrammes? The exhibition raises questions for the future by looking into historical and current patterns of consumption and production.
Children can meet farm animals.
For more information, please visit: www.nynasslott.se and www.sormlandsmuseum.se
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Left: Head gardener Anders Stålhand. Above: Work by Lee Jaehyo for the Land Art exhibition. Below: Stuart Ian Frost, A fior di pelle, as part of the Land Art exhibition. Copyright: Arte Sella. Photos: Giacomo Bianchi.
A thousand lilies and a window to biodiversity Ever since the Gothenburg Botanical Garden was founded in 1923, its focus has been on presenting botany and biodiversity to the public in a beautiful way. In February this year, 4,800 people visited the gardens to take part in the opening ceremony of Gothenburg Green World, presenting a year of green experiences to inspire a greener world. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Gothenburg Botanical Garden
“In preparation for this big initiative, we planted hundreds of thousands of plants last autumn, which are now blooming,” says head gardener Anders Stålhand about the collaborative effort between Gunnebo House and Gardens, Liseberg Amusement Park, the Garden Society of Gothenburg, the City of Gothenburg and the Botanical Garden. On 2 July, a forgotten part of the Botanical Garden, the Smithska Valley, will be celebrated with the Take a Walk on the Wild Side event. “We’ve updated and raised the level of care of large parts of the garden, and around a thousand lilies will be blooming,” says Stålhand. “It’ll also get much easier to get to the very top of the mountain with stunning views across Gothenburg.” Another of the project highlights, according to the head gardener, will be Land 66 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Art, a collection of nature installations exhibited across the Botanical Garden, Stadshusparken Mölndal and Gunnebo House and Gardens. Five artists from the Arte Sellas network, all inspired by nature and working with art in its sculptural form, will take part in the exhibition which runs from July. “It’ll spark questions around experiences and flora otherwise rarely raised here,” says Stålhand. “Certainly for anyone with an interest in art generally and land art specifically, this exhibition is a first for this region.” A landscape engineer with experience from nurseries and gardening institutes, now also active as a writer, columnist and TV gardening expert, Stålhand certainly knows what he is talking about. Then again, perhaps Gothenburg Botanical Garden’s 430 acres with 16,000 plant species and hybrids – the largest of its kind in all of northern Europe – is
the perfect base for him. Its collection of 1,500 species of tropical orchids is the largest in Sweden, and one of the world’s greatest collections of bulbs and tubers can also be found here. Add a spectacular waterfall, a herb garden, a Japanese valley and a multifaceted annual events and exhibition programme, and this Gothenburg city centre gem will appear as nothing short of paradise for botany and horticulture enthusiasts.
Illustration of the plans for the Smithska Valley, which will be opened in July.
For more information, please visit: www.botaniska.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
The view from Uppsala Castle, overlooking the Botanical Garden. Photo: Uppsala University.
Where heritage springs into bloom Travel to Uppsala and discover the legacy of pioneering Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, which remains forever in full bloom. By Bella Qvist
Less than an hour from Stockholm and only 20 minutes from Arlanda airport, you will find Sweden’s fourth-largest city, Uppsala. It is a destination renowned for its charming atmosphere, green parks and topranking university, where in the 18th century Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus famously formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming organisms. His legacy lives on worldwide, but nowhere preserves it as well as Uppsala. “Visiting is like travelling through time,” says public relations officer Lotta Saetre, speaking about the Linnaeus Garden, which has been kept at the heart of the city. She is right: as you step through the gates you leave the hustle and bustle of Uppsala city behind, finding a beautiful baroque oasis. Dazzling vegetable patches, wild flowers and medicinal plants are among the 1,300 species thriving here, all of which Linnaeus grew. In the middle of the historic landmark sits the Director’s Lodge, the house
Photo: Staffan Claesson, Uppsala University.
Linnaeus called home and which, thanks to donations from relatives, is complete with hand-painted wallpaper and original furniture. From here the Botanical Garden, considered part of the Linnaean Gardens, is only a short stroll away. “Walk via Uppsala Cathedral up to Uppsala Castle and enjoy the view of the grand baroque garden below you,” says Saetre. Follow the triangular hedges and romantic gravel paths, and the Orangery built in Linnaeus’s memory en-route, and you end up in the tropical greenhouse complete with a real rainforest.
“The garden is a plant nerd’s paradise,” Saetre laughs. But it is not just botany fans and home gardeners that come here; the gardens run events catering to every taste. In May, Linnaeus’s birthday is celebrated with a garden party and in July his wife Sara Lisa Moraea’s name day is marked with an exhibition. The many market days are popular and there are concerts and theatre performances throughout the season, which in the Linnaeus Garden spans May to September. The programme, available online, is packed – and proves that Linnaeus’s legacy extends beyond botany. “Linnaeus had the ability to entice people and awaken their interest in nature, which is very important today as we strive to create a sustainable planet,” says Saetre. “We want to pass his legacy on.”
There are English tours of the Linnaeus Garden every day. The Botanical Garden runs English tours on weekends.
For more information, please visit: www.botan.uu.se
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
Grant recipient 1991. Mamma Andersson, 1991.
Grant recipient 2014. Dit Cilinn, Arco, 2014.
Grant recipient 2011, Kico Wigren, Magkänsla, 2008.
Presenting 30 years of collected works Bonniers Konsthall is reopening its beautiful art gallery following an extensive refurbishment. Just in time for its tenth anniversary, the museum also presents a new exhibition telling the 30-year-old story of the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation. By Malin Norman | Photos: Bonniers Konsthall
Since the start in 2006, Bonniers Konsthall has been a welcoming place to see exhibitions and take part in discussions about Swedish and international contemporary art. The museum showcases new and upcoming names as well as more established artists, and visitors can see collections in a bigger cultural context as well as solo displays with work recently produced specifically for the gallery, in addition to talks, seminars and special events. As of last year, Bonniers Konsthall offers free admission. With a mission to spread knowledge about modern art to the general public, the museum is a privately run, non-profit organisation. It originated from the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which was founded in 1985 by the late Jeanette Bonnier in memory of her daughter Maria Bonnier Dahlin. Every year for the past 30 years, 68 | Issue 88 | May 2016
the foundation has awarded a grant to a young Swedish artist.
News at the museum The stunning triangular glass building was originally created by Johan Celsing and is located next to the train tracks in between Stockholm Central Station and Sankt Eriksplan. When the museum opens again on 22 May, visitors will notice the extensive refurbishment courtesy of architectural firm Marge, including a new entrance. “It’s exciting to be able to welcome the audience back to an even better art space,” says museum director Sara Arrhenius. “Bonniers Konsthall is a landmark building and this refurbishment is another big step forward, enabling us to work with the exhibitions and meet our audiences in new ways.” The new exhibition Collected Works! 30 years with the Maria Bonnier Dahlin
Foundation will also premiere at the grand opening. Until 28 August, it will show the progress of Swedish contemporary art since 1986, when the foundation was created. All 79 artists supported through the years will be part of the display, giving a unique overview of three decades of Swedish art. Bonniers Konsthall will also publish a book featuring new interviews with the artists. After summer follows Insomnia, from 24 September to 22 January 2017. With a focus on sleep and insomnia as a current cultural phenomenon, a group of contemporary artists will create a place for sleep and awareness, rest and movement, dream and reality. On certain occasions, the exhibition will even be open during the night. Opening hours: Wednesday 12pm-8pm, Thursday-Sunday 12pm-5pm. Free admission.
For more information, please visit: www.bonnierskonsthall.se
Top left: The airborne performance Place de Anges will take place in Stockholm in August, 2016. Photo: Stockholm Kulturfestival. Left: The Swedish show dance company Harlem Hot Shots performed at last year’s festival. Photo: Sophia Hogman, Studio Emma Svensson. Right: Last year’s Loney Dear gig, by the water in central Stockholm. Photo: Sophia Hogman, Studio Emma Svensson. Below right: Cardboard installation by Olivier Grossetête. Photo: Vincent Lucas.
Bonjour Stockholm! A celebration of French culture The Swedish capital is buzzing with anticipation when the annual Stockholm Culture Festival takes to the streets in mid-August. This year’s theme is France, and you can expect spectacular street performances, concerts and art installations that are free for all visitors. By Ellinor Thunberg
“Imagine 15 to 20 angels flying through the air on zip-lines stretching from the opera roof and cranes around the square Gustav Adolfs torg, followed by a sea of feathers floating down over the audience,” says Claes Karlsson, creative director at Stockholm Culture Festival. The scenario he describes is not a dream, but a performance by the street company Gratte Ciel, whose Place des Anges show has previously been seen in Marseille and London’s Piccadilly Circus. This summer the group is one of the headliners at Stockholm Culture Festival on 16–21 August, presented in collaboration with the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and Institut Français.
Focus on France The festival launched in 2005 and has been centred on different countries and
cities since 2009. This year’s theme is all about France. “France is a natural choice when it comes to culture and a country that has influenced Sweden in many ways over the years,” says Karlsson. France has a flourishing scene for street performance and public art. This rhymes perfectly with the festival’s beautiful outdoor location in the middle of Stockholm, around Gustav Adolfs torg. Another great example of this is the interactive cardboard installation, The People’s Arches, that will be built by volunteers in collaboration with the French artist Olivier Grossetête. It will be 15 metres tall and stand proudly on the Norrbro bridge. The programme will also include concerts, street theatre, films
and talks about literature, politics and city planning.
Everyone’s invited Stockholm Culture Festival is the largest annual event of its kind in the Swedish capital and aims to make culture more accessible for everyone. “A common reaction from visitors is that they knew Stockholm was beautiful but never expected it to be as lively and bustling as it is during the festival,” says the creative director. Last year around 850,000 locals and visitors took to the streets as part of the festivities. “This is a party for everyone, no matter where you live,” Karlsson ends.
For more information, please visit: www.kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se/en
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
Tunes of minority cultures at the Royal Palace During the Royal Palace Music Festival, music lovers get an excellent opportunity to visit the Royal Palace in Stockholm to enjoy the beautiful historic setting and fantastic music performances. With one foot in the past and one in the present, this year’s festival also makes an important stand for minorities in Sweden. By Malin Norman | Photos: Royal Palace Music Festival
Celebrating its 46th anniversary, the Royal Palace Music Festival is one of Sweden’s longest running music events and more than 5,000 visitors are expected this year. It is an opportunity for music enthusiasts from across the world to meet and listen to established soloists and new stars, mostly representing the classical music scene, but also jazz and other genres.
Under the patronage of King Carl XVI Gustaf and in the setting of the Royal Palace in central Stockholm, the festival provides historical insight to the Swedish Royal Court. Most concerts take place in the extraordinary Hall of State, the biggest room in the Royal Palace seating 600 visitors. In the past, this is where parliamentary meetings were held under the chairmanship of the King.
Listening to the minorities The festival takes place from 1-30 September this year with a focus on minorities in Sweden. “We are sticking our neck out with an exciting new programme, very much in line with our present times,” explains festival director Anna Eklund-Tarantino. “It is also crucial for us to highlight the cultures of newly arrived nationalities.” 70 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Sweden’s five official minority languages are Finnish, Tornedal Finnish, Sami, Yiddish and Romani. They will all play a part in the general programme, providing an exciting challenge. The festival features a variety of different types of music and dance performances, including Shakespeare and Bach, culminating in the grand finale on 30 September with the Mozart opera The Abduction from the Seraglio, with short excerpts from Syrian and Afghan melodies. Over the years, the Royal Palace Music Festival has expanded and won international acclaim for creativity in music and the best live performances. Apart from putting on the festival itself, the organisation gives grants to support young talented musicians every year. Continuously working with, for example, disabled children who are studying music and dance, and producing shows such as wheelchair dancers mixed with other ballet dancers, are also important aspects of the festival. As Eklund-Tarantino explains: “We all have the right to enjoy music, and the Royal Palace needs to be open for everyone.”
For more information and tickets, please visit: www.musikpaslottet.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
Photo: Holly Kuchera
Photo: Jan Nordström
Photo: Håkan Vargas
The Swedish wilderness is closer than you think You do not need to travel far from Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, to experience some of Europe’s most stunning wildlife. On WildSweden’s tours you can get close to wild animals such as moose, wolves, beavers and brown bears in their own natural habitat. By Linnéa Woolfson
Complete silence ensues as the guide switches off the electric motor and the boat glides closer to the beavers’ lodge. The local guide is knowledgeable and explains that the beavers have no predators in the Swedish waters and therefore do not feel threatened. While the small group of tourists from around the world learn about Sweden’s wildlife, an organic al fresco meal is being prepared. It will be served with only the sound of nature in the background. This is just one of many experiences offered by WildSweden. Their tours range from day trips to week-long packages with opportunities to see wolverines, moose, beavers, wolves and even brown bears. You might think that the further north you go in Sweden, the wilder the animals
you would see. But few people know that the best places to spot moose, beavers, wolves and brown bears are only a couple of hours away from Stockholm. Many of the tours depart from Skinnskatteberg, a small town just two hours away from Stockholm, not far from the international airports of Arlanda and Västerås. Some of the other tours take you even further, deep into the wilderness of Swedish Lapland. The wolf tracking tour was listed on the National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime, and many guests combine a city break in Stockholm with one of the tours. Marcus Eldh, founder and owner of WildSweden, and his colleagues have been organising these trips for more than 14 years, and the guests’ reviews from around the world all point out their
authentic feel. “Naturally, we can never guarantee that you will get to see the wild animals, however so far every moose tour for the past 14 years has managed to offer the guests the chance to see one, and 80 per cent of all guests on the brown bear trips have spotted a bear. We make sure that our tours are just as much about experiencing nature, tracking, walking in the forest, eating outdoors and embracing the beauty of the unexpected,” Eldh explains. Most guests prefer to stay in the small family-run guesthouses and lodges, though there is also the opportunity to stay in a manor house. There are no souvenir shops, however. WildSweden is not about filling up your suitcase with key rings and china plates or collecting other material items; it is about collecting memories that you take with you for life.
For more information, please visit: www.wildsweden.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Ten Summer Experiences in Sweden
Enjoy the good life in Stockholm Take the chance to experience beautiful and unspoiled nature, exciting adventures and delicious food in the capital of Scandinavia. Stockholm Adventures offers a jampacked schedule of guided tours and tailored activities in and around Stockholm. By Malin Norman | Photos: Stockholm Adventures
Set up in 2008 with a focus on ice skating and cycling, activity-based company Stockholm ICEguide eventually expanded and also acquired Stockholm Adventures in 2015. “We wanted to combine winter and summer activities with an added sense of the good life,” explains founder Joakim Malm. Now the company offers a wide range of things to do for groups, individuals and families, still including ice skating and cycling as well as sailing, kayaking, fishing, seal safaris, Segway tours and much more. Malm recommends the Wildlife Safari in particular for getting up close with nature in small groups with the chance to spot moose, wild boars, deer and birds,
as well as visiting historic Viking sites and checking out runestones. A new addition to the tour this summer is the possibility to tuck into a traditional Swedish Midsummer meal with delicacies such as pickled herring, eggs with caviar, crisp bread with Västerbotten cheese, new potatoes and classic meatballs. The Stockholm at a Glance bike tour is a great way to see the beautiful city from the locals’ perspective. Emphasis remains on outdoor activities with an organic theme, and all tours are led by skilled guides with experience in ecotourism and adventure travel in Sweden and internationally. The company is also a member of Ekoturismförenin-
Everyone deserves to enjoy the journey. Our two Superferries sail by day or overnight from Harwich to the Hook of Holland - the most direct route to Holland by ferry from the south of England. Enjoy superb onboard facilities including two stylish restaurants and bars, a blockbuster cinema, luxurious en-suite cabins and our first class Stena Plus lounge.
gen (the Ecotourism Society) and works closely with the official body for tourism, Visit Stockholm. As proof of its successful concept, Stockholm Adventures was recently certified as an Excellent Experience by Swedish Welcome, based on its customer care, equipment and safety as well as organic focus. For more information, please visit: www.stockholmadventures.com and facebook.com/StockholmAdventure
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Hurray! Celebrating Norway’s national day May is a wonderful time of the year to visit Norway. Everything is in bloom, and the days are long and full of light. If you are planning a trip, make sure to stay for 17 May. All countries may have a national day, but we are pretty sure that our celebration is absolutely unique. By Per-Arne Tuftin, director of tourism at Innovation Norway | Photos: Bård Basberg
Writing this, I hear the faint sound of a marching band. In Norway that is a telltale sign that spring is finally here and 17 May is approaching. For many Norwegians it is a day of remembrance, honouring those who fought for Norway’s freedom. For many children, it is a promise of parades, fun and games and endless amounts of ice cream. So what can you expect as a visitor? Well, firstly, it is the only day of the year it actually gets crowded here. You will probably be surprised at how many Norwegians there are. Everyone will be out in the streets, many will be wearing the ‘bu-
nad’, our national costume, and everyone will wave their flags and cheer ‘hurrah’! We pride ourselves on having a national day celebration that is all about the children. 17 May 1814 was the day our constitution was signed, and the tradition of having a children’s parade started in 1870. All children from kindergarten up to high school participate. In Oslo the schools march up the main street, Karl Johans gate, and past the palace, where the royal family awaits to greet them. After the children’s parade, high school graduates, called ‘russ’, follow, blasting music from their buses and wearing distinctive red or blue uniforms.
