LAURA BACH – DANISH ACTRESS EXTRAORDINAIRE FESTIVALS IN NORWAY SWEDEN 2015: OUR TOP DESTINATIONS BEST OF ICELAND – THE HOT SPOT OF THE NORTH
PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
ISSUE 72 69 JANUARY OCTOBER 2015 2014
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Enabling real
achievement Mannaz is an international frontrunner in customised executive and project leadership development. Adopting innovative and efficient learning methods, we empower people development and business success. With offices in Copenhagen, London and Hong Kong and an international network of over 375 associated facilitators we have global reach.
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Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 6
Laura Bach – Danish actress extraordinaire Laura Bach has captivated audiences worldwide with her intense and spirited performance of Katrine in the internationally renowned TV series Those who kill. Scan Magazine sat down and talked to Nordic TV’s new blonde fave about a life-changing role, new career heights and personal challenges – topped off by a look to the future. For Bach, it seems nothing but bright.
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Bamboo underwear and fashion for a new year Who knew you could make sustainable, fashionable and comfortable clothing out of bamboo? Of course the Scandis were some of the first to realise this, and now the idea is flourishing under the sartorially watchful eye of Pernille and Christina Blom Skau Hansen – the twin sisters behind Bambootier. Complementing their innovative look on clothing is our brand new, largerthan-ever fashion diary. From now on, we welcome you gents to draw inspiration from these pages too!
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Best of Iceland Beyond a wealth of spectacular nature experiences, Iceland presents several opportunities to get cultural during a mini break. This theme presents the best of overnight stays, apartments and hotels, while offering some grand places to take in the atmosphere as well. And, who could be more knowledgeable on the subject of ‘what to do when in Iceland’ than its Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson? Read his New Year greeting here.
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A conference with a breath of fresh air So attuned to the delights of the coast that you would be excused for thinking you were on a cruise: this is how Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter is best described. Comfortably accommodating 250 conference guests at a time right by the edge of Storebælt, this conference centre boasts supreme qualities of size and nature, while staying true to their belief in that personal touch.
DESIGN
BUSINESS
CULTURE SPECIAL THEMES
53
19
Festivals in Norway If there is one thing we’ve realised while working on this issue, it’s that Norway will be bursting with festivals throughout the year of 2015. From the World Championship in cod fishing to the experimental music festival Borealis and the classical Risør Chamber Music Festival, you’re bound to have your cultural taste buds satisfied. Oh, and did we mention that this theme presents festivals from the very south to the very north (including Arctic Archipelago Svalbard)? Culture mixed with travelling – that’s how we like it.
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Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations From moose-spotting in Trollhättan and fine dining in Västerås to skiing in Vemdalen and Northern Lights watching at Riksgränsen: this theme uncovers the pearls of Sweden, and the very best of what they have to offer you in 2015. Thought you knew all there was to know about this northern country of spectacular experiences? Give this theme a read, and think again.
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108 Leila Lindholm and culture events for all of 2015 She has cooked up the works on Swedish TV for more than a decade – and now she is venturing outside her home country. Read about Leila Lindholm’s grand plans for the future, her love for the UK and what she really thinks about being compared to Nigella Lawson. And, what would the year’s first culture section be without a look at the whole of 2015 in Scandinavian culture? From Reykjavik to Helsinki, we bring you the best of forthcoming events and happenings. Happy 2015!
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REGULARS & COLUMNS 10 92
Fashion Diary | 12 We Love This | 84 Restaurants of the Month | 88 Hotels of the Month Attractions of the Month | 106 Humour | 117 Culture Calendar
Issue 72 | January 2015 | 3
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Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, New beginnings – fabulous, aren’t they? Although I may not be one to make resolutions for the New Year, I do believe in making decisions for the future – and making them count.
And, speaking of stunning, a sound competitor in this area would be Iceland – or the ‘hot spot in the North’ as Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, the Icelandic Prime Minister, calls it. Don’t miss his New Year’s greeting on page 74, before you dive into the best of Icelandic attractions, businesses and views.
