Scan Magazine | Issue 52 | May 2013

MAY 2013 ISSUE 52 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

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Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents COVER FEATURE 8

8 24

Agnetha Fältskog This month sees the release of A, the first album of original material by Agnetha Fältskog since 1987's I Stand Alone. It is an album that many assumed the former ABBA singer would never release, or even get round to making. Her preference to stay completely out of the limelight and her refusal to do any promotion for her last record led many to believe that she was done with music.

SPECIAL THEMES 17

Stockholm Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and one of the most exciting. Stockholm is a welcoming and innovative trendsetter, and there is always something new to discover.

Whether it is within fashion, technology, music, design, film or food, Stockholm is a place where creativity grows and where dreams and new ideas are realized.

23

Summer Holidays in Finland Summer in Finland is a time spent outside the house enjoying the short but sweet season, and all worries are postponed until nights start getting dark again in the autumn.

29

Best Golf Courses in Scandinavia A guide to some of the best golf courses in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Our comprehensive list includes clubs and courses suitable for all skill levels and preferences.

50

Gourmet Experiences in Oslo & Bergen Scan Magazine’s compact guide to exceptional dining experiences in Oslo and Bergen.

56

Gourmet Experiences & Catering in Copenhagen Scan Magazine’s compact guide to exceptional dining experiences and catering options in Copenhagen.

DESIGN FEATURE 13

Makia Former pro snowboarders grow out of skate rags and create the trendiest clothing brand in Finland, Makia.

FEATURES 15

80

Dokkhuset Scene Dokkhuset Scene is a concert venue located in the city centre of Trondheim, which is Norway’s third largest city. The venue was opened in 2006 with a focus on chamber music and jazz. Producer Arild Schei explains that the venue’s main objective is to offer concerts of the highest quality – regardless of music genre.

Gammel Estrup When you enter through the gates of Gammel Estrup – the Manor Museum, you are met by an enchanting ambiance of history and culture. The special atmosphere is created not only by the manor’s beautiful old interiors and great parks but also its period-dressed employees, who, during the high season, guide, help and answer visitors’ questions.

REGULARS & COLUMNS 38

12

We Love This | 14 Fashion Diary | 59 Hotels of the Month | 64 Attractions of the Month

70

Restaurants of the Month | 73 Humour | 78 News | 81 Music & Culture | 82 Culture Calendar

70

Scan Business REGULARS & COLUMNS 74

Business Columns & News Key note, columns and news stories on Scandinavian businesses and business events.

78

Scandinavian Business Calendar Highlights of Scandinavian business events.

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, Summer is here! Or is this spring? I’m not quite sure, and it looks like it’s getting colder next week anyway. And by the time this issue is out – who knows what the weather will look like? I might sound a bit desperate, but I just really, really want this summer to be a good one – both in the UK and Scandinavia.

But enough about the weather; whether rain or shine, summer is indeed around the corner, and I assume most of our readers will have their beach holiday, city break or countryside tour already planned and booked. However, did you know that all of these options are also available in Scandinavia? We’ve got sandy beaches, culturally booming cities and plenty of activities on offer in the wilderness.

You could, for example, visit Stockholm – the perfect example of a bustling Scandinavian metropolis. It is such a beautiful place in the spring and summer – the whole city just comes to life once the sun is out. Of course, not all the attractions can be found outdoors; if the weather isn’t cooperating, there’s still plenty to see and do.

Check out our special theme on Stockholm to find out more.

better season to go golfing in Scandinavia than summer? Those long summer nights and the beautiful Scandinavian landscapes should create the perfect backdrop for a hole-in-one. In this issue, we introduce you to some of the best golf courses in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. And for the foodies, we’ve chosen some more gourmet experiences in Oslo, Bergen and Copenhagen for you to salivate over.

Gracing our cover this month is none other than ABBA songstress Agnetha Fältskog, who is releasing a brand new album this month. Scan Magazine’s music writer Karl Batterbee attended the pre-listening event for the album back in March and recounts all the anecdotes he heard about the making of the album and Agnetha’s return into the limelight.

Nia Kajastie Editor

We have also selected some exciting, as well as enlightening, summer holiday adventures and attractions in Finland. And what Scan Magazine

Contributors

Therese Wallin

Issue 52 | May 2013

Karl Batterbee

Hannah Gillow Kloster

Julie Guldbrandsen

Mette Lisby

Helena Whitmore

Maria Smedstad

Eduardo Alonso

Emelie Krugly Hill

Published by

Stian Sangvig

Christina Cadogan

Scan Magazine Limited

Linnéa Mitchell

Sara Schedin

Published 07.05.2013 ISSN 1757-9589

Design & Print Liquid Graphic Limited

Malin Wiander Elin Berta Linnea Dunne

Sales & Key Account Managers Emma Fabritius Nørregaard Mette Tonnessen

Executive Editor

Cecilia Varricchio

Thomas Winther

Julie Lindén

Creative Director

Anette Berve

Mads E. Petersen

Kjersti Westeng

Advertising

Magnus Nygren Syversen

marketing@scanmagazine.co.uk

Editor Nia Kajastie

Didrik Ottesen Signe Hansen

Graphic Designer

Thomas Bech Hansen

Svetlana Slizova

Margrete Dybbroe

Copy-editor Mark Rogers

Johan Enelycke Kirsi Isotalo

To receive our newsletter send an email to newsletter@scanmagazine.co.uk

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4 | Issue 52 | May 2013

SCAN M A G A Z I N E Scan Magazine Limited 4 Baden Place Crosby Row London SE1 1YW Phone +44 (0)870 933 0423 info@scanmagazine.co.uk www.scanmagazine.co.uk Next issue 5 June 2013 © All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of Scan Magazine Ltd. Scan Magazine® is a registered trademark of Scan Magazine Ltd. This magazine contains advertorials/promotional articles

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Scan Magazine | Contributors

Regular Contributors Nia Kajastie (Editor) was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland, and moved to London in 2005 to study writing.

With a BA in Journalism & Creative Writing, she now describes herself as a full-time writer and grammar stickler.

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”.

Julie Guldbrandsen is Scan Magazine’s fashion and design expert; she has worked in the fashion industry for more than 10 years. Besides, Julie has a BA in business and philosophy and has lived in Copenhagen, Singapore and Beijing before settling down in London.

Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. She writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Magnus Nygren Syversen is a Norwegian freelance journalist, who graduated from Middlesex University with a BA in Journalism & Communication in 2010. Having left London and relocated to the other side of the world, he is currently doing his MA at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.

Karl Batterbee is devoted to Scandinavian music and knows exactly what is coming up in the UK. Apart from writing a monthly music update for Scan Magazine Karl has also started the Scandipop Club Night and its corresponding website: www.scandipop.co.uk.

Emelie Krugly Hill has worked on a number of Swedish newspapers. After travelling extensively, she has been based in London since 2006. Her particular interests are news and current affairs within Sweden and the export of Scandinavian culture to the UK.

Having travelled much of the world, Signe Hansen, MA graduate in Journalism and previous editor at Scan

Elin Berta is a Swedish freelance journalist. After working as a news reporter for Swedish Radio, she decided

Magazine, is now back freelancing in London, where she writes on every-

to leave the motherland for a life in London in 2010. Now her focus is back

thing Scandinavian and her main passions: culture, travel and health.

on her first true love - writing - often combined with her love for music and writing reviews.

Swedish Sara Schedin is a freelance writer with a degree in journalism from City University London. She moved here in 2006 and is currently covering Scandinavian culture in the UK.

Linnéa Mitchell is a freelance journalist who came to London in 2003 as a TV

Rikke Oberlin Flarup is a Danish freelance writer and publisher with a pas-

announcer for Swedish TV3. She now contributes to English and Swedish

sion for thick novels and DIY zines. Still a newcomer to London, she spends

publications,

parallel

to

doing

voiceover jobs as well as blogging for

her free time exploring the city's hidden gems

a children’s/parents’ website.

Linnea Dunne has been writing professionally for over 10 years. Having started out on a local paper in Sweden, she is passionate about Scandinavian music and culture, and currently works in London as a full-time writer and translator.

Norwegian Didrik Ottesen is back living in London after a carefree time travelling around the world. He is currently doing his MA Journalism degree while also working as a freelance journalist and trying to play as much football as possible.

Julie Lindén is half Swedish and half Norwegian, and came to London two years ago to pursue a degree in journalism and creative writing at Kingston University. When she’s not busy studying, she is travelling the globe, learning new languages and planning novels to be written.

Margrete Dybbroe is Danish born and bred, but has a very soft spot for London. With an MA in English and music from the University of Aarhus, she has worked as a copywriter at an advertising agency for a great many years. Today, she is on her own, working as a freelance writer and translator.

Kjersti Westeng moved from Norway to London to study journalism. She now finds it impossible to leave, despite having finished university two years ago. From 9 to 5 she works in PR, but in the evenings she writes her blog and plans her next holiday.

Line Elise Svanevik moved from Norway in 2009 to study journalism in London, where she worked on several publications. She currently resides in Brighton and works as a multimedia reporter for business magazine the Meat Trades Journal, despite being a recovering vegetarian.

6 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Anette Berve is a Norwegian freelance journalist based in London. She has previously worked in Buenos Aires for a cultural newspaper and is currently finishing her degree in journalism and Spanish.

Hannah Gillow Kloster is a Norwegian freelance writer who came to London to study English literature on its home turf. With a BA from Royal Holloway under her belt, she is currently pursuing an MA in Digital Humanities in Chicago, combining her two favourite things: literature and the internet.

Thomas Bech Hansen has moved between England and Denmark, with London and now Copenhagen among the places called home. As well as covering everything Scandinavian from architecture to aquavit, he is mad about English music and football, works in PR and Communication.

Christina Cadogan is an Anglo-Swede based in London. A Cambridge art his-

Helena Whitmore moved to the UK from Sweden in 1989. She joined SEB Private Banking in the UK as a wealth structuring specialist in January 2013 and has extensive experience in crossborder tax planning having previously worked at a law firm.

tory graduate, she worked for several years in the auction business. She now works as an art consultant, runs cultural tours in Sweden and writes a blog on Nordic style and culture: www.exclusivelynordic.com.

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8 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Agnetha Fältskog

Back On Your Radio This month sees the release of A, the first album of original material by Agnetha Fältskog since 1987's I Stand Alone. It is an album that many assumed the former ABBA singer would never release, or even get round to making. Her preference to stay completely out of the limelight and her refusal to do any promotion for her last record, the covers album My Colouring Book released in 2004, led many, and Agnetha herself, to believe that she was done with music.

By Karl Batterbee | Photos: Andy Earl

The man who made her change her mind was Swedish songwriter and producer Jörgen Elofsson, who has previously been behind hits for the likes of Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson and Westlife. He contacted a friend of Agnetha's, saying that he had some songs for her. This friend, a fan of Elofsson, managed to convince the infamously reclusive Agnetha to invite Jörgen and his songwriting partner Peter Nordahl to her home to play her the songs. A lot happened in between, and now, 18 months later, we have the finished album just days away from being in stores.

Return to pop music Back in March, Universal Music invited a select group of media representatives to attend a pre-listening event for the album in London. Elofsson and Nordahl were present and on hand to introduce each of the ten songs. Equally interesting as the songs themselves were Elofsson and Nordahl's stories and anecdotes on the making of the album, including meeting Agnetha, playing her the songs, and writing and recording with her despite her own insecurities, and their own preconceptions of what she was like as a person. The listening session, which Scan Magazine attended, turned out to be a fascinating insight into one of the most famous yet

mysterious women in the world, and her return to pop music.

pen and you have to be alone and have things quiet around you for a while.”

“I withdrew for a little while”

Still, Elofsson recalls being a little bit nervous around her for the first few meetings, until they became more familiar with each other. In one of their earlier meetings, he remembers sitting in her kitchen with her, and the radio was on in the background. Suddenly an ABBA song came on.

“Peter and I didn't really know how to react or how she would react, and we looked at each other nervously.” But Agnetha herself broke the awkward silence by laughing upon realising that the song was playing, and reassuring them that “it happens sometimes”.

Elofsson and Nordahl drove to her secluded lakeside farmhouse on Ekerö, eight miles from Stockholm, one of thousands of islands that surrounds the Swedish capital. Despite getting lost, they arrived early. So early, Elofsson says, that they chose to drive around for a little bit longer until the agreed meeting time, rather than disturb the singer any earlier than arranged. Any fears they had of meeting Agnetha though, built up due to her reputation as a bit of a recluse, were quickly dispelled when she opened the door to greet Jörgen and Peter. They received the warmest of welcomes via her bright smile and open arms.

The aforementioned reputation as a recluse is one that Agnetha herself dislikes, as Elofsson quickly learned. Speaking last month, Agnetha revealed: “To say that I'm mysterious, that's all been created by the media. I get quite hurt by it actually. It's something that has sprung up along the way because of certain things. Maybe because I withdrew for a little while. But there are periods in your life when you have to take care of yourself. Things hap-

“It started sounding better and better” “We saw her open up, become much happier, with music again in her life,” says Elofsson of those first few meetings. They played Agnetha three songs at first, which ended up as the three opening tracks on the A album: The One Who Loves You Now, When You Really Loved Someone and Perfume In The Breeze. Thankfully, she loved them straight away, later revealing: “I never thought that I’d ever sing again. But hearing the first three songs, I just couldn’t say no.” And so the deal was done, and they set about to getting Ag-

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 9

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Agnetha Fältskog

lyric, ended up being one of Elofsson's favourite songs from the album.

She started dancing Another song of note is Dance Your Pain Away, the sole up-tempo track on an album of slow to mid-tempo music. It is a rip-roaring and camp disco-inspired number, quite reminiscent of her ABBA days. “I would almost have a heart attack every time I would present a new song to her,” jokes Elofsson. And he was particularly wary of what she might think of Dance Your Pain Away. But he need not have worried.

“When I first played her that song, she started dancing right behind where I was sitting. And I knew then that it felt right.”

One song that will be getting plenty of attention in the UK is I Should've Followed You Home, a duet with Take That member and X Factor judge Gary Barlow. Elofsson and Barlow wrote the song together last year, and Barlow recorded it in Elofsson's studio. However, Agnetha was not present while Barlow was recording his parts as she had already booked in a holiday abroad. The song is one of those that starts off slowly, before becoming more upbeat after the first chorus. “We didn't want to do a traditional ballad, but something a bit different,” says Elofsson. “I think it sounds like it could be a hit in England.” netha into the studio to record the songs.

That in itself turned out to be something of an obstacle though, due to her insecurities about her voice, having gone so long without singing. She revealed her concern to the pair that her singing voice might now “sound old”, even wondering if it “still worked”. She began taking singing lessons before hitting the recording studio, but after only two sessions felt confident enough again. “Once I learnt how to breathe properly again, I felt it would work. And then it started sounding better and better.”

“She wanted to make music again. We could feel that,” says Elofsson. “Basically, she’s a musician, a songwriter and singer who hadn’t done that for a while.” And so the next step for her to take was to see if she could find herself as a songwriter

10 | Issue 52 | May 2013

again. Speaking of her experience of sitting at the piano and crafting a song all by herself after so long, she says: “I felt that this was an album of Jörgen's songs, at least nine of them. But I thought it'd be fun to have one song on there, and so I started writing songs again.” Elofsson recalls that to persuade her to find herself as a songwriter, he suggested she write something about what she evidently loves dearest of all at this point in her life – her grandchildren. But in the end, she was able to come up with something a lot deeper. “I hadn’t written any music for a long, long time. But I sat at the piano and suddenly it was there,” Agnetha says. “I managed to squeeze one song out, and it will actually be the last song on the album. It's called I Keep Them On The Floor Beside My Bed.” The 70s-inspired ballad with a “why is love so hard to understand”

The finished album, A, will be released on May 13th, and Agnetha has already booked in some promotional appearances for it; something she did not do for her last album, My Colouring Book, in 2004. All this points towards a singer who at 62 years of age, and after almost 30 years of shunning the spotlight, appears to finally be ready to step back into life as a recording artist. And based on the quality of A, we are certainly ready to enjoy all of the new music that should hopefully follow a successful comeback for the one and only Agnetha.

As she herself trills on the 60s-flavoured Back On Your Radio from the new album: “Are you picking up my signals from the radio?” It is nice to be able to respond once again with a resounding “loud and clear”.

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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this...

We are inviting spring into our homes with this lovely selection of Scandinavian design gems. Pastel tones and gorgeous prints are among the favourite features when we look to make interior updates for May.

By Julie Guldbrandsen | Email: julie@scanmagazine.co.uk

The ‘Happy Days’ porcelain vases by Meyer Lavigne are ideal for injecting a cheerful

The Dynamo pendant by SuperLiving exudes

tone to your home’s décor.

sweet retro cool, not least because of the

Prices from app. £22.

mint-painted metal finish. £78.

meyerlavigne.bigcartel.com

www.northlighthomestore.com

An elegant cotton throw with white and grey Bird poster by Jenny von Döbeln.

stripes by Linum – lovely for the terrace on

We love the gorgeous print of these hand-

We simply adore this cute and quirky

summer evenings.

printed tea towels by Bungalow. Various

illustration. Measures 50 x 70. £35.

Other colours available. £75.

prints and colours available. £6.00.

www.husandhem.co.uk

www.scandiliving.com

rootsliving.co.uk

12 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Scan Magazine | Design | Makia

sailor apparel and car racing, Makia’s clothes and accessories are colourful and original, but stylish enough to wear for any occasion. “We’ve been doing our own thing, not running after the latest trends,” explains Joni Malmi. “The mentality of honesty and our persistence would be some of our biggest original Finnish assets.”

Streetwear from the wilderness Former pro snowboarders grow out of skate rags and create the trendiest clothing brand in Finland.

By Eduardo Alonso | Photos: Makia

The snow-covered streets of Helsinki sparkled last winter with people in colourful three-button jackets. They wore vivid red, bright yellow and electric blue parkas, clearly standing out from the crowd. A tag on the left arm showed a logo of strong black lines, almost like Cyrillic script. That is the logo of Makia, the trendiest streetwear clothing brand to come out of Finland, currently shipping to more than 30 countries.

Makia is the brainchild of former professional snowboarder Joni Malmi and

snowboarder-turned-fashion-designer Jesse Hyväri, who ten years ago set out to create a subtle and timeless clothing brand. The charismatic parkas are the brand’s flagship product, but each collection includes anything from shirts, cardigans and hoodies to belts and shoes, targeting men who want to dress casual yet fashionable. Recent collections also include items for women and kids.

Influenced by the Nordic tradition of straightforward design and drawing inspiration from different worlds such as

That honesty and persistence make Makia a clothing label with a strong identity.

Each Makia product is easily recognizable, and their marketing campaigns and catalogues also tell a lot about the brand and the creative process behind it. Instead of hiring models and booking studio time, Makia’s photographers have travelled to Alaska and the Joshua Tree desert in California, seeking for locals willing to pose with a new collection of jackets, shirts and scarves. “With luck, we’ll bump into likeminded individuals who treat their interests with equal passion,” says Malmi.

At other times, Makia calls local heroes like Formula 1 driver Kimi Räikkönen and singer and actor Vesa-Matti Loiri. “We try to find a mutual path with the people we work with so that we don’t just glue our logo out there,” explains Malmi about working with celebrities. “It has to start from an equal will to work together, no matter the scale of public figure we are working with. This approach creates a friendly relationship that goes hand in hand with the down-to-earth philosophy of our brand.”

Travelling brand “We’ve known since day one that we needed to be a global brand to succeed.

The market isn’t big enough in Finland,” explains Malmi. Salesmen and designers have travelled hundreds of days a year to trade shows hoping to close deals, even if that meant driving all the way to Germany in a van full of clothes. “It has been a challenge since we are paving the way; there are very few examples of Finnish casual clothing companies,” admits Malmi.

For more information, please visit: www.makiaclothing.com

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 13

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary...

Some keywords for the new season are innate ease, radiance and chic feminine versatility. We have picked out a few of our favourite pieces from some of the loveliest Scandinavian designers. They all share a laid-back luxe tone, which we highly covet for spring.

By Julie Guldbrandsen | Email: julie@scanmagazine.co.uk

The cross-body bag is an indispensable accessory, especially for the spring season. This delicate bag by Whyred is a feminine and chic addition to a goanywhere style. App. £239.

Radiate new-season chic in this luxe

www.whyred.com

jacket by Designers Remix. App. £267. www.designersremix.com

Invest in good-quality, loose bohemian Impact dressing is

jersey styles and create a stylishly

made easy with this

versatile wardrobe foundation for

Inject a dose of high-fashion colour into

gorgeous jumpsuit

spring. We love this edgy dress by

your wardrobe with this neon yellow top

by Rützou. £329.

Designers Remix. App. £120.

by Vila. A fresh take on the classic

www.rutzou.com

www.designersremix.com

sleeveless shirt. £35. Vila

14 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Scan Magazine | Feature | Dokkhuset Scene

and international artists within the world/folk genre. The festival programme for 2013 will soon be announced.