Every single little town and village in our country will have a parade. So whether you are in the capital or somewhere out in the far reaches of our coastline, you cannot miss it. If you have come to catch the last leg of winter, how about enjoying the day on Norway’s ‘rooftop’, Finse? There the parade goes to Hardangerjøkulen, one of Norway’s largest glaciers. In the following pages you can discover some of Norway’s most exciting destinations. I hereby invite you to come and celebrate with us.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
A haven for nature, fishing and hunting With long stretches of river and vast areas of forests and mountains, few places can offer prime fishing, hunting, hiking and other nature experiences quite like the 17th century farm, Horstad Gård. By Maria Lanza Knudsen | Photos: Horstad Gård
Established in 1611 as a crown-owned farm, Horstad Gård has a long history. There is even evidence of farming in the area dating back to the Iron Age. Since 1959, Fred. Olsen & Co holding company has owned the estate. With the barn being the oldest building, dating back to the 1800s, recent renovations have carefully maintained the historical feel while upgrading the buildings to modern needs. “Horstad Gård opened to the public as a lodging and tourist destination about ten years ago,” explains Øyvind Stensveen, the chief administrative officer at Fred. Olsen & Co. “Since 74 | Issue 88 | May 2016
then we’ve hosted all types of visitors, including hunting parties, corporate retreats and families.” Easily accessible, Horstad Gård is a popular destination. The hotel is just an hour and a half’s drive from Rørvik, where there is an airport and dock for the Hurtigruta cruise ship, which travels up the entire Norwegian coast. Combining the Hurtigruta cruise with a visit to Horstad Gård is one of many great options.
An abundance of fishing and hunting It is perhaps the fishing and hunting opportunities that are the most exclusive
at Horstad Gård. “We own over 20 kilometres of land along the Åbjøra riverbed, so there are numerous and varied fishing locations on offer all year, especially from July to September,” Stensveen says. Exclusive salmon fishing locations exist on both sides of the river, as well as great locations for trout and char fishing. The nearby fjord is also on offer for rich and varied fishing. In winter, ice fishing is available at Aunevatn lake. “With all these options, we are a popular destination for groups of friends that come to visit and bond over a fishing adventure,” Stensveen explains. When the season changes and autumn arrives, the hunting season begins. “In addition to our great fishing tracts, Horstad Gård is a part of the designated hunting area of Indre Bindal, which covers over
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
200,000 hectares of land,” Stensveen adds. “We have a lot of game on offer!” In the early autumn days of September, small game hunting is at its best. Grouse and hare hunting are popular attractions and hunting licenses are available for purchase for one day, a weekend or for a whole week, depending on guests’ preferred hunting duration. In October, meanwhile, a set number of moose hunting licenses are available. For those interested in merely observing the king of the forest, tailor-made moose safaris over two to four days are available to visitors all year round.
Nature trails and activities The property of Horstad Gård includes large stretches of beautiful and diverse nature that are ideal grounds for hiking. In winter, these trails transform into courses for cross-country skiing that remain lit up during the evenings. “With varied nature trails there is something available for all levels – both athletes and families with children,” says Stensveen. “The more difficult trails rise to 1,000 metres above the sea and cover forests, plateaus and mountains. The more family friendly trails are less demanding but offer equally great views.” Popular attractions include the Jenshola cave and climbing Heilhornet mountain.
Feasts and other tasty treats Thanks to Horstad Gård’s unique setting, the establishment is popular for corporate and private functions. It caters to workshops, conferences and private parties and has accommodation for all types of groups, including friends and families.
Corporate team-building trips, weddings and anniversary celebrations are just some of the varied events and parties that Horstad Gård hosts. With assorted activities all year round, Horstad Gård is an ideal location for combining these with events. Among other offerings, Horstad Gård’s kitchen is known for its tastefully traditional and hearty dishes with an emphasis on locally sourced produce served in an intimate and pleasant setting. During the hunting season, local game is on the menu, delicately prepared and served to perfection. “For all those hunting and fishing enthusiasts, or for those planning a family trip, Horstad Gård has something on offer for everyone,” Stensveen says proudly. No wonder it tops our list of destinations to visit this year in Norway!
Nestled along the river Åelva in a country- side covered by farmland and forest, Horstad Gård is located in Åbygda in Nordland, up Norway’s long coast. With capacity to sleep 20 guests, Horstad Gård offers exclusive accommodation in a historical setting with access to numerous hunting, fishing and nature activities.
For more information, please visit: www.horstad.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Photo: Live Andrea Sulheim
Photo: Ove Nestvold
Photo: Ove Nestvold
Lom National Park Village: the gateway to spectacular Jotunheimen Jotunheimen, or the ‘Home of Giants’, as the name translates, is the epitome of Norwegian culture and nature melted into one. Lom National Park Village is often considered the portal to the national park boasting the two highest peaks in Norway, Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind, both around 2,500 metres high.
reason to experience Jotunheimen, the journey also takes visitors through traditional and tasty food experiences and offers highly interesting cultural insight.
By Didrik Ottesen
The area surrounding the national park also has a long culinary tradition, with popular local produce being available for purchase. Several places produce and sell their own cheese, jam, bread and sausages, with Lom National Park Village being a natural place to start – for both food and hiking. “It’s really popular to start the hiking or trip from Lom,” says Martine Hårstad, manager at Visit Jotunheimen.
When you experience it, you will understand why Jotunheimen’s theatrical appearance influenced so much of Norwegian folklore and cultural history, as Lom, which is the gateway to the home of giants, is also the home of 135 mountain tops. The tallest one is Galdhøpiggen, an increasingly popular hiking destination 76 | Issue 88 | May 2016
and accessible from two places, one being over a glacier. Rampant and ferocious, the national park is famous for its hundreds of hiking trails through spectacular scenery and offers a unique wilderness experience. While the breathtaking landscape alone is a good
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
“Lom is famous for its focus on food and culture, including the famous Lom stave church, which dates back to around the 1100s. The church is one of Norway’s biggest and also the most-visited stave church, with guided tours available during the summer,” Hårstad continues. “Furthermore, there’s a spectacular journey going 1,400 metres up on Sognefjellsveien, which is northern Europe’s highest mountain pass and a national tourist road. The trip includes unbelievable nature followed by a descent straight down to Sognefjorden, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. All in all, that is a pretty astonishing journey.”
Action-packed activities With several potential activities, the area at the heart of Norway, between Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, Jotunheimen’s bountiful trails for hiking, cycling, skiing, snowboarding have attracted an increasing number of visitors, as the national park offers everything from standard Norwegian cabins to hotels as accommodation options. Yet despite the many action-packed activities, the main attraction of Jotunheimen is the spectacular nature itself. “The most exclusive part of the area is the varied nature, with tall mountains and valleys, making Jotunheimen Norway’s most-visited national park,” says Hårstad. “A personal favourite is probably the ski tours to the top of the mountains – particularly in spring time, when you walk up and subsequently experience a breathtaking descent.”
Photo: Live Andrea Sulheim
Among the most popular trails is Besseggen, with around 30,000 visitors each year. The approximately five to sevenhour-long walk includes beautiful views, with the emerald green lake, Gjende, a particular highlight before starting the climb up to the Besseggen peak. “There are also several tours where visitors can bring a tour guide along for the journey. An enjoyable aspect of this is the added history, stories and facts they provide. And, of course, the added safety as well, especially if some members of the group are less experienced,” Hårstad says. Hiking aside, there are several other activities to choose from. Fishing, rafting, cycling, camping and cave exploring are just some of them. “There’s no shortage of activities,” Hårstad continues. “But our main attraction remains the moun-
Photo: Live Andrea Sulheim
tains. There are over 255 mountain tops in Jotunheimen national park, and the area has the largest concentration of mountains higher than 2,000 metres in northern Europe.” The park, which covers over 1,100 square kilometres, can provide rare opportunities during the spring, summer and autumn months, with summer skiing being a particular highlight at Galdhøpiggen Summer Skiing Centre – just one of many activities and experiences available at the home of giants in the heart of Norway. For more information, please visit: visitjotunheimen.no
Photo: Live Andrea Sulheim
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Photo: Tom Gustavsen
Family-friendly Røros Three centuries of mining activities have left their mark on both the town centre and the wider Røros region, making it worthy of inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list. “A reaction most guests have when they visit Røros is how charming they think our town is,” says Hilde Myhren, marketing manager at Destinasjon Røros. By Andrea Bærland
And the town centre of Bergstaden Røros is most definitely charming, consisting of hundreds of traditional wooden houses, of which about one hundred have been listed as protected cultural heritage sites. Over the years an array of little shops and cafés have been thrown into the mix, offering everything from artisanal products to dishes made from locally sourced produce.
Local food safari Røros is one of Norway’s leading regions when it comes to locally produced food, 78 | Issue 88 | May 2016
thanks to the tremendous work carried out by Rørosmat in partnership with the travel industry and food industry. Røros is called ‘the local food capital’ in Norway, and the region is proud to have a diversity of organically produced products, of which many also have attained the Norwegian mark of specialty. Much of the agriculture in the region consists of organic production – leading to better retention of the cultural landscape. Even berries picked in the Røros region are certified organic.
As they themselves put it: “In the Røros region we have created a modern-day culinary adventure. It has been made possible by working together as a community – a community that is passionate about creating value out of the resources it has, as well as inspiring and being inspired by each other. The Røros region offers great food with a taste of the mountains, plains, forests and lakes.” The harsh landscape of the Røros region with its mild summers and long, cold winters forces the vegetation in the area to grow slowly. Beneath lucent summer nights in the mineral rich soil, the flowing mountain lakes and rivers with their icy cold crystal clear water gives everything a truly distinctive, rich flavour. To help bring forward the area’s food traditions, Destinasjon Røros has educated over 40 local food guides and hosts that are happy to take guests on a local food
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Photo: Visit Norway
safari and share their detailed knowledge of the food diners are presented with. “In many cases they can even say which pasture that particular lamb used to graze on,” Myhren points out. Røros Hotell also offers cooking classes and berry picking expeditions. And the food-related efforts have most definitely paid off. Today visitors to Røros may have local food for breakfast, lunch and dinner if they please. Every establishment in Røros proudly offers their own versions of local, traditional fare. Despite the region’s long and beautiful winters, summer is peak season in Røros, attracting young families in particular. In addition to a variety of cultural and historical walks through the Røros town centre and the mines, the Røros region, consisting of six counties, can also offer some spectacular nature experiences.
Røros by mountain bike Surrounding the town itself are several mountains that are easily accessible for people of all fitness levels, as well as a number of hiking and mountain biking trails. “The hiking and mountain bik-
Photo: Frontal Media
ing trails run through historical landscapes and have been developed in a family-friendly manner. You do not have to be a daredevil to go mountain biking on these trails,” Myhren assures. The trails are clearly marked with green and blue, and three of the trails set up by Destinasjon Røros even have posts Photo: Tom Gustavsen
Photo: Destinasjon Røros
THE RØROS REGION FOR CHILDREN For young families, holidays are usually all about slowing down and recharging the batteries. The Røros region offers a laidback atmosphere and plenty of family-friendly activities throughout the year. Aukrustsenteret and Flåklypatoppen Aukrustsenteret offers activities based around Kjell Aukrust’s Flåklypa universe. Based in Alvdal, only an hour’s drive from central Røros, it gives both children and adults the opportunity to amuse themselves with clever activities and installations. Maybe you already know Solan Gundersen and Ludvig? Summer pasture Experience happy animals on summer holidays in the mountains. Children are welcome to partake in grooming and play games from olden times. The summer pasture is a place to let your hair down and listen to stories from the milkmaid while enjoying coffee and homemade pastries. Doktortjønna friluftspark Doktortjønna, located in central Røros, is perfect for families during the summer. Many of the activities are related to the region’s natural and cultural heritage. Children get to paddle canoes, float timber and go on nature walks. The park is also a fantastic playground outside its opening hours.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Photo: Peter Mollenkamp
where trekkers can learn more about the area’s local history by downloading information using QR codes. While these trips are meant to be self-guided, Destinasjon Røros is happy to help arrange guides on request. SPA AND WELLNESS HAS ARRIVED IN RØROS In June Røros Hotell opens Røros Bad og Velvære, a large swimming complex built in natural materials such as stone, glass and cement. At over 700 square metres, the centre will house a 25-metre swimming pool and an exclusive children’s section featuring a climbing wall and a grotto, as well as Jacuzzis and an outdoor pool with views of the iconic church Bergstad Ziir. There will also be a spa section with several saunas and treatments such as massages, manicures and pedicures. The spa and wellness centre will be delicately framed by maritime ceramic creations by the wellknown artist Per Lysgård.
Photo: Tom Gustavsen
And for those wishing to go off the trails and into the woods, the Røros region is also home to two national parks: Forrolhogna just outside Røros town centre, known as the home of the friendly mountains, and Femundmarka, which is a favourite of Lars Monsen’s, Norway’s very own Bear Grylls. Femundmarka offers great fishing opportunities on the lake Femund, Norway’s third-largest lake, and Femundbåten will whisk visitors away and into the woods by boat every summer. The summer months are just as busy and brimming with family-friendly fun as the winter months in the mining town of Røros and its surrounding areas, whether one wants to learn something new, taste something wonderful or just take in the beautiful surroundings.
Røros Hotell can also offer families a 300-square-metre play centre featuring slides, climbing obstacles and ball pens for children up to 13 years old. For more information, please visit: www.roroshotell.no
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GETTING THERE Røros is easily accessible from Oslo with two Widerøe planes arriving every day (except Saturdays). For more information and booking, please visit: www.wideroe.no
Photo: Visit Norway
Photo: Destinasjon Røros
For more information, please visit: www.roros.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Islands of unlimited possibility With an abundance of breathtaking scenery and wildlife, Svalbard is a natural attraction in itself. Yet the islands have much more than nature on offer. By Maria Lanza Knudsen | Photos: Marcela Cardenas Menchaca
The Svalbard archipelago is located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway to the North Pole from mainland Norway. Yet with daily flights to Longyearbyen, it is remarkably easy to get to. Once there, it will seem like you have stepped into a whole new world. The scenery, wildlife, history and culture offer visitors varied and exciting outings and activities that suit all.
trips enable visitors to experience Longyearbyen’s surroundings by sea and take in the maritime and birdlife. Hiking is also popular in the fjords and across the mountains and glaciers, offering fantastic fossils hunting and wildlife viewing. The seasonal contrast of dark winter days filled with stars and the northern lights, and long summer days of the midnight sun is spectacular.
Activities all year round
Cultural excursions
“With the diverse activities that Svalbard has to offer, we have visitors all year round,” says Ronny Brunvoll, general manager of the tourist agency Visit Svalbard. “Each season has something unique to offer.”
“Longyearbyen itself has become a vibrant cultural destination,” Brunvoll says. “The town was recently awarded Sustainable Destination status by Innovation Norway, as local tourism businesses take responsibility for the industry’s future development, respecting nature, cultural heritage and the local community.”