Whatever your wishes for the New Year may be, this issue of Scan Magazine is a marvellous source of inspiration. Take our outline of Sweden’s top destinations in the year 2015 for instance. That trip up north you always wanted to take, watching the Northern Lights, skiing or perhaps visiting the one-of-a-kind SAAB Car Museum? We have it right here. Or perhaps you are more prone to enjoy a ‘fika’ in West Sweden’s capital Gothenburg, before making your way south for a stroll in Sofiero Gardens? We have that covered too. No matter the destination, Sweden is waiting for your visit.
Add to this a revealing cover interview with Danish actress extraordinaire, Laura Bach, and a look into what’s cooking for noted TV chef Leila Lindholm, and you should be thoroughly inspired to take on 2015.
If your resolution for 2015 is getting your cultural hat on, nothing could be more suitable than a read through these pages. This month’s ‘Festivals in Norway’ theme includes some of Norway’s most prominent cultural gatherings – from the esteemed Oslo Chamber Music Festival and experimental Lofoten International Art Festival all the way to the celebrated Norway Cup. Why not treat yourself to a festival outing in one of the world’s most stunning countries this year?
Julie Lindén Editor
Happy New Year. Make it count.
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The future looks bright for Bach and she is very appreciative of the career she has developed: “I know I’m incredibly privileged that I get to do drama, political theatre, comedies, entertainment, gun-slinging dark dramas, children’s theatre, musicals and films abroad – and I’m very grateful.”
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Scan Magazine | Cover feature | Laura Bach
Laura Bach – Danish actress extraordinaire Laura Bach captivated audiences world-wide with her intense and spirited performance as Katrine in the internationally renowned TV crime series Those who kill. The life-changing role catapulted Bach’s career into new heights full of exciting creative and personal challenges. By Helen Cullen | Photos: Magnus Ragnvid
Those who kill follows a fictitious unit within the Copenhagen Police force that specialises in investigating serial murders. Portraying Katrine, the main protagonist of the series, Bach was the compelling driving force that inspired twenty-five national broadcasters across Europe to syndicate the programme. Bach also reprised the role when the TV show was adapted into the Danish feature film Shadows from the past. What is it about Scandinavian crime fiction that attracts such phenomenal attention? “I have a feeling that when we do crime, we are very subtle in our expression, so it has this mysterious, intriguing way of capturing people’s attention so they want to know more,” Bach says insightfully. Playing the role of Katrine required her total commitment; it was a completely different challenge from her previous work. Bach explains the dramatic transformation: “I had long blonde hair and all the roles I’d played previously were femme fatale or girl next door types, so this was obviously quite different and intense. This character had a dark past, a gun, and killed people as her job. It was a completely different way of portraying someone.” Physically the character was also incredibly demanding, requiring extensive training. “I’ve been dancing since I was three so my body is very elongated and lean in my
movements,” Bach explains, “but Katrine demanded for me to have a different, tougher body type, so I did a lot of boxing and I was trained by the police in how to hold a gun, shoot and use my voice. It was quite a physical process for me.”
break the mould and that, for me, was Rita.” The year of 2014 also saw Bach excel in her role as Eve in the Italian mystery drama Last Summer. Working with director Leonardo Guerra Seragnoli and the multi-cultural cast was a very positive experience for Bach. “Working internationally is fantastic because we can learn so much from each other and I think it’s very important that we do. The way you work in Italy is very different from Denmark or England and so on, but the more we can learn to be more curious and generous, rather than self-absorbed, the better.”
