Why Denmark’s Beaches Are Europe’s Best-Kept Secret

Like the efterskole program itself, an interest in Scandinavian beach culture has massively surged in recent years; the smattering of gingerbread-trimmed cabins and chalets have soared in value, but a strict local law allows only Danish citizens to purchase them, curbing unchecked growth. Nevertheless, Mor and Vahine, who have been based in Cold Hawaii since 2009, have seen the number of visitors multiply summer after summer. “Because of global warming,” says Mor, “Europeans are going to start coming north for beach holidays instead of going to Spain, France, and Italy!”

Get here now before the Cold Hawaii moniker changes to something like the Danish Riviera. Your friends jockeying for an impossibly small spot of sand on Mallorca or along the Cote d’Azur will be envious too.

Getting There and Away 

The closest international airport to Cold Hawaii is in Aalborg (AAL), 90 minutes away by car. It hosts a slew of international arrivals including direct flights from New York City (EWR), London (STN), Amsterdam (AMS), and, of course, the short hop from capital city Copenhagen (CPH). 

Opt to spend a night in Aalborg on either side of your surfing foray to break up your travel and enjoy Denmark’s oft-overlooked fourth-largest city. Don’t miss the geodesic Utzon Center, honoring the memory of the famed Danish architect who created the Sydney Opera House, stroll the city’s beautifully redeveloped waterway, and spend the evening at the best boutique hotel in the region, Pier 5. 

Efterskole for Americans? 

Several efterskole programs are starting to open their curriculums up to international students and even offer English modules. Brian Nordstrøm, the headmaster of Thy Sportsefterskole, estimates that a full year’s tuition including room and board would be $20,000—significantly less than most private schools in the US. In addition to the atypical learning structure, attendees also take turns cleaning the dorms and preparing meals for their peers with a professional cook. “The Danish word for education is uddannelse,” explains Nordstrøm, “and you can clearly see how it relates to our word dannelse, which means to form and make whole.” That’s the true spirit of a Danish education.