During the winter, visitors can embark on a range of ski, snowmobile and dog sledding excursions to appreciate the scenery and wildlife on the island of Spitsbergen. During the summer, boat
The Taste of Svalbard tour, for example, is very popular. The four-hour walking
tour stops at several establishments to taste local specialties and beer from a new brewery. Other popular activities include a visit to the Northern Norway Art Museum, Svalbard Museum and Mine Number 3, an old mine that recently opened to visitors and shows the life of a miner. Beyond Longyearbyen, trips are available to Ny-Ålesund and the mining society at Svea, as well as the Russian settlement at Barentsburg and the abandoned Soviet mining town, Pyramiden. From this summer, access is made easier with regular high-speed boat routes between Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Pyramiden. “Svalbard really has something spectacular for everyone,” Brunvoll says proudly. With all that is on offer, he could not be more right.
For more information, please visit: www.visitsvalbard.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Photo: Kjetil M. Samuelsen
Experience Lyngenfjord by bike When thinking of the Lyngen Alps, your thoughts might wander off to snow-decked mountains and the aurora borealis. But while there is no doubt that the Lyngenfjord and its surrounding area is a winter paradise, the midnight sun makes it an attractive destination even during the summer months. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Visit Lyngenfjord
“Actually, Skibotn by the Lyngenfjord has established itself as one of Norway’s top destinations for mountain biking,” says Georg Sichelschmidt, CEO at Visit Lyngenfjord. He explains that one of the reasons is that weather-wise, Skibotn is actually the fifth-driest place in Norway, and due to its fairly mild climate the cycling season begins as early as the beginning of May, when many other destinations in northern Norway still have snow. One of the most famous routes in Skibotn’s surrounding area is Lavkaløypa, which is 68 kilometres long and takes the riders both high and low, from Kitdalen and all the way up to 800 metres above sea level, through the Lavkadalen and down again to the Skibotndalen. “Parts 82 | Issue 88 | May 2016
of the route resemble a mountain trek, but the route is very clearly marked and suitable for most. But it is definitely a day trip,” Sichelschmidt says of the scenic route, where sights of the famously majestic Lyngen Alps will be on the horizon. Lavkaløypa is also home to northern Norway’s largest mountain bike race, held in mid-August each year. It is a race that attracts professionals from all over Scandinavia, as well as eager amateur cyclists that are up for a challenge. In contrast to Lavkarittet, Skibotn and Strandbu Camping host the downhill festival Stifestivalen the following weekend. Stifestivalen is a much more laidback affair, Sichelschmidt explains. “It is
a weekend for cyclists who appreciate a good hill and a good time. It’s not a race, it’s a festival.” Guided trips along some of the most scenic single trails along the Lyngenfjord are essential components of this festival, combined with rocking up a good party with cycling buddies. Strandbu Camping, which serves as the festival area for Stifestivalen, offers cabins for rent as well as tenting lots and parking for caravans for visitors throughout the year. Whether you are looking to test your limits in an epic race, attend the festival or just take in the majestic views of the Lyngen Alps at your own pace, Skibotn and its surrounding area has plenty of good mountain biking trails to explore during the glorious months of midnight sun.
For more information about what Lyngenfjord has to offer, please visit: www.visit-lyngenfjord.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
The road to Valhalla It all started with a doctor and a scuba diver and their mutual love for good food and drink and the thought that the emerging northern lights industry up north lacked a good drinks offering. After some thought they brought along another doctor, a businessman, a pensioner and, crucially, a Scotsman with distillery experience with the endeavour of building the world’s northernmost distillery. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Aurora Spirit
“We chose to use the name Bivrost for our product line. In Norse mythology this was the bridge one had to cross to leave Earth and enter the good life with Thor and Odin in Valhalla, and there are signs that indicate that Bivrost actually was the northern lights,” explains Tor Petter W. Christensen, co-founder of the distillery Aurora Spirit. Located by the Lyngenfjord, with the infamous Lyngen Alps in view, the distillery has been established on an old NATO fort from the cold war. “We thought it would be a cool location, and actually the bunkers at the fort have proved to be the ideal storage space,” Christensen says and adds that old meets new with the
hyper-modern iPad-controlled distillery equipment in the fort. “Just the other day someone asked me why we have gone through the hassle to bring all advanced equipment to such a remote place, and the answer is that we need pure water, and you can find some of the purest water here. We use water dripping from several of the surrounding glaciers to make truly arctic products,” Christensen says. The surrounding nature with its arctic berries and plants is also used to give the Bivrost line an arctic character. Wanting to add something more to the region other than just alcohol, the team
also built a visitor centre – opening this spring/summer – where visitors can learn about the region’s status as a meeting place for three tribes: the Sámi, the Kven people and the ancient Norwegians. Distillery tours and tours of the NATO fort are naturally also offered, and visitors can even relax in the centre’s own hot tub, an option that might be particularly appealing after a dog sled ride or a trek in the Lyngen Alps, which the visitor’s centre will also be able to arrange. Once the Aurora Spirit visitor centre is up and running, Lyngenfjord will really be able to offer the complete arctic experience. From breathtaking adventures on the high tops of the Lyngen Alps to blissful relaxation with the pure, fresh taste of Bivrost, it will almost be like a little piece of Valhalla on earth.
For more information, please visit: auroraspirit.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Experience Norwegian wildlife at its best Want to learn more about the versatile Norwegian fauna? Eager to experience the majestic wildlife creatures in action? At Sea Safari Andenes, it is all just a boat ride away. By Nina Lindqvist | Photos: Marten Bril
It is safe to say that nature enthusiasts will not be disappointed by what Sea Safari Andenes has to offer. The company, founded in 2010, is located in the village of Andenes, situated in the Vesterålen district of the Nordland county, Norway. Visitors come here from all around the world to enjoy a range of outdoor activities. One thing is certain, according to Marten Bril, general manager and co-founder of Sea Safari Andenes: the experience is always one to remember. “We are very committed to the activities we offer. For us, it’s all about creating a memorable experience that serves as a highlight for our visitors. The reactions are always enthusiastic; we’ve even had visitors crying of joy and happiness after snorkelling with the orcas. It can be quite an emotional and overwhelming experience,” Bril says. The whale watching safari is the most popular activity, welcoming visitors all year round. The species that can be spotted depends on the season; visit in the winter to witness the killer whales and humpback whales and in the summer to enjoy the majestic sperm whales. Bird 84 | Issue 88 | May 2016
watching during the spring and summer months is the second most popular activity. Common sightings include whitetailed eagles, gannets and puffins, and if luck is on your side you might even spot harbour seals, harbour porpoises, otters or minks along the way.
Home of aurora borealis The village of Andenes is the northernmost settlement of the island of Andøya, known as the northern lights municipality. In wintertime, Sea Safari Andenes also offers northern lights photography activities and lessons led by Bril himself, who is an experienced photographer.
and this magnificent nature phenomenon is yours to admire and capture.” Because of its wide range of activities, Sea Safari Andenes is open for visitors all year round. In addition to bird and whale watching and northern lights activities, the company organises eagle, moose and reindeer safaris and dog-sled activities in partnership with another business in the area. The company also offers accommodation for visitors wanting to extend their experience at Sea Safari Andenes. The Sea Safari Brygga is located right in the harbour and offers visitors a magnificent view of the area and the harbour. The town centre with shops and other local attractions is just a short walk away.
During these sessions we teach participants how to capture the northern lights on camera,” he explains. “When you come to Andenes, you get the northern lights for free; just step out the door
For more information, please visit: www.seasafariandenes.no or call +47 916 74 960.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Nature, relaxation and a Viking feast Innherred, only an hour’s drive north of Trondheim along European Route number six, has a central role in Norwegian history with its beautiful nature and amazing food. This makes Innherred the perfect place for slow-paced experiences. By Visit Innherred, translation by Vilde Røssland | Photos: Visit Innherred
The region of Innherred has its roots far back in time, but most visible are the traces after the Viking and Middle Ages, including burials, remains from settlements and gorgeous medieval churches. In 1030, Stiklestad in Verdal was the centre for the most important Viking battle in Norway’s history. Here, Viking King Olav Haraldsson was overreached and killed by the peasant army in what is known as the Battle of Stiklestad. The battle was over the Christianisation of Norway, and Olav’s death and later sainthood has shaped Norway as a nation for nearly a thousand years and given Stiklestad a key role in Norway’s history. At Stiklestad National Culture Centre, the story and meaning of the battle for Norway is communicated through exhibitions, performances and guided trips. Here, both children and adults can experience the Viking Age and the medieval times up close. Little Vikings in colourful capes with swords and shields run around out on the grass field, arrows are being shot from bows and you can hear laughter from afar. The cries of the war have certainly subsided.
The Viking Age and the medieval times slowly slid over and into each other a thousand years ago. The medieval farm Stiklestadir invites you to feast and banquet. The premises are authentic, the food is historically inspired with interesting flavours and spices, and the dissemination of the history surrounding the food is magical. You are taken back to a time so distant from your daily life that the only thing you can do is to sit back and enjoy. The medieval church at Stiklestad is one of many medieval churches in Innherred. The church is beautiful in all its simplicity, and a guided tour or a silent moment for reflection is recommended. The church is a natural destination for pilgrims along St. Olav’s Path from Sweden to Nidaros. The pilgrim path starts in Selånger on Sweden’s east coast and ends up in Nidaros in Trondheim via Stiklestad. The path is as close as you can possibly get to the historical route St. Olav used when he, as Olav Haraldsson, travelled from Kiev to Stiklestad in 1030 to claim the throne of Norway. Today the route is, apart from being a wonderful hike, a favoured route for in-
ward journeys: a route with time for reflection, relaxation and meditation. The fairway goes by majestic mountains, over wide marshes and surging hills, through highlands and valleys, wilderness and urban areas. The trail is facilitated by basic accommodation in hostels. Munkeby Hostel greets the guests with cheese produced by the French monks in the monastery just behind the farm, along with locally produced beers specially made to suit the cheese.
2030 – A NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY Already in 2014, Stiklestad National Culture Centre started the countdown towards the national anniversary in 2030. Central events in Olav Haraldsson’s life journey, from 1014 to 1030, make the foundation for annual 1,000-year anniversary celebrations, as highlighted along with other historical sites both in Norway and abroad. At the same time, work is underway to develop destination Stiklestad ahead of the anniversary.
Guided tours are conducted every year, with facilitation, luggage transport and storytelling.
For more information, please visit: www.visitinnherred.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Telemarkskanalen stretches 105 kilometres from the coast to the mountains in Telemark.
World heritage in Telemark Due to the incorrect estimate of a geologist in the 19th century and a prosperous visit by an engineer around 70 years later, Rjukan in Telemark, Norway, boasts a remarkable history which has had a significant impact on the world. By Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Bærland Magnus Nyberg, VisitTelemark
As one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage, the town Rjukan is surrounded by stunning nature. For a town with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants, it has played an incredibly important role in the world due to its production of artificial fertilisation. Geologist Jens Esmark discovered Rjukanfossen (Rjukan’s waterfall) in 1810 and measured its height. He then came back from his travels and wrongly declared it the world’s biggest waterfall which, luckily for Rjukan’s small community, attracted painters, artists and aristocrats alike. Norwegian engineer and founder of Norsk Hydro, Sam Eyde, visited Rjukan in 1888. He bought the rights to Rjukanfossen in 1903 and established the company Norsk Hydro alongside scientist Profes86 | Issue 88 | May 2016
sor Birkeland and created electricity using water power. The electrical power developed created several thousand degrees in their tailormade oven, which in turn drew nitrogen out of the air. Nitrogen was then mixed with water, resulting in potassium nitrate. At the end, calcium was added to complete the product that was the artificial fertiliser. The Heavy Water War, recently made into a TV series, of World War II also contributed to making Rjukan famous worldwide and plays a part in today’s World Heritage, as the heavy water was a byproduct of the production at Rjukan. But despite its industrial heritage, Rjukan is mostly known for its incredible nature, including its mountains, waterfalls and river valleys.
“There’s a lot of architecture in Rjukan,” says tourist manager for VisitRjukan, Karin Rø. “Everything has a meaning in the inner realms of the town. The factories are beautiful and the local history has had a great impact on the whole world, as the artificial fertiliser has enabled the world to produce a lot more food to accommodate the growing population. In addition to these three
Vemork power plant in Tinn, just outside of Rjukan, produces the renowned artificial fertiliser.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
There are plenty of outdoor activities in Telemark, including fishing and canoeing.
elements – the town’s architecture, production and water power – the railway and railway ferries tell the story of Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage.” The business model behind the artificial fertiliser was typically Norwegian in the sense that it allowed everyone to benefit from it by allocating a great deal of the profits to the state. The history can still be experienced at the Norwegian Industrial Worker Museums at Vemork and Notodden, on the railway ferry M/F Storegut and in the towns Rjukan and Notodden.
Industrialism meets nature Telemark comprises a vast range of hikes and bicycle trails, including its highest mountain, Gaustatoppen, which can be reached by foot or by Gaustabanen funicular, first launched in 1953. The introduction of the funicular made Gaustatoppen, located 1883 metres above sea level, accessible to everyone, although the two-and-a-half-hour hike up the mountain is known to be an easy climb for people of all abilities. The wider area of Telemark is also the home of Bø Sommarland, which is one of the biggest water parks in Europe.
Hiking up Gaustatoppen takes about two and a half hours, but the mountain can also be reached by a funicular.
The park is a popular holiday destination for families – and for those who cannot make it to Gaustatoppen, a mini edition of it has been built in the water park alongside the slides. Perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area is the Telemark Canal, which stretches 105 kilometres from the coast to the mountains, elevating 72 metres – from Dalen to Notodden. First built in the mid-19th century, the Telemark Canal was described as the world’s eighth wonder by the time it was finished. In addition to scenic hikes around Telemark, there are also great cycling routes in the area. Particularly famous are those in Norway’s biggest national park, Hardangervidda, alongside the coast and the Telemark Canal. The latter two follow the national cycling routes one and two. Hardangervidda National Park Centre has won several international awards for its exhibitions in partnership with the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre South. Visitors can learn about wild reindeer and their habitat, and the exhibition boasts more than 20 interactive installations and short films.
Although mainly popular in the winter, the renowned sun mirror in Telemark attracts plenty of tourists. The idea of the sun mirror was born in 1913 and thought of by Eyde himself, as Rjukan does not see sunlight for six whole months of the year. It was only in 2013 that the idea was realised, and the sun mirror now captures the sunlight on the mountain tops and sends it down into the market square, which quite literally brightens the day for the people of Rjukan.
For more information, please visit: visitrjukan.com and visittelemark.com
Bø in Sommarland is one of Europe’s biggest water parks and a favourite among the kids.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
The best of Norway With dramatic mountains, fjords and a lively cultural scene, Lofoten has established itself as the destination that offers the best of Norway. It is a bucket list destination for anyone planning their trip to Norway this summer or winter. By Maria Lanza Knudsen | Photos: www.visitnorway.com
With the beckoning of summer and the midnight sun, Lofoten transforms into a summer paradise of outdoor activities and cultural spectacles. “Lofoten’s dramatic nature is definitely a reason in itself for people to visit,” says Kristian Nashoug, marketing director at Destination Lofoten. “The amazing nature excursions both on land and by 88 | Issue 88 | May 2016
the sea are unparalleled. However, we also have an ardent cultural and artistic scene that attracts many visitors.” The Lofoten islands are renowned for their distinctive mountains and breathtaking scenery of open ocean, sheltered coves and pristine beaches. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking and oth-
er boat trips are just a few of the many activities, safaris and excursions on offer. “To get the best experience and a sense of history and local knowledge, we recommended visitors to participate in organised activities and trips run by the tourist agency and various local tour companies,” Nashoug says. A unique experience for outdoors and sports enthusiasts is the recent addition of nine new holes to make Lofoten’s only complete 18-hole golf course, Lofoten Links at Gimsøya. Recently rated as one of the world’s best new golf courses, it
offers the tempting opportunity to play golf among mountains and fjords under the midnight sun. Staying open 24/7 during the summer, there must surely be no better course for real golf fans!