Today, Trondheim is reachable by air directly from several European cities.

Below: Engegårdkvartetten with Susanne Lundeng (top). John Scofield (middle). Truls Mørk and Christian Ihle Hadland (bottom).

Dokkhuset Scene – quality regardless of music genre Dokkhuset Scene is a concert venue located in the city centre of Trondheim, which is Norway’s third largest city. The venue was opened in 2006 with a focus on chamber music and jazz. Producer Arild Schei explains that the venue’s main objective is to offer concerts of the highest quality – regardless of music genre.

By Stian Sanqvig | Photos: Arild Schei

The venue contains 220 seats. It can also be opened towards a restaurant/bar, which would allow for a total of 420 spectators. Dokkhuset Scene produces about 200 concerts every year, and the venue is renowned for its excellent sound and facilities. Dokkhuset Scene's programme contains a mix of local, national and international artists. World-famous cellist Truls Mørk and The Trondheim Soloists – jazz stars John Scofield and Chick Corea – as well as singer/songwriters Richard Thompson and Angélique Kidjo, have all performed at Dokkhuset recently.

Major festivals at Dokkhuset in 2013 include:

Trondheim Jazzfestival (07.05-12.05): The festival is built around the exciting jazz scene in Trondheim and the worldrenowned jazz course at NTNU Department of Music. It presents a mix of young talent and established artists. At this

year’s festival, international stars like Kurt Elling and Maceo Parker will be presented alongside a strong line-up of young Norwegian improvisers. For information visit: jazzfest.no/information-in-english

Trondheim Chamber Music Festival (23.09-29.09) has since its inception in 1996 specialized in presenting chamber music in all genres. The festival is attracting attention from all over the world and has burst onto Norway’s cultural scene with a fresh approach. It expresses youthfulness and vitality with focus on young ensembles at a high artistic level.

The festival has gained a great international reputation for presenting a living Festival Composer each year, and in 2013, this will be the Russian-American composer, pianist and poet Lera Auerbach.

Trondheim World Music Festival (31.1003.11): This festival will focus on national

For more information, please visit: www.dokkhuset.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 15

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Visit us at www.nordeaprivatebanking.com, or call +352 43 88 77 77 for more information.

Making it possible Nordea Bank S.A is a part of the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services mentioned may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries. The attention of the investor is drawn to the fact that there can be no guarantee on the profitability of any investment in financial instruments and that such investment may entail losses, and this irrespective of the quality of the fund managers selected by the Bank. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Nordea Bank is subject to the supervision of the CSSF (www.cssf.lu). Approved by Nordea Bank Finland Plc., London Branch regulated by the FSA in the UK. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., (R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14157) 562, rue de Neudorf, L-2220 Luxembourg, Tel +352 43 88 77 77.

SP EC ST IAL OC TH KH EM OL E: M

Stockholm: the green and blue city Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and one of the most exciting. Stockholm is a welcoming and innovative trendsetter, and there is always something new to discover. Whether it is within fashion, technology, music, design, film or food, Stockholm is a place where creativity grows and where dreams and new ideas are realized. The city’s beautiful buildings, fresh air, green spaces and proximity to the water are the icing on the cake.

By Visit Stockholm | Photo: Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se

Stockholm is home to the world’s first National City Park, a green lung in the pumping heart of the city. With its 750year history and rich cultural life, the city offers more than 80 museums and attractions and three UNESCO World Heritage sites. An absolute must for visitors is to explore the archipelago and experience Stockholm from the water.

Eat and drink In recent years, Stockholm has been featured and praised as one of the most exciting food capitals of the world. Whether you want to experience classic Swedish cuisine in the form of a smörgåsbord or contemporary gastronomy focusing on slow food and featuring local ingredients, Stockholm offers an impressive selection.

Do as the Swedes do: eat lunch. “Dagens lunch”, today’s lunch, is an affordable option served at midday. Every neighbourhood has excellent restaurant options, but the most concentrated restaurant areas are in Gamla Stan and SoFo on Södermalm.

Stockholmers love their coffee and happily spend a few hours a week at one of the city’s many cafés. Every neighbourhood has typical Swedish cafés. Classic cafés are mainly found on Norrmalm and Östermalm, while Gamla Stan and Södermalm have many small, charming and charac-

Stockholm has five districts, each with its own character. Here are some of the reasons to visit each district: GAMLA STAN (OLD TOWN) Stockholm’s oldest attraction is much more than the ultra-touristy street of Västerlånggatan. Here you will find some of the city’s best restaurants and several bars with live music. Gamla Stan also has small curiosity, antique and handicraft shops, a multitude of cafés and small hotels, as well as several gay bars and cafés.

DJURGÅRDEN Many of the most popular museums and attractions are situated on the green island of Djurgården, which is also part of the Royal National City Park. Djurgården is also a popular recreation area. The island offers excellent walks, jogging, cycling and paddling, and is a lovely place to enjoy a picnic. In addition, Djurgården has loads of restaurants and sightseeing options. If you are travelling with children, then Djurgården is a must: here you will find the city’s best attractions for children, all within walking distance of one another. ÖSTERMALM The city’s exclusive neighbourhood is the place to be for fashion and design lovers.

ter-filled coffee shops. The Swedish word for a coffee break is “fika”.

Stureplan, one of Stockholm’s entertainment hubs, is also found here. Find Swedish fashion brands in Bibliotekstan and international brands along Birger Jarlsgatan.

Some of the best design shops and big auction houses are also in the Östermalm and Norrmalmstorg areas, as well as in Stureplan.

SÖDERMALM Stockholm’s bohemian neighbourhood is like a city within a city. The neighbourhood also has numerous parks and fantastic panoramic views of the city. The streets around Skånegatan form the SoFo neighbourhood, where visitors will find a string of small shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. Götgatan, Mariatorget and Medborgarplatsen are also popular areas.

Södermalm has many of the city’s best bars and nightclubs, plus popular gay and lesbian clubs.

NORRMALM/CITY City is Stockholm’s land and water public transportation hub. Major malls and department stores are located here, and City is also densely packed with hotels and meeting venues.

For more information, please visit: www.visitstockholm.com/en

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 17

Young people visit Fryshuset every day to be part of a social project, to go to school or just to partake in something they are passionate about, from skateboarding and basketball to music and dance.

Fryshuset:

Your passion can change the world Embrace your passion and you can change the world. This is the mantra of Fryshuset, a Stockholm-based youth organisation and activity building that has inspired thousands of youngsters to change their lives since its establishment in 1984. The eight-floor building at the southern end of the capital is a place where young people’s voices count; it is a place to be heard, to listen and to apply a belief that anyone can make a difference, regardless of background. Now they are stretching beyond the Swedish borders.

By Linnéa Mitchell | Photos: Martin von Krogh

Fryshuset means cold store in Swedish (it comes from the original meat-storing premises), but there is nothing cold about this place where I meet the man responsible for External Relations, Martin Dworén, and Raisa Lång Velazco, who works with Youth Perspective and Internationalisation. Every day youths from all over come here for a course, to be part of a social project, go to school or just for

18 | Issue 52 | May 2013

ball games, skateboarding or to make music. “Our vision is to help young people change the world through their passions,” says Dworén. “The thing is that inside every person there is a passion, vision, capacity or whatever you want to call it.

Sometimes you have to dig quite deep to find it, but when you do, whether it’s cycling, skateboarding, hip hop or chess, you build something on it. We don’t lead

them to the goal; we simply show them the path.”

Enthusiastic roots Behind the concept are a lot of enthusiasts, but one man in particular stood out during the foundation of Fryshuset back in 1984, the late social worker, politician and author Anders Carlberg. He was asked to find premises for all the youth activities

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Stockholm

within KFUM (YMCA) and came across the worn-down meat storage freezer that he transformed into a basketball court and rehearsal studios for bands. Fryshuset has since moved and grown in square metres, content and supply, and is now, almost thirty years later, called the world’s biggest youth activity centre.

Fryshuset is split into four main sections: Passionate Hobbies, Social Perspective, Schools and Education & Job Market.

There is probably every hobby you can think of, from basketball, including the base for elite club 08 Sthlm Human Rights, to skateboarding, music, theatre, chess, sailing and gym. Under the school umbrella are two schools with 1,300 students in total, as well as job coaching facilities.

Widening their horizons

Some highlighted projects are Elektra, Sharaf’s Heroes and Heroines, which work with communities to prevent honour-related violence and crime. “Many people call this a ‘culture clash’, but it is simply a human rights issue,” says Dworén. Exit, the support group for people leaving Nazi, racist or other extreme movements consists of ex-members who know what it entails to try to withdraw from such organisations. Lugna Gatan (Calm Street) prevents street violence and vandalism by recruiting “hosts” to just “hang out” in the streets, something that has an extremely good track record and has been used by the police and other institutions for many years. “Something we would love to try in London’s suburbs,” Dworén adds. To mention one of the remaining 40 projects, the project Frysbox is one that stands out. It has received plenty of attention internationally during World Championships for its combination of Thai boxing and discussions about self-esteem and respect, led by ex-world champion in Thai boxing, Pernilla Johansson.

Last year, Prince Charles and Camilla came for a visit on their own initiative, which raised suggestions of a potential

co-operation with the Prince’s Trust. Another international priority is the USA, as the Robert F Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights and their project Speak Truth to Power has placed their Swedish base at Fryshuset. It is a co-operation supported by the Postkodlotteriet (Post Code Lottery), and together they reach out nationally to encourage youngsters to engage in human rights issues.

There are also ongoing projects in South Africa, Italy, Norway, Finland and France, to name a few. “The ambition is to reach out to the world and spread the word. We are confident enough now,” says Dworén.

FACTS Annual turnover: 220 million SEK (c.22M GBP).

Two free-schools, upper elementary and comprehensive school, a total of 1,300 students.

Financed evenly between School Grant, sales of “hosts”, lecturers etc., and voluntary contributions by funds, charities, private persons, businesses and Stockholm City.

Located in Stockholm (its base), Gothenburg and Malmö.

For more information, please visit: www.fryshuset.se

Photo: Moa Stridde

Dworén and Velazco were last year asked to put together a list of Fryshuset’s international contacts, which resulted in an 11-page long list with over 100 contacts in 35 countries. They are now the spiders in the web amongst hundreds of organisations that have relevance abroad. And this is where the Social Perspective section comes in. “After doing this for 30 years, we have learnt what works with young people, and more importantly that this is just basic human rights we are talking about: to be seen, to be heard, feel included and to

be loved,” says Dworén. “Nor is this tied to Stockholm and Sweden. There is no difference between Stockholm, Kampala or London.”

Left: Prince Charles and Camilla visited Fryshuset last year on their own initiative. Top right: Ex-world champion in Thai boxing, Pernilla Johansson, leads the project Frysbox.

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 19

flement? Micke Bayart, author of ABBA by Micke, who is based in Stockholm, has his own opinion on that. ”I think most of us appreciate the fact that Sweden’s largest music export is finally being honoured with a museum. It follows the tradition of Swedish history, in a way – we have the Nobel Museum, the Vasa Museum, and Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, the ‘mother’ of Pippi Longstocking, is immortalized with Junibacken – and now it is time for ABBA. We will most likely enjoy revisiting our youth and the 70s, while at the same time showing a new generation what ABBA was all about.”

”Looking out for a place to go” On 7 May, we witnessed the arrival of Sweden's newest tourist attraction, and the world's latest and greatest shrine to pop music – ABBA The Museum, in Stockholm's Djurgården. Ahead of the opening, Scan Magazine sought out a preview of what to expect via the museum's curator.

By Karl Batterbee | Photo: Bengt H Malmqvist©Premium Rockshot

The interactive exhibition dedicated to the legendary Swedish pop group has now opened, and hoards of visitors are expected to contribute towards making it one of Scandinavia's top attractions. But with so much already known about ABBA, from their heyday in the 70s and 80s, to two global revivals that took place in the 90s and 00s thanks to the release of the Abba Gold compilation and the Mamma Mia musical respectively, I do wonder what is left to learn about the band. The museum's curator Ingmarie Halling soon puts me right. ”If you are a hardcore fan, you will love being able to walk in ABBA's footsteps through the exhibition, including the Polar office, the dressing rooms, the tailor's stu-

dio, and the Polar studio,” she tells me. ”These are places and items that no fan has ever seen because they have been on the other side of the door or stage. You can also see the costumes, dance in the videos, sing in the studios, and even try on the ABBA costumes virtually.” It is an exhibition that will also appeal to those who perhaps do not know so much about ABBA and want to discover more. ”Through the settings and the audio guide the story is told by ABBA themselves.”

The museum will thus undoubtedly be well received by fans of the band, who will find plenty of reasons to flock to the attraction. But how are the regular Swedes looking upon the museum's existence?

With a sense of pride, amusement or baf-

How must it feel to have a museum opened up in your honour while you are still alive and able to see it for yourself? In the case of ABBA, I would expect them to agree that it's been a long time coming.

Micke knows the band themselves better than most, so I asked him for an insight on how they are feeling about it. ”I think they have a very Swedish, modest view on it.

Flattered of course, and yet at the same time having a down-to-earth attitude towards it. Björn is the most active former member working with the museum project, supported by the other three. Therefore, we can expect something very special as they always want to give the very best once they become involved in something, just like when they were recording their songs. And from a practical point of view, it is a good way of cleaning out their wardrobes.”

Their wardrobes’ loss is our gain. Anyone else want to virtually try on a royal blue satin jumpsuit?

Illustration of the museum: Johan Celsing

For more information, please visit: www.abbathemuseum.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Stockholm

Enter a fantastical world of art, cartoons and toys The Åberg Museum is a fun and inspiring art destination for both grownups and children.

Situated only 40 minutes outside Stockholm in a redeveloped barn, there is no excuse not to include a trip into the world of the most popular cartoon artists during your next trip to the capital.

Lasse Åberg, the founder of the museum, is one of Sweden’s most popular actors, film directors, musicians and artists. Having become famous for his kid’s character Trazan in Trazan & Banarne, he is perhaps most well known for his comedy Sällskapsresan and sequels, mir-

roring typical Swedish life, always playing the iconic character Stig-Helmer Olsson: a quiet, tall spinster with a big heart. He is also an artist with a love for Disney, especially Mickey Mouse, featured in his many lithographs.

Impressive cartoon collection The Åberg Museum has an impressive collection of cartoon-inspired art by Warhol, Lichtenstein and Picasso, to name a few. It also hosts cartoon originals such as works by Carl Barks (the Disney illustrator) and Burne Hogarth, who is the most famous Tarzan comic artist.

The world’s best Disney Collection What is unique about the museum is its permanent exhibition “Yellow Kid”, considered the world’s first cartoon. And make sure you do not miss one of the world’s best Disney Collections with items mainly from the 1930s.

Jungle adventure playground For the kids, the top favourite tends to be the three-storey jungle-like adventure, the Trazan hut, and outside, there are very nice surroundings with a big playground. For children of all ages, there is the shop, of course, and the restaurant with homemade food and cakes.

Guided tours Guided tours are available in English if you book in advance, and you can have your business conference or company event with a StigHelmer theme, a group dinner or host a kids’ party. The museum provides everything; all parents have to do is keep their eyes on the children. Welcome!

Lasse Åberg

By Linnéa Mitchell Photos: The Åberg Museum

For more information, please visit: www.abergsmuseum.se

The citadel in the heart of the archipelago

By Malin Wiander Photos: A. Andersson

In the heart of the Stockholm archipelago lies the idyllic town of Vaxholm. Situated about an hour from the Swedish capital, the town is a perfect place to visit on a summer day. There is, however, more to the town than beautiful surroundings and cosy cafés. A short boat ride away is the Vaxholm Citadel, where soldiers have defended the Stockholm archipelago for hundreds of years.

“The citadel is a fantastic building with outer walls made of 30,000 granite blocks,” explains Erik Himmelstrand, director of Vaxholm Fortress Museum. “The history of the fortress began five centuries ago, but today’s citadel was built over 30 years in the middle of the 19th century.”

At Vaxholm Fortress Museum, inside the sturdy walls of the citadel, visitors can learn about the history of the defence of the Swedish archipelago over 500 years and get an idea of the daily life of both soldiers and civilians living in the shadow of the fortress.

In addition to the museum, Vaxholm Citadel

has facilities for conferences for up to 180 people. There is a B&B for those who wish to continue exploring the next day, and the youngest in the family are entertained with “monster hunts” around the citadel.

The beautiful surroundings of the archipelago and the possibility to explore a bit of history attract plenty of visitors from the capital, but also more and more foreign tourists.

“A perfect day out for a visitor would be to take a steamboat from Stockholm, explore the citadel and the museum, and then have a re-

Vaxholm Citadel seen from the north

Erik Himmelstrand, director of the Vaxholm Fortress Museum

For more information, please visit: www.vaxholmsfastning.se www.stromma.se/kastellet laxed afternoon in Vaxholm,” says Himmelstrand.

The best way to travel from Stockholm to Vaxholm is by steamboat

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 21

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Stockholm

Keeping a cultural treasure alive

By Elin Berta

“The museum is a meeting point for cultural heritage mixed with creations of today. We want our visitors to leave with the joyful feeling of having experienced something exciting and new,” says marketing and communications manager Malin Karlsson.

The museum consists of three floors filled with educational workshops and interactive exhibitions. Here, visitors can explore their own creative side and musical qualities by trying several different instruments. During July and August, visitors will be given the opportunity to play the keyed fiddle four times every week.

For those who are more interested in theatre, theatre puppets from all over the world are on display.

As part of the active work within bringing the cultural heritage alive, the museum continuously puts on shows and concerts con-

nected to the exhibitions.

In mid-April, the exhibition Photo: Beata Bergström opened, where photographs from theatre and dance performances taken by one of Sweden’s leading theatre photographers are displayed. Bergström was the first to capture images of actors during rehearsals and performances instead of arranging their poses, and her work is considered groundbreaking.

“When you see Bergström's photographs, you get to experience movement, life and the creative moment in performing arts,” Karlsson adds.

Stockholm Music and Theatre Museum is located next to the Royal Dramatic Theatre.

Above: A young visitor trying out his musical knowledge at the museum. Photo: Olav Nyhus Left: Some of the theatre puppets on display at the museum.

Photo: Jonas André

For more information, please visit: www.musikochteatermuseet.se

Be inspired by greatness

By Elin Berta | Photos: Helena Karlsson

In the heart of the Old Town in Stockholm, you will find the Nobel Museum. By presenting selected individuals from the 100-year history of the Nobel Prize, the museum aims to inspire their visitors.

“We want to be more than just a source of knowledge,” press officer Helena Wallemo says.

“In the Centennial Exhibition, the life story of the Nobel Laureates is told, and the focus is on their creativity – and where that creativity is born. By presenting a wide selection of individuals, such as Peace Prize Laureate Martin

Luther King and the Literature Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf, and how their different environments affected them, our hope is that visitors will leave inspired to contemplate their own creativity,” Wallemo continues. “But the exhibition also explains the process of how a laureate is chosen and gives a proper introduction of Alfred Nobel.”

Nobel Square

summer, every day from 10am to 8pm, from 3 June until 31 August.

For more information, please visit: www.nobelmuseum.se

During May, visitors can learn more about the Literature Prize Laureate of 2011, in the exhibition “To Go Into Reality Itself”. Here the collected works of the Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer are presented through objects, texts and images.

From mid-June, the photo exhibition Making Peace, produced by the International Peace Bureau, will open. Around 100 large photos will be displayed both inside and outdoors, putting both the hope in fighting for peace and the devastation and horror of war in focus.

The Nobel Museum is open to visitors all year round, with expanded opening hours in the

22 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Kids playing in the museum’s music room for children, Klåjnk. Photo: Malin Karlsson

Nobel Prize timeline

Go on a journey through time and culture, right in the central parts of the capital of Sweden. At Stockholm Music and Theatre Museum visitors are given the opportunity to experience something extraordinary.

SU MM SP ER ECI HO AL LID TH AY EM SI E NF : IN LA ND

Land of the Midnight Sun Summer in Finland is a time spent outside the house enjoying the short but sweet season, and all worries are postponed until nights start getting dark again in the autumn.

- Stay at a summer cottage. A nocturnal swim and sauna is a definite must under the midnight sun.

Text & photo by Visit Finland

Finnish cities truly come to life in the summer. After months of hurrying indoors away from the cold, suddenly carefree people crowd the market places, parks, streets and beer gardens with their cheerful babble.

A plethora of outdoor events are organized all over Finland in the summer, both in cities and smaller villages. From largescale rock festivals to tribal culture happenings, the whole country celebrates throughout the light-filled summer. Prepare for not sleeping much!

Catch the Midnight Sun At the Arctic Circle, where Lapland’s capital Rovaniemi lies, the midnight sun

Tips on how to make the most of endless daylight:

graces the horizon from early June until early July. In Nuorgam, Finland’s northernmost tip, the sun stays up for more than 70 days, in other words all summer.