Life after Katrine There are many positives, but also significant challenges, that arise from playing such a distinctive character in a show as successful as this. Bach still thinks of Katrine with fondness. “For me, all the characters linger in your system because they are a part of you. She caused a massive change in my career and in my life so I evolved as an actress but also as a person.” A difficult legacy of such an iconic role is how trying it can become for both directors and the audience to see the actor’s ability to take on new and surprising characters. Bach has worked hard, however, to create new opportunities for her career so that it can continue to thrive. Her role as Gitte in the award-winning comedy drama Rita highlighted her excellent comic ability, a creative avenue that the actress is keen to pursue further. “For a long time I’ve wanted to do comedy,” Bach explains. “It’s a big part of who I am, but because I hadn’t been doing it it’s hard for people to imagine that it’s possible. Somewhere along the line you need to
From screen to stage Working in the theatre is of huge importance to Bach; it is an expression of her craft that she relishes. “It’s a completely different, luxurious way of working that I enjoy very much,” she explains. “You have more time to try different things, to get to know your fellow actors, and with the theatre you get an instant reaction. You feel the energy in the room and if it’s working and the story captures people, you know immediately what effect it has.” Following the critical acclaim for her roles in the political theatre performance Brokenhagen in 2013 and children’s musical Pippi in 2014, Bach is very excited about her next theatrical adventure The man who wanted to remember, which will premiere in February. “This play will be amazing. It’s about a man who has done something horrible but he can’t remember anything. We’re doing the play inside and outside his head and I was so chuffed because I’ll be singing country music songs in Danish. Singing has been a huge part of my life for many years, I’ve done a
Issue 72 | January 2015 | 7
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Scan Magazine | Cover feature | Laura Bach
lot of musicals, so going back to the theatre with a musical element is an amazing opportunity for me.” Family Life in Copenhagen Bach credits her accomplished parents with her positive outlook on life. “My whole foundation is my family. My mum is the most incredible woman on this planet and she’s always supported me enormously in everything.” The legacy of her upbringing allows Bach to be confident in herself despite the emotionally challenging industry that she works in. “They always told me to follow my heart, to follow my gut, so I’m not raised on fear,” she explains, “I’m raised on inspiration and love and that is the biggest gift that anyone can ever receive and I’m trying to pass that on to my child too. My parents taught me that happiness doesn’t come from me being an actor; it comes from inside me and through loving and being loved. The older you get, the more you understand how true that is.” Having lived in England, L.A. and South Africa, it is in her home city of Copenhagen that Bach chooses to raise
her son. “I’ve done my fair share of living abroad and I’m incredibly grateful that I did so before I became a mother, because Copenhagen is a great place for children to grow up. We are unbelievably blessed in this country and so very fortunate.” Looking forward The future looks bright for Bach and she is very appreciative of the career she has developed. “I know I’m incredibly privileged that I get to do drama, political theatre, comedies, entertainment, gun-slinging dark dramas, children’s theatre, musicals and films abroad – and I’m very grateful.”
With a myriad of creative opportunities to choose from, she is now in a position to embrace work that ultimately fulfils her. “I would like the projects that I participate in to be more than just entertainment; I want them to bring us together as human beings and not tear us apart.” It is this empathy that also inspired her to produce a documentary highlighting human trafficking in Cambodia. In 2015, audiences can follow Bach on her emotional journey as she seeks to understand how such travesties can occur. Ultimately, Bach’s ambition is for her work to inspire open conversation and serve as a call to action: “It is a story of hope because I think we need hope to be the motivator and not fear.”
The man who wanted to remember opens in the Von Baden Theater, Copenhagen in February 2015.
TOP RIGHT: The year of 2014 saw Bach excel in her role as Eve in the Italian mystery drama Last Summer. BOTTOM LEFT: Those who kill follows a fictitious unit within the Copenhagen Police force that specialises in investigating serial murders. Bach, portraying Katrine in the series, was the driving force that inspired twenty-five national broadcasters across Europe to syndicate the programme. Photos: Per Arnesen
8 | Issue 72 | January 2015
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Army Leather Heli Ski
One pair of gloves in numbers 109 parts, 46 manufacturing steps, 18 quality check-points. Production time of 1 hour and 27 minutes.