A thriving cultural scene “The islands have a thriving artistic scene and there are numerous galleries to visit,” Nashoug continues. “Artists have naturally been drawn to the special light and scenery of Lofoton.” Having attracted artists for many years, Lofoten Hus Gallery exhibits paintings and artwork from northern Norway from the period of the late 1880s to today, including well-known contemporary artists such as Karl Erik Harr. KaviarFactory gallery, meanwhile, is a venue for contemporary art displaying the works of artists from around the world. A popular cultural event is the Viking festival that is hosted at Lofotr Viking Museum in Vestvågøy from 3-7 August. Hundreds of Viking enthusiasts will descend on Lofoten for the festival. This year’s theme is food from the Viking Age and is sure to offer a tasty affair with a market, competitions, games, fight shows and other performances. It is a great event for kids, families and adults to explore the history and heritage of the Vikings. Throughout the year, the museum offers visitors the chance to experience Viking life through various activities, cuisine and musical festivities. Dressing up as Vi-
Lofoten’s ski slopes have featured in several ski and snowboarding films. Photo: Destination Lofoten
kings, tending animals, learning swordsmanship, and rowing a Viking longboat are some of the museum’s many activities. The evening Viking feast in the longhouse is also popular, allowing visitors to share Viking food and enjoy the festivities.
A place of all seasons At the end of August, as summer turns into autumn, the northern lights return to the area. The early autumn is a popular time for bike rides and hiking, offering quieter routes during the popular summer months. Late autumn and early winter offer fantastic viewings of the magical sky display. With shorter days and long starry nights, the northern lights add a sense of peace and tranquility to the landscape. Once snow descends and covers the land, the skiing season opens. “The mountains are only ever a short dis-
tance away, which makes it easy for ski enthusiasts,” Norhaug points out. “What is even more special is the skier’s view: of white off-piste slopes and fjords and the wide ocean in the background.” It is no wonder that Lofoten’s ski slopes have featured in several ski and snowboarding movies. For those seeking the fruits of the ocean, the ‘skrei’, or Arctic cod, the fishing season from February to April is a must. Other types of fishing are of course available all year round in Lofoten, a place that has lived off fishing for centuries. With its fascinating history, cultural scene and dramatic landscape, Lofoten is a delight to your senses. “Although I am a little biased,” Norhaug says with a smile, “Lofoten is a place that really must be experienced to fully comprehend its uniqueness.” With all that is on offer, what are you waiting for?
The Lofoten archipelago is located above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway and consists of five larger islands and numerous smaller islands bordering the North Sea. With beautiful scenery, the islands offer a wide range of activities. Lofoten is easily reached by daily flights to Narvik or connecting flights to Svolvær, Leknes or Røst. The Hurtigruta cruise ship also makes a stop on both its northbound and southbound voyages.
Photo: Vidar Moløkken
For more information, please visit: www.lofoten.info
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Left: Locally sourced food from around the Mjøsa lake makes Hedmark an interesting culinary destination. Middle: Magnor Glassverk is an avant-garde design corporation focusing on local craftsmanship. Top right: Glass inspired by moose, a common sight in Hedmark’s forests. Below: Cars and a need for speed are integral parts of Hedmark’s culture.
The most ambitious county in Norway Hedmark aims to appeal to visitors by emphasising its cultural heritage with activities including an up and coming culinary scene, intriguing wildlife, hiking experiences and local design. By Pernille Johnsen | Photos: Visit Hedmark
During the 16th century, Forest Finns migrated from Finland to Sweden and Norway and populated large areas of Hedmark. 20 per cent of the Swedish population stems from Finnish heritage, as well as several hundred thousand Norwegians. The history surrounding the Forest Finns casts a mysterious veil over the large forest Finnskogen, and the supernatural, mystical creatures and events frame Hedmark’s history. “Sharing the Forest Finns’ history is a growing source of pride in Hedmark,” explains Tove Guldbrandsen, general manager at Destination South Hedmark. Finnskogleden is a hiking trail in the border region between Norway and Sweden. “It is the ultimate wildlife experience, camping in tents and listening to wolves howling at night,” Gulbrandsen says. “Hedmark is known for a lot of things, but 90 | Issue 88 | May 2016
the fortress in Kongsvinger and Magnor Glassverk stand out as the guiding lights for exploring the county.” Both attractions are located in South Hedmark. Magnor Glassverk is an old glass factory, historically without any emphasis on innovation, but today it is proudly presenting its craftsmanship and has morphed into a flourishing design business. Visitors can watch as glass of all shapes and sizes is made by hardworking artisans. Meanwhile, Kongsvinger fortress, built in 1682, is one of the best preserved fortresses in Norway. It hosts 40,000 visitors each year and is surrounded by extensive woodwork, conveniently located by a river providing scenic views.
Tickling your tastebuds The culinary scene in Hedmark is noteworthy, especially in terms of the organic and
locally sourced food from farms by Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake. Award-winning restaurant Skaslien Gjestgiveri, established in 1952, is working to become the leading destination for farm-fresh food in Norway. The focus on culinary expansion is mirrored across the county: a taste festival is organised in Elverum and Hamar hosts a food and agricultural festival, both run as annual gatherings.
Three activities not to miss in Hedmark: - Art exhibition The Way I Saw It, ends this May - Finnskogleden hiking - Less demanding hiking in Syvtorpsrunden For next year, also keep an eye out for the annual Jazz Festival and Racing Championships, both usually taking place in early May.
For more information, please visit: www.visit-hedmark.no/en
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top places to visit in Norway in 2016
The valley of tradition
By Maria Lanza Knudsen
The long valley of Setesdal stretches from the mountains of central Norway to the coastal city of Kristiansand, spanning 210 kilometres of beautiful landscape. Known for its strong Norwegian cultural heritage, it is equally a place of outdoor activities for all. Photo: Anders Martinsen
“The rolling forests and countryside are great for hiking, biking and to see the wildlife, like a moose or two,” says Lasse Eidskrem, manager of Visit Setesdal. “The National Bicycle Route No. 3 runs through Setesdal, from Kristiansand to Haukeli, offering a route for leisurely family holidaymakers and trained athletes alike.” The Otra River and the numerous mountain lakes make fantastic locations for fishing, and fishing cards are available for purchase at the various tourist offices. For those seeking fast-paced thrills, river rafting is also possible on the Otra River at Evje. With experienced instructors and first-class equipment, there is
both a family-friendly river section and a more challenging part.
Cultural heritage and traditions The region is known for its old farmsteads and traditions, dating back to before the Viking Age. Several museums, such as Hovden Museum of Iron Production, Evje and Hornnes Geomuseum, and Bygland Museum, show traditional Viking iron production, natural minerals, building traditions, and the region’s costume and craft traditions. “Folk music, silversmith art and the Norwegian national costume, the bunad, are just some elements of the cultural heritage visitors may experience,” Eidskrem
Photo: Dag Magne Søyland
says. A popular attraction not to miss is the annual Setesdal folk music contest on 27-28 July in Rysstad. For more information, please visit: www.setesdal.com
LØRDAG 11. JUNI 2016 91 km fra Egersund til Sandnes
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One-way stop to the farm of your dreams Farm holidays are probably one of the hottest ways to spend valuable days off, and Øvre Rønningen Gård is seeing visitors from cities such as London flying in solely to live like a farmer – albeit with a bit more comfort. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Øvre Rønningen Gård
Øvre Rønningen Gård is idyllically located in Gausdal in the heart of Norway. Having seen the surroundings, no one will be surprised that the area, and farms such as Øvre Rønningen Gård in particular, has inspired fairy tales and paintings in the name of National Romanticism. Visitors are welcome to join in on all parts of a regular farmer’s life, including feeding the sheep and cleaning the stables. “Families from as far as London and Paris have come to experience something completely different,” says owner and farmer Ingvild J. Aarhus. City folks are indeed tempted by the simplicity and calmness of the farm, and it has proven a particularly popular way of 92 | Issue 88 | May 2016
holidaying with children as they find entertainment in most nooks and corners of the place. “Horse riding is particularly popular, but so is jumping in the hay,” Aarhus notes, continuing: “While there are plenty of things to do on the farm, many take advantage of the brilliant ski resorts nearby, including Hafjell and Kvitfjell, while the summer brings the possibility to go fishing or swimming in the river.” The farm can accommodate families with up to four children, providing a separate flat with a fully fitted kitchen and bedrooms. “We all stay in the same house, but it is up to the guests how much privacy or interaction they would like.”
The farm is located 25 minutes from the Olympic town of Lillehammer and two hours from Oslo Airport. While it is possible to take the train to Lillehammer followed by a bus to Gausdal, most people prefer having a car at hand. “Many combine staying here with trips into the surrounding national park, or a day trip to Lillehammer,” says Aarhus.
For more information and booking, please visit: www.gardsdraumen.com The farm is also available through www.airbnb.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Farm Experiences in Norway
Picking your own eggs for breakfast Many people go searching for authentic holidays and a break from the stress of modern life. As a response, holiday farms are popping up across Norway catering to city people in particular who fancy going back to nature, even picking their own eggs for the morning scramble. Søstun Gård is a great example of the new holiday trend, offering guests a whole farm at their disposal. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Søstun Gård
Søstun Gård, the latter being the Norwegian word for farm, is a place where time seems to have stopped. Idyllically located in the midst of forests, lakes and fields, it gives guests a whole farm to themselves where they can feed the sheep, ride horses and take part in the evening care of the animals. “For people visiting the time also stops, as they are brought back to a time when, rather than going to the shops, you would pick your eggs from the barn or get your berries and vegetables from the garden,” says owner and farmer Heidi Børresen. A welcome break from modern facilities, the farm attracts families as well as elderly couples. “One mother noted that
they had to do something different to pull the children off the internet,” Børresen notes, adding: “But we do of course have internet, and even a bubble bath, on the farm.” It is optional whether guests take over the running of the farm or simply indulge in the goods of the quiet, simple life. Regardless of whether you are in touch with your inner farmer or not, do not miss out on the activities available outside the farm, including cycling and kayaking. “You can cross the Swedish border in a kayak,” says Børresen. The farm is located just one hour from both Oslo and Oslo Airport, which can
be easily reached by car or public transport. “We have guests coming here by bus or cycling from the station to the farm for a truly authentic experience,” says Børresen. For more information and to book, please visit: www.sostun-gard.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Farm Experiences in Norway
A nature experience out of the ordinary
By Marte Eide Photos: Lise Hetty Finstad
Jentene på Kyststien (‘the girls on the coastal path’) was arranged for the first time in 2006 and has developed into an annual event where women participate in a ten-kilometre long walk alongside the idyllic coast of Stavern, located about 140 kilometres south of Oslo. The relatives of Sigmund Anvik established Anvik farm back in 1836 and, together with Kristin Hammer Anvik, they have boosted the annual opening of the farm shop selling clothes and interior design products. This year the event will take place on 4 June and welcome up to a total of 3,200 participants. Kristin Hammer Anvik, who moved to the area in 2002 and fell in love with the varied landscape, explains that the core concept is to make sure the women have a good experience. “We don’t keep track of times or participant numbers,” she explains. “Everyone can complete the path at their own pace, which makes it a more pleasant experience.” The participants of Jentene på Kyststien travel from all over Norway. “The lat-
est trend within tourism is active holidays, and people are willing to travel far,” says Anvik. “There is a group of women who have travelled from Tromsø three years in a row, and they experience the summer here very differently from what it is like up north.” The coastal path includes elements of gravel pathways, rocks and beaches. Afterwards, the participants are greeted at Anvik Gård and treated to a shrimp buffet including bread, mayonnaise and lemon, a traditional Norwegian summer meal. “I feel the proudest the day after the event, when I walk the coastal path to clear up posters and trail indicators; I think of all the women who were here and enjoyed this beautiful scenery,” says Anvik.
For more information, please visit: www.jentenepakyststien.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Farm Experiences in Norway
The green house is a sight in itself and offers a place for relaxation and peace.
A culinary experience in the countryside Very much in tune with the current trend of authentic holidays and mindfulness, Øvre Sukke Gård opened the farm to visitors last year. It has so far been a very welcome addition to the holiday trend, as they invite families and companies to the farm where food and wellbeing come first. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Øvre Sukke Gård
“Guests are taken in as family members, whether we pick eggs together in the morning, or have supper together around the table,” says farmer and owner Hege Bach. Together with her husband, Espen Klaseie, she opened the doors to the family farm last year. They now offer three bedrooms for those wishing to spend the night and numerous activities, along with peace and quiet, for those popping in for the day. The farm is idyllically located in Vestfold, famed for one of the best archipelagos in Norway, and a favoured holiday spot for many. The farm thus enjoys the scenic forests and nature of the inland, with easy access to the beautiful seaside. With such surroundings, it is hardly a surprise that visitors spend most of
Gård caters from small to medium-sized companies. “We jokingly say that we are located centrally in the countryside, as the farm is only a mere hour from Oslo and 20 minutes from Tønsberg,” Klaseie smiles. “As such, companies can easily stop by for day trips.”
their time outdoors. They can enjoy a wealth of activities including yoga and meditation, kayaking, a trip on the 40foot sailing boat in the nearby archipelago, or simply a ride on the horseback. The biggest draw is the brilliant food, which Klaseie attributes to his wife. “She’s an excellent cook, and everything she makes is organic and locally sourced,” he says. “We host cookery courses that are particularly popular among groups of friends who come here.” While families and groups of friends make up the majority of visitors, the farm is also a sought-after venue for businesses wishing to spend a day out in the countryside. With top-notch meeting facilities and spacious rooms, Øvre Sukke
Pop out for a ride.
For more information and to book, please visit: www.sukkegard.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Farm Experiences in Norway
Left: Gulli Gård is a great place to bring kids and take part in the activities available on the farm. Photo: Pernille Nygård. Right: Lise the pig lives a good life on the farm, where she plays with the children who come to visit. Photo: Karine Heggholmen.
A farm full of fun About 20 kilometres south of Oslo, there is a family-run visitor farm full of animals and activities, where kids can ride tractors and ponies, enjoy animal cuddles and create memories for a lifetime. Gulli Gård truly is a place for the whole family. By Line Elise Svanevik
In addition to being a fully functioning grain production farm, Gulli Gård has a great reputation as a pet farm with high animal welfare. Here kids can enjoy the animals as well as farm life and the adults can sit back with a cup of coffee and some waffles. Situated in the Norwegian area of Ås, Akershus, the farm features a range of different animals.
she gathered sheep, goats, pigs, alpacas, horses, hens and rabbits, which are all now a central part of the farm. There are plenty of things for kids to take part in, including the animal club, which runs every spring and autumn for children aged seven to 12, and a camp during the summer. “When we host the
96 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Fossum’s family has been running the farm for over 100 years, but the history goes back much further; 4,000 years ago, the farm was used as a place for animals to graze. Animal welfare and good experiences are the key themes at the farm, and it is constantly being upgraded with help from the whole family. Gulli Gård opened for the season on 1 May 2016 and is open on 15 and 29 May, every Sunday in June, July and August and every other Sunday in September.
“I grew up on the farm and took over after my dad in 2010,” says Janne-Christine Fossum. “I run it together with my partner, Thomas, but I also have my mum and dad on the farm, in addition to my three sons.” Before Fossum took over, there were no animals on the farm for about 15 years. Keen to reintroduce animals to the farm,
animal club, we have groups of around ten kids come over, and they get to help with the evening care of the animals, such as bottle feeding the lambs,” Fossum explains.
Janne-Christine Fossum re-introduced animals to the farm when she took over in 2010. Photo: Janne-Christine Fossum.
For more information, please visit: www.gulligard.no or like them on Facebook for the latest information.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Farm Experiences in Norway
Top left: Make sure to stop by the farm shop and café. Bottom left: The homemade chocolate comes in six flavours. Right: The grand main building dates back to 1750.
The Norwegian countryside at its best Kvarstad farm is located in hilly landscape, with a history dating back to the age of the Vikings. This summer, look no further for stunning nature, local farm produce and wonderful views. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: ZUPER
“We live on a hill, 300 metres above sea level, with wide open spaces and fields all around. The view is amazing,” says Helena Frogner, who owns and runs the farm with her husband, Hans Frogner. Kvarstad farm has something for every occasion – from birthdays to conferences and gourmet weekends. The farm is located in one of the most flourishing agricultural landscapes in the country, in Brumunddal, 150 kilometres north of Oslo. The domains stretch all the way down to Mjøsa – Norway’s largest lake – where you can enjoy fishing or canoeing.