Nights are white in the south, too. Stepping out of a nightclub in the capital city Helsinki is something out of a partygoer’s dream – the sun only dips beneath the horizon before getting up again, blurring the boundaries between night and morning, making a perfect setting for an afterparty on the beach.

For more information, please visit: www.visitfinland.com

- Go boating. Whether in a sailboat or a canoe, gliding on still night-time waters is simply incredible.

- Go golfing. No worries about crowded courses at 4am!

- Go fishing. They’re at their hungriest at night.

- Go open-air dancing. A decades-old tradition, today revived by urban youth.

Classic Finnish tango and other retro music are at the centre of these shindigs.

- Go hiking and camping. Keep going as long as your legs can take it. Make sure you set the tent away from direct morning sunlight or you’ll roast.

- Go wildlife watching. This is where the white night comes especially handy: nocturnal animals, such as owls, wake up to prey but do not have their usual shelter of darkness.

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 23

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Summer Holidays in Finland

Close encounters of the wild kind Close to the Russian border, in the Kuhmo region of Finland, wildlife enthusiasts and nature photographers are in for a real treat. In the midst of the taiga forest, photographers of all ages and skill levels can get close to a bear feeding site, which is also frequented by the elusive wolverine, and snap some priceless shots of these beautiful wild beasts, from the safety of Wild Brown Bear’s observation and photography hides. With the 2013 bear season already underway, make sure you book your photography safari soon.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Wild Brown Bear

Wild Brown Bear is a company that specialises in bear and wolverine photography safaris. With different types of hides suitable for photography available in varied terrain, the site offers photographers excellent opportunities to take pictures of the animals from a short distance and various directions. Meals and lodging are offered in a refurbished former border patrol station around 700 metres from the actual bear feeding site. As the photogra-

24 | Issue 52 | May 2013

phy is done in the evenings and at night, the hides also include beds, comfortable seating and other essential amenities.

The wolverine photography season at Wild Brown Bear begins in March while the bear season starts in April, when the bears wake up from hibernation, both continuing until September. Depending on the actual month, the probability of witnessing bears ranges between 80-98%

and the probability of seeing wolverines is between 60-90%.

Bears and wolverines are not the only animals you might encounter either as the hide area is on occasion visited by several other mammals and different bird species, from the red fox to the great grey owl. Last year was an exceptionally good year for the photographing and observation of bears, wolves, wolverines and white-tailed eagles, as all of these visited the area regularly. The probability of seeing bears went up to 90-100% and for wolverines it was between 80-95%, depending on the month. “We would recommend visiting the hides on at least two nights to get the best result, but most people stay with us for around seven to eight days. This gives them the

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Summer Holidays in Finland

opportunity to change hides on different nights and thus get varying backgrounds for their photographs. The chance of seeing the animals then also increases,” says Ari Sääski, owner of Wild Brown Bear.

Snow, sun or autumn colours As the figures confirm, photographers should have no problem getting the perfect pictures of these wild beasts roaming the Finnish forests; the only thing left is to choose the background for the photographs – snow, sun or autumn colours.

From early April, when the male bears are starting to wake up from hibernation and the wolverine is spotted regularly as well, the contrast between the animals’ brown fur and the white snow will make for some exceptional snaps.

Later in spring, the female bears and younger animals will also find their way to the feeding site; however, from mid-May until early June, during the mating season, the male bears might not been seen as regularly. In the summer, Finland’s long white nights offer plenty of light, and the bears will start arriving at the site from the early evening, and you might even get a glimpse of a wolverine.

Moving into autumn, the surrounding swampland and deciduous trees will turn shades of rich reddish-brown, creating beautiful backdrops for pictures. At this time of the year, the bears will be in excellent shape as their coat has changed since summer and they are getting ready for hibernation once again. In addition to male bears and younger specimens, a mother bear and her cubs might also appear on the site, especially in the autumn season. Unlike the bears, wolverines live in the area all year round, but due to their small size and irregular movements, photographing them is slightly more challenging.

The wolverine photography season begins in March.

people know how to use digital cameras and computers from a very young age.

The line between amateurs and professionals is also getting blurry as many people have their own photography blogs and so forth.”

According to Sääski, Finland is often the natural next step for many a photographer from abroad who has already travelled the world, from Africa to India, and photographed all the great beasts, from the tiger to the polar bear. “Finland is their next exotic destination,” he says.

For more information, please visit: www.wbb.fi

Packages at Wild Brown Bear include transfer to and from Kajaani Airport, accommodation, dinner and breakfast, as well as snacks for the nights spent in the hides. You will also be accompanied to the bear watching sites by local guides, who will teach visitors about the use of the bear hides and go through safety measures.

The brown bear season starts in April when the bears wake up from hibernation.

Everyone can be a photographer “Photography is the main reason people visit us, and the digital age has really revolutionised the concept of photography, so we don’t only get professional photographers,” explains Sääski. “Nowadays everyone can be a photographer as most

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 25

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Summer Holidays in Finland

Photo: Larissa Mäenpää

Photo: Suomen Ilmakuva Oy

A unique piece of Finnish industrial history and world heritage Take a journey back in time and relive the early days of Finnish forest industry at the Verla Groundwood and Board Mill. Functioning as a museum since 1972, Verla is set in an idyllic village milieu in Northern Kymenlaakso, in southeast Finland, and forms a unique attraction and window onto the past. Known as an authentic and extremely well-preserved example of a rural small-scale factory and settlement, the Verla Groundwood and Board Mill and its associated residential area were included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

By Nia Kajastie

The small Verla mill community dates back to the 1870s, to a time when Kymenlaakso began developing into one of the most significant centres within the Finnish forest industry. While Verla was one of the smallest mills of its kind throughout its years of operation, it also had a reputation for creating board of the highest quality – a product to be truly

26 | Issue 52 | May 2013

proud of. When production was discontinued and the factory closed in 1964, Verla did not fade into obscurity but was instead turned into a lasting monument to the Finnish forest industry and a living part of world heritage.

“Verla was chosen by the committee to be a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List

as it was seen as an authentic and intact example of a site that is an embodiment of a historically important period within the forest industry. While similar factories have existed throughout the years, the old buildings have often ended up being demolished. As a fairly remote mill, Verla managed to escape the same fate,” explains head of museum services Heli Piepponen.

The Verla site comprises around 50 buildings on an area of 23 hectares; the production and living areas are divided by the Verlankoski Rapids. Hydroelectric power plants are set along the rapids, and the site also consists of the factory owner’s house and a park dating back to the late 19th century. Today, the factory functions

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Summer Holidays in Finland

as the Verla Mill Museum, where all machinery, work tools and additional items have been well preserved. Everything has been kept as it was when the mill closed down; only the actual workers are missing, but their stories have not been forgotten either.

The story of Verla The Verla Mill Museum is open from early May until late September and is only accessible on guided tours, which are available in several languages on request. On the tour, the guide tells visitors the story of the mill and its workers, creating a vivid picture of life at the mill when it was still operational. One remarkable story is that of Maria Mattsson, who worked at the mill from 1884 to 1936 as a board grader; for over half a century she took the same steps and stood in the same place as she sorted the finished boards, and her footprints can still be seen worn into the wooden flooring.

Visitors will also be treated to a short documentary film at the beginning of the tour.

It shows the mill hard at work and depicts

Photo: Toni Moisio

Photo: Toni Moisio

historic rock paintings that can be seen on the sheer rock face above the rapids.

how the spruce logs were converted into the pure natural-white Verla board, which was in great demand for products such as book covers, cardboard boxes, biscuit and macaroni cartons, shoe boxes and so forth.

Visiting address: Verla Mill Museum Verlantie 295 47850 Verla

“People come here for different reasons, but they all want to experience a certain kind of journey back in time and a break from the daily grind, whether they are here to see the architecture and the late19th-century factory building, experience a world heritage site, or due to a general interest in history,” says Piepponen. “And while the museum lies at the centre of our operation, there are several little boutiques in the actual village, as well as a lunch café. There are also several events taking place throughout the summer.”

Verla Mill Museum is located in Northern Kymenlaakso, 30 km from Kouvola and 160 km from Helsinki. The museum is owned and maintained by the UPM-Kymmene Corporation.

Opening hours 2013: 2.5.-13.5. and 2.9.-29.9., Mon-Fri, 10 am-4 pm (Sat & Sun closed) 14.5.-1.9, Tue-Sun, 9.30am-5pm (Mon closed) Access to the museum is through guided tours only. The tours in Finnish begin each hour on the hour; tours in other languages, including English, German, Swedish, Russian and French, can be arranged on request.

The site also includes rental cottages, which are a great way to make the most out of your visit to the village, as it does not only include the museum with its guided tour. Among other things, visitors can also discover the Verla forest trail, created by UPM Forest, and the rare pre-

For more information, please visit: www.verla.fi

Photos: Jaana Rannanpää

Photo: Heli Piepponen

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 27

Martinselkonen Wilds Centre

A bear night to remember In the vast Finnish wilderness, close to the country’s eastern border, the brown bear roams the boreal forests. They wake up from hibernation in early spring – and in the right place, at the right time, you can observe and photograph these majestic creatures. An exceptional place for bear watching and nature experiences is the Martinselkonen Wilds Centre, which offers unforgettable bear nights in the Kainuu wilderness. And the hulking teddy bear is not the only wild animal you can behold!

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Martinselkonen Wilds Centre & Boreal Wildlife Centre

Martinselkonen Wilds Centre is a familyowned company that has been offering versatile year-round nature experiences since 1991. Their animal watching and photography safaris are the summer highlight of many travellers to the region.

A “bear night” or evening excursion at Martinselkonen will be spent in one of their bear hides close to a spot the animals have visited regularly since 1996.

There are two types of hides available: the larger, more comfortable ones are ideal for animal watching, while the smaller hides that can also be moved around are meant especially for photographers. Experienced guides are also at hand to welcome guests, offer information and make everyone’s experience safe and easy.

In addition to the brown bear, visitors to the centre can also catch a glimpse of

28 | Issue 52 | May 2013

other mammals and birds, including black kites, white-tailed eagles, Siberian jays, owls, grouse, and moose on special excursions. The bear season at Martinselkonen only lasts from the end of April until 10 August as it is located in a reindeer herding area.

Kuhmo-based Boreal Wildlife Centre, offers animal observation and photography services from February until October. At BWC, you can witness bears, wolverines, wolves, moose, Finnish forest reindeer, eagles, hawks and several other bird species; in the spring, you can take part in a grouse or capercaillie excursion.

“Photographers often want to visit both places, which are about 170 kilometres apart,” explains Jani Määttä, who has worked for his family’s company for 20 years and now runs the Boreal Wildlife Centre. “Martinselkonen is definitely the best place to photograph bears, but you won’t be seeing wolverines or wolves. And when you come all this way, you should make the most out of your trip. We offer week-long packages that combine visits to both centres.”

However, as a natural continuation of their offerings, the family’s second company, Martinselkonen Wilds Centre and Boreal Wildlife Centre offer accommodation and dining services. Transportation can be arranged from and to the airports at Kajaani, Oulu or Kuusamo.

For more information, please visit: www.martinselkonen.fi www.viiksimo.fi

BE ST GO SP LF EC CO IAL UR SE THE S I ME NS : CA ND IN AV IA

Holstebro Golf Club

BEST GOLF COURSES IN DENMARK

Long summer evenings and cheap green fees Text and pictures courtesy of Dansk Golf Union

With its 190 golf courses, Denmark has an unusually large selection of courses to choose from, relative to its size; and there are not only many golf courses here, there is also great variation among them. You will find everything from small intimate clubs where volunteers are doing the work to major professional golf courses with plenty of staff.

From Bornholm to Jutland There are golf courses all over Denmark – from Bornholm to western Jutland, from the White Dunes in Skagen to Marielyst on Falster, from beautiful courses close to the sea and fjords to the impressive forest paths where you can experience nature's rich flora and fauna. There are plenty of courses to choose from – all of a good

standard – but the difficulty varies. And then there's the special thing about golf courses in Denmark: the Danish summer weather allows you to play from early morning until late at night. There is nothing as lovely as the bright summer evenings in Denmark – and golfers can’t imagine a better place to spend this glorious moment than on a golf course. And it is never too hot to play golf in Denmark, in contrast to the well-known golf destinations in southern Europe. And not to be forgotten: Denmark has some of Europe's lowest green fees.

For more information, please visit: www.danskgolfunion.dk

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 29

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Denmark

Golfing for everyone in the heart of Jutland At Birkemose Golf Club, Denmark’s most welcoming golf club, there is room for everybody. With an 18-hole course as well as a 9-hole pay-and-play area for nonmembers, the golf club is ideal for beginners as well as experienced players.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Birkemose Golf Club

Beautifully situated in the green, hilly landscape between Kolding and Fredericia, and just off the E20 motorway, Birkemose Golf Club offers a string of corporate, individual and club events. “I do believe that what we have is Denmark’s most homely golf club – it’s a club with

room for both beginners and experienced players – members and visitors,” says golf manager Christian Kershøj.

Throughout the year Birkemose Golf Club hosts a string of member tournaments as well as corporate golf days and tournaments. “We arrange a lot of com-

pany events and can even create a club within the club for companies – there are really no limits to what we can do,” stresses Kershøj.

Birkemose Golf Club also offers introduction days, which are very popular with people planning on taking up the sport or just looking for a good day out with friends, colleagues or business partners.

Adjoining the golf club are changing facilities and showers, where tournament players, for instance, can change before moving on to a celebratory dinner in the club’s inviting restaurant. The restaurant, which on regular days serves a range of classic café meals, can provide à la carte and wine menus or buffets for all kinds of celebrations or corporate dinners.

For more information, please visit: www.birkemosegolf.dk

Hit a hole in one next to the North Sea The westernmost point of Denmark sets the scene for Blåvandshuk Golf Courses, one of the nation’s favourite golf destinations.

Tucked in between calm Ho Bay and the roaring North Sea, you will find Blåvandshuk Golf Courses. Marsh land, dunes and beaches dominate the Blåvandshuk (Blue Water Hook) headland, the westernmost point of Denmark. The golf courses are among Denmark’s most popular, owing to their unique surroundings, great sporting challenges and resort facilities.

Set on the peninsula Skallingen, golfers play amid a varied scenery of forest, meadows and streams.

“Even very experienced golfers keep coming back because the challenges are so diverse. They always find a part of their game to improve for next time,” says owner Bruno Jensen.

three and par-four 9-hole pay-and-play courses on offer. Senior green fees range from 25 euros to 45 euros.

Blåvandshuk Golf Courses not only offer first-class greens, they also cover the proverbial 19th hole with beautifully located restaurant Café Ho Bugt. For a longer stay, visitors can choose between five apartments overlooking the golf courses and surrounding nature. Golf and accommodation packages are available.

Something for everyone

ForFor more information, please visit:visit: more information, please

Golfers of all levels should feel at home with a challenging 18-hole course and par-

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Long-term investment If you are interested in even further involvement, that opportunity also exists as Bruno Jensen is seeking new investors to further develop Blåvandshuk Golf Courses.

www.blaavandshukgolf.dk

By Thomas Bech Hansen Photos: Blåvandshuk Golf Courses

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Denmark

Golf for everyone north of Copenhagen Whether you are a professional golfer, an eager leisure player or never tried the game before, Nivå Golf welcomes you onto its diverse courses and training facilities.

The golf centre, which is located just 30 minutes from Copenhagen, has, for the last three years, hosted the ECCO and Nordea Tour.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Nivå Golf

Since its creation in 1969, Nivå Golf has been different from most golf centres. The first driving range was actually created as a protest against other golf clubs’ strict membership rules. The founder, a local farmer, then planted a big sign on the highway announcing that he offered “golf for everyone”.

In 1996, Nivå Golf Club was founded, and, today, several developments and expansions have transformed the club into one of North Zealand’s largest. The founding principle is, however, stresses golf manager Peter Jespersen, still honoured.

“What makes us special is that we can welcome everyone; even if you have no

clue what way to turn the golf iron, we can give you a good experience, and, if you like to play but don’t have a club membership, you can also find a challenge here.”

With an 18-hole loop course and three pay-and-play courses (a nine-hole intermediate par 31 course, pitch-and-put course, and par three course), as well as an extensive, partly covered driving range, Nivå Golf indeed has something to suit all tastes and levels. Today, the club can also welcome players inside an inviting, newly renovated restaurant with a stunning terrace, assembly rooms, and meeting facilities with beautiful balcony views. “If it’s

five years since you’ve last been here, you won’t be able to recognize us; we are very focused on developing our courses and facilities, and for the people who just remember us as a nine-hole pay-and-play course, it is something completely different now,” explains Jespersen.

Even the club’s driveway has in recent year’s received a facelift as the much-disputed elm trees from Kgs. Nytorv in central Copenhagen took the trip to Nivå, where they now thrive while their original home is in upheaval.

The trees are not the only ones lucky to have Nivå Golf close by; many of the capital’s companies and organisations enjoy the club’s facilities and experience in putting together company or client days.

For more information, please visit: www.nivaagolf.dk

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 31

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Denmark

Denmark’s most authentic golf experience If you are looking for an authentic, undisturbed and all-inclusive golf holiday, Falster Golf Club is the place to go. With one of Denmark’s oldest and most beautifully set golf courses combined with the country’s youngest golf manager and an innovative approach, the club provides one of the nation’s best golf experiences.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Falster Golf Club

Laid out on Falster (only 90 minutes from Copenhagen) in 1973, Falster Golf Club’s 18-hole park and forest golf course is created in keeping with the original values guiding the game. “Our forest course gives players a nature experience beyond the usual and a peacefulness that is becoming more and more of a rarity on Danish golf courses, which are often located close to roads, cities or even highways,” explains golf manager Mads-Christian Brill Olsen, who at 24 is Denmark’s youngest golf manager. “Here you will almost never hear a car or anything, except the birds and wildlife. It is a true golf experience in which nature adds extra challenges to your game.”

32 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Making an early morning round, players will often come upon groups of deer, hares, pheasants and other wildlife, creating a unique and serene experience.

But it is not just the club’s natural beauty that attracts players. Falster Golf Club also has a close partnership with a lovely bed and breakfast and the restaurant in the clubhouse. This means that members and green fee players will find everything they need within the club and need not worry about anything during a visit.

Old but young at heart Falster Golf Club was founded on the existing course in 1994. Today, the club has

a wide range of members on different kinds of memberships, as well as regular visitors who can play at the club’s 18-hole course or the shorter 9-hole pay-and-play course. Guests coming from both Denmark and abroad stay at the club’s homely bed and breakfast. “We have a lot of loyal guests. They come not just because it’s a great golf experience but also because we have the charming bed and breakfast within walking distance from here and a great restaurant in the clubhouse. Everything is adjoined and that not only means that you do not have to worry about getting home in the evening but can share a good bottle of wine and then walk back to your rooms, and also that there is one point of contact only. So, it’s is not just a naturally very beautiful golf experience but also a great service experience that Falster Golf Club is known for. What we aim to do is to continue to develop the club and our facilities to adjust to our members’ and guests’ new expectations and needs,”

The beautifully located Falster Golf Club with its charming bed and breakfast within walking distance.

Among the many people who have been won over by the club’s combination of authentic charm and ambitious innovation is the famous Danish comedian Anders Bircow. He believes that the forest course with its beauty and variation is one of Denmark’s five best golf courses. “Many of the new golf courses receive a lot of attention these years, which means that we might have a tendency to forget the old courses, but Faster Golf Club has not become less attractive – on the contrary,” states the eager golfer who has played more than 140 Danish golf courses.

For more information, please visit: www.falster-golfklub.dk

stresses Mads-Christian. Having played in the club since he was 12, won many club championships and represented the club at junior and elite tournaments, the young Bachelor in Business Administration within the Leisure Industries, who became the manager of the club this year, undoubtedly has a great understanding of Falster Golf Club and the golf world. Furthermore, he is, he stresses, ready with the tools to take on the challenge of continuously meeting expectations and developing the club further together with the rest of the great people at the club.

is an important part of that, especially for our members but also for our guests,” stresses Mads-Christian. “Falster Golf Club is a club in continuous development; there is a great focus on innovation and development of the club, and our offers as well as the golf course.”

Falster Golf Club is located only 90 minutes from Copenhagen Airport.

Address: Virketvej 44, 4863 Eskilstrup The club offers a range of package deals on golf, accommodation, food and training with pro Rune Olsen.

Talent and dedication Another talent dedicated to Falster Golf Club is Pro Rune J. Olsen, who is one of Denmark’s best playing golf teachers. The teaching pro, who has won the Danish championship for teachers several times and represented Denmark at the European Championships for teachers, offers individual lessons as well as intensive golf schools for experienced players and clinics for players wishing to improve their handicap. “We are very privileged to have Rune Olsen with our club. Golf is simply just more fun the better you get, and Rune

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 33

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Denmark

A highly professional golf club based on commitment and voluntary work Hammel Golf Klub is located in the small town of Hammel in eastern Jutland, Denmark. It is owned by its members, administered by an elected board of six, and energized by the ideal that golfing is for everybody and not to be reserved for the privileged few. Accordingly, cost efficiency is a key factor and everybody pitches in.