www.hestragloves.com
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Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary... By Julie Lindén & Astrid Eriksson Press photos This is by far the most fashionable way to keep from getting soaked. This beauty of a raincoat comes straight from Stockholm’s Stutterheim. The coat comes in matte black/white with silver buttons, hemp strings and silver end stoppers. It has double welded seams and ventilation gaps under the sleeves. It’s Swedish melancholy at its driest. £245 Available at: stutterheim.com
It is said that we lose up to 75 per cent of our body heat through our heads. Accurate percentage or not, it’s better to be safe than sorry. This stylish and unbelievably comfy beanie from Danish Norse Projects will protect your head from the Scandinavian winds. £44.28 Available at: www.norseprojects.com
Stay warm with this knitted dream from Acne Studios. Acne has in recent years become one of the biggest representatives for Scandinavian fashion and is constantly producing high quality, high fashion for the world to adore. Acne Studios Cory yellow is a knit pullover sweater made of mohair based yarn with a subtle sparkle. £300 Available at: www.acnestudios.com
Filip Tysander, the man behind Daniel Wellington is the uncrowned king of preppy wristwatches and how we love it! The design of watch Sheffield is simple, clean and the leather strap and rose goldtoned buckle fastening is a timeless classic. £154.55 Available at: www.danielwellington.com
10 | Issue 72 | January 2015
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Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary RIGHT: Cheap Monday have got the cool 2015 vibe down. This ensemble makes us crave warmer temperatures, although it’s easy enough to wear right now – just add tights and a coat! Truly skirt: Approx £70 Extend sweatshirt: Approx £45 Maxi bracelet: Approx £30 Maxi earrings: Approx £15 Available at: www.cheapmonday.com
So how fabulous is this perforated leather silver chain bag from one of Scandinavia’s most successful fashionistas (gone designer) – Anine Bing? Combining her Swedish and Danish roots in every element of design, each piece is crafted to sartorial perfection. Looking for a cure for those January blues? Anine’s got your back. Or bag. Approx £830 Available at: www.aninebing.com
Beck Söndergaard is a brand that loves to play with different colour shades, and these blue leather gloves are a brilliant example of a popping colour statement. Plus, they keep you from going, well, blue from the cold. £59 Available at: www.becksondergaard.com
Deitas draws inspiration from the change of seasons – what can be more perfect for the dark month of January? Put on one of these elegant silk blouses, this metallic one as an example, and dream of brighter days. For now, this blouse will brighten up both your day and your mood. Approx £400 Available at: www.deitas.com
Issue 72 | January 2015 | 11
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Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this... January blues calls for retail therapy. A few changes and additions to your home décor can make a huge difference to the perception of your space. By Julie S. Guldbransen | Press Photos
&Tradition presents ‘Another Rug’ designed by the All The Way To Paris design team. The calm abstract design coupled with a luxurious quality makes it purely delightful. From £159. www.pinkappledesigns.co.uk Say hello to 2015 with this chic letterpress calendar (50x70 cm) by Kristina Krogh. Grey uncoated paper with black typography embossed with gold metallic foil. Also available in copper. £41. www.kkrogh.dk
A cool flip tray – blue on one side, orange on the other – made by cabinetmakers The Oak Men. Their love of wood and cool, fun design drives their design ethos. 40x20cm, £62.50. www.theoakmen.com
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Get all your little hallway essentials sorted with ‘ledge:able’ – a smart shelving system designed by Anne Linde. Useful in many different small spaces of the house. From £63.50. www.designdelicatessen.com
A stunning lamp with two arms and five light bulbs that scatters light around the room in a truly beautiful way. Made of black painted iron and brass. £208. www.artilleriet.se
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THE
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Scan Magazine | Design | Bambootier
Bamboo’s sweat-absorbing, soft and naturally antibacterial qualities make it perfect for underwear and socks.
Put on your bamboo Underwear made of bamboo – if you have not tried it, the idea might seem slightly odd. But the fact is, using the rapidly growing, CO2-absorbing and flexible plant to produce viscose for clothing production makes perfect sense. In Denmark the material is championed by the website Bambootier, which sources and produces clothes designed in certified OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 bamboo textiles. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Bambootier
Founded by twin sisters Pernille and Christina Blom Skau Hansen in 2012, Bambootier focuses on organic, sustainable, and ethical fashion items – and for that bamboo is just the thing, says Pernille Blom Skau Hansen. “Basically bamboo cultivation benefits the surrounding landscape instead of harming it. Compared to cotton, bamboo needs very little water to grow, there is no need to use any pesticides, and you can harvest it year after year without damaging the plantation. Besides, it absorbs a lot of CO2.” That a hectare of bamboo absorbs four
times as much CO2 as a hectare of young trees (normally used for the production of viscose) might not be enough to convince everybody to choose a pair of bamboo jeans. But the plant is not just environmentally sustainable – its fabric is also beautiful and very versatile. Made from the cellulose inside bamboo, the textile is soft, sweat-absorbing and naturally antibacterial. These qualities make it perfect for underwear and socks, especially for people with sensitive skin. The bamboo garments made by Bambootier are produced at sites that are
