Explore the water that connects us

Water has shaped Himmerland – and still connects us today. Follow the flow from springs to fjords and coastlines, and experience the stories carried along.

Water has always united Himmerland. It has shaped the landscape, brought life to forests and meadows – and served as the path out into the world. On this journey through Himmerland’s blue veins – the Limfjord, Mariager Fjord, and Kattegat – you will feel how past and present are connected by lakes, springs, and salt.

You start at Mariager Fjord – Denmark’s most beautiful fjord, winding 43 km inland like a blue ribbon between hills, cliffs, and villages. From Hobro, you can follow in the footsteps of the Vikings along the Panorama Route and end up at Bramslev Bakker, where you can enjoy the view over the long, deep water mirror. From here, you can take a ride on the sightseeing boat Svanen, which glides calmly through the fjord as the landscape unfolds like a picturesque story of nature and culture.

At the eastern end of the fjord, you meet the Kattegat and the open horizon of the coast. Here, the water is shallow and invites the little ones to splash around. Take a dip in the mild sea at Øster Hurup or stroll along the white sandy beaches. Every Monday morning during the school summer holidays, there is “It’s all about fish” on the beach north of the harbor. Here, you can learn about the difference between male and female crabs, what happens to a starfish if it loses an arm, and much more, depending on the sea creatures you catch in your net. You might even find a beautiful conch shell!

The water’s path through the forest

In Rold Forest, you’ll find Denmark’s most water-rich springs: Ravnkilde, Lille Blåkilde, and Store Blåkilde – so clear and cold that it feels as if the earth itself is breathing. These life-giving springs have inspired legends, poems, and research – and still lure visitors today with their magical calm.

Can you swim in the forest? Absolutely. In Rold Forest, there is a dark red lake whose water is among the purest you can find. Store Økssø lies beautifully surrounded by tall trees and is ideal for a dip all year round. At Madum Lake, you’ll find clear water and a fine sandy bottom waiting for you. Here the water is shallow, making it perfect for the whole family.

Towards the world’s oceans and the wild west

To the west, the wind blows fresh across the waters of the Limfjord. Here, fjord and land have always battled over shape and direction. You can clearly see this in Løgstør, where in the 1800s Frederik VII’s Canal was dug to guide ships safely around the shallow waters. Today, you can walk or sail along the canal and visit the Limfjord Museum, where the fascinating life of the fjord – both above and below the water – is shared with love and expertise.

In the heart of Himmerland lies something unusual: the World Map at Klejtrup Lake, where a man once found a stone resembling Jutland so much that he set out to create an entire miniature world. Experience all the world’s oceans in a single day – complete with lakes, continents, and coastlines. Here, you can travel from America to Australia in under ten minutes and gain a whole new perspective on how everything is connected.