The basic duties of keeping the greens and running the Proshop, café and administration are maintained by a permanent staff of eight, while all other chores and activities are taken care of by the members themselves. This code of active membership and shared responsibility is an accepted practice that works very well – and leaves Hammel Golf Klub with the lowest membership fee in eastern Jutland, as well as a warm and spirited social milieu.

Hammel Golf Klub has come a long way and was bestowed with the ultimate professional approval when chosen to host the esteemed Ecco Tour in 2012.

For a tour around the golf course, go to www.youtube.com and search for the “HammelGolfklub” channel.

By Margrete Dybbroe | Photos: Hammel Golf Klub

20 years of high-quality golfing Hammel Golf Klub was established as a small club in 1992. It has grown a great deal since then – in members as well as

For more information, please visit: www.hammelgolfklub.dk

A walk in the park It does not matter if you are a newcomer or an experienced golf player, the course at Køge Golf Klub is playable for all ages and levels, and with its many trees and lakes, it almost feels like a walk in the park.

It has been more than 40 years since the first golf ball was putted at Køge Golf Klub. At that time it was only a 9-hole course, but many things have happened since then. Today, there is a beautiful park-like 18-hole course, a 9-hole intermediate course and a 1,350-squaremetre large clubhouse.

“What makes it special to come here are the surroundings. You can always see where you have to hit the ball. We do not have any hills and almost no rough because we do not wish for people to run around looking for their golf balls all the time,” says Ole Therkildsen, who is on the course committee at Køge Golf Klub.

Even though the course is not that hilly, this is not the same as saying it is easy.

34 | Issue 52 | May 2013

in golfing activities. Today, the club has over 1,000 members and is a highly respected professional golfing society. Recently, it has revitalised the entire golf course. Several holes have been redesigned to add variation, drama and challenges to the course. The 18 greens are meticulously kept at all times. Bunkers and tees are newly renovated and four new back tees have been established – elongating the course to a total of 6,020 metres from the white tee.

The park-like course demands your concentration on all holes; even famous Danish players such as Thomas Bjørn and Steen Tinning played here when they were younger. The course also attracts many Swedes, especially at the beginning of the season, and Therkildsen hopes that the club will be able to welcome even more players in the future. “Within the next couple of years, we would like to add another 9-hole course for newcomers, so they can get a good start before moving up to the big course. We want everybody, no matter their level, to feel welcome here.”

By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Køge Golf Klub

For more information, please visit: www.kogegolf.dk

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Denmark

Swing by Denmark’s cosiest golf club At Golf Club Harekær in Køge, just south of Copenhagen, they focus on creating an atmosphere that makes you feel welcome regardless of your golfing experience and talent.

By Rikke Oberlin Flarup | Photos: Golf Club Harekær

Whether you are a practised golfer or a complete novice, Golf Club Harekær will give you a warm welcome. “When opening Harekær, we felt there was a need for a place where everyone feels at home. A place where everybody knows everybody, and no one is more important than anyone else,” says manager Jesper Wraae-Bess.

Mission Golf Club Harekær offers many excellent facilities for both members and green fee players, including a driving range with free balls, an indoor training hall and putting green, a well-stocked pro shop, and a lovely restaurant with a magnificent terrace. “Our mission is to provide the average golf player with a great mix of courses and a place to share their tall tales after

finishing their games,” explains Jesper Wraae-Bess.

A unique possibility Located close to a motorway exit, Golf Club Harekær is very easy to get to, making it worth a visit if you happen to be in or around Copenhagen. And as from last year, Harekær has been able to make good use of its central location by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with the four surrounding golf clubs: Sorø, Værebro, Brøndby and Ree. This way they can provide their players with a unique possibility to choose which course to play and when.

For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit: www.harekaer-golf.dk

All-year golfing in beautiful settings The golf course at Møn Golf Centre has a beautiful setting and is very well drained, earning it a place in the Peugeot Golf Guide’s selection of the world’s 1,000 best courses. Located just 75 minutes from Copenhagen, the centre attracts players from both Denmark and abroad.

With a covered driving range, well-drained 18-hole course and a 9-hole pay-and-play course, Møn Golf Centre provides all year golfing for experienced players and newcomers alike. The golf course opened in 1993 and Møn Golf Club was founded in 1992. The centre offers a string of oppor-

tunities, including company days, junior golf and crash courses, as well as playing on a new 12-hole krolf course.

Today, ownership of the centre is shared by two couples who have been connected to the club and centre since the beginning: Pro Trainer Richard

Frances and his wife Claire Frances, and Greenkeeper Steen Andersen and his wife Gitte Nøhr Andersen. ‘’We are four owners who take care of everything here, which means that we can provide a very flexible service for members, visitors and companies,’’ Gitte Andersen explains.

As well as top-condition courses landscaped in harmony with the surrounding nature, the centre offers good changing room facilities, a well-assorted golf shop and a café with stunning views of the estuary ‘Stege nor’. ‘’The nature and surroundings are unique; our guests almost always comment on the beautiful nature – it makes for a fantastic experience,’’ adds Gitte Andersen.

By Signe Hansen | Photo: Møn Golf Centre

For more information, please visit: www.moengolfcenter.dk and www.moengk.dk

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 35

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Denmark

Golf and holiday in beautiful surroundings Want to do what many other Scandinavians do every year? Then you should go for a long weekend or a short holiday to the south of Denmark and combine your time off with a round of golf at Nordborg Golfklub.

It is often said that golf is a relaxing sport, and if you have experienced golfing at Nordborg Golfklub’s course, you know there is certainly something to it.

“We are located in some very beautiful surroundings on Als. The nature is simply astonishing. The course itself is a lovely challenging course – and very well kept because we have a new greenkeeper who is also a very skilled golfer,” says Christian

Christensen, who is a member of the board at the club.

Nordborg Golfklub, which recently modernised its clubhouse, is located in a popular summer house area, which makes it ideal for many tourists who would like to combine their holiday stay with a round of golf. Every year, in the beginning of August, the club also hosts a big tournament called Nordborg Open.

“This year is the fourth consecutive year we are hosting the tournament. The last couple of years it has been a huge success and fully booked. It is a tournament where everybody is welcome to come and play. We divide the players into four categories, depending on their skill level, so it does not matter if you are an expert or a newcomer.

Everybody has a chance to play and win,” says Christensen.

By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Nordborg Golfklub

For more information, please visit: www.nordborg-golfklub.dk

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Sweden

The 11th green on the Lakes Course at the PGA of Sweden National. Photo: Staffan Andersson

BEST GOLF COURSES IN SWEDEN

Sweden – a golfing nation

By Per Svensson, Tourism Project Manager, Swedish Golf Federation, and Helena Salomonsson, Senior Project Manager, VisitSweden

Sweden has made a name for itself as a golfing nation with the success of golfing legend Annika Sörenstam and leading PGA Tour players Carl Petterson and Henrik Stenson. This is an achievement made more remarkable given Sweden’s long winters, but unsurprising given the quality of Sweden’s golf courses.

Golf in Sweden, with more than 480 courses with 460,000 members, is booming. Here you will find championship courses such as Bro Hof Castle near Stockholm, Barsebäck GCC down south and Halmstad GC on the west coast. Given

Sweden’s geography and topography, it is blessed with golfing landscapes: courses hewn from rugged coastline and others that carve through giant forests with wending streams.

Sweden offers golfers mild temperatures, mostly dry conditions, and long hours of daylight, making the golf season in Sweden excellent for play. Golfers in Sweden's southern golf area, Skåne, traditionally begin playing their favourite golf courses around the first week of April. As spring's warm temperatures begin to move north, golfers in Sweden limber up their golfing

muscles, and, by the end of May, most areas of Sweden are ready for golf.

In Sweden, golf trips can be combined with everything that your heart desires.

Spa breaks, castle vacations and gastronomic experiences are only a few of the selections offered directly in relation to golf – only your imagination will set the limit on how to combine your golf holiday in Sweden. So what are you waiting for?

Play golf in Sweden!

For more information, please visit: www.golf.se

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 37

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Sweden

The 17th tee on the Lakes Course. Photo: Mickael Tannus

The best golfing experience in Sweden, so the golfers say The golf course, the service, the restaurant – yes, everything about PGA of Sweden National holds an impressive standard, according to the 27,000 green fee players who voted it the best golfing experience in Sweden in a nation-wide survey conducted by aGolf last year. Indeed, the spot in Bara outside Malmö offers all the stunning scenery a golfer could wish for and more; a distinct lack of distractions means that meetings are both efficient and enjoyable.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: PGA of Sweden National

A resort close to all of Skåne’s cities and airports, PGA of Sweden National is the golf course that is always easy to get to but hard to leave behind. The view across the Öresund Bridge and the surrounding beech woods provides a perfect example of the beautiful landscapes the southern county is known for, benefitting not only conference guests whose focus remains

38 | Issue 52 | May 2013

unchallenged but also golf fans who get to spend hours on end immersed in it.

Relaxing, friendly and intimate The peace and quiet and lack of distractions are among the resort’s unique selling points, if you ask CEO Ove Sellberg.

“There’s a real intimacy about the place,” he says and vows that guests will get a lot

done, be it for work purposes or sheer relaxation and enjoyment. With 16 suites and a welcoming club house, the atmosphere is familiar but never crowded. You can expect all the good-quality food of a first-class kitchen, including homemade bread, Swedish classics made from local produce, and sought-after wines and whiskies served up by a knowledgeable sommelier.

The club house is for fun and relaxation at once, always comfortable and laid-back but with personable, top-of-the-range service permeating every nook and cranny. There is a pro shop should you need it, as well as generous changing rooms and other professional spaces. “We

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Sweden

... the golf course that “ is always easy to get to but hard to leave behind ” want to distance ourselves from the standardised hotel milieu where everything looks the same,” says Sellberg. The idea is to be one with nature, and that certainly is the case: from the food on your plate to the friendly staff and far-reaching plains of the courses.

Using aGolf’s system for quality assurance, PGA of Sweden National is one of 74 clubs in the country that get continuous feedback from its players. “It’s incredibly important for us to get to know what our members and guests think,” says Sellberg, who sees constant development and improvement as key to the success of the club. As such, having been voted the best golfing experience in Sweden means a lot.

“The accolade obviously spurs us on even more. We want to offer our guests a firstclass holistic experience.”

That experience includes a choice of three courses on the former grounds of the Torup castle: two 18-hole courses, the Links Course and the Lakes Course, and a 9-hole course for the less ambitious.

Heading up the golf academy is Scottish Head Pro John Grant who works with a unique but tested training concept that appears to work wonders for beginners and veterans alike. “He’s a bit old-school,” says Sellberg of Grant’s approach of always using the individual client and their needs as his starting point – a method that is clearly forward-thinking enough for the 27,000 players who praised it.

Links Course. Photo: Staffan Andersson

Continuous feedback for a first-class experience

best golf courses is situated only a short drive away from Malmö and Lund, with Malmö Airport and Copenhagen Airport only 20 and 30 minutes away respectively.

But good things come in threes: the good news, on top of an esteemed concept and a handy location, is that if non-standardisation and intimacy are your thing, you can come to PGA of Sweden National for just about anything. Planning your wedding? No problem. Time for a special

birthday party? Just say the word. Is it conference o’clock? You’ve come to the right place. But maybe you are just a very keen golfer who wants a break from it all and some good banter over a peaty whiskey and a nice old cigar. For that, there certainly is no better place than here.

For more information, please visit: www.pgaswedennational.se

Non-standardised everything At a time when seemingly everything is standardised, it is perhaps refreshing to find that non-standardisation, in regard to both environment and training, is what wins the hearts of the customers. At a time when, additionally, everybody is busy and convenience is king, it is even more reassuring to know that one of Sweden’s

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 39

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Sweden

Nynäshamn Golf Club and Körunda hotel – the full-fledged golf experience Treat yourself to a golf weekend in beautiful surroundings, just half an hour from the city pulse of Stockholm.

By Julie Lindén | Photos: Nynäshamn Golf Club and Körunda hotel

“Vicinity is important to us. We are situated a mere 35 minutes from our capital, while we can still offer our guests the calmness of the Södertörn countryside. Our hotel is literally a part of the golf course, so you can open your balcony door and look out onto the green,” says Ann-Charlotte Wahlstedt, CEO of Körunda hotel.

Nynäshamn Golf Club’s 27 holes are situated in magnificent scenery near the tranquil lake Muskan. The course is highly varied in terrain and is sure to challenge even the most skilled golfers. However, Wahlstedt stresses that no proficiency in the sport is required to benefit from a weekend at Körunda. The club offers players a chance to improve their game in specialized courses, but one may also book the help of a trainer.

40 | Issue 52 | May 2013

“You can book a training programme with one of our PGA pros, who will work with you in our high-tech studio. Then you’ll get to go out and play, and you may choose to do so with the pro. It will take you three to four days getting a green card, but there’s no problem coming here as a beginner,” says club manager Ingela Tisén, who is also a well-known PGA pro in Sweden.

And what is there to do after a full day on the green? The answer is plenty. Why not enjoy Körunda’s newly renovated relax section – or perhaps lean back in the sauna by the lake? And with culinary connoisseurs such as TV chef and host Paolo Roberto and chef Andreas Westman caring for your menu, you will be treated to many a feast during your stay.

“We do a lot of interesting food events, and a lot of the ingredients we use are locally produced. Food and wine often becomes an activity on their own as people seem to learn more and more about them,” says Wahlstedt.

And beyond golf, relaxation and tasty menus, a range of activities can enrich your stay at Körunda.

“The goal is for our guests to leave with a range of experiences. Beyond a good game of golf, one might take a trip out to the archipelago by boat and witness the incredible scenery Sweden is famous for. One might take a shopping trip to Stockholm, one can try out windsurfing, or one might take it easy and have a walk around the lake. Whatever the wish, we have something here for all.”

For more information, please visit: www.korunda.se www.nynashamnsgk.se

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Sweden

They have upgraded the golf course so you can choose from five different tees for variation, and they have made it easier to find the ball in order make the game quicker and more fun. “It’s more enjoyable to play if you get better results,” Lövgren says.

Quicker and more exciting golf in the Tuscany of Skåne If you are looking for a place to play golf in a delightful and social atmosphere with breathtaking surroundings, then Bjäre Golf Club is the right place for you. Here you will find a new concept of golfing where fun and social life are in focus.

If you would like to stay over, they also offer a nice hotel and lodge linked to the golf course, with different golf packages. Bjäre Golf Club also includes a new shop where you will find all necessary accessories for golfing, and you can rent brand-new golf sets from TaylorMade that are customised for every client.

Bjäre Golf Club is the place to be for happy golfers who want to use their time in an efficient way in order to have more fun and, of course, enjoy more quality golfing.

By Cecilia Varricchio | Photo: Bjäre Golf Club

Bjäre Golf Club is located in the northwest of Skåne, in southern Sweden, and has a beautiful view overlooking the sea.

Managing director Roy Lövgren explains

that they have done a lot of work to create a new profile where service, quality and presence are the keywords.

For more information, please visit: www.bjaregolfklubb.se

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

Lofoten Golf

BEST GOLF COURSES IN NORWAY

Norwegian golf courses to visit

By Tom Gundersen, Norges Golfforbund

In Norway, all golf clubs but one are organized within the Norwegian Golf Federation (NGF). With a total of 110,000 memberships spread over 180 golf clubs, the federation facilitates golf offers regardless of age, skill and preconditions. This means that everyone who can verify a membership in a golf club abroad has access to the Norwegian courses, provided there is free tee time.

Most Norwegian golf courses are products of the environment and the Nordic climate. On the south-west coast, you can play all year round, but for most courses, the season starts early May and ends sometime in October/November depending on the frost. Norway is a long stretched country. With a three-hour flight from south to north, golfers who visit the country will have to prioritize and plan the courses they would like to visit in advance.

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Although Norwegian golf clubs have hosted international tours and many of the courses offer first-class quality, the main reason to play golf in Norway is to experience something different. Many of the courses offer a piece of the famous Norwegian scenery with the mountains, the fjords and even the midnight sun

above the polar circle. Wherever you go, Norwegian golfing will bring you right into the middle of Norwegian nature.

For more information, please visit: www.golfforbundet.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

and rolling hills,” informs general manager Kristoffer Steen. He also adds that the club has an inclusive environment and very busy activity calendar. “We have group activities twice a week and have a great turnout. We also arrange junior training as well as beginner’s courses.”

Golfing with professionals Enjoy a game of golf at the modern facilities of Drammen Golf Club and find motivation in the Norwegian champions who train there.

By Anette Berve | Photos: Drammen Golf Club

Drammen Golf Course is located a short drive away from Drammen and is the home of several of Norway’s current golf champions. The 18-hole, par 71 course designed by Jeremy Turner holds one of the largest driving ranges in the country, as well as a large practice area and a welcoming club house. As of this season, the

club will also be the first in Norway with GPS trackers in its golf carts.

Busy activity calendar Opened in 1998, the club now has over 1,000 members. “Our course holds a very high standard and is an example of the Norwegian nature of our area with forest

The season spans from April through October, though this year the start has been postponed due to the cold weather.

Throughout the season the club arranges several tournaments on a national level, and several of today’s top players claim Drammen as their home ground. “Many of the best amateur players play here, not to mention Norwegian champion Andreas Gjesteby as well as Joakim Mikkelsen who is one of our top players now turned pro and playing in the US.” Social and competitive The club offers three different memberships to suit every player and arranges the Road to Golf beginner’s courses. For those who don’t have their own equipment the club offers free rental and a fully stocked pro shop. This spring the clubhouse is also opening a new and exciting barbecue-style restaurant.

Golf appeals to Steen because of the social setting but also the fact that players can share a game, no matter their level.

“The fact that golf is so social, and you share a game and a good conversation while you play, is what has me hooked. It is a great way to spend a business lunch, and it is even a great family activity.”

For more information, please visit: www.drammengk.no www.facebook.com/drammengolfbane

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 43

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

Midnight golfing Tromsø Golfpark is the northernmost 18-hole golf course in the world and can boast of spectacular golfing experiences under the midnight sun.

By Anette Berve | Photos: Tromsø Golfpark

Situated a quick 35-minute drive from Tromsø, the course is located far away from the busy city life and sounds of cars.

All you can see beyond the greens are the Lyngen Alps and birch trees, while all you will hear are birds twittering and your fellow golfers, and if you are lucky – the odd moose.

In addition to the main course and the 9hole par 3 course, the golf course also offers practice areas, including a driving range, a fully equipped pro shop and a clubhouse café. General manager Rune Karlsen explains that the wild surroundings are what make the course different, and difficult. “A keen golfer always searches for

new courses, and to play the northernmost golf course is just as exciting as playing the southernmost or the highest.” He underlines that golfing under the midnight sun is something that has to be experienced.

By cruise or plane Local players, but also tourists from all over the world, frequent the course. A trip to the golf course can easily be arranged for visitors that arrive by cruise ship or plane. To ease the stay, the golf park offers on-site accommodation in addition to collaborating with selected hotels in Tromsø.

From June the course is open 24 hours a day and a game in the middle of the night is normal. “We have a short but very effective season,” Karlsen points out. “We are only open late May through to October, but when we open, you can golf for 24 hours, until mid-August.”

For more information, please visit: www.tromsogolf.com

Golfing on the finest green in western Norway Bjørnefjorden Golf Club has the best of both worlds: while located close to the town centre of Os, the course itself is surrounded by characteristic Norwegian wild landscape.

By Anette Berve | Photos: Bjørnefjorden Golf Club

General manager Eivind Hodneland believes their location and surroundings are what make Bjørnefjorden Golf Club stand out. “We definitely have a unique location compared to other golf courses in the Bergen area. We aim at being the best golf course in western Norway with top-quality greens – no matter the weather challenges we have.” The club prides itself on an including and open atmosphere, with members of all ages and genders. The facilities are open all year round, depending on seasonal conditions. As long as there is no snow, the course stays open.

The golf course itself consists of 9 holes and is structured as a park and part forest. The greens are of various sizes, with corrugations that ensure that the entrance to the green demands planning and precision from the players. Several

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of the teeing grounds have views over the surrounding mountains, fjords and the Folgefonna glacier.

we have and the challenges of the game.

To me it is the ultimate sport.”

Bjørnefjorden Golf Club is located in Os, 35 minutes from Bergen and Flesland Airport.

Fun with Golf The golf club collaborates with several hotels in the area and is popular amongst guests. By offering a Fun with Golf deal, the club wishes to include beginners with a crash course in the sport while still appealing to the experienced visitor by arranging small competitions.