eco-friendly, re-use chemicals and produce OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified textiles. The website also sells products in organic cotton and other materials when suitable for the design. “We don’t use materials from animals and we only use organic materials when possible. If it’s not possible, we keep searching for producers who can realise our vision. We constantly aim to make our products better and more eco-friendly,” stresses Pernille Blom Skau Hansen. Products are packed by the sisters and their family and shipped in bags made from recycled plastic. Besides, the company pays to offset its CO2 consumption. Allowing customers to be able to shop with a clean conscience is, stresses the sisters behind Bambootier, the main goal with the website: “We created Bambootier based on a vision of making organic, sustainable and animal-friendly fashion economically accessible to everyone; our hope is that it eventually becomes the norm rather than the exception within the fashion industry.” LEFT: Pernille and Christina Blom Skau Hansen
For more information, please visit: www.bambootier.dk
14 | Issue 72 | January 2015
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Scan Magazine | Design | Marianne Dulong
Experts in individuality Friends and colleagues Marianne Dulong and Anja Camilla Alajdi wanted to work together from the moment they met. Dulong, a well-established jeweller, and Alajdi, a renowned stylist, found that they challenged but complemented each other, turning their ambitious ideas and designs into beautiful jewellery under Marianne Dulong’s name. This year, as they celebrate their ten-year anniversary, Dulong and Alajdi can look back on a decade that has seen Marianne Dulong become one of Denmark’s most sought-after jewellery brands. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Marianne Dulong
“Setting up the business was hard work,” Alajdi reflects; “when we started, neither of us had any experience running a shop or managing staff.” Today, Marianne Dulong has its own Copenhagen-based workshop, allowing Alajdi and Dulong to work closely together with their expert team of Danish goldsmiths. They own stores in Copenhagen and Lyngby Storcenter, where customers can receive guidance from experienced staff. They also work with selected retailers and run a busy international online shop which caters to the entire world. Dulong pieces regularly appear on international film and TV, most recently on the Danish version of Strictly Come Dancing, where their jewellery adorns the host Sarah Grünewald. Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary is a well-known fan, and her beautiful wedding earrings were hand-crafted by Marianne herself. Adhering to their “classy, edgy, glamorous” motto, the pair takes inspiration from Scandinavian culture and nature, with light playing a particularly important role.
MIDDLE RIGHT: The Piccolo bracelet has earned a status as a jewellery classic. BOTTOM RIGHT: Marianne Dulong’s adaptable Kharisma earrings quickly became Danish jewellery staples.
Comfort and quality are crucial, and their jewellery is made to last for generations. The duo emphasise individuality in all their designs, and are always careful to make their jewellery adaptable to personal preferences and different looks. Each item in their collections comes with several choices in precious stone and five home-mixed varieties of precious metal. Pieces are available in up to four different sizes. What’s more, pendants can be added to their bracelets, necklaces and earrings, allowing customers to handpick or adapt pieces to suit them perfectly. This year, Dulong and Alajdi are launching a new collection inspired by younger girls. The pair will celebrate their anniversary by going back to their roots: developing or redeveloping unique, custom-made pieces together with customers. The pair are happy whether customers opt for their custom-made or ready-designed pieces: “What makes me really happy,” says Alajdi, “is walking down a street and passing people wearing our jewellery.”
Alajdi (left) and Dulong (right) have brought together years of experience within design and jewellery-making respectively.
For more information, please visit: www.mariannedulong.dk
Issue 72 | January 2015 | 15
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Scan Magazine | Design | Ida Sjöstedt
“I’ve always loved the decorative and the part of fashion that has to do with escapism: dreaming and preserving the most precious moments in life,” says Ida. Couture looks from Ida Sjöstedt. Left: Memory dress. Right: Waterfall dress.
Ida Sjöstedt – designing for the princess within Beautiful, elegant and “tastefully kitsch” – Ida Sjöstedt’s design has been described in many ways, but despite her wide appeal she is not one to pin her fame on pleasing the masses. “If people call my design ‘too much’ I take that as a compliment,” says the London-educated designer. “I’m not here to please everyone.” We caught up with Ida to talk glitter, glam, fashion memories and the future. By Julie Lindén | Press photos
How would you define your own design and its development over the years? In the beginning of my career someone called it ‘tasteful kitsch’. I’ve always had a preference for the decorative – glitter and detailed touches – but I’d never let it cross the line. At the same time I’m not one to try and please everyone around me. I keep working on shape, fit, cuts, colour combinations and so forth, without ever losing the ‘red thread’ of my design expression. What is your earliest memory of fashion? When did it become a passion for you? That would have to be when I was five years old and my mother woke me up to see the introduction to Dallas. I remember Lucy putting on her yellow wedding dress and it was, without a doubt, the most glamorous dress I’d ever seen.
