Relaxing family holiday on the Odder Coast

In front of the entrance to the campsite stands a little girl wrapped in a towel. The sun is shining, and a smile lights up her face. As if travelling through time, the scene changes. The entrance is the same, the smile is the same, but the girl is older, and the one child in the picture has been replaced by her own two boys.

As a child, Maja Sülau spent her holidays at Saksild Strand Camping with her parents. Now she has brought her own children on a holiday to the Odder Coast, but the base remains the same: the campsite.

You visited Saksild Strand Camping yourself as a child. What was it like bringing your own children back?

It felt a little surreal, but also incredibly cosy, to stand in the same place as an adult and watch my own children running around on the same paths. So much looked different, yet the feeling was exactly the same. I love being able to give my children the same experiences that I enjoyed so much myself.

Your parents joined you on the trip. What was that like?

- It was really lovely. Three generations together in one place, where my parents could share their own memories while the children made new ones. Having more adults around always makes things feel more relaxed, and the children love spending time with their grandparents.

What is your favourite holiday memory from Saksild?

- The slow days when there was nowhere we needed to be and we could simply enjoy spending time together. And getting ice creams from the ice cream shop by the beach, which we ate as we walked along the water’s edge.

Odder – a town for young and old

Behind Odder Library, a stream flows lazily by. To cross the water without getting your feet wet, you have to walk across a small wooden bridge. Written in large block letters on the railing are the words: WHO IS THAT TRAMPING OVER MY BRIDGE? As far as we know, no one has yet spotted the big, nasty troll who threatens to eat the Three Billy Goats Gruff, but several people have heard him growling beneath the bridge. Maja Sülau and her family stopped by to investigate. Just to be on the safe side.

What surprised you about the town of Odder?

There were more lovely cafés, fun playgrounds and shops than I had expected. I was surprised by how lively the town was, which provided a nice little contrast to life at the beach and the campsite.

How would you describe the area to someone who has never been here before?

It is a lovely part of Denmark where the coast is always close by, the pace is slow and there is plenty of room to breathe. The surroundings are peaceful, but there is still plenty to do when you fancy a day at the beach, time in nature or a visit to a charming town nearby.

Why are Saksild and the Odder Coast a great place for a family holiday?

Because everything is small-scale, safe and easy to navigate. The sea is never far away, the beach is peaceful, and there is plenty of space for children to play. There is no need to make big plans – the natural surroundings and the area are perfect for a slower-paced holiday with plenty of quality time together.
 

Quality time, relaxation and mid-morning coffee

As soon as you step into the cabin, you are greeted by the scent of cardamom and freshly brewed coffee. On the dining table is a bread basket filled with fresh sourdough rolls from GROFT, the local sourdough bakery in Saksild. Raindrops trickle slowly down the window. The pace has slowed and the cosiness has been turned up – just as it should be when Maja is away with her family.

Do you have a special tradition or activity that is always part of your holidays?

- When we go on holiday with the children’s grandparents, we always have mid-morning coffee together, and the children and we make sure there is fresh bread to go with it. The children always look forward to it and love helping out, wherever we are.

What matters most to you when you are on holiday with your children?

- Quality time together. Being together without rushing around and without screens between us. There needs to be room to get a little bored, because that is often when we have the most fun and come up with the best ideas.

What is the best thing about holidaying in Denmark outside the summer holidays?

- The peace and quiet. There are fewer people, it is cheaper, and you often have the beach, attractions and nature almost to yourself. The weather is part of the experience, and a weekend of rain, hot chocolate and home baking can be every bit as cosy as a weekend of ice cream, dips in the sea and sunshine.

Just take your time

Armed with a white fruit-picking bucket each, Maja walks hand in hand with her two boys. They have a clear mission: to bring home some edible souvenirs from their weekend in Saksild. They wander between rows of fruit trees and berry bushes before stopping at a blue sign covered in arrows pointing in every direction. They head towards the plum trees. Luckily, they have plenty of time to pick as much fruit as their white buckets can hold. 

What would you recommend to others planning a holiday in the area?

- Take it easy and let the children set the pace. Pack for both beach weather and rainy days, so you are ready for either. Spend a day at Fru Møllers Mølleri, where you can get up close to the animals, enjoy something delicious to eat and soak up the peaceful surroundings. But also set aside a day for exploring the town, visiting the playground and the library. That way, you get a lovely mix of beach, nature and a little town life.

For the children: What was the most fun thing you did?

- Petting all the animals at Fru Møllers Mølleri, visiting the campsite shop with Grandma, making new friends at the playground and playing tag on the bouncy pillow. And also playing ‘Who is that tramping over my bridge?’ at the bridge behind Odder Library.

What was the best thing about your trip? 

- For me, it was realising how little you actually need to have a really good family holiday. At the same time, it was lovely to have everything we needed within easy reach, so we could take each day as it came and decide what we felt like doing depending on our mood – and the weather.