Golf is a sport that has experienced a decrease in popularity and has lost terrain against more energetic sports, but the club is currently modernizing its facilities to attract new players and to keep them excited. “We dare to reach out and expand our offer, and turn the trend. I love playing golf because of the close-knit community

For more information, please visit: www.bjgk.no

Golfing for everyone Golf has become a popular activity and many want to learn how to play. Kongsberg Golf Course has everything you need for the perfect golf holiday: a friendly environment, a beautifully designed golf course and a number of golf classes. And if you want to take it one step further, you can always invite friends and family to compete in one of the golf tournaments.

By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Kongsberg Golf Course

Kongsberg Golf Course is known as one of Norway’s longest and finest golf courses, situated in Skollenborg just ten minutes outside the town of Kongsberg. It is an 18-hole golf course designed by Jeremy Turner, one of the most distinguished golf course architects in Scandinavia. As both a park and forest course, it offers stunning views of both Lågen river and Skrimfjella mountain range. Golf club manager Peter Johansson says: “Kongsberg golf course is one of the most popular golf courses in Norway, situated in beautiful countryside surroundings.”

Cooperating with Grand Hotel, Kongsberg Golf Course provides hotel visitors with access to the 18-hole course as well as

the opportunity to undertake lessons at a lower price. There is a wide range of golf classes available, making Kongsberg Golf Course a popular destination for families, groups of friends and couples. The golf classes are made to suit everyone, from beginners to more experienced players, making sure everyone can progress and improve their golf skills regardless of their current level. During the summer, visitors can participate in one of the weekend courses, with four-hour-long beginner classes running every Saturday and Sunday. Johansson says: “We have a fantastic environment here, and we want everyone to be involved, kids as well as adults.

That’s why we have courses specifically for kids from the age of five.”

Kongsberg Golf Course is a championship golf course, and there are plenty of golf tournaments going on during the season.

But you do not have to be a professional golf player to compete in one of the tournaments. Johansson says: “Everyone can participate in our tournaments this summer, whether you want to compete at a higher level or just play for fun. We also have golf tournaments strictly for beginners.”

For more information, please visit: www.kongsberg-golfbane.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 45

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

Become a golf champion this season Just minutes away from the busy streets of Oslo lies Haga Golf, one of Norway’s biggest golf resorts. Due to its extensive selection of golf classes, its great location and beautiful surroundings, Haga Golf has become one of Norway's most popular golf courses.

By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Haga Golf

Haga Golf is situated in the heart of Bærum, just ten minutes outside the centre of Oslo. The 27-hole course consists of three 9-hole courses, two of which are combined every week serving as an 18hole course. Managing director Claes Gunnarson says: “It is an open park course in beautiful surroundings. With 27

holes members and guests have easy access to the course and you seldom have to wait. ” Haga Golf attracts a lot of golfers because of its wide range of golf classes and training facilities. The various golf classes cover all levels and are run by fully quali-

fied professionals. Haga Golf cooperates with the golf centre ToppGolf, giving visitors access to the centre and all its training facilities. ToppGolf has a driving range, a 9-hole golf course, an indoor training area, a simulation centre and personal trainers. Gunnarson says: “Our cooperation with ToppGolf means we can offer our visitors extensive training facilities, both for kids and adults at any level and both in summer and wintertime.”

After spending hours on the golf course, it is nice to have a break and a bite to eat. At Haga Golf, visitors are invited into the club house and the exclusive restaurant run

by Tom Victor Gausdal, an award-winning Norwegian chef. Gunnarson says: “Our Bistro restaurant serves quality food made from scratch at reasonable prizes, and we are pleased to be able to offer this to all our visitors, not just golfers.”

For more information, please visit: www.hagagolf.no

Mountain Golfing Situated on the banks of the river Sira, 600 metres above sea level, Sirdal Mountain Golf is not your average golf course.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen Photos: Sirdal Mountain Golf

What could sound better than enjoying a nice round of golf surrounded by picturesque Norwegian nature, and filling your lungs with refreshing mountain air? At Sirdal Mountain Golf, a small club of only 166 members, that is exactly what you get.

“The surrounding nature alone is worth a hike around the course,” says club chairman Geir Vårdal. He says the club receives lots of positive feedback from guests, purely due to the course's serene surroundings.

Opened in 2007, this 9-hole course is in excellent condition, offering inviting grass tees and greens. Built into its surroundings, the course offers a variety of natural water hazards. “There is a lot of water around many of the holes, and as such the course provides some challenges,” explains Vårdal.

On the opening hole there is an opportunity to hit the ball across a 140-metre stretch of water. “But you can of course opt to go around,” says the chairman.

Avoiding the water is not an option on the ninth hole, however, which ends on the opposite side of the river from where players tee off. There is no need to get discouraged by the water hazard though.

Since the course opened six years ago, only two people have managed to score a hole in one. Both did so on the ninth hole.

The course is open from mid-May to midOctober.

For more information, please visit: www.sirdalfjellgolf.no

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

The Golfing Experience Attracting an ever-growing crowd since it opened in 1992, the 18-hole course at Drøbak Golfklubb prides itself on being Norway's most popular golf course.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Drøbak Golfklubb

With close to 2,000 members, Drøbak Golfklubb is one of the major actors on the Norwegian golf scene.

“Our golf course enjoys a unique location, just a three-minute drive from idyllic Drøbak, with its many beaches, nice cafes, twenty-something galleries and exciting shopping opportunities,” says manager Jens Gilboe. Oslo, the capital, is only 30 minutes away.

elite players. Between 25,000 and 30,000 rounds of golf are played here every year, making it the most played course in Norway. “Some say it is easy to get a good score at Drøbak, but that is a matter of opinion, and whether or not you are on your game,” says Gilboe.

When asked about the Drøbakk Golfklubb's mission, Gilboe is quick to reply: “Those of us who work in and for this club love golf, and we wish to introduce even more people to this wonderful sport and hobby.”

“We believe the reason why our course is the most popular course in Norway is that we provide a complete and enjoyable golfing experience. We see ourselves as both hosts and facilitators, aiming to provide a pleasant golfing experience for our guests,” says Gilboe. “That is why we put so much effort into presenting a course that many deem to be the best-conditioned course in the country.”

The course itself is a beautiful, open and relatively short park course suited for golfers at any level, from beginners to

Gilboe has reason to be proud of the course at Drøbak. Excellent drainage provides top-quality playing conditions re-

gardless of weather, and the course has received the “Premier European Golf Course” award from the European Society of Golf Course Architects.

That does not mean the club is resting on its laurels, however. Minor upgrades to the facilities are constantly being implemented, improving the quality of the course a little bit each year. “Our goal is to become even better at the things we’re good at!” says Gilboe.

For more information, please visit: www.drobakgolf.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 47

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

Fancy a round of golf in peaceful yet urban surroundings near Stavanger?

Situated in a beautiful setting next to the lake Store Stokkavann, five kilometres from Stavanger’s city centre, you will find one of Norway’s oldest golf clubs.

By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Mark Alexander

Stavanger Golf Club was the fifth golf club to be formed in Norway (1956) and the second with 18 holes in the early 1960s, according to general manager Steinar Fløisvik.

Fløisvik believes that its combination of beautiful scenery with proximity to Sta-

vanger’s vibrant city centre and oil industry offices makes it one of the country’s most attractive courses. He adds that all facilities are offered for junior and senior as well as amateur and elite golfers.

Fløisvik goes on to explain that a solid economy and help from wealthy oil in-

dustry sponsors provided the funds for an extensive renovation programme at NOK 40 million. This was carried out from 2003 to 2007 in order to modernise the infrastructure whilst maintaining historical features.

Stavanger Golf Club has more than 1,800 members, most of whom are adults.

With a positive future outlook, Fløisvik says that the club is keen to grow by appealing specifically to younger players.

With its international business environment, Stavanger is easily accessible by air, with daily flights by major airlines and low-cost carriers available from most of Europe.

If you are in Stavanger for business or pleasure and fancy a round of golf, please have a look at www.sgk.no

Norway’s ultimate pro-like golf experience Norway’s best golf club for the last 11 consecutive years, Miklagard Golf, can add a remarkable pro-like feeling to your golfing experience – and who knows, you might meet an actual pro there as well.

By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Sten Dahl

The golf world’s answer to the Michelin Guide, Rolex Golf Guide, has established Miklagard Golf Club as the best course in Norway for over a decade, with a superb course layout and state-of-the-art greens being merely two of the factors taken into account.

“We have a course under constant development, and we invest heavily to ensure that our greens are immaculate; our course superintendent is in fact the president of the Swedish Greenkeepers Association,” says Matthew Corney, head of marketing at Miklagard Golf.

Based a few minutes north of Oslo, the club with 1,100 members is widely recognised for its tournaments of high quality and is the only course in Norway available to host larger international tournaments – further illustrated by some of its high-profile visitors.

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“Every year we welcome four European Tour players to play an exhibition round; we are privileged to say that Masters winner Trevor Immelman, Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance are just some of them.

“The latter actually said that this was a course for a European Tour event and that ‘the greens are among the best I have ever putted on’,” Corney says.

Despite their high-profiled visitors, Miklagard Golf is working hard to include more than just the pros, offering five different tee positions for each hole and several different membership offers, along with immaculate training facilities.

For more information, please visit: miklagardgolf.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best Golf Courses in Norway

Unique golf course and resort with spectacular views over the Kragerø archipelago Kragerø Golf Club is a unique golf club located at Kragerø Resort in southern Norway. The resort includes an 18-hole golf course with all practice facilities, a modern conference and spa hotel with spectacular views, vacation cabins, tennis courts, and a beach club and harbour.

By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Kragerø Golf Club

The golf club was formed in 1998 and construction of Kragerø Golfpark was completed in 2003. The course and hotel sit high above the fjord, offering a spectacular view of Kragerø, a small seaside town located about 200 kilometres southwest of Oslo. In the summertime, this small community swells as tourists and Norwegian vacationers flock to the area to enjoy the sun, sea and long, light nights.

The golf club’s general manager, Ola Kristian Dille, informs us that the club has approximately 770 members. These are a mix of local golf enthusiasts, cabin and hotel suite owners and many frequent tourists. The club has many active members of all ages and at all skill levels. All property owners at the resort are share-

holders in the golf club and have exclusive playing rights. Shares are also available to purchase or rent for a season. In addition, the golf course is open for public play.

Dille points out that the greens and fairways are of high quality thanks to their experienced American superintendent. The course is built according to international standards with sand-based greens, tees and fairways enabling rain water to drain quickly. The bentgrass greens and fairways are maintained for top presentation, so a high-quality and well-conditioned golf course can always be expected, no matter the season. The golf season normally lasts from April until November.

Dille adds that the golf club offers facilities to golfers at all levels. Practice areas include a double-level driving range and a 6hole par 3 course and practice area, where beginners can learn the basics of golf from the club’s teaching professionals.

The resort has over 250 private and rental golf carts and includes a fully paved path throughout the golf course and down to the beach club. The seaside scenery unique to southern Norway allows for a golf course with varied landscape, with each hole in its own little gulley or valley.

For more information, please visit: www.kragk.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 49

: ME LO E S H L T IN O

EN RG E &B

IA S EC ENCE P S ERI

XP TE E M UR O G

Gourmet Experiences in Oslo & Bergen Travelling to Oslo or Bergen this year – but no idea how to navigate the extensive restaurant scene of these two bustling cities? Have no fear as Scan Magazine has hand-picked a few culinary gems just for you.

By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Espen Mills/Tasteofnationaltouristroutes.com/visitnorway.com

In Oslo, we’ve highlighted a few quite internationally infused eateries, including the Asian fusion restaurant Four Seasons, which pampers its patrons with new taste sensations; the Paris-inspired Bistro Brocante, with its homely feel and yummy French food and wine; and perhaps the finest Italian restaurant in Norway, Bal-

50 | Issue 52 | May 2013

tazar Ristorante & Enoteca. And for a slightly more Nordic dining experience, why not pop by Akersberget for some classic dishes with a twist?

While in Bergen, we recommend you try out the city’s most exciting basement eatery, Potetkjelleren, which has been voted Bergen’s best restaurant for three years in a row now, as well as the very first sushi restaurant to have opened in the city, Nama Sushi.

Happy eating!

Photo: Terje Borud /Visitnorway.com

Both cities can naturally offer everything from small, cosy cafés to gourmet restaurants, from bistros to tasty takeaways, so there is no lack of excellent choices – and there is sure to be something to suit all tastes and wallets.

Mouth-watering Asian fusion in Oslo Asian cuisine is increasing in popularity on the restaurant scene in Oslo. Four Seasons is an exciting restaurant concept introducing a fusion of the top four Asian cuisines.

By Anette Berve | Photos: Marte Eyde Kjuus

Four Seasons is a fine dining restaurant located in the historical Vika Terrace in downtown Oslo. Owner Tony Vu wants to challenge the Norwegian palate by presenting a fusion between the four most popular cuisines in Asia: Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese. Four years ago he opened the doors to Four Seasons. “I wanted to create a restaurant that represented all four cuisines. Most restaurants focus on one specific cuisine while I wanted guests to experience a fusion between them all to challenge the palate.”

reach out and tempt them to try something different.”

Despite a tough market, he feels the restaurant has managed to uphold the standards he set when it comes to taste.

“Opening a restaurant is easy; it is maintaining the standard and evolving that are the difficult parts. I believe that having a passion for what you do is the key to success. It is important that your heart is in it.”

flavours from the different cuisines while trying new fusions.”

For Vu, working in the restaurant business was a given career path. Growing up, he spent most of his time in the kitchen with his Vietnamese mother and learnt how to cook with his heart. Opening his own restaurant was his dream from early on, and he became his own boss at the age of 23. He already runs takeaway restaurants and an Asian tapas restaurant, but Four Seasons was his first try at fine dining.

Discover new flavours His goal is to challenge Norwegians and show that Asian cuisine is more than chop suey, soy sauce and noodles. “People associate Asian cooking with Chinese food, but there is so much more to discover.

The four kitchens we focus on use many similar ingredients, but they are prepared differently. We strive to keep the authentic

Try something new With the summer season fast approaching, Vu is excited about the new seasonal menu. In order to entice people to try something new, he plans to introduce smaller dishes for sharing. “Norwegians tend to be a bit more sceptical towards Asian food, but it is up to us chefs to

For more information, please visit: www.fourseasonsvika.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 51

A little taste of Italy In the centre of Oslo lies a restaurant known as one of the finest Italian restaurants in Norway. A visit to the establishment gives you a taste of the Italian life – for one night only. With its authentic Italian cuisine and notable wine list, Baltazar Ristorante & Enoteca offers its guests the true Italian experience.

By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Baltazar Ristorante & Enoteca

Baltazar Ristorante & Enoteca is recognised as the best Italian gourmet restaurant in Oslo, known for its exciting flavours and food made from genuine Italian produce. Head chef Dag Tjersland says: “We work hard to provide our customers with a full experience: great Italian food and wine, good atmosphere and excellent service.” And judging by the reviews and their mention in the Michelin guide, their hard work has paid off.

The restaurant is split between two floors: Ristorante on the top floor and Enoteca on the bottom. Ristorante is a fine dining restaurant where guests can choose between a five-course and a seven-course meal. As a gourmet restaurant it is known for its excellent service and knowledge of Italian food and wine. Enoteca serves classic Italian dishes at a lower price, as well as offering a wide selection of Italian cheese, ham and sausages.

Baltazar Ristorante & Enoteca makes food according to the “slow food principle”, meaning that they are working to promote a greater enjoyment of food through preserving traditional and regional cuisine. Everything on the menu is made from scratch, with no semi-finished goods. Tjersland says: “We make food from short-travelled, genuine Italian produce. They aren't always easy to find, but we make sure we always use produce that is in season.”

The wine bar on the bottom floor is a popular place to visit. Guests are not only offered a wide range of well-known Italian wines, but also a selection of beer from small microbreweries in Italy and Norway. In 2012, Baltazar Ristorante & Enoteca received an award of excellence from the international wine magazine Wine Spectators for their selection of Italian wines. Tjersland says: “Guests are very welcome to stop by just for a glass of wine. Our sommeliers are happy to help to make sure our guests get the best possible experience.”

For more information, please visit: www.baltazar.no

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Oslo

Paris in the heart of Oslo:

Bistro Brocante With French furniture and other authentic elements to fit the theme, Bistro Brocante aims to give its customers a feel of France when they step in through the door. The bar is beautifully handmade and the atmosphere authentically French – what more could one want from a bistro?

A French bistro would not be complete without chocolate fondants.

By Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Bistro Brocante

Bistro Brocante was founded in February 2003. Combining their interests for all things French and mid-European, the founders opened its doors in one of the trendiest areas in Oslo, also known as Grûnerløkka.

The restaurant’s half-French, half-Scandinavian chef combines experiences from the French kitchen with locally sourced Norwegian ingredients.

The dishes, resembling the fare at most French bistros, are based on home-style cooking with slow-cooked dishes and stews. The atmosphere is relaxed and homely, mirroring the Parisian bistros that have been around for more than a century.

Its menu ranges from croissants with Nutella to three-course meals that change each week, for a surprise that treats the regular guests. The menu is written in lovely white chalk on a blackboard at the side of the bar. And no authentic French-inspired bistro would be complete without a cheeseboard and chocolate fondants.

The layout of the restaurant features large windows facing the busy street, with lamps in art deco style and a chessboardpatterned floor. For warm spring and summer days in Oslo, the restaurant has got an outside area with lovely round tables and chairs at the front of the restaurant facing the street.

Bistro Brocante serves authentic food in a homely style. From Nutella croissants to three-course meals, the restaurant features something for everyone.

Situated next to the popular Fru Hagen (Mrs. Hagen), the bistro is also known for its intimate gigs every now and then, and as its owners are active Facebook users, these are usually announced on the site.

Make sure to book a table as it tends to get busy.

The restaurant can host approximately 45 people inside and 32 people outside and is open seven days a week. Enjoy a quality three-course meal for 345 NOK.

Bistro Brocante is located on Thorvald Meyers gate 40, Oslo Phone: +47 22 35 68 71 Email: post@bistrobrocante.no Or on Facebook/Bistro Brocante

Tracing the same theme, the French naturally love wine. This is why Bistro Brocante boasts an exceptional wine menu, with rosé, white and red wines selected from vineyards around France.

For more information, please visit: www.bistrobrocante.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 53

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Oslo

Akersberget: A homely feel Akersberget restaurant is situated in a 250-year-old red wooden house and is inspired

by Nordic nuances, with a focus on small-scale food production. The establishment thrives on the wow factor, with beer-related ingredients in all its courses, which are, of course, fresh.

Akersberget have good knowledge of which particular beer goes with each dish of choice – alternatively, the other way around, for those who love beer more than food.

By Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Akersberget

The restaurant’s philosophy is simple and clear, with an added touch of fantasy and personality. Akersberget loves experimenting with new and creative ways of cooking, and its ingredients are therefore of a wide variety.

Its menu is rather small but detailed and ranges from crayfish to beef. With an option to choose a five-course meal, Akersberget claims it asks more questions than it has answers to. However, this leads to inspiring meals created with fresh combinations and new thinking.

Additionally, classical and traditional dishes inspire the restaurant, but its aim is to take something old and give a fresh spin to it.

Marketing consultant at Akersberget, Frode Henriksen, says: “Akersberget’s team never stops surprising with their creativity. It is incredibly exciting in the few days leading up to a change of menu.”

The restaurant has been known to have a homely and comfortable feel to it – to the point where people have commented that dining there can feel a bit like sitting in someone’s living room, in a good way.

It is especially known for its variety of beers, due to its collaboration with Ølakademiet (the beer academy), an independent company created by and for beer enthusiasts.

Customers are encouraged to ask for advice, as the waiters and waitresses at

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Akersberget restaurant is located in a red wooden house and offers its guests a homely feel. It thrives on a wide variety of produce, with everything from fish to beer-related ingredients.

For more information, please visit: www.akersberget.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Gourmet Experiences in Bergen

12 years of sushi expertise When Nama Sushi opened up in 2001, it was the first sushi restaurant in Bergen.

Twelve years on and Nama has become synonymous with quality in Japanese cuisine.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Dilla Holding

Nama Sushi, Bergen's very first sushi restaurant, has been successfully serving its customers new and exciting taste sensations for twelve years. Known for the high quality of its food, Nama is the perfect place to enjoy a nice family dinner, an important business lunch or an excit-

ing date. Just make sure you reserve a table at the weekends as the Nama guest book fills up quickly.

“Here at Nama quality is our guiding principle. Everything, from the commodities we use to the way our dishes are put to-

gether, as well as the service we provide, contributes to creating the great culinary experience that we are known for,” says owner Jas Kahlon. “We leave nothing to coincidence, but let our exceptional chefs create a unique experience, including both creative and traditional Japanese dishes.”

Nama offers a large and varied menu, serving everything from sushi and maki to traditional warm dishes inspired by cuisine from several Asian countries. And they have a rich drinks menu to go with it.