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Many of your creations have a romantic look that distinguishes itself from the ‘typically Swedish’ minimalistic designs. Where do you draw this inspiration from? I’ve never been interested in being defined as ‘typically Swedish’ – I find it an odd expression. I’ve always loved the decorative and the part of fashion that has to do with escapism: dreaming and preserving the most precious moments in life, and dressing up in the most beautiful garments one owns. I’m often inspired by popular culture – everything from Sofia Coppola’s films to Disney. Who do you design for? Nearly all women I’ve met – no matter what their everyday style is – have a princess within, and that’s who I’m designing for. She’s playful and likes to turn heads.
What can you tell us about the collection you will present at Stockholm Fashion Week at the end of this month? I can’t say much about it, but hopefully it will be something brand new but very ‘Ida’. What does the future look like for Ida Sjöstedt as a brand? We’ve had a super year with increased sales, Damernas Värld’s reader award and a nomination at the Swedish ELLE Awards. I hope that Ida Sjöstedt maintains its strong hold on the design scene!
Ida Sjöstedt
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Scan Magazine | Design | Online Living
Everyday luxury As the daughter of Lene Bjerre Design’s founders – the well-known Danish brand – Bolette Bjerre learnt the ins and outs of the textile and design industries working in the family company for fifteen years. In 2010, Bolette decided to set up her own online shop, Online Living, giving people the opportunity to buy ‘everyday luxuries’ that provide an attractive, environmentally friendly alternative for everyday household items. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Online Living
“I think we’d all like to help the environment,” says Bolette, “but if there is a significant difference in the price, quality or appearance of the environmentally friendly product, we probably won’t choose it.” It is a natural, understandable instinct. “Therefore, if we are to choose them, environmental products should be the best alternative out there, both in terms of appearance, feel and quality.” Bolette has specialised in selling ethically produced bamboo-based towels, bathrobes and bathmats. The towels and bathrobes are soft as silk and look and feel great, and they retain these qualities, and their radiant colour, over time. Crucially, bamboo is incredibly sustainable: It is one of the fastest-growing plants on
earth, needs no chemicals to flourish, and releases huge amounts of oxygen to boot. Bolette is currently busy expanding into other fair-trade and environmentally friendly products, including candles, home decor and personal care lotions. We don’t often think about household items in environmental terms, but buying ethical versions is actually an easy way to care for the environment. “That’s why I’m focusing on ‘everyday luxury’,” Bolette says. “These are nice household items we all use. They can be both luxurious and environmentally friendly with no unattractive downside, helping you feel extra good about yourself every day.” RIGHT: “It seems counter-intuitive, but bamboo is actually much more absorbent than cotton,” Bolette says.
For more information, please visit: www.onlineliving.dk
History with a pinch of salt If you are looking for captivating history in a beautiful setting, then a trip to Læsø Saltsyderi (Læsø Saltworks) is just for you. Situated on the beautiful island of Læsø, the saltworks uses traditional methods from the Middle Ages to produce a one-of-a-kind salt. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: VisitDenmark
Læsø Saltsyderi produces 70 tonnes of salt and welcomes 65,000 visitors a year. Every person who visits is told the history of the saltworks
and sees how the salt is produced, which involves seething the salty water and drying out the salt. You may also buy some of the salt, which has a unique taste and melts on your tongue because of its chemical composition. “I’m very proud that everyone buys our salt. It’s precious and comes with a rich 900-yearold history,” says Christensen. You are bound to have an exceptional day out when visiting Læsø Saltsyderi, with both young and old being captivated by the rich history, fantastic storytellers and the beautiful setting.
