Back to the very first holiday homes: The story behind Tibirke Bakker

In the late 1800s, the first holiday homes sprang up along the North Zealand coast, marking the beginning of the very special Danish holiday home tradition. Over time, it has brought Danes together in retreats untouched by the hustle and bustle of the city, and today it is believed that half of Danes have access to at least one holiday home.

One of the earliest holiday home areas is Tibirke Bakker, characterized by its unique Ice Age landscape, its outstanding view over Arresø, and its thatched holiday homes that blend in with nature. Here we tell the story of the hills and guide you to a couple of very special Landfolk holiday homes that let you travel back to the beginning of the holiday home tradition.

From Ice Age and sand drift to holiday home paradise

Tibirke Bakker is steeped in the passage of bygone times with its undulating moraine hills, shaped by the enormous forces of the last Ice Age. During the sand drifts that plagued the area between Tisvilde and Asserbo in the 16th century, the moraine slopes were covered by shifting sand. The sand encroachment was so severe that the farms near Tibirke were buried under the sand, and the church, as the only building, was excavated and saved by the king.

In the 19th century, the trees that are today known as Tisvilde Hegn were planted. The fence, which borders Tibirke Bakker, was intended to protect against the relentless shifting sand and today envelops the area in a carpet of green. In Tibirke Bakker, on the other hand, the sandy, heather-clad hills have fostered a very special flora and fauna that is found nowhere else in the country.

Holiday homes in harmony with nature

Between the heather-clad hills lie scattered holiday homes, built when artists and creative souls sought out the area in the 20th century. If Tibirke Bakker is today considered one of Denmark's most beautiful holiday home areas, it is not only due to the influence of the Ice Age, but also to the architect named Ejnar Dryggve.

In 1916, he initiated a development plan that was intended to prevent speculators from having free rein to build a motley mix of holiday homes in the area. Instead, the plan ensured that the holiday homes were in symbiosis with their surroundings, and the development did not overpower nature. Holiday homes built after 1916, for example, are adorned with thatched roofs.

The first artist homes

Tibirke Bakker's first holiday home owners were particularly writers, visual artists, and other creative souls who sought out the hills because of the area's beauty. The well-known clientele includes Johannes V. Jensen and Niels Bohr, while Hans Scherfig's satirical novel "The Vanished Clerk" takes place in the hills and depicts both the area and its residents. Today, Tibirke Bakker is protected, and many of the holiday homes nestled in the heather hills have been passed down through generations.

Enjoy "Udsigten" and feel the wings of history

Tibirke Bakker lets you travel on the wings of history through Danish history. Put on your good hiking boots and walk through Ellemose to Denmark's oldest known road system, Oldtidsvejen – a 150-meter-long plank bridge dating all the way back to 2800 BC. Also visit the many cultural gems in Tisvilde Hegn such as Asserbo Castle Ruin, where the ruins and moat transport you back to earlier times of monastic cloisters and royal castles.

Also, don't miss perhaps the most famous excursion destination in the hills – "Udsigten," which rises 57 meters above sea level and offers a magnificent view over the summerland's hills, deep green forests, Arresø, Kattegat, and Kullen in Sweden. Continue the trip to Sankt Helenes Kilde, which was said to have healing powers and attracted good people from near and far. At Helenekilde Badehotel, named after the spring, you can end the day with a meal and a drink on the terrace overlooking the Kattegat.

Spend the night in beautiful Landfolk holiday homes

The area around Tibirke Bakker is home to a string of very special Landfolk holiday homes that send you back to the beginning of the holiday home era. For example, spend the night in the fairytale retreat Raftehuset in the artist area Tisvilde Lunde, which is just a stone's throw from Tibirke Bakker. The holiday home offers colorful details and bright, wood-paneled rooms, but is primarily characterized by its special tranquility and lush natural plot with flowering fruit trees and a herb garden.

Close to Tibirke Bakker, near the shores of Arresø, lies Kunstnerhuset, which dates back to the early 1900s and has been passed down through generations. Lose yourself in the house's original details and the painter's original artworks, and explore the nature that surrounds the house. In the evening, you can enjoy evening walks by the property's own lake, where birds sing the day to a close and beavers reside.

Take a look at our selection of beautiful holiday home gems along the North Coast's nature and get inspiration for what to see, eat, and experience on your weekend getaway in North Zealand.