For customers in a rush, the restaurant offers takeaway as well.

“We aim to offer our guests only the best when it comes to both food and service, and at the same time maintain proud Japanese traditions. And we are always looking to improve ourselves,” says Khalon.

For more information, please visit: www.namasushi.no

Bergen's most exciting basement Everyone in Bergen knows Potetkjelleren, the rustic, atmospheric restaurant housed in a basement behind the famous sausage stand. Having been voted “Bergen's best restaurant” three years in a row, it is safe to say it deserves a visit

By Kjersti Westeng | Photos: Potetkjelleren

If walls could talk, Potetkjelleren’s would tell exciting stories. The basement has been used for many things in the past, but none of its previous incarnations involved the serving of such delicious food.

Potetkjelleren has been voted Bergen's best restaurant three years in a row, and with good reason as people adore the food and enjoy the buzz and ambience associated with being in such an acclaimed eatery. Restaurant manager Kjartan Pederson says: “We've got a great atmosphere here, with low ceilings, whitewashed walls and candles. A visit to Potetkjelleren isn't just about food and wine, it's an experience.”

“Potetkjelleren” means “the potato basement”, a rather deceptive name for this restaurant, especially as it serves far more than the traditional Norwegian potato dishes. Potetkjelleren is known for its 6-course menu made from fresh inseason produce. The 6-course menu varies each month, ensuring it is always exciting, even for regular customers. Diners can choose anywhere between three and six courses, or they can opt for dishes from the à la carte menu. Potetkjelleren offers the finest wine and beer to accompany its dishes, and the sommelier is always happy to give advice and recommendations. Pederson says: “We always say we make ‘popular gourmet food’ because we want everyone to feel welcome.

If you want an evening of great food and wine then come visit us.”

For more information, visit their page on Facebook or potetkjelleren.no

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 55

: M E IN E H G L T RIN

EN AG H N PE CO

Gourmet Experiences & Catering in Copenhagen

TE IA EC S & CA P S CE

ET RM U GO

IEN ER P EX

Are you looking to host an event or business lunch in Copenhagen – and do you want everyone to leave with full stomachs, with their taste buds still tingling? Or are you simply looking for a scrumptious bite to eat in the city? Look no further.

Copenhagen has been in the foodie spotlight for quite some time now, and a lot of visitors to the capital, whether there on business or for pleasure, are indeed looking for some exquisite – perhaps slightly out-of-the-ordinary – culinary experiences.

Scan Magazine has chosen a few establishments that can help you put together a colourful menu for an event or meeting and places where you can drop by for a bite of something a bit different.

Fancy some healthy street food? ANNES Gademad offers its own brand of “fast food” from its small premises in Vesterbro

as well as its bicycle-based noodle shop.

The restaurant is also happy to cater for events.

Madkonceptet is purely a catering company, which can do anything from small lunch arrangements to VIP events. Their seasonal, internationally inspired cuisine gets its flavour through spices from all corners of the world.

And at Atlas Bar, a restaurant well known for its international food and vegetarian dishes, guests are in for a truly laidback dining experience.

Read on to find out more.

By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Columbus Leth/copenhagenmediacenter.com

Oslo

Frederikshavn

Gothenburg Varberg

Grenaa Belfast Dublin Dun Laoghaire

Karlskrona

Cairnryan

Holyhead

Liverpool

Kiel

Gdynia

Rosslare Fishguard

Harwich Hook of Holland

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and sell fresh wok meals, and soon Bastholm, her exciting recipes and different concept was wanted for parties, conferences and concerts all over town.

Her regular clients soon included large organisations, such as the Danish Royal Academy, and, with many members expressing a wish to be able to take her food home, the business continued to grow. In 2011, Bastholm’s boyfriend Sofus Clementsen, an experienced chef, butcher and meat expert, joined the business, which expanded with a small takeaway restaurant in Vesterbro.

Copenhagen’s best street food Inspired by Thailand’s colourful street food, her own futile search for nutritious takeaway meals and a lifelong desire to work with food, Anne Bastholm started Copenhagen’s first street kitchen. Today, four years later, her business, ANNES Gademad, entails not just her original bicycle-based noodle shop but a large catering kitchen and an award-winning takeaway restaurant.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: ANNES Gademad

Put simply, the secret behind ANNES Gademad’s success is to prepare everything the way you would in your own kitchen (if you were a great chef and had the time for cooking). “Essentially, what we aim to do is to create gourmet meals at budget prices. We prepare everything from scratch – everything is homemade, home-conserved and home-baked,” says Bastholm. “We want people to be able to taste that we are making an effort.”

It was during an extensive trip, with her two young boys, around Thailand and Laos that Bastholm first realised the potential in healthy street food. “I wanted to revolutionise the fast food concept; I know how frustrating it is to have two crying kids and not enough time to cook, and I wanted to create a genuine and nutritious alternative to home cooking,” she explains.

This led to the creation of a modest red bicycle from which Bastholm could cook

Revamping the venue completely, the couple built their ‘dream kitchen’ and designed the restaurant in a nostalgic 70s-style with hundreds of cookbooks and items from Bastholm’s childhood kitchen lining the walls. As the interior, the restaurant’s food is dominated by a fondness for the good old times and the couple’s inherent joy in their work. “I found my purpose in creating food like this; everything in my life pointed towards it, but I didn’t dare make the leap until Sofus gave me the belief that I could do it. That we, today, everyday, can do exactly what we love and what makes sense for us, together, is just wonderful,” Bastholm says.

The restaurant meals, which can be enjoyed at home or in the small restaurant, have become popular not only with families but also with the area’s many musicians and chefs, and have earned ANNES Gademad the Danish national paper Politiken’s IBYEN’s prize for Copenhagen’s best takeaway venue in 2012.

ANNES Gademad’s menu includes three main courses - one tapas selection, one noodle dish and one main course of the day - at just 65 DKKR (40DKKR for a children’s portion).

Opening hours ANNES Gademad in Vesterbro, Enghavevej 3: Tuesday-Saturday, 4pm - 8.30pm

For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/gademad

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 57

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Gourmet Experiences & Catering in Copenhagen

Catering with a personal touch Advising customers, responding to emails and being present in the kitchen – the two owners of the Copenhagen-based catering company Madkonceptet find it important to be personally involved in all aspects of their business.

By Rikke Oberlin Flarup | Photos: Madkonceptet

“We are a small family business, and we like to make sure that we deliver the best possible service from beginning to end,” says Camilla De Jesus. Together with her husband André Hansen, she is the owner of Madkonceptet, a modern catering company taking pride in listening carefully to the wishes of their clients.

Values and deals At Madkonceptet, they have five core values that they live and breathe every day: quality, service, flexibility, honesty and creativity. Their service is based on two different concepts: the Catering Concept made especially for large events, and the Lunch Concept offering lunch arrangements for companies in and around

Copenhagen. There are no quick solutions, and every detail is carefully looked after whether they cater a VIP event at a Prince concert, your wedding or a small private gathering.

Specialities Madkonceptet’s cuisine is based on seasonal ingredients. By adding spices from all corners of the world, they give the food some extra exciting flavours and colours.

They are constantly developing new dishes inspired by global cuisines. At the moment they are having great success with their tapas menu composed of dishes such as Spanish meatballs, chicken sticks with truffle oil and lemon, and mini pizzas with goat’s cheese, walnuts and apricots.

A colourful dining experience in the heart of Copenhagen At the atmospheric Atlas Bar, a medley of spicy international dishes, vegetable juices and vegetarian recipes make up a colourful dining experience in the heart of Copenhagen’s buzzing old city centre.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Andreas Robenhagen

Founded as a vegetarian food and juice bar in 1983, Atlas Bar’s alternative and youthful image goes far back. And though the kitchen today prepares a wider choice of dishes, the restaurant is still renowned for its expertise within vegetarian cuisine.

A regular guest says: “I love visiting Atlas Bar; their vegetarian meals are so good they can tempt even a carnivore.”

On top of the vegetarian dishes, Atlas Bar serves a

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menu of international food, including eastern chicken dishes, Mexican tortillas, Pakistani lamb, South European fish

For more information, please visit: www.madkonceptet.dk

recipes, venison stew, pies and salad. The menu, which is written up on a chalkboard inside the informal lower-groundfloor restaurant, changes from day to day according to “available produce and mood”.

Through the years, Atlas Bar has gained a loyal group of regulars, among them young as well as old diners, and its small, inviting bistro tables are most often buzzing with friends, couples and families enjoying a laidback meal. To make sure you get one of the coveted tables, a reservation is to be recommended.

The owners of Atlas Bar also run the upstairs Flyvefisken, which was one of Copenhagen’s first Thai restaurants and serves a tasty menu of Thai dishes with seasonal Danish vegetables.

For more information, please visit: www.atlasbar.dk

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark

Hotel of the Month, Denmark

Pejsegården – much more than a hotel With golf tournaments, bowling and swimming facilities, and a popular comedy show, Pejsegården offers more than your ordinary hotel. The hotel, which with flexible and extensive conference facilities attracts both leisure travellers and businesses, is located in the beautiful countryside of central Jutland.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Pejsegården

relationship to the hotel and the fact that we are always here is part of it; if people come in late and the restaurant is closed, we will just go in the kitchen and make them an open sandwich,” Jytte says.

Founded in Brædstrup (between Silkeborg and Horsens) 41 years ago, Pejsegården is today run by the founder Grethe Nygård’s daughter, Jytte Nygård. Throughout the years, the hotel, which consists of 5,500 square metres, 120 double rooms with balconies, and conference facilities for up to 500 people, has been known not just for its array of offers but also its distinctively high service standards. “From the feedback we get from our conference guests I know that our very high service standard and flexible attitude are two of the things that people really notice,” explains Jytte.

This is, however, only relevant for really late arrivals as Pejsegården’s Panorama restaurant is open until 11pm. The restaurant offers a selection of high-quality, traditional Danish dishes with an international twist, and beautiful forest views. In the hotel’s bistro, guests will find a range of good-value Danish meals, as well as bowling, billiard and gambling facilities.

Having practically grown up at Pejsegården, Jytte, who is a trained chef, and her husband today spend more or less seven days a week at the hotel. “Of course our

Another of the hotel’s attractions is its ideal setting; sandwiched between forests and lakes, it is just a short drive from two of Jutland’s major attractions, Legoland and

Himmelbjerget (Denmark’s highest point).

The area also offers great opportunities for golfing and, on top of package deals on golf and hotel stays, Pejsegården arranges a string of popular golf tournaments throughout the summer and autumn.

On top of this, the fact that the hotel has its own hugely popular comedy show, Pejseshowet, it is not difficult to find a reason to visit Pejsegården. Pejseshowet runs from 30 August-23 November.

Pejsegården, Søndergade 112, 8740 Brædstrup Tel. +45 75 75 17 66

For more information, please visit: www.pejsegaarden.dk

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 59

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Sweden

Hotel of the Month, Sweden

The affordable way to enjoy Stockholm Based on the idea that good quality does not need to be wasteful, Welcome Hotel is the affordable holiday and conferencing option that lets you enjoy the Stockholm region while leaving the car in the suburb and saving your money for shopping. Family-owned, approved by eco-label Svanen and a member of conference booking group Svenska Möten, this is a little bit of everything you need – right in between Stockholm city and Arlanda.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Welcome Hotel

Having worked with hospitality for Scandic Hotels and SAS and been lucky enough to get to study at Cornel University, the most renowned educational institution in the industry, Claes Roos had an idea: “I wanted to start up a nice, modern and en-

60 | Issue 52 | May 2013

joyable hotel – but simple and affordable.”

After pitching the idea to his wife and finding the perfect piece of land in Järfälla north of Stockholm, only one challenge remained: securing funding.

The concept almost pitched itself. Where other hotels insisted on having both a café and a traditional restaurant with white linen tablecloths, Roos opted for an all-in-one bistro; where others planned 70 rooms, Roos found a way to fit 100; and with every single room created as a prefab fitted with furniture and the whole lot, the quote for the entire build ended up at less than a quarter of what a similarly-sized hotel a stone's throw away had cost. Roos found himself in the lucky position of being able to choose between interested investors, and finally, in 1985, Roos and his wife and business partner Catharina opened up the doors to

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Sweden

Welcome Hotel, welcoming not only hotel guests but also students as part of a special training programme.

Unbelievable prices in an unbelievable location Today, the privately run hotel is one of the most popular in the area, known for surprisingly low prices and a great location for shopping trips to both the nearby Barkarby Outlet and Stockholm city. The region is booming, and with free parking and excellent transport links to the capital as well as Arlanda airport, tourists and families on a weekend away are only some of the customers who find that Welcome Hotel is just what they need.

“Our new big thing is the Family Connection Room concept, which came about as our new COO wanted to find some good use for all the single rooms in the summer season and ended up knocking through a door between two of them,” says Roos. “It's immensely popular and incredibly cheap considering you get all that space along with two bathrooms and showers.” COO Lena Sander started at Welcome Hotel as a trainee 16 years ago and worked her way up, and with July this year going down as the busiest month in the history of the business, her appointment has been a resounding success.

While the 160 rooms offer all the modern conveniences you would expect, including free Wi-Fi, there is plenty more to the location than just handy commuter trains and motorways. One of the biggest nature reserves of the Stockholm region, a nearby running track in a beautiful setting, and a sauna and gym facilities that are open every day of the week will please the fitness fans, and families on summer holidays tend to appreciate the heated outdoor pool.

Family-owned, charming and ideal for conferencing There have been good days and bad days in the 27 years since the opening, with more customers than the hotel could house at the end of the 1980s and a difficult phase during the property crisis half a decade later, but the ticket to complete

Welcome Hotel is the affordable holiday and conferencing option that lets you enjoy the Stockholm region while leaving the car in the suburb and saving your money for shopping.

freedom came through the investment in Mornington Hotels, a chain the pair had been doing consultancy work for. At the turn of the millennium, having owned the chain for ten years, they sold it off and for the first time ever were able to become the sole owners of Welcome Hotel: the land, the property and the business itself.

As if that was not enough, they took over the old 17th century inn, Lasse Maja, which in addition to buckets of history and charm also offers ideal conferencing facilities and a popular restaurant for business representation. Named after the notorious thief who in 1812 was charged with stealing goods from the local church, the place is now known primarily for its traditional Christmas smorgasbord, or “julbord”. Attracting 10,000 guests every

Christmas season, including locally residing celebrities, it is among the most popular julbord destinations in the entire Stockholm region.

“What’s so exciting about this whole thing is that, when you think of it, very few of the bigger hotels are privately owned these days – it’s all big chains. We’ve been running this in the family all along, and we’re hoping to continue to do so,” says the proud founder. Put simply, it’s a cost-saving idea implemented to share its moneysaving benefits with you, the customer, all without skimping on the good stuff.

That way, everybody is a winner.

For more information, please visit: www.welcomehotel.se

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 61

Photo: Graham Austick

Hotel of the Month, Norway

Experience the thrilling diversity of Northern Norway High above the Arctic Circle in Norway lies Lyngen Lodge, ready to offer exhilarating nature adventures combined with lavish accommodation and exceptional cuisine.

the opportunity to explore the caves and crystal-blue glacier ice.

By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Lyngen Lodge

“There is also a very popular river boat journey that brings guests up the Reisa River and is concluded at the foot of Norway’s highest waterfall, Mollisfossen, 275 metres high,” Braathen says.

on the arrival of the midnight sun at end of May. Flowers bloom, migrating birds nest, rivers fill with fish, and giant waterfalls cascade towards the ocean creating a picture-perfect setting for a summer holiday in Northern Norway,” says Elisabeth Braathen, manager and owner of Lyngen Lodge.

With spring upon us and summer approaching, guests have the chance of exploring the inimitable nature of Northern Norway through sea safaris, riverboat cruises, salmon fishing, mountain trekking or by discovering the glaciers.

“We want to welcome the summer, and we offer a combination between relaxation and mountain- and fjord-based activities to suit individuals, families and groups. “The Lyngen Alps form an Arctic summer paradise that explodes into life

Lyngen Lodge is the only lodge that offers the full concept, including transport, meals, activities and facilities designed specifically to create the most advantageous Arctic holiday experience. “Among the most popular attractions we have is the sea safari, experiencing the wide diversity of fjord life, with dolphin-spotting, deep-sea fishing and a trip to Glacier Bay. “We also have the glacier explorer experience, where guests – after a quick training session with our guides – will have

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Lyngen Lodge works hard to ensure a friendly environment for its guests. “Several guests have told us that they arrived as guests but left as friends; it’s important to us to maintain this friendly atmosphere, so the guests can continue to feel at home,” Braathen adds.

Photo: Graham Austick

Located in dramatic surroundings, where the steep mountains meet the fjords, Lyngen Lodge can provide guests with all the required guiding and gear for a supreme holiday in Northern Norway, which can include the northern lights, skiing, great cod fishing or enjoying the midnight sun – depending on the season.

For more information, please visit: www.lyngenlodge.com

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland

Superior twin room

Hotel of the Month, Finland

Tranquillity and a welcoming reception in the heart of Helsinki Within walking distance of popular attractions, shops and Helsinki’s trendy hotspots, Hotel Anna offers a charming and welcoming base from which to explore the many sights, sounds and tastes of the capital. Its location is convenient for both leisure and business travellers, and while it is situated at the heart of the city’s vibrant Design District, it still provides its own little oasis of tranquillity, where you can retreat for an undisturbed night of sleep.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Hotel Anna

Set in a building that dates back to 1925, Hotel Anna, which was established in 1985, offers a homely and characteristic alternative to chain hotels. A charming atmosphere permeates the hotel, starting from the front desk, where all guests will be welcomed with an eager-to-assist attitude. The staff take great pleasure in being able to assist guests with even the trickiest of requests, and they have plenty of experience doing so – five of the seven full-time employees have worked at the hotel for over 20 years, boasting 130 years of combined service experience.

Hotel Anna comprises 64 comfortable rooms, out of which half are single rooms,

and the rest consist of twin rooms, some of which have room for two extra beds, junior suites, and the hugely popular quadruple room. In addition to the guest rooms, the hotel includes a sauna, a 12-person meeting room and a breakfast restaurant; there is also parking available in a private garage close by. All guests can make use of the hotel’s free Wi-Fi, as well as the computer and printing equipment in the conference room.

“One of our best qualities, however, is our location. We are set in the middle of the city, within walking distance of services and shops, but guests can still have a peaceful night’s sleep here. We call ourselves an oasis of tranquillity within the buzzing city;

there is no restaurant or pub in this building that would be open late, and the only people you will meet here are guests of the hotel. It’s a calm and safe place to stay,” explains hotel manager Kari Törmä.

However, if you are looking for a night out in the city, trendy restaurants and bars are only minutes away, and for a cultural boost to your stay, the Design Museum and Museum of Finnish Architecture are just around the corner. And if you are at a loss for where to go or how to get somewhere, the friendly staff is at hand to answer your questions.

Hotel Anna’s popular quadruple room

For more information, please visit: www.hotelanna.fi

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 63

Gjethuset’s raw industrial character creates a striking setting for artworks such as the delicate paper cuttings by Yuko Takada Keller above.

Attraction of the Month, Denmark

Paper cuttings and rock music in industrial settings Located in a historic canon factory, Gjethuset in Frederiksværk acts as the link between the town’s proud industrial past and its modern, vibrant cultural life. Every year an array of events, business fairs and international art exhibitions, rock and classical concerts, take place in the striking culture house.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Gjethuset

Founded in 1990, Gjethuset has gained a significant place on the cultural scene of North Zealand. With its ambitious and diverse cultural programme, the cultural house, which is the region’s largest and

most striking, attracts people from far and near.

“The main goal for us, when we put together the programme, is to reach the

widest audience possible; that’s why we have, for instance, concerts with big international rock bands as well as intimate classical concerts,” explains communication manager Manisha Mie Petersen, adding: “The house looks very different from week to week. We can change the divisions and settings according to our programme; one day we can host a small

Far left: Though set in the heart of Frederiksværk, Gjethuset’s raw industrial charm is engulfed in lush greenery.

Left: Gjethuset’s industrial past is apparent and artistically conveyed everywhere.

64 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark

The young Danish pop icon Rasmus Seebach will be visiting Gjethuset again this summer.

play for schoolchildren and the next a major outdoor rock concert.”

Gjethuset’s 2000 square metres include a concert hall, stage, cafe, exhibition area and changing rooms. With meeting and conference facilities for up to 500 people, the house has also become a popular venue for business conventions with or without a cultural twist.

Last year’s concert with the legendary British band Status Quo attracted fans from all over Europe.

institution that the whole city could be proud of and take part in, and, with a broad array of visitors, volunteer workers and regular users, this has been achieved.

Raw charm and natural beauty Located in the heart of Frederiksværk, Gjethuset’s raw industrial charm is beautifully contrasted with the green meadows by the large Arresø Lake and, on the other side, the glistening Roskilde Fjord.