Local farm produce The Frogners serve traditional dishes made from local produce and the pork, potatoes and barley come from their own farm. They have turned an old potato cellar into a self-service farm shop and café where you can buy everything from coffee and cake or sandwiches to homemade chocolates.
“We buy chocolate pellets from Belgium but make all the truffles, fillings and fudge here at the farm. We have six flavours and the bestseller is a dark chocolate fudge with the Norwegian North Sea Salt Kråkebolle,” says Frogner. They also make their own ice cream with milk from the farm next door, and no additives are used. “We prefer making food from scratch and want to use what we have here on the farm or buy ingredients from our neighbours,” she continues. The main building is from 1750, but the settlement dates back to the Viking Age. In total, 17 beds are available for overnight stays.
Local farms joined together Kvarstad farm is part of a local network of 13 farms called Mjøsgårdene. Although open for bookings all year, together they also host the annual Summer at Mjøsgårdene which is a week-long open farm event in July.
“You can come here in July and enjoy unique events at all these nice farms,” says Frogner. “We all have different specialties.”
DO NOT MISS Matfatet 7 May: the opening of a nearby shop focused on local farm produce in Brumunddal. The National holiday at Kvarstad farm 17 May: the farm’s own sausages, ice cream, cakes and chocolate are available in the farm shop. Summer at Mjøsgårdene 8–17 July: open farms, activities and events in the region. You can find more information at www.mjosgardene.no/english
For more information, please visit: www.kvarstad-gaard.no
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 97
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Farm Experiences in Norway
Stay on a reinvented fairy tale farm Hovde Gård is famed for its fairy tale-like appearance, and you will not be disappointed as you walk through its doors. Opened to visitors in 2009, the place is worthy of a prince thanks to its stately interior, local specialties on the menu and a brilliant spa. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Hovde Gård
Hovde Gård welcomes businesses and tourists who want to spend time in a present day fairy tale. The old farm has kept its manorial glory through years of modernisation, although the comforts are indeed up to modern standards. “It has been important for us to maintain the history that comes with the farm, which we hope people feel through their stay,” says manager Benedikte Grøntvedt. Judging by the reviews online, they have very much succeeded, as most mention ‘beautiful’ and ‘traditional’ as part of 98 | Issue 88 | May 2016
glowing reviews. The traditionally decorated rooms are all different, and divided between three buildings which create a sense of romance and nostalgia. “We have 54 rooms, so it has become a popular venue for companies who fancy a different atmosphere for their meetings,” Grøntvedt notes. “It is also very popular for special events like weddings and birthday parties, as well as amongst tourists who simply like the look and feel.” History is in the walls at Hovde Gård, one clear trace being the excellent kitchen
serving seasonal specialties from the region, in line with the manor’s past as a home economics school. Nearly 3,000 girls learned how to cook and sew inside these walls, and thus foodie experiences have always been at its heart. “It was the first of its kind in the region, and while the school itself is slightly out of date, the emphasis on good homemade food has very much remained,” Grøntvedt says. Hovde Gård is located just an hour by plane from the international airport Oslo Airport Gardermoen, with several Air Norway departures daily to Ørlandet.
For more inspiration and to book, please visit: www.hovdegaard.no
M
in i A OF TA Them NO ST e: RW E AY
Where soul meets soil Organic produce has gone from a trend to a key requirement for millions of consumers worldwide. The core of organic farming stems from biodynamics, characterised by a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming and gardening. By Nina Lindqvist | Photos: Alm Østre
The main purpose of biodynamic farming, an agricultural approach dating as far back as the 1920s, is to create a diverse, balanced and self-sufficient farm ecosystem. Catering to the demand for biodynamic produce in Norway is Alm Østre, one of Norway’s oldest biodynamic farms. The farm is located in the heart of the agricultural municipality of Stange and was founded more than 40 years ago. To this day, it maintains the same principles its founders laid out. “Biodynamic farming strives to maintain a balance between the different parts of the farm: the animals, the grains and the vegetables. At Alm Østre, we employ a circular farming ecosystem and work together with the nature, not against it,” explains Pierre Sachot, one of the farmers who run Alm Østre. Alm Østre grows approximately 35 different kinds of vegetables, delivered directly to customers through a weekly vegetable box scheme. In addition, the farm shop offers customers a wide range of freshly milled flours, as well as vegetables and other biodynamically grown products. With 150 weekly box scheme deliveries and a loyal customer base,
the farm seems to have found its place in the market. “There has been a rise in demand for locally grown and biodynamic produce. People are more interested in the origins of their food and want to invest in fresh and organically grown products,” Sachot notes.
Attracting volunteers from all over the world
farming has yet to reach mainstream household status in Norway, as it has in many other countries. Having extended its box scheme to Oslo, where a local member-led and member-owned organisation is selling the produce directly to customers, it seems biodynamic farming is well on its way to find its footing in the market. “New initiatives and distribution channels are needed in biodynamic farming. I’d like to see cooperatives without retailer involvement in the nearby areas as well. That is definitely something I can see happening, since interest for organic and biodynamic products is increasing so swiftly,” Sachot concludes.
Alm Østre is run by a group of farmers from three families, as well as a regular flow of eager international volunteers and participants of biodynamic apprenticeship programmes. Over the years, over 500 volunteers and apprentices have worked at the farm, a tradition the farm is keen to uphold. “Our volunteers and apprentices are a vital part of our farm. We want to offer the opportunity to gain experience in primary production, in the production of food and animal husbandry – and to be part of a project which can serve as an example for the future,” Sachot says. Despite continuous volunteers and substantial local interest, biodynamic
For more information, please visit: www.almostre.no You can explore further at www.biodynamisk.no, www.bingn.org and www.kooperativet.no
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 99
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Norway
Owners Tommi Bjørnsen (left) and Jon Marius Sletten.
A restaurant serving what the chefs want to eat Ever wondered what the top chefs eat behind closed doors? You do not have to wonder any longer. Not only can you read their top tips – you can indulge in their favourite dishes. At BACCHUS Spiseri & Vinhus in Oslo, the two head chefs follow their own tummies when they put together the impressive menus of king crab, dried fish and locally sourced game. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Jarle Hagen
BACCHUS Spiseri & Vinhus, translating to Eatery & Wine House, has taken Oslo by storm since its revamp last year. The restaurant celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015 by transforming its café-style venue into an eatery, focusing on local produce and a wealth of choice in terms of beverages. “This truly 100 | Issue 88 | May 2016
is a place for diners who enjoy and have a genuine interest in food and wine,” says head chef Jon Marius Sletten.
‘Superb quality and good price’ The restaurant, however, does not encourage a white table cloth atmosphere. On the contrary, the style compares to
a cosy old pub in the UK, although with more stylish décor. It is a place you can go when you simply fancy a good but relaxing meal on a Tuesday, as much as it is a place for a special occasion at the weekend. “We aimed for it to be a place where everyone can go, as long as they appreciate good food,” Sletten notes. Food critics as well as regular guests have taken to appreciating the restaurant. Over the past few months, they have received top reviews from the city’s main critics, while the superlatives pour in from diners. A quick search online returns reviews such as “superb quality for a very good price” and “good
Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Taste of Norway
food for good money” expressed with a multitude of enthusiastic expletives.
Serving what they would want to eat Sletten runs the kitchen together with Tommi Bjørnsen, a colleague and friend, notably from the same area of Norway. Growing up in northern Norway they both have fish in their blood, to put a twist on a famous saying, and are both fond of using seafood as much as possible in their cooking. “While we change the menu every month according to season, there is one iconic ingredient you will always find at BACCHUS, namely dried fish, or tørrfisk as it’s known in Norwegian,” Bjørnsen says. For those new to this northern specialty, it can most closely be compared to what the southern Europeans use in their bacalao. “We change the vegetables and seasoning, but in one way or another it is always there,” Bjørnsen notes. The two are understandably proud of both their heritage and how they have made it come alive through the restaurant. “We make food that we would like to eat ourselves,” Sletten says when asked what inspires them to create the different menus. When you have got an eye and not least a taste for good food, it really can be as simple as that. “For us it is also very important to use local produce, whether it is game from a local hunter or chicken from a nearby farm. However, it can be difficult to find king crab in the Oslo fjord, so we do sometimes source
Co-owner Tommi Bjørnsen.
food from around the country – but it is purely Norwegian products,” Sletten emphasises, and gives credit to sous chef Keven Møller as an important factor in the development of the restaurant.
Beer enthusiasts will not leave thirsty either, as the restaurant works with several local micro-breweries, subsequently offering beer packages with the meals for those who prefer a strong stout or lager.
A good glass or two to go with the meal
BACCHUS Spiseri & Vinhus is located in central Oslo, just a ten-minute walk up the main street of Karl Johans gate from Oslo Central Station. It is idyllically situated in what used to be an old bazaar, and can host up to 50 people inside and up to 140 outside on a sunny day.
Historians and wine connoisseurs alike may already have tagged onto the name BACCHUS, which refers to the Roman God of Wine. Through the name alone they have put their own wine cellar under pressure, and it does not disappoint. With an extensive selection of natural, but also traditional, wines, they have something for the experienced wine taster as well as a popular glass of Chenin Blanc for the less adventurous to go with the food. “Guests can choose wine packages to go with all the meals,” Bjørnsen explains.
For more inspiration and to book a table, please visit: www.bacchusspiseri.no
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Norway
A self-started brewery
By Maria Lanza Knudsen Photos: Lars Amundsen
When two seasoned beer enthusiasts saw the opportunity to acquire used brewery equipment, it was the sign they were looking for. With help and backing from friends and family, their dream to own and run their own brewery became a reality with the establishment of Qvart Ølkompani. Based in Kristiansand’s borough of Lund, Qvart Ølkompani occupies an old mechanic’s shop that has been renovated to house the brewery and a little shop the owners hope will open this summer to visitors. Passionate about beer, Qvart Ølkompani makes a wide range of beer types. “We like to push boundaries and be innovative in our brewing,” Lars Amundsen, the co-owner, explains. “Having said that, we aim to produce beer that is unique yet easy for our customers to like.” Of their many beer types, three are especially noteworthy. Their Gose beer, a German sour beer, is particularly fresh in taste with salt and coriander. A rath-
er quirky beer, it both won the audience award and was voted the winner by the other participating breweries at the Sur og Bitter beer festival in Sandnes earlier this year. Meanwhile, Qvart Ølkompani’s Palmekyst beer, an IPA, has tropical flavours with hints of mango and pineapple. Perhaps most unusual is their St. Lucia beer, available at Norway’s Vinmonopolet (the government-owned alcoholic beverage retailer). Partnering with the local coffee shop Sørlandet Kaffebreneri, Qvart Ølkompani produced this stout beer with cold brewed coffee from the St. Lucia coffee plantation in Brazil. “It’s effectively a coffee with beer and excellent with vanilla ice cream,” Amundsen says. “It’s a delight!”
For more information, please visit: www.qvart.no
Following the food from farm to fork Tired of scouring the local supermarket in search for fresh, inspiring produce? Then you will be excited to discover Moe Gårdsbryggeri outside Trondheim. The farm offers home-made beer, soap and freshly picked eggs – and the best part is that you can join in on all of it. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Moe Gårdsbryggeri
Moe Gårdsbryggeri is an operating farm with animals enjoying the porch, but its specialty lies in producing its own grain and malt that gets turned into beer. The brews are distinguished by the malty flavour, giving it a rich and powerful taste. While you may of course pick up a bottle or two at the farm shop, we recommend taking the time to make your own. “It is popular among couples to brew special bottles for their wedding day,” says owner Inger Moe. The brewery, however, is only a small part of the greater focus on home-made 102 | Issue 88 | May 2016
products, including soap or pastries. Locals pop by the farm shop over the weekend to pick up freshly picked eggs, while others prefer spending the day with the animals, just taking in the calmness of the farm. “City people often come here for space and quiet,” Moe notes. Moe Gårdsbryggeri is located 15 minutes from central Trondheim, and is easily reached by car or public transport. The farm is open to the public during the shop’s opening hours on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at other times on request.
For more information, please visit: www.moegaard.no or www.facebook.com/moegard
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
The grand main building dates back to 1750.
The founders of Restaurant Naert, from left to right: Danish Jakob Burmølle-Jensen, Norwegian Sigurd Mo Bjørklund and Norwegian Simon Selliseth.
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
A Norwegian food adventure… in Copenhagen Based on an authentic passion for Norwegian produce and traditions, Restaurant Naert, Copenhagen’s new Norwegian food venture, presents a fresh take on Nordic cuisine. Copenhageners, famously proud of the Danish capital’s food scene, have welcomed Norwegian bravery with enthusiasm and amazing reviews. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurant Naert
As a Norwegian chef, it takes a bit of courage to move to Copenhagen, the heartland of New Nordic cuisine, and set up a restaurant promoting Norwegian produce. Nonetheless, that is what the two Norwegian chefs Sigurd Mo Bjørklund and Simon Selliseth and their Danish colleague, Jakob Burmølle-Jensen, have done. Now, six months into their Danish venture, they have managed to convince everyone from professional food critics to regular foodies that the Norwegian kitchen has something to offer Copenhagen’s famous gourmet scene. “What happened was simply that we fell in love with the produce from Norway, and we wanted to show the people of Copenhagen what Norway could do,” explains Bjørklund. “Other than that, we just wanted to create a casual dining
place where people could relax and have a good meal.” Situated in Pilestræde in the heart of Copenhagen, Restaurant Naert welcomes diners into a relaxed and down-to-earth atmosphere in a minimalistic Nordic setting. Inspired by Norwegian and Danish food traditions, passed down through generations, Naert’s kitchen presents a range of dishes based on home-preserved, home-
smoked, and home-dry-aged products. Dishes such as Norwegian scallops, tarragon, beef and smoked marrow, and buttermilk, grilled apples and thyme have swept both professional food critics and foodie reviewers off their feet and earned the restaurant top reviews from them all. “In the beginning people were a little bit sceptical about the whole Norwegian aspect,” says Bjørklund. “But we have had a really good reception because as soon as they sit down and try the first course, they understand that there really isn’t anything to be afraid of.”
RESTAURANT NAERT: Location: Pilestræde 63, Copenhagen. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, dinner until 10pm (open for lunch for bookings of a minimum of eight people). Prices: Four/seven courses: 500/700DKK.
For more information, please visit: www.restaurant-naert.dk
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Scan Magazine | Activity of the Month | Norway
Activity of the Month, Norway
Two of Norway’s greatest wonders in one trip Norway is known for its natural wonders, and on a holiday to the very northern part of the country you can explore two of its biggest attractions, namely the excellent bird watching and North Cape. While the former is the northernmost point on mainland Europe, the latter means that millions of birds come here to nest every summer. The only way to explore is by boat, best offered by BirdSafari. By Helene Toftner | Photos: BirdSafari
The famous North Cape attracts thousands of visitors each summer. While entering the North Cape plateau is a must for most, many also combine their visit with a leisurely boat trip to Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve. Set on islands just north of the mainland, it is known as one of the biggest and most accessible nesting areas in Europe, attracting visitors from all over the world. “It is not only for bird en-
thusiasts, but for all visitors who may appreciate the spectacular view of millions of puffins and other seabirds clotted together on the little islands,” says director and owner of BirdSafari, Ola Thomassen. BirdSafari offers daily trips for individuals as well as groups, running from April to September. As Thomassen rightly notes, it is difficult to explain the experience
of having millions of birds, and the odd white-tailed eagle, flying above your head. One excited visitor said, ‘it is like watching a BBC documentary’ – but as Thomassen insists: “you have to be there”. Arriving by boat, visitors get a fantastic view of the numerous puffins, guillemots, Arctic skuas and gannets that inhabit the islands over the summer months. For those who fancy staying the night, traditional fisherman’s cabins are also available. “The cabins are typical of the area. Just like they were for the fishermen, we offer a home away from home – with a view,” says Thomassen. For more information and bookings, please visit: www.birdsafari.no
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Scan Magazine | Activity of the Month | Denmark
Activity of the Month, Denmark
An intimate musical experience with artists big and small Great music, friendly people and a cosy, local party vibe is the recipe for a perfect Danish summer night. This is exactly what you will find at the local musical festivity Kløften Festival – along with some incredible artists giving their all on stage. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Kløften Festival
At the heart of Haderslev, a quaint town in the southern part of Jutland, you will find the Kløften park. This beautiful green area surrounded by hills, trees and dales will set the scene to gather music lovers, young and mature, locals and visitors from 23-25 June. This is a festival that caters to all tastes, presenting artists such as Kim Larsen, Danser med Drenge and D-A-D to Blaue Blume, Velvet Volume and Phlake. “We combine well-known top performers with new acts on the rise. We take great pride in presenting our guests with new music and giving upcoming artists a platform,” explains Erik Kock, board member of Kløften Festival. “Giving the festival guests a musical experience that they didn’t even know they would enjoy beforehand – and one that
they will keep enjoying after the festival is packed up – is exactly what we want.” With only 8,500 tickets for sale, the nature of Kløften Festival is more intimate than its bigger siblings. There are five stages to be filled with tantalising music and always two acts performing at any given time. “So if you’re not interested in one act, there’s always another opportunity further down in the park,” says Kock. The fellow festival goers in Kløften are in a class of their own and what Koch describes as his favourite thing about the festival: “No matter what your style is, everyone at the festival is always happy and friendly and having a great time. The guests really take care of each other.” Kløften Festival is one of the very few festival organisations exclusively run by volunteers, and all of the proceeds are
invested back into the community, supporting charitable, cultural and local organisations in the Haderslev municipality. Last year, Kløften Festival donated to local sport associations, and the next beneficiaries are to be found as soon as the last chord has been strummed at this year’s festival.