Photo: Holger Leue, VisitDenmark
Between 1100 and 1600, Læsø was the hothouse for salt production in Denmark. This was particularly due to its very salty groundwater and forests, which provided the saltworks with fuel. However, after 500 years the island ran out of trees and the saltworks had to stop, until archaeologists started looking around the island and discovered the rich salt history in the 1990s. In 1991 Læsø Saltsyderi was set up, using the traditional methods of salt production and using only local resources to create a sustainable saltworks. “We are keepers of a good story, fantastic nature and a beautiful maritime zone,” says Poul Christensen, the original founder of the saltworks and a fantastic storyteller.
LEFT: In 1991 Læsø Saltsyderi was set up, using the traditional methods of salt production. Photo: Pia Britton, VisitDenmark
For more information, please visit: www.saltsyderiet.dk
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Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen
NORWAY
Oslo Stockholm Bromma
SWEDEN Aalborg
UNITED KINGDOM
DENMARK
Gothenburg
Aarhus Billund
Manchester
London City
GERMANY Brussels
D端sseldorf
BELGIUM
SWITZERLAND
Munich
Z端rich
S n acks
Me al s
Drinks
ba.com
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
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S
FE PEC ST IVA IAL LS THE IN M NO E: RW AY
LEFT: Enjoy music of all genres throughout Norway – from church music in the capital to pop on the west coast and jazz festivals in the north. (Photo: Nancy Bundt) RIGHT: Ålesund from above. (Photo: Terje Borud)
Norway 2015 – a treasure chest of festivals With an enormous diversity and range of different festivals and cultural events, 2015 is going to be quite the year for anyone wanting to visit Norway at any time. This is the one country where you can find a music/cod (yes, really) festival and official snowball battles alongside traditional and international film festivals and chamber music events. Welcome to Norway, 2015! By Per-Arne Tuftin, Director of Tourism, Innovation Norway
There are many reasons why Norway is worth a visit or two. The most beautiful fjords in the world, breath-taking nature, friendly people and a crafting tradition embracing the resources of the rich region. These reasons alone put Norway at the top of destinations for people looking to experience something out of the ordinary. Norway is also a facilitator for festivals and events all year around. No matter where in the country you are or at what time of the year you are never too far away from an event sure to tickle your fancy. 2015 is filled with entertaining and highly cultural events and festivals for all ages, tastes and preferences.For the adventurous festival goers there are many happenings that stray outside of the more conventional festival box. What would you say to the biggest snowball battle you’ve
ever experienced? Or perhaps you feel tempted to try on the medieval way of life at the three day long Oslo Medieval Festival? Codstock, with its highly original name, invites people to three days of cod and music in Lofoten and Gay Pride celebrates life, love and human rights. The festival programme is filled with fun and exciting opportunities for exploration – many of them at no cost whatsoever. The festival programme of Norway 2015 is as long as it is diverse. Experiencing it is experiencing pure culture and to miss it would be an unmatched sin for any traveller or culture vulture worthy the name. From Kristiansand in the south to Svalbard in the north – Norway 2015 is sure to amaze and entertain. International Film and Photography Festivals, days dedicated to Church music and events hosting
hard-core music scenes – the variations are endless. In the following pages we dive right into the Norwegian treasure chest of festivals. All you need to do is sit back, relax and indulge in a cultural smorgasbord like you’ve never seen before. Note down your favourites – we already have –and book your trip to Norway.
Per-Arne Tuftin, Director of Tourism, Innovation Norway. Photo: Visit Norway
For more information, please visit: www.visitnorway.com
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Usain Bolt driven around ExxonMobil Bislett Stadion in the car ‘Il Tempo Gigante’.
