Havnen - Anholt

A 20K hike from the marina to the lighthouse

A remote desert island shaped like a bird midway between Sweden and Denmark, Anholt is a place where time has stopped, or at least slowed to an inchworm’s crawl. It’s a place with no use for a clock, with its rolling desert landscape surrounded by tufts of light green grass swaying in the breezes on sandy dunes. The song of seagulls, and the lapping of the Baltic along miles of white beach, are often the only sounds you hear.

Anholt’s seal sanctuary. Population: hundreds?

Anholt has one doctor, one nurse and one museum

This desert in the middle of the Baltic Sea supports 400 species of plants

Atop Anholt, on Sønderberg

Real conversation:

—Is today Thursday?

—I think it’s Friday.

—Friday?

—But it could be Saturday.

—I looked. It’s Friday.

—Excellent.

Keeping with the island’s exquisite sounds and tastes, a restaurant features Sirius Yachts rosé.

At Orakel Bar

Mathilde, pouring delicious potions at Orakel Bar this summer before her business studies begin in Copenhagen, tells us that the three-hour ferry to get here is the longest in Denmark. Hence a natural island, population 130 (not including the seal colony), that retains its stark beauty year after year.

Orakel Bar

Legend has it that, centuries ago, the Danish purposely hid Anholt from larger, more powerful Sweden. As rival kings were discussing how to divide their territories after a 1600s war, a map lay before them. The Danish king put his beer glass on Anholt. The Swedish king didn’t notice, so Anholt remained Danish. “Anholt will be the same when you return next year, “ Mathilde promises. Count on it. Tak til Danmark!

Five shopping carts are available at Anholt’s grocery store 😄