For more information, please visit: www.kloften.dk
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The Memphis Mansion hosts one of the ten biggest Elvis collections in the world.
Experience of the Month, Denmark
Elvis is in the building Whether you are an Elvis fan or not, you owe yourself a visit to the Memphis Mansion in Randers, a mansion twice the size of Graceland and with some of the most iconic guitars and costumes ever worn and played by the king of rock ‘n’ roll. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Memphis Mansion
Elvis might have left the building when he died in 1977, but his legacy is still very much alive – and not just in Graceland in America, but also in Randers where the Memphis Mansion is located. It is a mansion with a diner, a merchandise store, conference rooms and the famous museum that hosts one of the ten biggest Elvis collections in the world. “From the moment you park your car it’s like walking into a time warp. When you enter through the gates you’re welcomed
with Elvis songs, and on your way to the mansion you’ll pass a copy of his childhood home and a one-to-one sized statue of him. It is like stepping into a little part of America,” says Henrik Knudsen, owner and founder of the Memphis Mansion. Knudsen first became obsessed with Elvis at the age of 13, and later he decided to make his passion into a living. In 2011 he opened up the Memphis Mansion. “In the beginning people laughed and found it a bit odd, but today we are on
the top-50 list of attractions in Denmark. Our visitors don’t just include Elvis fans. We’re here for anyone who just wants to experience the universe and get a taste of America,” he says.
A unique collection Last year more than 130,000 people visited the Memphis Mansion, including for confirmation parties and companies hosting their conferences here. Even the European Union booked the facilities for a meeting, and all of them were impressed by the mansion, according to Knudsen. “If you just expect to get a short story on Elvis’ life and a few posters from an old magazine, you couldn’t be more wrong. The museum is insured for more than one million pounds, and we have some of the most well-known costumes he wore and the guitar on which he played his most famous concert,” Knudsen explains. “We even have the original tape from a jamming session between Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jonny Cash, and our merchandise store is the biggest in Europe. Like I said: entering the Memphis Mansion is like entering a time warp.” For more information, please visit: www.memphismansion.com
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark
Hotel of the Month, Denmark
Your seaside family for the summer Switch off your gadgets and succumb to the fresh air, ocean breeze and delicious food. Melsted Badehotel will make sure you and your loved ones enjoy a thoroughly relaxing break on the quaint Danish island of Bornholm. You will without a doubt feel right at home in their unpretentious setting and already wish to come back the minute you leave. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen | Photos: Melsted Badehotel
Nothing beats your loved ones welcoming you back home with a smile as you walk through the door to kick back in a complete state of relaxation after being out all day. The latter may be easier said than done in your busy everyday life, but not at Melsted Badehotel. Here you get a big summer house in place of your apartment and the noisy streets surrounding your home have been replaced by sea as far as the eye can see. But the homely feel is the same. “The thought behind our hotel is that the guest is welcomed into a relaxed
and down-to-earth atmosphere, like it’s a private home. I’ve created it based on what I myself enjoy when I travel: a good experience where everything is done with a lot of consideration and the guest is the centre of attention – a place I love visiting myself,” explains Lise Hjorth Madsen, owner of Melsted Badehotel.
joy, that there are always new surprises awaiting them when they visit us.” The successful collaboration with chef Frederik Bille Brahe continues this summer at Melsted Badehotel. With impulsivity, charm and an unpretentious attitude his team creates a menu that feeds the high expectations of both your eyes and your tastebuds without compromising on that healthy life style. The restaurant buzzes with the joyful and relaxed vibes that surround all of Melsted Badehotel, and this year oysters, mussels and cocktails in particular will make your mouth water.
A summerhouse full of surprises Entering Melsted Badehotel is like walking into your own summer house, only a little bit bigger. Intimacy and originality are what the hotel is all about, which is why you will not find two rooms that look the same. Hjorth Madsen picks up whatever she likes and adds it where she thinks it works. “Nothing inside the hotel is bought with the purpose of decorating a hotel,” she explains. “I usually find something I like when I’m travelling, like scented water from Italy, so I don’t bulk buy – and what we have is ever-changing. This is something our regulars really en-
For more information, please visit: www.melsted-badehotel.dk
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 107
Hotel of the Month, Norway
The art of entertaining Built in 1767 as an amusement manor by the legendary Chrystie family, and a favourite spot in the area for King Oscar II, the walls of Refsnes Gods have seen plenty of lavish gatherings. And while the age of masquerade balls might feel like centuries ago, the hotel located at Jeløy by Moss has managed to remain on the scene for elegant parties, be it weddings, anniversaries or indeed masquerade balls, as well as being a popular destination for meetings and conferences. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Refsnes Gods
The manor, which was built with romance in mind as it was a present from David Chrystie to his beloved wife Sophie Thaulow, has become a popular location for tying the knot as well as for couples looking for a romantic getaway. Located on the edge of the water in the middle of the Oslo fjord, it gives the bridal party the option to arrive to the ceremony by boat, or perhaps by horse and carriage 108 | Issue 88 | May 2016
up the linden avenue – which doubles up as a natural aisle to walk up to the altar. However, Refsnes Gods has plenty to offer for those not romantically inclined, and has become a popular location for conferences. With 61 rooms and an overall capacity of 100 guests, it is perfect for mid-sized business events. “Being only a 40-minute drive away from the capital, we’re far enough for most guests to
want to spend the night, but also close enough that it’s a quick trip home if the babysitter bails on you,” says hotel director Gunn Salbuvik.
Taking care of business In this day and age, it is important to get together and connect with colleagues over more than just a quick lunch meeting, and as quite the intimate venue Refsnes Gods is a great place for
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
team-building activities. For action enthusiasts it should also be mentioned that Refsnes is the only hotel in Norway offering its guests polo lessons at neighbouring stables. In addition, the surroundings provide coastal walks and garden activities such as petanque, but the hotel also offers wine tastings and winemaker’s dinners. Refsnes Gods really has had an emphasis on art, food and wine from the very beginning.
Art and wine Over the years Refsnes has built an impressive art collection, including eight Edvard Munch originals and works by Andy Warhol as well as more contemporary Norwegian artists such as Frans Widerberg, totalling more than 400 original artworks.
an innovative and slightly French touch. “We want our dishes to be innovative and flavourful, but also inspiring and delicately presented,” Salbuvik says. The meals are expertly paired with wine by an experienced sommelier and brought up from the manor’s extensive wine cellar, which is home to quite a bit of history in itself. “The oldest bottle of wine we have is a Madeira from 1822, and we’re currently searching for a bottle of 1767 Madeira for our 250th anniversary next year,” says Salbuvik.
250 years of hospitality In preparation for the anniversary next year, Salbuvik and her team have taken
a deep dive into the archives to retrieve photos from the manor’s heyday. “It is exciting to see how much they enjoyed themselves, just like we try to make our guests enjoy themselves today,” Salbuvik says. She also reveals that while Refsnes Gods frequently holds masquerade balls and other events, it will all be with a little extra flair in 2017. “But our number one priority is to cater for our guests every way we can, all year, every year. After all, we do have nearly 250 years of experience in hospitality, something all our guests should feel every step of the way.” For more information, please visit: www.refsnesgods.no
“We wanted to pay tribute to Munch in particular as he lived here on Jeløy between 1913 and 1916. The works by Munch, Warhol and many other prominent artists all hang in common areas, available for all to see, but each room also has its own contemporary ‘artist in residence’, so asking someone to the room to look at art is a perfectly legitimate invitation here,” Salbuvik smiles, adding that should you have a particular artist you want to share bedchambers with, the team is happy to take requests. Dinner is served in the Munch Restaurant, where the focus is on locally sourced and seasonally based produce, prepared with Issue 88 | May 2016 | 109
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
In the dark rooms of the Cisterns, the imagery and sound of playing children evoke a haunting sense of melancholic joy.
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
Enter a world of dreams Entering The Cisterns in Copenhagen is a bit like stepping into a parallel universe. A dark, damp shelter or a place to meet a beautiful, intriguing nightmare, the associations evoked by the old subterranean water reservoir are bountiful and varied. At the moment, the otherworldly art venue, which is part of the Frederiksberg Museums, is the scene of That Dream of Peace, an evocative video installation by Danish artist Eva Koch. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Anders Sune Berg
Underneath Søndermarken in Frederiksberg lies an astonishingly large, highceilinged space with columns, puddles and dripstones everywhere. Built in the 1850s to provide a solution for Copenhagen’s drinking water problems, the Cisterns are today an exhibition venue for contemporary art. For the last three years, the exhibitions have been created to integrate and utilise the distinctive architecture and atmosphere of the ven110 | Issue 88 | May 2016
ue. This spring, summer and autumn, the unusual exhibition space, which is also Denmark’s largest dripstone cave, is used to show That Dream of Peace by Eva Koch, an experimental Danish artist working in the fields of video installation, sound and sculpture.
Time for reflection While That Dream of Peace, like the Cisterns, might evoke different emotions
in different people, something akin to reverence seems to saturate everyone and everything in the room. With video installations projected directly onto columns, walls and water, Eva Koch has turned the underground territory into a dreamy exploration of hope and beauty in the midst of war and conflict. Made specifically for the Cisterns, the exhibition takes its point of departure in depictions of life and growth defying the terror and destruction of today’s world. In several video installations that light up the darkness of the Cisterns, children play while bombs explode, flowers sprout on muddy battlefields, and doves flutter freely in 3D projections on misty water walls. The exhibition is inspired by the artist’s immediate impression of the room, ex-
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
The blooming poppies in Eva Koch’s That Dream of Peace symbolise how beauty regrows after even the worst conflicts.
plains museum director Astrid la Cour. “The room invites you to think about some heavy subjects, like death, war and peace – important subjects. When Eva Koch first entered the room, she said it reminded her of the air raid shelters her mum once hid in during the Spanish Civil War, a place of safety while war continued over ground. Today, we talk so much about war and conflict, and what this exhibition explores is whether the dream of peace still exists: do we still believe that there is a chance for peace for real or is it just a banal cliché?”
Five museums in one day The Cisterns are part of the Frederiksberg Museums, giving visitors the opportunity to purchase a ticket that gives entry to all five museums and exhibition spaces
in the area for just £12. Removed from the most popular tourist spots in Copenhagen and in tranquil surroundings near parkland, they all have an intimate atmosphere in common. A walk in the beautiful greenery of Frederiksberg Have and Søndermarken, alongside the informal cultural experiences, makes for a perfect day out with friends or family. “You don’t have to know anything about contemporary art to get an extraordinary experience in the Cisterns – it has to do with the history and aesthetic of the rooms; it is impossible not to feel something,” says La Cour. “You may enter without knowing anything about the exhibition but immediately you’ll be hit by the cold dark underworld which in itself tells the story of the place. Placed in an urban
dripstone cave the art becomes part of a different experience. It is not like in an art museum where you have to stop in front of each art work; here you have a complete all-encompassing experience for the senses. Of course you can stop and ponder all the artistic propositions, but it is not essential for a good experience and that’s why the Cisterns have become such a popular destination.” The Frederiksberg Museums provide a map of a museum route, which takes visitors by some of the most beautiful green spots in the surrounding parkland. Other than the modern art installations in the Cisterns, the museums present the possibility of exploring a variety of literature, music, theatre, and more traditional art works.
THE CISTERNS IN BRIEF: Location: Just opposite Frederiksberg Palace and the Zoo. You will find the entrance in one of the pyramids made of glass. Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 11am-5pm.
That Dream of Peace runs from 2 March - 30 November 2016.
The dystopian atmosphere and distinctive architecture of the Cisterns create a unique setting for contemporary art installations.
For more information, please visit: www.cisternerne.dk and www.frederiksbergmuseerne.dk
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
Attraction of the Month, Iceland
Home is where the dogs are Experience Iceland in all its snowy glory with a couple of dog-loving mushers and their pack of irresistible sled dogs. A tour with Dog Sledding Iceland will involve a little bit of ice, a little bit of fire and a whole lot of woofs. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Dog Sledding Iceland
For musher Siggi Baldvinsson, home is where his dogs are. In 2007, he took over Dog Sledding Iceland, the leading professional dog-sledding kennel in the country, offering unforgettable tours that give visitors the chance to become one of the pack and see the spectacular land from a whole new perspective. Together with his partner and fellow musher Klara Thuilliez and their loveable sled dogs, he 112 | Issue 88 | May 2016
spends the year moving around Iceland and setting up camp wherever the snow conditions are best. “Our trips take place in open landscape, offering breathtaking 360-degree views – weather permitting, of course!” says Thuilliez. “With up to eight months of snow per year, Iceland is the perfect country for dog sledding. In most other
places, you have to drive or fly to the location to go dog sledding, whereas here in Iceland you have so many beautiful sights all around the kennel to enjoy.”
Mush! Mush! Dog Sledding Iceland currently offers a one-hour tour, which runs twice a day, five days per week. They set off not far from Reykjavík and the Golden Circle in autumn and winter, and Langjökull glacier in spring and summer. A typical trip includes 12 guests across three sleds. Each sled has its own musher who introduces everyone to the team and explains how the sled works. At this point, the
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
dogs are usually unable to contain themselves any longer and show that they are ready to run by barking away. During the ride, everyone can have a go at driving in the back with the musher. The musher will explain the role and position of each dog in the team and describe their different personalities and quirks. You will also learn about the history of dog sledding and how the sled dogs are trained. “Halfway through, you’ll take a short break, usually at the highest altitude, to enjoy the wonderful view over the valley, mountains and lakes. This is also the time to give the dogs a well-earned belly rub!” says Thuilliez. “Soon enough they want to run again, so we hop on the sled and glide around the mountains. On the way back down, you’d better hold tight as you feel the full speed of the dogs. Back at the camp, the other dogs from the kennel will be waiting for you to give them some love too. The cherry on top is when there are some puppies to meet as well, which only makes it harder to leave.”
In good paws Most of the pack consists of Greenlandic dogs, which are an ancient breed traditionally used by the Inuit people of Greenland. These hardy sled dogs are known for their ability to endure extreme weather conditions – a real must in Iceland. Over the past few years, Dog Sledding Iceland has also rescued a few Siberian huskies. With their slight build, these arctic dogs work well with the Greenlandic dogs, enabling the teams to run at a faster pace than usual freight dogs. Alas-
kan huskies are the latest addition to the kennel, bringing their high efficiency to the pack. Such a diverse combination of dog breeds gives guests a well-rounded introduction to the world of sled dogs. “It is very rare to be able to approach Greenlandic dogs, but with Dog Sledding Iceland, you’ll soon be rolling about in the snow with them,” says Thuilliez. “Nothing is more important to us than our dogs’ wellbeing. We only operate a few tours so that they never get close to their limit, and we change the route every day to keep them interested and motivated. All of our dogs are born at the kennel and spend many months with their owner to socialise with them. They are all very friendly, well-trained and well-behaved dogs.”