Industry and culture hand in hand Built in the 18th century as a canon casting factory, Gjethuset is central to Frederiksværk’s identity as one of the most significant production places in the Danish metal industry. Because of its many rare industrial constructions and machines, the town was, in 2007, listed as one of Denmark’s 25 most important industrial inheritances.

“Frederiksværk is a very distinctive city and the building [Gjethuset] is equally exceptional. It is a very big, beautiful building; you don’t see a building like that anywhere else in Northern Zealand,” says Petersen. “You feel like you walk right into the history that we are all part of – no matter who you are. The industry of metal has had a big impact on the entire world.”

Despite its historic significance, the building was almost left to ruin in the late 80s when the idea of transforming it into a cultural centre saved it. The ambition behind the culture house was to create an

The striking contrasts continue inside where delicate artworks, bright colours and serene string music hover among massive stone walls and high ceilings.

With adjustable walls, the three-winged building, which can be united or split up to adapt to special requirements, has played a huge part in the exceptional character of many events and exhibitions. Last year, the rough surroundings created a striking

Location: Gjethuset is located just by Frederiksværk Station and is less than an hour’s drive from central Copenhagen and Copenhagen Airport.

Major upcoming concerts: 16 August: Thomas Helmig (outdoors), 17 August: Rasmus Seebach (outdoors), 6 October: Anne Linnet Band, 12 October: Medina.

Current exhibitons: Leif Sylvester Overflod (running until 29 May 2013)

contrast to the delicate paper cuttings of Japanese artist Yuko Takada Keller. They also perfectly enhanced the rock band Status Quo’s concert, delighting fans who travelled from all over Denmark, Sweden and Germany to the see the legendary British band’s performance.

This year, the house will host a diverse exhibition of paintings, sculptures and grave monuments by the Danish multi-artist Leif Sylvester; outdoor performances by three of the biggest names in Danish pop, Thomas Helmig, Rasmus Seebach and Medina; and concerts by two of Denmark’s most talented musicians, cellist Andreas Brandelid and violinist Nikolai Znaider.

For more information, please visit: www.gjethuset.dk

Conferences: Gjethuset cooperates with local restaurants and hotels to create complete conference and meeting experiences of all sizes. Conferences can be combined with a cultural programme tailor-made in dialogue between the client and Gjethuset.

Capacity: Gjethuset’s main concert and theatre hall seats 480 guests (1300 standing); the smaller hall seats 85 people (180 standing), and outdoor events facilitate up to 3300 guests.

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 65

autobiographical piece starring actress Laura Malmivaara, which tackles the death of a pet, attachment and grief; Where is Where? (2009), starring actors Kati Outinen, Tommi Korpela and Leea Klemola, a narrative about colonialism and the clash of cultures, in which a poetess in Finland in the present day witnesses a young boy being killed by his friends during the Algerian war of independence; and Horizontal (2011), a portrait of a spruce, which was shot in six parts as it was impossible to otherwise capture such a large tree.

Attraction of the Month, Finland

Enter Parallel Worlds in Helsinki

All of the video installations have English subtitles and are thus easily accessible to all museum visitors. “Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s exhibitions have often attracted a wide variety of visitors as the narrative feel in her works and the breadth of the themes in her storytelling feel attractive to most people,” adds Haapala.

Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Parallel Worlds: 19.04 - 01.09

Explore the relationship between man, animal and nature, as well as the parallel worlds we inhabit, through Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s new, extensive exhibition at Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki. Showing this spring and summer, the exhibition, Rinnakkaiset maailmat or Parallel Worlds, presents works by the internationally renowned Finnish contemporary artist from the last ten years.

By Nia Kajastie | Photo: Finnish National Gallery / Central Art Archives / Petri Virtanen

Since its opening in 1998, Kiasma has formed a lively cultural hub directly in the heart of Helsinki – almost impossible to miss as the curved glass and concrete building is set right by the main road approaching the city centre.

As an art museum aiming to strengthen the status of contemporary art in Finland as well as open up new discussions on art, the spring and summer programme at Kiasma is sure to fulfil this objective, offering new viewpoints on themes such as memory, globalisation, and human consciousness and identity. The exhibition Parallel Worlds delves into Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s illustrious output of moving image art, which is presented through installations that use images, sound and storytelling.

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“She has been known as a central figure within moving image art since the mid90s, which saw the breakthrough of video art,” explains exhibition curator Leevi Haapala. “Her work doesn’t rely on cinematic, chronological storytelling on one screen, but instead divides the visual narrative between separate canvases.

She has been part of creating this type of narration, where the viewer plays a central part, picking up different bits from the stream of images and piecing the story together. It’s both a rewarding and challenging experience, and with each viewing you will discover something different.”

Among her work currently on display at Kiasma, visitors to the museum can experience The Hour of Prayer (2005), an

Top: Missä on missä? - Where is Where? (2008) by Eija-Liisa Ahtila. Photo: Malla Hukkanen. Below: Marian ilmestys - The Annunciation (2010) by Eija-Liisa Ahtila. Photo: Antti Ruusuvuori; © 2011 Crystal Eye – Kristallisilmä Oy, Helsinki. Courtesy of the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York and Paris.

For more information and a full exhibition programme, please visit: www.kiasma.fi

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway

even in teenagers. But we know that Ibsen was a very private man, and we have decided to keep his study and his bedroom behind a glass wall as I don’t think he would have liked strangers to have access to his most personal belongings.”

Detailed and fun

Henrik Ibsen’s study

Attraction of the Month, Norway

Up close and personal with Henrik Ibsen

Before joining the guided tours of the apartment, visitors can enjoy the permanent exhibition that presents Ibsen through themes and is made up of personal artefacts. The exhibition is modern, light-hearted and fun, and even includes the poet’s coat and hat, hung at the correct height so that visitors can experience the world from Ibsen’s point of view. “We have visitors who come and spend the whole day and those who just skim through. But there is something new to discover for everyone.”

Visit the Ibsen museum in Oslo at Henrik Ibsens gate 26.

Few Norwegian writers have left an international legacy similar to that of Henrik Ibsen, who is known to most people for his ever-modern and controversial play A Doll's House. In Oslo, you can get a peek into the famous playwright’s apartment and life at the Ibsen Museum.

By Anette Berve | Photos: Courtesy of Norwegian Folk Museum / Ibsen Museum by Anne-Lise Reinsfelt

The museum is located in the apartment complex where Ibsen lived with his wife during the last 11 years of his life. Since the museum has been built around his home, it sets the tone for a personal encounter, and the whole building functions as an extension of the museum. The ground, first and third floors house permanent and temporary exhibitions, even the elevator is decorated with old newspaper clippings mentioning Ibsen. When you walk upstairs to his apartment on the third floor, you walk the stairs Ibsen himself walked 100 years ago.

Sneak peek In 1990, actor Knut Wigert had the idea to make the apartment available to the public and initiated the idea of a museum.

Since the furniture and belongings left by Ibsen and his wife had been donated to various museums or kept in the family, it was possible to put the apartment back to its original appearance based on photographs and letters. Academic consultant Bergljot Øyrehagen Geist explains that it was far from an easy project. “Years of redecorations had to be removed to find the original paint and colour, and walls and ceiling had to be removed to put the apartment back to its original layout.” In 1993, the museum was opened for visitors. Øyrehagen Geist explains that they have put a lot of effort into making the museum fun and interesting for all ages.

“Knowing that it is his desk and the actual chair he sat in tends to spark an interest

Henrik Ibsen lived from 1828-1906.

He was a playwright, poet and theatre director.

He was named “the father of realism”.

Ibsen is internationally known for Ghosts, Peer Gynt, A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabler.

For more information, please visit: www.norskfolkemuseum.no/en/Relate d-units/The-Ibsen-Museum

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 67

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden

Attraction of the Month, Sweden

Clockwise from top left: Gunnel Mauritzson Band; Johan Norberg and Jonas Knutsson; Quilty; conductor Gustaf Sjökvist; Viktoria Tolstoy and Svante Thuresson; Uno Svenningsson; and Anja Storelv

An unexpected centre of music When thinking about the north of Sweden, perhaps what first springs to mind is the prospect of enjoying some ski slopes, but since 30 years back, the summers up north are most famous for Festspelen i Piteå (“The Festival in Piteå”). This year, it will be visited by some of Sweden’s most prominent musicians in classical music, folk music and jazz, including Ale Möller Band, Svante Thuresson and Viktoria Tolstoy.

high musical quality of our artists, creating magic in a beautiful environment, and we really want to encourage people to discover new music and attend concerts and use the music to connect with others,” says Lindmark.

By Therese Wallin | Photos: Courtesy of Festspelen i Piteå

“The Festival in Piteå is so much more than your ordinary music festival,” says Susanna Lindmark, the CEO and artistic director, “it is an opportunity for visitors to connect with music and other music lovers.” Indeed, the festival takes place in the most beautiful surroundings; it is all embedded in the wonderful landscape of Norrland, and the Festival in Piteå makes the most out of nature. “This year, many concerts will take place outside, so that our visitors can enjoy the surroundings and bring some picnic with them. It is truly an indescribable setting, with the light of the sun lasting throughout the night.”

tival of Piteå there will be an opportunity for people to enjoy music on board a boat travelling through the archipelagos around Piteå. “There are around 500 islands around here, so we want to make the most out of it and let people enjoy world-class music, in the midst of good food and drink, on a boat travelling around the indescribable landscape,” says Lindmark.

Indeed, this year’s festival will have many concerts taking place in the most unexpected spots.

Attended by all

Concerts here, concerts everywhere For the first time in the history of the Fes-

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No matter what age or how musically knowledgeable you are, the Festival in Piteå will tickle your senses and allow you to experience a wealth of musical pleasure.

“One of the most wonderful things about the Festival in Piteå is the outstandingly

For more information, please visit: www.festspelen.se

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland

The Below the Mountains tour (left) is offered all year round, while the Hot Springs Tour (top middle) is a one-day summer excursion.

Attraction of the Month, Iceland

Experience the soul of the land and people – on horseback If you are looking for a different way of experiencing Iceland, Eldhestar offers a large selection of tours that will introduce visitors to the country’s unique wilderness, history, culture and the soul of the land and people – and all this together with the Icelandic horse and its special gait, tölt. With riding tours available all year round, ranging from one to two hours to several days, with all kinds of added activities included, there is sure to be something for everyone, no matter the age or riding ability.

itage Tour offers insight into Icelandic agriculture and a good opportunity to experience the horses’ special gait, tölt, while the Speciality of the Season is a riding tour in the spirit of the Vikings, which also includes a taste of traditional Icelandic food.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Eldhestar

While the tours are excellent for experienced riders with a general interest in horses, more and more beginners are also visiting Eldhestar as they want to experience riding an Icelandic horse while in Iceland. “The horses are such an important part of our history, and part of the basis of the existence of people in this country,” explains Bjarnason.

Established in 1986, Eldhestar’s base is located at their farmstead Vellir, just a 30minute drive from Reykjavík. All of their riding tours begin at the farm, which is complemented by the countryside eco-hotel, Hótel Eldhestar, which is the first hotel in Iceland to have received the Nordic Swan ecolabel; it also won the environmental award issued by the Tourist Board of Iceland in 2011.

Eldhestar offers the largest selection of riding tours in Iceland, including half-day and day tours, short tours of 2-5 days, and longer tours and wilderness tours of 6-7 days. Each tour includes its own special character and gives visitors a taste of Iceland’s varying landscapes, while also of-

fering them greater insight into the country’s history and culture.

According to one of Eldhestar’s founders and the current general manager, Hróðmar Bjarnason, among their more requested tours is the Hot Springs Tour, which is a one-day excursion available in summer. “This tour goes to the Reykjadalur Valley, where you can experience the hot springs and then have a bath in a warm stream. The valley and its surrounding area are actually among the reasons why we started this company 27 year ago,” he says.

Out of the all-year tours, Bjarnason mentions two popular 2-hour tours: the Her-

The diverse landscape surrounding Eldhestar is also ideal for the varying types of tours. “We have mountains, a volcanic area, valleys, lowlands and river banks.

On our tours, guests will be riding in totally different kinds of areas,” Bjarnason adds.

For more information, please visit: www.eldhestar.is

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 69

Restaurant of the Month, Norway

A different culinary experience When Norwegian restaurant Credo decided to entirely renovate their space, the one thing that was never going to change was their basic idea. When they recently reopened, it was with the addition of a bistro on the second floor of their Trondheim restaurant.

With this new dining experience on offer, their philosophy is clearer than ever: Great food, with great wine.

By Hannah Gillow Kloster | Photos: Credo

“We wanted a place we would want to go ourselves,� Bjerkan states when asked about the founding ideas behind the restaurant. Since they opened 14 years ago, they have indeed remained true to

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that sentiment. Furthermore, with the recent renovation, the second floor space has been made into a bistro, a more casual yet still food-centric dining environment.

From the start, Credo’s dining experience has been based around whatever produce and ingredients the kitchen has available that particular day. Chef Espen Aunaas, former captain of the Norwegian team

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

which took silver in the 2012 Culinary Olympics, does not provide his guests with a menu. Rather, he will create a series of dishes based on what high-quality local ingredients are available on any given day.

kitchen that morning. Bjerkan states that a central part of the restaurant’s dining experience is, in fact, “the combination of great food with great wine, not just each component on its own.”

By focusing on seasonal ingredients, Credo has been able to build close relationships with local providers. Coordinator Heidi Bjerkan explains that “the seafood from the area is particularly astounding, especially the Norway lobster and the scallops, which are really unique.” In addition to the bounty of the sea, which is a staple of the Trøndelag region, they get both lamb and reindeer from surrounding providers, as well as vegetables and milk from local farms.

A sample menu from the dining space reveals a unique pairing of ingredients by chef Aunaas. A sugar salted halibut paired with champagne or local scallops with seaweed and mushroom broth paired with a muscadet from the Loire valley are only some of the mouth-watering combinations Aunaas has created, bringing out the unique flavour of each ingredient.

Just like their produce and ingredients, their wine has not travelled far, at least relatively speaking. Concentrating on European wines, Credo has built up a wine cellar of predominantly German, French and Italian wines. By having a large selection of wines from a relatively small area, the staff are able to pair every menu item with a suitable wine, regardless of what ingredients may have entered the

While the bistro still provides the locally sourced high-quality ethos of the ground floor restaurant, it is more casual, more low key and relaxed. The idea is to open up the great food experiences they have to offer to a wider public, and so far the new concept has been very well received on the dining scene. Though with a different atmosphere, the basic idea is still the same.

According to Bjerkan: “The bistro creates an even stronger focus on food and wine, which can now be enjoyed on several different premises.”

Coordinator Heidi Bjerkan

Based in central Trondheim, Credo sees a lot of diners coming not only from out of town, but from abroad as well. Part of this is because of Trondheim’s status as an international research university town, but Bjerkan explains that they increasingly see so-called “food tourism” – and with such a uniquely local and exciting menu as the one Aunaas presents, that is hardly strange.

As Scandinavian cuisine is making its mark on the culinary world, this restaurant is creating its own brand of cuisine that is Scandinavian by default, rather than by force. By championing local produce and ingredients unique to the region, Credo is putting Trøndelag and Trondheim on the map. With the bistro open for business, and an ever-changing menu, Credo offers an exciting and different dining experience while never losing sight of the original idea: Great food, with great wine.

For more information, please visit: www.restaurantcredo.no

Chef Espen Aunaas

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 71

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark

Indulge in authentic Italian treats in Næstved’s historic Røde Pakhus If you ask a passer-by in the streets of Næstved where to go for an authentic Italian meal, almost all will agree: Peperoncino Siciliano, Det Røde Pakhus, is the best Italian restaurant in town.

Peperoncino Siciliano’s menu contains a broad and tempting selection of antipasti, pasta, risotto, meat, fish, pizza and tempting Italian desserts.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Peperoncino Siciliano

The restaurant was founded in 2005 when owner Giuseppe Franco decided to merge his two hugely popular restaurants, Peperoncino and Siciliano, and move into Det Røde Pakhus, a beautiful historic warehouse in the heart of Næstved.

Sicilian Guiseppe, who came to Denmark as a chef in training when he was 15, has, though he quickly settled into the Danish restaurant world, remained faithful to the culinary traditions of his homeland. “I primarily work with the Italian and Sicilian kitchen. Sicilian food is very simple – it’s a lot of stews with all of the best from nature – no additives – everything is chopped and prepared right here in the kitchen, then it goes

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right into the casserole and onto the table,” he explains.

With him in the kitchen, Guiseppe has a fellow Sicilian who arrived in Denmark just two months ago and is, stresses the owner, a true master in creating the simple but tasteful dishes that Italy is known for. “Fileppo is straight in from Mazara del Vallo, [a small seaside town in Sicily and one of Italy’s most important fishing centres], and quite a seafood specialist.

But he also does those very simple dishes; he does this pasta with garlic, olive oil, breadcrumbs, pines and pistachio nuts – it’s very simple, almost no ingredients, but so delicious, and very typical of Sicily’s kitchen.”

Apart from the great food, it is the beautiful historic settings and relaxed atmosphere which attract Peperoncino Siciliano’s many regular guests, including many of the town organisations and businesses. In its two charming white-bricked and wooden-beamed rooms, the restaurant can accommodate up to 110 à la carte diners downstairs and companies of up to 100 guests upstairs. The restaurant also boasts a wine room where guests can browse and select their wine, as well as a charming courtyard open during summer months.

For more information, please visit: www.peperoncino.dk

Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour

IS IT JUST ME... NO! This time I know it’s not just me. This time I’m certain of what many of us have suspected all along: Sick men ARE whinier than sick women.

And now we have proof the infamous “man-flu” is a real thing.

Recently doctors conducted a study which proved that men’s pain threshold was lower than women’s.

To me that seems like a relatively harmless conclusion, but it caused an outburst of online rage and a large number of spiteful comments from furious men on various debate sites.

A lot of the men commenting found the conclusion to be “unfair”. Not a great point from someone who tries to come across as being “non-whiny”(!).

Other men claimed that it just SEEMED that flu-ridden men were whinier because women whine ALL the time, so when men finally whine a little, it seems like a much bigger deal.

Being an artist

Sometimes people ask me why I decided to become an artist and writer. No one in my family has an arty job. And even though I always dreamed of becoming an artist as a child, it was always just that – the kind of naïve ambition that exists before realising that there are real jobs, be-

By Mette Lisby

A large number of men was offended by the conclusion of the study, claiming it was wrong to stereotype by gender. However, they also claimed that stereotyping was typical of ALL women.

Additionally the study showed that men more often than women tend to over-dramatize trivial illnesses like headaches, colds etc. I have to say, given the number of hysterically offended men who reacted online, this seems very plausible.

If the study is true, I am not ashamed to admit to possessing certain masculine (whiny) traits. Yes! You heard me! When it comes to pain, I take it like a man!

At age 9, I kissed my dolls a tearstained “Adios”, whilst preparing to die from what was clearly appendicitis.

This is where my Mom – unfazed by my dramatic antics – dryly pointed out that the appendix is placed on your right side and NOT on the left side – details!

I see no humiliation in admitting to

this, and I find that men insulted by the study are digging themselves a pretty big hole by reacting to it with feverish fury.

I suggest that if men want to write spiteful comments about the female threshold for pain, they must first endure getting a Brazilian.

PS. Guys, if you don’t know what that is, you don’t know pain at all.

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”.

By Maria Smedstad

yond being a fireman, an artist or a professional werewolf. I think the answer to why I do what I do lies in the fact that I moved to England. I started school here just before taking my GCSEs. You know – those important exams that everyone knows about. Except perhaps for me, just as I was about to take them. I remember telling my parents about something to do with four letters that would be coming up just before the summer. After that I would go on to do something to do with one letter, the A-levels. For this I had to choose three topics. It felt like a kind of trick question. I got to pick three fun things and put subjects like netball and maths behind me forever. Clearly I was going to pick art! Who doesn’t enjoy faffing around with paint? As I also enjoyed writing, I picked English, and then – just for fun – psychology. At the end of my A-levels I stood there with my three grades scratching my head. I had to start thinking about what I wanted to do for real. To put the de-

cision off I went to art college for another four years. And then I was suddenly an adult. All my friends in Sweden were now accountants and teachers and anaesthetists. I had a largely accidental art degree and a hefty student loan. There was only one thing to do: Move to London and become a bartender.

Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. She writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 73

Scan Business | Key Note | Nordea

Scan Business Key Note 74 | Business Column 76 | Business Calendar 78 | News 78

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New General Manager for Nordea London

By Truls Birkeland, General Manager at Nordea London Branch

Since the turn of the year, Truls Birkeland (39) has headed Nordea’s London branch, where he manages what is an extension of the Nordic region’s largest bank, but is also in many ways a miniature version of Nordea.

Can you give a short description of Nordea London?

