Classic gem with sauna in Hornbæk near the water

My name's Jesper Bernt; I'm a screenwriter and author, and I live in Vesterbro, Copenhagen. For a good ten years, I've had a summer house in Kildekrogen in Hornbæk. I've renovated and expanded the house myself and decorated it just the way I like it: simple, laid-back, and personal, with a modern touch. I love spending time here with my friends and family, and my two children—Betty, 10, and Leo, 13—or on my own to write. It's 150 metres to the beach, which is one of Zealand's absolute best and a little hidden gem compared to the larger "Copenhagen Beach" near the town of Hornbæk. The sand here is the finest, and the water's shallow, so the kids can splash around on their own, and there are beautiful views, even all the way to Kullen in Sweden. I love being here, and because the summer house is so close by, on a hot summer day you can make it down there two, three, or even four times in a single day.

If you head in the opposite direction inland, there’s an amazing hike through the forest to the Rusland area and the Tegner Museum. If you walk a little further, you can visit the biodynamic farm Thorshøjgaard and take a tour or buy the most delicious produce from their fields or free-range animals. It’s a real treat to bring fresh vegetables and meat home for the barbecue. On calm days, I love to take the family’s sea kayak—which has room for both my kids and me—and paddle over to Hornbæk to buy ice cream and take a stroll around the harbour.

My kids, our guests and I enjoy the large, lush garden, with its sunny, south-facing terrace, many old trees and a big lawn with plenty of space for bonfires and all kinds of ball games.