Wherever the kennel is based throughout the year, it is easily accessible from Reykjavík and you can either make your own way there on a 4x4 or get transferred to and from your hotel by one of the guides. During the warmer months, you can opt for some extra sightseeing by adding a tour of Borgarfjörður, stopping by Europe’s most powerful hot spring Deildartunguhver and the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls on the way to and from the kennel. In wintertime, you can go on a Golden Circle tour after dog sledding to witness gushing waterfalls, erupting geysers and continental plates splitting apart. Groups are kept small to ensure a personal experience, so make sure to book well in advance. And remember, whatever tour you choose, belly rubs are mandatory!
For more information, please visit: www.dogsledding.is
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Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
IS IT JUST ME… Who has unknowingly bamboozled Americans with the apparently strange concept of a ‘sit-down dinner’? I always thought the ‘sitting down’ part was implied, but not for Americans. To them this is a mindboggling and baffling concept. By Mette Lisby First of all, they find it very odd that they have to show up at a certain time. When you invite people to come at 7pm in Los Angeles, they show up around an hour later at the earliest. We learnt that the hard way after arriving at a super fancy Halloween party at 7pm, only to find the hosts playing ping-pong in their sweatpants. They looked at us, puzzled, and we said: “Oh. Didn’t you say seven?” To which they replied: “Yes! So why are you here now? It’s only seven???” It is very hard to argue with that kind of logic. So when we decided to host a proper dinner party for our LA friends, we made a point of telling our guests that they had to be on time “because it’s a dinner”, we said, thinking that the concept of ‘dinner’ was relatively wellknown throughout most of the world. However, our American friends arrived 25 to 45 minutes late and it was not until they saw the set table that they said: “Oh! It’s a SIT-DOWN dinner.”
Confused that there was any other kind of dinner, we managed to get everybody seated around the table. We had prepared a threecourse meal for 12 people, which naturally required some running around and checking up on the food, serving the various dishes, much to the befuddlement of our American guests, who kept urging us to “sit down and relax”. So we did – thinking that placing a bowl of salad in the middle of the table would lead our guests to take some and pass the bowl along. But no, Americans apparently do not pass things around. They seem mystified when bowls of food are on a table and it is not a buffet. Thus the salad remained untouched. Our guests nonetheless had a great time, but as one of our American friends asked us in all sincerity: “Why did you do that? Isn’t it a lot easier if we just bring a dish each and eat in the kitchen?” Exhausted, my husband
Non-blondes When people first meet me, they are often disappointed. “But you’re Swedish!” they’ll wail, “you’re supposed to be tall!” As a kind of consolation prize, they’ll then mutter: “At least you’re blonde. Sort of.”
“Look at you,” our slightly more fashionable, and – some may say – bitchy friend said. “Now you all look like mushrooms.” We disagreed. We looked similar in our looking different. The mushroom effect stayed until I moved to England. “But you’re Swedish!” my new friend wailed. “You’re supposed to be tall and blonde.” At this, I finally embraced my dirty beige with a newfound sense of contentment.
I am not really blonde. My hair is a dirty beige, which goes a bit lighter at the ends. These days I will occasionally slather chemicals onto it to make it brighter, along with many other native Britons. I do not claim to know all the reasons why people change the colour of their hair, but I do know that one of them is the simple desire to look, and therefore to be, a bit different.
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Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish version of Have I Got News For You and Room 101.
Chestnut resulted in a hue not dissimilar to moss green. My friends achieved similar results and then, in a further attempt to stand out, we all got daring, short bobs.
By Maria Smedstad
It was the same for me at the age of 14 in northern Sweden. We were a mass of Scandi teenagers all wearing identical clothes, purchased from one of three shops in town. On top of our heads were identical mops of a uniform colour – roughly three shades of blonde – which is why we flocked to one of
and I agreed. So that is what we are doing for our next ‘dinner party’. It will start at 7pm to 8.30-ish.
the three shops in search of something that would make us a little different. “Do you have any green hair dye?” I would ask again and again, in vain. Luckily for me, drenching my wiry tresses in Deepest
Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.
blomsterfestival.dk
#odenseblomsterfestival
Viking ships in Roskilde History for all the senses – year round
Experience five original Viking ships and see our impressive boat collection in the scenic Museum Harbour. Look, feel, smell - and try! The Viking Ship Museum focuses on the Vikings’ maritime craftsmanship and their impressive ships. Exciting exhibitions – Films about the Viking ships and Sea Stallion from Glendalough – Dress as a Viking Activities for children – Go on board Viking ships Boatyard – Museum Shop – New Nordic Viking Food Scenic harbour life with Viking ships and historical wooden boats. Go sailing on Roskilde Fjord: May 15 - September 30.
SPECIAL EXHIBITION 2014 The World in the Viking Age
– Seafaring in the 9th century changed the world! vikingshipmuseum.dk
Under the age of 18 admission free Open daily 10:00 - 16:00
(May 16 - Aug. 24: 10:00 - 17:00)
Transport:
Free car park. Train to Roskilde. From Roskilde Station bus route 203 or about 20 minutes’ walk.
Aalborg Århus
Roskilde
Odense
København
Vindeboder 12 • DK-4000 Roskilde • vikingshipmuseum.dk
Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | SiLyA
Photo: Desiree Mattsson
116 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | SiLyA
SiLyA: a late-bloomin’ captain With a love of America, big voices and music that truly connects, Silje Nymoen, AKA SiLyA, has carved her own path in an industry that is otherwise keen on putting people into boxes. Scan Magazine caught up with the Norwegian singer, TV presenter and entertainer extraordinaire to talk about finding her voice, her upcoming EP trilogy, and her love affair with the Norwegian people. By Linnea Dunne
“I always liked American music, the old stuff – it needs to be old. When I moved to New York I wanted it to be like one of those old music clubs and I lived in a bubble and pretended it was the 1940s. I’m not deluded, I know it’s not the ‘40s, but when I was a kid I had Gene Kelly on the walls when other girls had posters of boy bands.” Two minutes into the interview SiLyA is talking for Norway, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she has not taken a breath in well over a minute. “I always liked the sass of Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald,” she continues.
“I loved them, I still love them, and Édith Piaf – I like ladies who sing like they have girl balls, like they mean what they’re singing. I never really liked soft singing – I like girl balls.” It is hard not to fall for her immediate enthusiasm and openness as she goes on to describe growing up in Oslo with an insatiable urge to express herself and carving her own path. Her parents signed her up for choir and piano lessons from the age of eight, and when it was time to choose a line of specialisation for the
upper secondary school years some of her friends enrolled on the music programme. Determined to choose a road less travelled, SiLyA instead signed up for dancing at the Oslo National Academy of Art, joined street dance companies and ended up in musical stage productions. “It was my own thing – I discovered dance myself,” she explains, yet again picking up on her love of America. “It was amazing. Gene Kelly was a dancer, so I became obsessed with dancing as well. Not that I did tap dancing – it was more contemporary jazz dance.”
Press photo
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touch with Stockholm production house Murlyn Music Group. She was signed to a production deal and spent the bones of a year in a big house in the countryside working on songs with a range of artists, from Swedes to Australians, going on writing camps and jamming in studios. Then someone from New York City heard one of her songs and asked her to come over, and soon enough she was packing her bags and signing to Columbia Records. As she talks about the chain of events that would to most up-andcoming singer-songwriters sound like a dream scenario – including a duet with Cee Lo Green and penning hits for stars such as Vanessa Amorosi – the enthusiasm in her voice fades to be replaced by frustration. “They didn’t really know what to do with me, and they kept saying that ‘you’re a white Norwegian, you’re not black and you can’t sing like that, you have to find a Scandinavian sound’,” she says of the time at Columbia Records. “I wasn’t trying to sound like anyone but myself, but then I kept trying to please everyone – that’s why I ended up feeling so lost.” ‘I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do’
Photo: Pål Laukli
The bug for music and writing One day, a rapper came in to the record shop where SiLyA was working alongside her studies, looking for a singer for a track and asking for contacts. During a moment of confidence SiLyA offered to give it a shot, and before she knew it she was in on a Warner Music deal, three number one singles and extensive touring. “It was exhausting. I had school in the day and then we toured in the evenings, and I remember losing my 118 | Issue 88 | May 2016
voice a lot because I simply didn’t know how to use it,” she recalls. “One of my teachers said to me, ‘you have to choose one – music or dance’, and that’s when I felt it: as much as this wasn’t my thing, I had learnt a lot from it and got the bug for that immediate connection with the audience. I had discovered music again, but on my own terms.” SiLyA started writing her own material and a music label contact put her in
In the end, having released nothing and then spent a few months writing in Los Angeles, SiLyA decided to stop doing what people were telling her to do. “I had a marriage that was falling apart and I wasn’t feeling creative anymore. Most importantly, I certainly wasn’t happy,” she says. “So I said I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do, and I started writing with some guys in New York whom I worked really well with. I also realised I really liked that organic sound of live recordings that sound just like the music does on stage, and so I started singing in dinner clubs.” The spark in her voice is back. “Suddenly I was almost back in the ‘40s again! I sang jazz to try to channel my heroes and found some wonderful musicians – and then people wanted to buy our music but we had nothing to sell.” It seems only logical that the singer would call her band Silya & the Sailors, finally allowed to be the captain of her ship and steer in whichever direction her heart’s desire sends her. The band start-
Scan Magazine | Culture Feature | SiLyA
Photo: Desiree Mattsson
ed playing around with old and new material, including tracks from the album Peel Away, which SiLyA had released on an indie label a couple of years prior. And just as she felt ready to think about a proper release with the new band, another door opened for the singer. “I said to them, ‘OK, I need to just pop over to Norway for a week’, but then all of a sudden something happened and I felt I really wanted to win this thing,” she says of Stjernekamp, the Norwegian TV talent show. “It became a really emotional thing as I’d felt like such a failure because of the Columbia thing falling through, and I had so much to prove. But then I dropped my guard and the Norwegian people really saw me, and we kind of fell in love.” SiLyA won the competition and the title Norway’s Ultimate Entertainer, and she decided to amend her plans. “It’s one of the best moments of my life,” she says. “I’d never won anything before!” She set
out to find some sailors of her own in Norway and eventually released the album Unanchored, a collection of raw and honest songs – with balls – recorded with the original American sailors. Talking about the present, she is excited but grounded. The past two years have seen her on screens across Norway as co-presenter of Melodi Grand Prix, the Norwegian qualifier for the Eurovision Song Contest, a gig she says she will happily take on again if asked. Moreover, having toured extensively and among other things played lauded concerts with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, she is now on the cusp of releasing a trilogy of EPs: Life, Resolution and Heart. The former, which is out this month, is rockbased with dominant horn sections and plenty of contrast in terms of vocal performances; the second will be released in September as a celebration of horn instruments, with one arrangement being
for horns and vocals alone; and the final instalment was recorded with the Chamber Orchestra itself. “I was a late bloomer,” SiLyA smiles. “I didn’t figure out what I wanted to do until I was pretty much too old to do this thing, but I want to do music that doesn’t have an age limit, stuff I can do when I’m 70 and start smoking. I don’t care if it’s trendy, just that it’s real and I can feel it when I sing it.” Keep an eye out for the three instalments of SiLyA’s latest work:
Life – out May 2016. Resolution – out Sep 2016. Heart – Feb 2017.
For more information, please visit: www.silya.com
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 119
Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | Øhavsmuseet Faaborg
The Town Jail Museum, Kaleko Mill and Heritage Museum are all part of Øhavsmuseet’s bouquet of activities.
In Faaborg, a museum visit is an adventure The Archipelago Museum – or Øhavsmuseet in Danish – is not just a museum in the traditional sense of the word. It is a whole bouquet of adventures that draw you into the incredible history of the old port town of Faaborg in Denmark’s South Funen. By Sanne Wass | Photos: Øhavsmuseet Faaborg
In 1905, in the Danish town of Faaborg, a 16-year-old homesick boy called Janus ended up in a terrible situation when he accidentally caused a fire that killed a girl. This was the beginning of a heart-breaking story of a young criminal, who was put behind bars in the town’s jail. It is also one of the authentic stories visitors are immersed in when they enter what is today the Town Jail Museum – a part of Øhavsmuseet in Faaborg. Step by step, visitors follow Janus’s case and it is up to them to decide if he is guilty. “It’s the complete reverse of a normal museum visit,” explains Peter Thor Andersen, director of Øhavsmuseet. “Here you are encouraged to touch things; you won’t get much out of your visit if you don’t interact. We get overwhelmingly positive reactions from peo120 | Issue 88 | May 2016
ple who are thrilled with how authentic the experience is, and surprised that they get to be so involved.” At Øhavsmuseet history is experienced and explored, not just observed through glass displays. And so the adventure of Faaborg does not end with the Town Jail Museum; in fact, this is just one of many flowers in the bouquet of Øhavsmuseet’s activities. Through tours, horseback rides, geocaches and games, the adventures take you to the most charming places in Faaborg – places that have inspired painters and poets for generations. These include the cosy, narrow streets; the busy port area; and the stunning nature of the Svanninge Hills and the South Funen archipelago, affected by thousands of years of the Ice Age and floods. Just a minute’s walk from the Town
Jail Museum you will find the Heritage Museum – Den Gamle Gård – housed in an 18th century merchant house. A short bike ride takes you to the Kaleko Mill, an old watermill dating back to the 1600s. “Our museum doesn’t just end with one exhibition and then goodbye,” Andersen says. “An important part of our work is about bringing people together – also outside the museum’s own walls. It’s all about being active and exploring this incredible area.”
For more information, please visit: www.ohavsmuseet.dk
Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | Faaborg Museum
Left: The great painting hall with Carl Petersen’s floor mosaic and the Faaborg chair designed by the architects Carl Petersen and Kaare Klint. Middle: The cupola hall with an entrance to the great painting hall with a self-portrait of the painter Fritz Syberg from 1916. Right: The sculptor hall with sculptures by Kai Nielsen.
A creative universe of art Imagine a colourful building, floors with different patterns and a cornucopia of paintings, sculptures and furniture. That is what you will experience at Faaborg Museum, a place where do you not just see art, you actually feel it. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Hélène Binet
In the beginning of the 18th century, most art museums in Denmark were located in Copenhagen. As a retaliation, a group of artists from Funen decided, together with local patron Mads Rasmussen, to found a museum in Faaborg: a museum putting the spotlight on local, contemporary art, directed by the artists themselves.
“The patron wanted to create a monument here at Faaborg, and the artists wanted to show a different kind of art – rural art. Back then it wasn’t considered sophisticated enough for a museum to exhibit a painting of peasants dancing or the everyday life on a farm. They changed that and the rural art became known as the art of Funen,” explains Gertrud Hvidberg-Hansen, museum director at Faaborg Museum. The rural art orientation still remains at the museum, which last year celebrated its centenary.
Feel the art
The archive with furniture by Car Petersen and Kaare Klint and paintings by Johannes Larsen, 1915.
Every year around 25,000 people visit Faaborg Museum, and they have to use all their senses to get the full experience. The furniture is made out of wood and the floors of stones of ceramic mosaic and clay from the area, which makes walking on the floor feel like walking on a forest path. “The museum has so much to offer. We have paintings, sculptures, architecture and furniture design, and
the building is a work of art itself. It is a major piece in Denmark’s architectural history and well known abroad as an important example of Neoclassicism,” says Hvidberg-Hansen. The museum is also home to the famous Faaborg chair, which was designed by Kaare Klint in connection with the opening in 1915. The chair is considered the first modern chair in Danish furniture design and is still being produced by Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier and sold all over Europe, Asia and America. “We have a real interdisciplinary approach here at the museum, and I believe that that’s why we attract visitors of all age groups. The kids like to come here because the museum is not too big. They find both the architecture and the art rather fascinating. The grownups can see well-known art, participate in some of our many culture courses or even enjoy a concert. There is something for everyone in this creative universe,” Hvidberg-Hansen ends. For more information, please visit: www.faaborgmuseum.dk/en
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 121
Scan Magazine | Culture | The Social Guidebook to Norway
Left: Julien S. Bourrelle has been featured at all types of events and shows, including TEDx, Lindmo and a new NRK series. Photo: Jon Danielsen. Right: Befriend a Norwegian like you would a shy wildcat.