Nordea London is actually a miniature bank, and very different from a typical branch office. Here, we have our own client systems, in-house IT department, compliance function, middle office and back office, and we operate under our own local banking licence.

How would you characterise a typical client?

The London branch serves large corporate clients with international operations, such as Nordic companies with international interests and multinational companies with regional interests. We have a recognised industry expertise in, and a long-term commitment to, the maritime industries, with a global presence serving the shipping and offshore industries. The London branch does not provide banking services for individuals in the UK, but our colleagues at Nordea Bank S.A. in Lux-

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embourg offer UK residents a full range of private banking products and services, including wealth management and wealth planning.

What are you looking forward to the most?

I really enjoy working with the experienced, versatile team here in London. Many of them have spent decades working for Nordea and its predecessors, and are recognised for their skills and service competence by UK clients and Nordic colleagues alike. On a personal level, I work in one of the most important financial centres in the world – what is there not to like?

Is your own nationality of any significance to the job?

Firstly, Nordea is a truly Nordic bank; nationality is never an issue when it comes to management positions. However, for myself as a Norwegian, I believe there are many important links between Norway and Britain, such as historical ties and geographical proximity, and this makes the cultural difference a feature of mutual interest rather than a potential source of friction.

Furthermore, I spent my university years in England and have since come to London quite frequently over the past fifteen years,

Truls Birkeland, General Manager at Nordea London Branch

mainly for work. I believe I have a fair idea of what represents a good balance between the Nordic and the British, both in terms of how we run the bank and how we create great customer experiences.

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Scan Business | Column | Helena Whitmore

Exchange of tax information – the world is becoming more open

By Helena Whitmore, Senior Wealth Structuring Adviser, SEB Private Banking UK

The tax authorities around the world are looking for ways to raise money, and at the same time there is increased focus in the press generally on the desire to stamp out tax evasion. Historically, many international finance centres have had a sizeable proportion of customers whose main aim was to hide their assets from their home country tax authorities, rather than obtaining the best asset management services. This strategy got many customers into trouble, in several cases along with the banks which had assisted them.

The world is now a very different place, where banking secrecy towards the tax authorities (as opposed to confidentiality and discretion) is generally a thing of the past. The tax authorities are able to use a number of highly effective strategies to collect tax information and intelligence from other countries. This will catch out not only the deliberate tax evaders, but also the many more who have simply not yet taken the time to work out what their tax reporting responsibilities are. Often the complexity of moving from one country to another causes people to leave their tax questions to another day, or they may lose track of the rules when tax laws change. One such example is the fundamental changes made to the UK remittance basis regime from 6 April 2008, after which the reporting of foreign assets has become a much more complex question for the international community in the UK. Recently, the UK authorities have launched disclosure facilities relating to undisclosed assets in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, in addition to the Liechtenstein disclosure facility which was announced in 2009. Together with the information exchange taking place in accordance with the EU savings directive, the UK/Swiss tax agreement, the US

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FATCA legislation and the numerous tax information exchange agreements etc signed in recent years, it is essential to ensure that any overseas accounts are handled properly. There are many reasons why people will, and often should, choose to hold international accounts, including tax efficiency, the desire to hold assets in a stable jurisdiction and the need for international services. It is now becoming clearer to both customers and their banks that they must not overlook both the stepping stone of making sure that the investments held do not create tax problems where the customer lives, and the need to understand the local and crossborder tax issues. Integrating your asset management strategy with tax optimisation in a cross-border context is complex, but not dealing with those issues will inevitably cause opportunities to be lost. As a private bank, we have to understand our clients’ needs. Assisting with cross-border tax and wealth structuring is an integral part of our services, so that we can properly follow our clients when they move from one country to another, or acquire assets in new places.

Increased transparency in the banking world is good for the customers because that way competition can be based on excellent service, performance and team work, rather than on the mere choice of a location which does not exchange infor-

mation. If this article gives you reasons to stop and think, then raise the issue with us or your financial adviser.

For more information, email: privatebanking@seb.co.uk or call 020 7246 4307

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achievement a Man Mannaz is an international frontrunner in leadership development.

A do Adopting innovative and efficient learning methods and approaches, w wee empower people development and business success.

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Scan Business | News | Scandinavian Business Calendar

Scandinavian Business Calendar – Highlights of Scandinavian business events All Energy networking event at Burness Paull & Williamsons LLP For more information on the event visit: www.nbccuk.com Venue: Burness Paull & Williamsons LLP, Union Plaza, 5th Floor, 1 Union Wynd, AB10 1DQ, Aberdeen, Scotland Date: 22 May

Norwegian 17th May National Day Celebrations Welcome to the annual Norwegian National Day celebrations in Southwark Park. The event is organised by the 17th May committee in London of which NBCC is a part along with other companies and individuals in London. You can find updated information about the programme for the day on: www.17mai.org.uk Venue: Southwark Park, London Date: 17 May

Entrepreneurship Forum – A Bigger Splash Join the SCC and the Young Professionals for the highly anticipated Entrepreneurship Forum. The event will welcome a number of exciting entrepreneurs from Sweden and the UK. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to and discuss new thoughts for developing opportunities in business.

Sign up at www.scc.org.uk Date: 28 May

Lunch O’Clock Live at Watermen’s Hall Join the SCC for a casual networking luncheon and get the chance to dine with fellow SCC members in a relaxed environment. Use your lunch break to get out of the office, discuss current issues and exchange ideas, thoughts and experiences. This time, we will dine at the majestic venue Watermen’s Hall, which is located in the City of London.

Sign up at www.scc.org.uk Date: 17 May

Nordic Thursday Drinks The Thursday Drinks is a perfect occasion to network with people from the Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and British business communities in an informal atmosphere. Canapés and welcome drinks are generously sponsored for the "early birds" with their names on the guest list.

Venue: Radisson BLU Portman Hotel, 22 Portman Square, London W1H 7BG Date: 30 May

Young Danish talent showcased at the Saatchi Gallery

By Nia Kajastie

A painting by Danish sixth-former Sashia Palmqvist was recently among the 20 shortlisted entries for the Saatchi Gallery/Sunday Telegraph Art Prize for Schools. At the prizegiving ceremony on 17 April 2013, she was among the two runners-up for the prestigious prize.

The 17-year-old, who moved to the UK with her family when she was only six months old, is currently in her final year of A-levels at Colfe's School in London. Sashia, who was shortlisted for her ‘blue work’, which was inspired by her school’s annual art trip to Dorset, was not aware that her painting had been entered into the competition by her teacher.

“I didn’t believe her about being shortlisted until I’d seen the email. I’m really flattered they

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liked this piece of work, especially as it was initially my experimental piece that eventually became an individual piece in its own right. It is inspired by the images taken of the rock face on the Jurassic Coast. I think the panel probably liked the colours of the piece as I really prefer working with a tranquil colour palette. I was inspired by Paul Nash’s work; in particular, I liked his use of calm colour tones. He’s definitely someone I emulate in that respect,” says Sashia.

Nordic Thursday Drinks

SME-Club: Handling your cookies Breakfast seminar on the rules governing cookies.

Miller Rosenfalck LLP will be telling us about the new rules focusing on best practices for SMEs. Venue: Republic of Fritz Hansen, 13-14 Margaret Street, London W1W 8RN Date: 16 May

Lunch O'Clock Live at Takara Sushi at the Hilton London Tower Bridge Use your lunch break to get out of the office, discuss current issues and exchange ideas, thoughts and experiences. Experience a unique taste of Asia at the exclusive sushi bar, Takara Sushi. Takara Sushi will offer an expertly crafted selection of Japanese delicacies at the Takara Restaurant, Hilton London Tower Bridge hotel. Sign up at www.scc.org.uk Date: 5 June

Swedish National Day All Members are invited to join the celebrations of the Swedish National Day at the Swedish School in Barnes on 6 June. The programme includes a speech by H.E. The Swedish Ambassador, singing by the choir of the Swedish Church and entertainment from the students of the Swedish School in London.

Sign up at www.scc.org.uk Date: 6 June

The competition’s panel of judges consisted of the artist Martin Maloney, the illustrator Axel Scheffler, Alistair Hicks, Deutsche Bank art advisor and curator, Alastair Smart, arts editor of The Sunday Telegraph, and Rebecca Wilson, director, Saatchi Gallery. The first prize was awarded to 18-year-old Dafydd Williams, a pupil from Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, Swansea.

Sashia Palmqvist’s ‘blue work’ was shortlisted for the Saatchi Gallery/Sunday Telegraph Art Prize for Schools.

Scan Magazine | News | Bilingual By Music

Bilingual By Music – A link between language and culture

By Emelie Krugly Hill | Press Photo

Bilingual By Music provides a link between language and culture. Swede and founder Kristin Hellberg has recently released her first bilingual album entitled Kids Songs – English and Swedish Children's Favourites.

The idea came to Kristin Hellberg when her son, Leo, started attending nursery school and began learning traditional English nursery rhymes. Through him, she discovered that many of the songs were the same as she had learnt as a child in Sweden. Hellberg wanted him to learn these in Swedish as well, and what began as a small project for her son soon grew in popularity.

“Language learning involving music can be a fun way of repeating words and understanding concepts. It’s also a great way to remember new words. The feed-

back I’m getting is that this is a concept that really works,” Hellberg says.

Kristin Hellberg sings all the songs on the album, which was produced by Martin Fisher from SonicPond. The executive producers are Hellberg and her business partner Guy James, who also run the company Bilingual By Music.

Mother of three, Hellberg moved to the British capital as a 19year-old to study musical theatre. She has played in numerous musicals in the West End. “Interest is phenomenally high and there are plans to de-

Discover Germany seeks Freelance Journalists We are currently looking for qualified journalists on a freelance basis for Discover Germany. We are looking for journalists with a German background who are also confident in English.

To apply, please email your CV to Discover Germany at info@discovergermany.org.uk

velop the project. The next step is to record a karaoke version of the album and then make similar albums in other languages.”

The album, Kids Songs – English and Swedish Children's Favourites, can be bought from the Bilingual By Music website but also from a few other selected stores around London as well as in Sweden.

For more information, please visit: www.bilingualbymusic.com

Scan Magazine | Culture | Gammel Estrup

A visit to Gammel Estrup - the Manor Museum offers guests an enchanting combination of history, culture and beauty.

Explore Denmark’s history through its leading manor house museum When you enter through the gates of Gammel Estrup – the Manor Museum, Denmark’s leading manor museum, you are met by an enchanting ambiance of history and culture. The special atmosphere is created not only by the manor’s beautiful old interiors and great parks but also its period-dressed employees, who, during the high season, guide, help and answer visitors’ questions.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Gammel Estrup

Having been in the hands of the same noble family since 1340, changes in Denmark’s tax, land and inheritance laws forced the count to sell off Gammel Estrup in 1926. In 1930, however, the manor returned to the hands of the count’s son-inlaw, who turned the main building into a museum. Today, the manor museum not only provides visitors with a unique insight into the life and role of the Danish nobility, their culture, aesthetics and prevailing social and political theories, but also that of their employees. “The manor has not just been the home of the nobility but also of their house staff, and the manor’s agricultural production has been the area’s greatest employer well into the 20th century. By sharing our research into the employees’ lives and showing their parts of the manor, we hope, through our manor, to visualise a greater part of Danish history, culture and social structure,” explains museums director Britta Andersen.

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To maintain the authentic atmosphere of the manor house, the accessible rooms have as far as possible been furbished with original or similar interiors. Many rooms are presented as they would be when still in use; the boudoir is set up for card games, the great hall for dinner, and in the kitchen, the smell and warmth of freshly baked cinnamon buns and coffee invite guests inside during the whole summer. “Most of our visitors come here with friends or family and that’s one of the reasons we have decided not to use audio guides – people want to talk and discuss what they see. Instead, throughout the entire high season, we communicate the history of the manor through our employees who, dressed in different period costumes, answer questions about the manor’s history, the different functions of its interiors, the roles of the many people living here and whatever people are interested in,” Andersen says.

Gammel Estrup – the Manor Museum is adjoined to the Danish Agricultural Museum; both arrange a string of activities for kids and families throughout the summer.

Gammel Estrup is located approximately 60 minutes from Aarhus.

Adress: Randersvej 2, 8963 Auning

For more information, please visit: www.gammelestrup.dk

Scan Magazine | Culture | Nordic Art

The curator of the exhibition, David Jackson, Professor of Russian and Scandinavian Art Histories at the University of Leeds, is of the opinion that art history of the period is hugely France-centric, resulting in the work produced in the Nordic countries being widely overlooked “It’s important that people see that art outside of France was thriving and indeed is often, to my mind, better than the French product.”

Jackson hopes that the exhibition will increase the international awareness of Nordic art, leading to further research and more exhibitions.

Vilhelm Hammershøi, Interior with Young Woman Seen from Behind, 1903-1904, oil on canvas, 60.5 x 50.5 cm., copyright Randers Kunstmuseum, Denmark

Anders Zorn, Midsummer Dance, 1897, oil on canvas, 140 x 98 cm, copyright Nationalmuseum, Stockholm

Nordic Art – The Modern Breakthrough1860-1920

Nordic Art, The Modern Breakthrough18601920 will be shown at the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung in Munich from 30 May to 6 October.

Below: Helene Scherfbeck, Costume Picture I (Girl with Orange, The Baker's Daughter), 1908-1909, oil on canvas, 46 x 56.5 cm., copyright Finnish National Gallery, Central Art Archives, photo Hannu Aaltonen.

The artistic output in the Nordic countries in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries was significant and distinguished. Yet, aside from a couple of names, such as Edvard Munch and Vilhelm Hammershøi, little is known internationally of the richness of the Nordic art of this period. A large exhibition, shown recently at the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands and shortly moving to the Kunsthalle in Munich, Germany, seeks to address this issue. Nordic Art, The Modern Breakthrough1860-1920 gives a comprehensive overview of landscape paintings, portraits and interior scenes from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

By Christina Cadogan

The exhibition is a feast for the eyes, ranging from children’s illustrations, for example John Bauer’s exquisitely delicate watercolours of trolls, to major oil paintings depicting Scandinavian traditions, such as Anders Zorn’s well-known work Midsummer Dance of villagers in the Swedish region of Dalarna celebrating Midsummer Night, dancing around a maypole in local costume. Portraits include a stunning Whistleresque portrait by the Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck, best known for her increasingly abstract and disturbing self-portraits. It is interesting that no artist is given notable preference so that familiar names such as Munch and August Strindberg get the

same attention as lesser-known painters such as Laurits Andersen Ring and Jens Ferdinand Willumsen.

The exhibition includes many works that depict the unique light of the Nordic countries; Peder Severin Krøyer’s beautiful Summer Evening at the South Beach, Skagen springs instantly to mind. Also of great interest is the exhibition’s insight into life and society at the time; Pekka Halonen’s Washing on the Ice depicts a young woman in a frozen landscape, washing her clothes in a hole in the ice, while Albert Edelfelt’s The Outer Archipelago shows a group of determined fishermen and women evidently with a strong Protestant work ethic.

John Bauer, Brother St.Martin and the Three Trolls, 1913, watercolour on paper, 25 x 25 cm, copyright National Museum, Stockholm

For more information, please visit: www.hypo-kunsthalle.de

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 81

Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Scandinavian Music

Scandinavian Music he’s been so successful with as part of the band. And Reload is up there with some of Swedish House Mafia's best.

Swedish House Mafia might be no more, but it looks like we're still going to be getting new music from them. In some form or another. Former SHM producer Sebastian Ingrosso has teamed up with former SHM vocalist John Martin, and together they're releasing a new single. It’s called Reload. Sebastian, clearly knowing which side his bread is buttered on, hasn’t veered too far away from the sound that

A brand new Danish pop duo that you might want to place within your radar is ColorKaleido, with their self-titled debut EP ColorKaleido. It’s Scandinavian electro slash indie slash pop, with a bit of a difference. The difference being that the usual wispy and moody vocals employed

by Scandinavian electro/indie/pop songstresses are absent, and in their place are vocals that properly belt out the song.

And also, the whole thing is quite jolly, upbeat and merry – which is another 180 on that particular genre. It works though, very well.

Denmark's biggest pop star of the last few years, Medina, has just teamed up with US-based dance producer Wolfgang Gartner on a brand new single called Overdose. It finds the usually dark Medina stepping out from her sonic comfort zone and into a much brighter and bubblier

By Karl Batterbee

shade of dance music. She sounds almost happy on it. Almost. But there’s still an element of semi-social non-acceptance injected into the lyrical proceedings, to make her feel a little bit more at home.

Still, it's good to hear that she still sounds incredible on something so different to what she's used to, and this will hopefully be a big launch pad for her in the US. Finally, let’s talk about the supremely ridiculous Oh Oh by Nordpolen aka Pelle Hellström, a four-and-a-half-minute symphony of shamelessly camp synth.

The type of thing that the Pet Shop Boys might have churned out pre-millennium, as a joke, with a slurring Swedish vocal over the top of it. It’s even got a key change. Very camp. But achingly credible with it. And it's a free download too, so Google it. It's worth investigating.

www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here!

Ballo (or a Masked Ball) (Until 25 May) Based on the real-life assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden, Director Adam Spreadbury-Maher is staging a version of

82 | Issue 52 | May 2013

Farao on UK tour (May) Farao is the pseudonym of London-based Norwegian artist Kari Jahnsen. This month she is playing her bittersweet melancholy melodies at various venues across the UK. For more info visit: www.farao.co.uk

Marianne Jørgensen, Entropia

Verdi’s political thriller set in a famous Swedish homeware store. This production will serve up distinctly Swedish characters in the unmistakably English setting of an out-of-town shopping centre on the North Circular Road. The King’s Head Theatre, London, N1. www.kingsheadtheatre.com

Farao. Photo: Chris André Aadland

Marianne Jørgensen’s solo show in Copenhagen (Until 19 May) Through ground explosions, dream holes, miniature models of society, video installations and sound, Danish artist Marianne Jørgensen’s exhibition Entropia addresses a number of issues related to urban planning, neighbourhoods, housing, and also how and why we organize ourselves the way we do. Tue-Fri 12noon-5pm, Thu 12noon-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. Den Frie, Oslo Plads 1, Copenhagen. denfrie.dk

By Sara Schedin

Scan Magazine | Music & Culture | Culture Calendar

Artists Film International: Neha Choksi, Kaia Hugin, Alix Pearlstein (Until 23 June) Norwegian artist Kaia Hugin is part of an exhibition where three artists’ films offer different approaches to performance and bodily presence. Hugin’s film is part of an on-going series of video performances in which the main female figure hangs, levitates, floats or digs herself into the ground. Combining film, choreography and movement, Hugin’s unsettling performances explore psychological states of guilt and punishment and a fear of our own bodies. Tue-Sun 11am-6pm, Thu 11am-9pm. The Whitechapel Gallery, London, E1. www.whitechapelgallery.org

for you is his first larger solo exhibition in Sweden. Wed-Fri 12noon-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm. Bonniers Konsthall, Torsgatan 19, Stockholm. www.bonnierskonsthall.se Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra (16 May) Finnish Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts an all-Shostakovich programme, including a concert performance of his unfinished satirical opera Orango recently orchestrated by composer Gerard McBurney.

Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1. www.southbankcentre.co.uk Robert Wells in London (21-24 May) Swedish celebrity pianist, composer and showman Robert Wells has played to audiences in their tens of thousands at prestigious venues around the world, and has

Otto Tolonen

Public Enemy in London (May/June) Henrik Ibsen’s timeless story of courage and corruption will be staged in a new version by David Harrower at the Young Vic, London, SE1.

For more info and tickets visit: www.youngvic.org

Otto Tolonen (23 May) Otto Tolonen is one of Finland’s most successful classical guitarists. This month he will play a mixture of baroque, modern and Latin guitar music of all times in the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, London, SE1. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Nikolaj Bendix Skyum Larsen: Promised Land (Until 23 June) Danish artist Nikolaj Bendix Skyum Larsen’s video works are poetic depictions of communities and places. His subject matter takes its departure in real life issues - and in the past few years, displacement and migration have been his main areas of research. Wed-Sun 11am5pm. CGP London, London, SE16. www.cgplondon.org

Jeppe Hein

Jeppe Hein in Stockholm (Until 28 July) Danish artist Jeppe Hein is known for his playful installations and sculptures which let the audience take an active role. When visitors approach what may seem to be a familiar thing, like a mirror, they encounter something unexpected. A smile

Robert Wells Jazz Trio

filled the Royal Albert Hall many times over. He now returns to London in a series of intimate concerts with his acclaimed trio and guest artists The Vocalettes. Jazz Club Soho, London, W1D. For more info and tickets visit: www.pizzaexpresslive.com www.pianowells.com

Antti Siirala in Berlin (23 May) An evening of classical music by Mozart, Stravinsky and Elgar, featuring Finnish pianist Antti Siirala and the Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin. Berliner Philharmonie, Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1, Berlin. www.berliner-philharmoniker.de

Issue 52 | May 2013 | 83

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