The guy who loves Norwegians -and their quirks A few years ago, Canadian-born Julien S. Bourrelle was sitting in a coffee shop in Brussels innocently minding his own business. A Spanish guy sitting nearby suddenly struck up a friendly, casual chat, and Julien became unsettled. “My immediate reaction was ‘Why is this guy talking to me? What does he want?’ That’s when I realised – ‘Julien, you’ve become Norwegian!’” By Louise Older Steffensen | Illustrations: Nicholas Lund, courtesy of Julien S. Bourrelle
Julien has lived in six countries and speaks four languages. He was therefore better prepared than most for the cultural acclimatisation he would need to undergo when moving to Norway from Spain six years ago. Yet, when he arrived, he was startled by just how different Norwegian culture and societal expectations were to other societies he knew. “It was without a doubt the biggest cultural chal122 | Issue 88 | May 2016
lenge I’ve encountered,” says Bourrelle. “It’s the way that politeness works and social structures like gender interaction and complete social equality play out. What’s more, no one will call you out if you behave ‘weirdly’ by Norwegian standards, because that would go against the Norwegian code of politeness. Norwegians are fantastic, but they’re hard to get to know if you don’t recognise that
cultural interactions work differently here than outside of Scandinavia.”
Using humour to bridge cultures Bourrelle is a qualified rocket scientist who moved to Norway to write his PhD at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. He quickly realised that social integration was a big problem for most foreigners. “We worked with some big international companies whose foreign employees loved the country but moved away within a couple of years because they felt socially isolated,” he says. The companies encouraged him to hold presentations to foreign staff to help them understand the subtleties of Norwegian social interaction. And so,
Scan Magazine | Culture | The Social Guidebook to Norway
Bourrelle set up his company, MONDÅ, to help businesses and people to communicate successfully across cultural, social and national barriers. He wrote The Social Guidebook to Norway, a book based on his own experiences, which explains the peculiarities of Norwegian culture using cartoons drawn by Nicholas Lund. As he got to know the region, he realised that many of Norway’s quirks – such as fierce social equality, gender equality and trust – were to be found in its Scandinavian neighbours too, and he is currently taking on the Swedes. It is not just immigrants who would benefit from looking at Norwegian societal norms. “Integration and social navigation is a big issue not just for individual companies and foreigners, but for integration of immigrants in Norway in general,” Bourrelle says. “For companies dealing internationally, having an idea of where cultural clashes may arise will help international communication. And for Norwegians themselves, personal interactions with non-Norwegians run much more smoothly when you have an idea of whether your own ‘cultural glasses’ are impacting on how you see the other person and their behaviour, or whether you’ve just happened to meet an actual weirdo.” This is true for anyone who has ever had to interact outside of their own social circle, regardless of nationality.
Social bubbles The key to understanding Norwegian society, Bourrelle thinks, is leaving space and understanding that social interac-
The illustration from the cover of Julien S. Bourrelle's book, The Social Guidebook to Norway.
tion happens within specific frameworks. In public, being loud or sitting close, say within 20 metres of someone, may bother them, and leaving plenty of physical and psychological space is essential. “Physically, you often get a kind of tango going otherwise, where the Norwegian takes a step back to feel comfortable, and you then step forward, and then the Norwegian takes another step back, and so on. It’s very funny to observe, but it can create some awkwardness which is easily avoided by cultural understanding – on both sides.” Similarly, relationships develop slowly over time, and being too forward may easily make Norwegians feel smothered. Most importantly, interactions take place within specific social frameworks or ‘bubbles’. Bourrelle believes that this is the key to befriending Norwegians. “People here interact within specific social settings or structures, and for the first long while, you meet and talk strictly
within and about those bubbles,” he explains. “You have an interest, or you just crave human interaction, so you find others with a similar interest, and then you can talk to the others about the activities you have in common. Striking up a conversation with someone without a reason can be seen as a violation of their personal space and dinner is the result of, not a way to, friendship. Once you get to that point, however, you know you have a friend for life – and it is so worth it.”
BOURRELLE’S TOP TIPS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN SCANDINAVIA: 1. Do not speak too loudly. 2. Leave breathing room – physically and psychologically. 3. Always have a practical and clear reason to talk to people. 4. Be aware of the working schedule – free time is free; it is common and acceptable to leave work at 16:00:01. 5. Women and men are strictly equal and manners are not gender-specific.
To pick up more tips, please visit: www.scandinavians.tips
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 123
Scan Magazine | Culture | Highasakite
Photo: Aleksandar Jason
Working through inner turmoil with new electronic beats With a new album, an upcoming tour and a different vibe in both their lyrics and sound, the cool and well-hyped Norwegians of Highasakite are setting sail to take the music scene by storm once again. Scan Magazine spoke to lead singer Ingrid Håvik about the dark mindset of their soon-to-be released album, Camp Echo. By Mette Hindkjær Madsen
This month, Highasakite are releasing their third, much anticipated album Camp Echo. The release follows the highly successful Silent Treatment, an album that resided in the Norwegian top 40 for more than 100 weeks – the longest consecutive run in Norwegian chart history – making the expectations for the upcoming album sky-high. But the band has not allowed these high expectations to hold them back from try124 | Issue 88 | May 2016
ing something new, explains lead singer Ingrid Håvik: “Since the last album we have become more electronic. We had two synthesizers we wanted to use and the drummer has programme drums, so it’s more up-tempo and expressive.”
A dark state of mind The sound is not the only altered aspect of Highasakite’s new release. Where their previous albums have been rooted in feelings of love, Camp Echo is inspired
by a darker worldview that occupied the singer’s mind during the creation of the album – a worldview that, she says, changed dramatically almost 15 years ago. “11 September 2001 changed my worldview. I remember that day and I remember the world being so divided. It’s a big part of everyone’s life. It’s a part of who we are now,” says Håvik.
My Name Is Liar, the opening track on the new album, fittingly cites moments of George W. Bush’s infamous war on terror speech, with some of the following songs inspired by ex-marine Grant Collins, who served in Iraq. “It affects me. I’m always a bit worried and don’t have a positive worldview or positive feelings about the future generally,”
Scan Magazine | Culture | Highasakite
Photo: Rockrpix
Camp Echo is out on 20 May. Singles Golden Ticket and Someone Who’ll Get It are already getting significant air time and tickets are available for the upcoming European tour. The band will be in Manchester on 23 May and in London on 24 May.
explains Håvik. “It’s not fear or anger, it’s just different. I do have some hope, but I read about the attacks in the news while I was writing songs and I watched documentaries featuring interviews with war veterans, so it was really on my mind then.”
Musical therapy
Photo: Tonje Thilesen
everything and getting it out in the open. When you write something and step away from it afterwards, you see it in a different way – I think it’s more of an emotional level. I have created a room with feelings and observations about the subject and have now put them away somehow,” describes Håvik.
tour can bring her closer to some of the songs. “We’re rehearsing right now and I think I will have a favourite by the time we start performing the album live. Being in the song when you’re performing is different to when you’re making it – it’s like a collage,” she says.
But not everything about the situation can be completely processed, according to the singer: “There’s not really any way to work through these events, because it is how it is. I just wanted to reflect on it and write about my observation.”
Though some of the lyrics on the album revolve around politics, there is no agenda trying to influence the audience, reassures Håvik. “I wasn’t thinking about the audience when I wrote the songs. I don’t want to change their view, but of course I really want people to be affected by the music.”
When the music comes to life
Songwriting is a way for the Norwegian singer to work through her emotions. “Writing these songs meant processing
Being deeply involved with the music makes it difficult for Håvik to pin down a favourite track from the new album. Yet the extra dimension of performing live on Highasakite is a Norwegian band consisting of singer Ingrid Håvik, drummer Trond Bersu, Øystein Skar and Marte Eberson on synthesizers, and Kristoffer Lo on guitar, percussion, flugabone and tuba. Håvik and Bersu met while studying jazz at Trondheim Jazz Conservatory and started out as a duo. Skar joined them before they started working on the music for their debut album, All That Floats Will Rain, and Eberson and Lo completed the quintet when they began performing live. Their musical genre is described as indie pop/rock.
Photo: Rockrpix
For more information, please visit: highasakite.no
Issue 88 | May 2016 | 125
Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | SPOR Festival
Left: Anne Berit Asp Christensen & Anne Marqvardsen. Photo: Marc Fluri. Above: Exhibition piece Ord for Ord by Niels Rønsholdt. Photo: Samuel Olandersson. Middle: 2016 Art Installation. Photo: Lawrence Malstaf. Right: WYSI(N)WYG = This year’s theme: What You See Is (Not) What You Get. Photo: Pulsk Ravn.
A playground for contemporary music SPOR festival started in 2005 as a platform for contemporary music to be performed and engaged with. Spread throughout Aarhus, the festival runs from 12-15 May, attracting artists and audiences from around the world. By Josefine Older Steffensen
Anna Berit Asp Christensen and Anne Marqvardsen have been festival directors for SPOR festival since 2007. Every year they work with different curators to produce an original theme, and were themselves the curators for the festival in 2007. To produce this year’s festival, they invited Nadar Ensemble from Belgium to work with them. “Music and sound are our main focus, and as a natural part of that we also present a wide range of related art forms at the festival,” explains Christensen. “When you step into one of our concerts it’s like stepping into a piece of art.” The festival is accessible for all, irrespective of your experience with contemporary music. “We cover a big repertoire 126 | Issue 88 | May 2016
reaching and showcasing many aspects of contemporary music and art, as we want to open up the field to the audience, whether they are newcomers or connoisseurs,” says Christensen.
What you see is (not) what you get The theme for this year explores the differences between our digital and physical identities and bodies, testing real and virtual spaces. “Because technology plays such a big part in our lives, we wanted to explore that relationship further through music. The theme ‘What You See Is (Not) What You Get’ is all about identity and different notions of reality,” explains Marqvardsen. The artists come from across the world and range from new to established per-
formers and composers. “We try to provide a space where young composers can express themselves,” says Christensen. “We collaborate with a lot of partners throughout Aarhus, so the festival is almost like a city tour. You get to go to all kinds of spaces, everything from public spaces to cafés and clubs.” The different venues mean that some performances are very intimate, sometimes even one to one, while other shows are performed in front of hundreds of spectators. “There is always a fantastic atmosphere at SPOR,” says Marqvardsen. “It becomes a social place. People chat, discuss and share their experiences over a cold beer, while engaging with the music.” SPOR presents film screenings and exhibitions from 8 May 2016. To view the full programme and for information on tickets and more, please visit: www.sporfestival.dk
Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandipop
Scandinavian music It has been an absolute age (four years – I have been counting) since we last heard from the young musical genius that is Sweden’s Amanda Mair. And now she is back: a little bit older, but still most definitely a musical genius. The new single, Wednesday, is a stark and stunning ballad. Haunting is putting it mildly – this is veritably ghostly! Yet it is a beautiful reminder of the artist we were introduced to half a decade ago, who left us all for too long. Stick around this time, please, Amanda.
By Karl Batterbee
Finnish artist Katéa made a big impression with her debut single, That Ain’t Love, last year. She now follows it up with the new single Louder. In keeping with the sound of her debut, she has maintained the soulful style that she wowed us all with initially. On Louder, she has upped the tempo quite considerably and even managed to shoehorn in an almighty key change, something I am always very grateful for. Her first EP – also called Louder – is worth checking out too.
It is a stylish, soulful retro number with some awe-inspiring instrumentation and ear-catching vocals from Marlene herself. With Sweden having become a goto place for finding stellar new soul (hej Sabina and Seinabo!) as well as pop, people need look no further than Marlene for their next fix.
Maria Mena has just come out with a new Erik Hassle is out with brand new sintune, Leaving You – the second single to gle If Your Man Only Knew. On it, he has be taken from her big comeback album, created a whole new track from the blueGrowing Pains. It is a tough listen in that print of Aaliyah’s If Your Girl Only Knew. It it is utterly heartbreaking, but it is an essential listen because it is just so effortis a dark and downbeat number with the lessly pretty. familiar RnB influences that have been lifted from the Aaliyah classic – and dewww.scandipop.co.uk livered via Erik’s inimitable and instantly Stockholm native Marlene Oak has just scandipop@gmail.com recognisable vocal. page ad:Layout 1 27/3/14 released 17:07 her firstPage ever 1 track, How Long. 2_0_Subscribe_Quarter 2_1_Nordfyns_Museum_Ad_1-4p_NEW_SIZE:Layout 1
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Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar
Sarah MacDougall, 2015. Photo: GBP Creative.
Pekka Kuusisto. Photo: Kaapo Kamu.
128 | Issue 88 | May 2016
Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar
Kimmo Pohjonen. Photo: Egidio Santos.
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here!
By Sara Schedin
Highasakite (May)
Pekka Kuusisto (23 May)
Kakkmaddafakka (31 May)
Norwegian indie pop five-piece Highasakite are on tour with their brand new album, Camp Echo. www.highasakite.no
An evening of music by Bach, Jörg Widmann and Ravel featuring Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto and German/ French cellist Nicolas Altstaedt. Wigmore Hall, London, W1U. wigmore-hall.org.uk
Norwegian indie rock band Kakkmaddafakka will be playing tunes from their new album, KMF, at O2 Academy Islington, London, N1. www.kmfband.com
Sarah MacDougall (May) Swedish/Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah MacDougall will be playing songs from her latest album, Grand Canyon, at various venues across Europe this month. www.sarahmacdougall.com
Värttinä (2 June) Mortiis (23-29 May) Norwegian industrial rock band Mortiis are touring the UK this month. www.mortiis.com
The Finnish trio Värttinä’s new album Viena is inspired by the remote territory Viena Karelia and its runo singers. Kings Place, London, N1. www.kingsplace.co.uk Issue 88 | May 2016 | 129
Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Culture Calendar
Kimmo Pohjonen Skin trio (12 June) Finnish accordion adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen Skin is out with a new album called Sensitive Skin and will be performing with Saana and Inka Pohjonen at the Field Day Festival, London, E3. fielddayfestivals.com
Phronesis (12 June) Danish/Swedish/British jazz trio Phronesis will perform music from their latest album, Parallax. Cadogan Hall, London, SW1X. www.cadoganhall.com
Denise Grünstein in Berlin (Until 25 June) An exhibition featuring works from Swedish photographer Denise Grünstein’s Zone V and Wunder. The former is a series of photographs from when Grünstein
made several trips to seek out her family’s cultural roots in former eastern Europe in the ‘90s. The latter consists of colour photographs of an interior built in a corner of her studio. Set against a backdrop of muted nuances is a female figure in a marble-coloured body stocking. Grünstein wanted to create pictures of how it feels, not what it looks like, to be human. Wed-Sat 12noon-4pm and by appointment. Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, Lindenstrasse 34, Berlin. www.grundemarknilsson.se
A Finnish focus at Edinburgh International Film Festival (15-26 June) Working in association with the Finnish Film Foundation, Edinburgh International Film Festival will present a programme of new Finnish features, including both documentary and fiction, a programme of Finnish shorts and other special
Värttinä. Photo: Seppo Samuli.
screenings. The spotlight on Finland will also include territory-specific industry activity and special guests from across the production landscape in Finland. www.edfilmfest.org.uk
Moki Cherry (Until Jan 2017) In the notorious 1970s movement that emerged on the Stockholm art scene and launched rebellious attacks on the establishment, Moki Cherry stood out from the crowd. Rather than pointing out shortcomings, she wanted to present other ways of living. Her artistic practice was inspired by experiments such as counterurbanisation, subsistence farming and children’s projects. In her work there are no sharp boundaries between design, art, drama and music. Tues 10am-8pm, Wed-Sun 10am-6pm. Moderna Museet, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm. www.modernamuseet.se
Denise Grünstein, WunderFaust. Courtesy of Grundemark Nilsson Gallery.
Moki Cherry, No Title, ca 1967 © Moki Cherry. Photo: Prallan Allsten/ Moderna Museet.
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Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen
NORWAY
Oslo Stockholm Bromma
SWEDEN Aalborg
Gothenburg
Aarhus
UNITED KINGDOM
DENMARK Billund
Manchester
London City
GERMANY Brussels
D端sseldorf
BELGIUM
SWITZERLAND
Munich
Z端rich
S n acks
Me al s
Drinks
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
ba.com
SUN AIR Shortcut Skandinavien 215x270.indd 1
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