ExxonMobil Bislett Games – welcoming the Champions With a proud history of hosting sporting events for more than a 100 years, and as a pinnacle opening the 1952 Winter Olympics, Bislett Stadion has made an admired mark on the world of great sports. Furthermore – backed by 69 world records – the stadium has also risen to Diamond League stardom. This summer the 50th anniversary of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games will surely have you pinned to live broadcast – unless you want to experience this extraordinary event in the flesh. By Julie Lindén | Photos: ExxonMobil Bislett Games
“The strength of this stadium, beyond its historical significance and central location, is no doubt its feeling of intimacy and closeness between athletes and spectators,” says Steinar Hoen, Meeting Director of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, as well as nine-time high jump participant at the Games. Having personally experienced the unmatchable atmosphere he describes, he continues: “The stadium was built in 1922, and although it was re-built to modern standards in 2005 it doesn’t have that barrier you so often find between audience and athletes at these newly built mega arenas around the world.” It was when three Oslo sports clubs – Tjalve, Vidar and BUL – came together
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and formed the Bislett Alliance, that the groundwork for the Games was laid. Through collective efforts the first meeting was hosted in 1966, and arrangers were soon able to welcome the very best performers in top-class track and field to Bislett Stadion. Today, the Alliance can count names such as Sebastian Coe, Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt among attendees. As for the list of athletes attending the Games on 11 June 2015, Hoen is especially enthusiastic. “As a former European Champion in high jump, it’s very exciting for me to say that we will see an attempt at breaking the current world record in high jump, with Ukrainian Bohdan Bondarenko and Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim
gracing the stadium with their presence. It will be a spectacular duel attempt at breaking the classic 2.45 m record that’s been standing since Sotomayor set it in 1993.” Another highlight hoped for is six-time Olympic gold medallist and sprinting legend Usain Bolt returning to Bislett after a year away, while home-grown talent Henrik Ingebrigtsen is set to make a grand performance running the famous ‘dream mile’. With millions of viewers in 130 countries around the world tuning in to the Games, and an audience of 15,000 cheering from the bleachers, the results at Norway’s largest sporting event will be well worth your time.
For more information, please visit: www.bislettgames.no
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Birken is made up of more than 20 events held each year, all commemorating the Birkebeiners’ part in Norwegian national history.
A historic mark of sportsmanship Few sports events can claim to have such a strong historical foothold as the Birkebeiner events. Uniting a cross-country ski race, a mountain bike race and a run under the cherished, colloquial ‘Birken’ shortening, these main events do not only bear trace of national pride and tradition, but have become marks of resilient sportsmanship at its finest.
durance test on wheels can opt for the 92km bike race on 29 August, while those looking for a simpler running race can enter the 21km Birkerbeiner run in forest terrain on 13 June.
By Julie Lindén | Press Photos
“All these races offer long, tough routes that will surely test your strengths. The variety gives you the chance to choose the type of race that interests you the most, but also branch out into new fields,” says Kleven, adding that Birken in its entirety offers 20 events throughout the year, that offers the whole family a chance to aim high on the sports ladder.
The year was 1206, and the country of Norway was the scene of a civil war. Various rulers fought for supremacy, and the Birkebeiners (a rebellious party) had wrested power over most of the country. Yet there was land to be won from the opposition, and the only way to remain in charge was to keep the future ruler, the merely two-year-old Haakon Haakonsøn, safe from the opposing Baglers – and a certain death. Through ghastly weather and treacherous mountains, the Birkebeinere fled from Lillehammer, via Østerdalen to Trondheim with the young child, finally taking him to safety in Trondheim. “This story is the reason for our existence,” says Ingunn R. Kleven, Information
Officer at Birken, continuing: “The Birkerbeiner sports events are a tribute to this part of national history, and our aim is to make more people aware of it.” One way this has been done, she mentions, is requiring all participants in the ski and bike races to carry a 3.5 kg heavy rucksack when competing. “This symbolically reflects the weight of Haakon Haakonsøn at the time he was taken into safety,” adds Kleven. For those wanting to venture into the footsteps, or ski tracks, of the Birkerbeiners, the cross-country classic ski race is a natural choice. Held on 21 March, this race will test your stamina as you embark on a 54km stretch of varied mountain terrain. Those more skewed towards an en-
For more information, please visit: www.birkebeiner.no
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“Our slogan is ‘for most people’ – and that’s the exact definition of Nordsjørittet. Young people, old people, men and women – everyone is welcome to try out road cycle racing,” says Siri Ommedal, Manager for Nordsjørittet.
Racing west – and to the top “It’s fun, it’s a great way to exercise, it’s kind to nature and the environment, and it’s a fantastic way to get around. It’s also accessible to a growing number of people,” says Siri Ommedal, Manager for Nordsjørittet, about the infinite possibilities and attractions of bicycle racing. With 12,500 excited participants of all different ages taking part in this race every year, Nordsjørittet has become known as the race ‘for most people’. Having lined up thousands of cyclists for 2015’s race already, the atmosphere is set – and it will be nothing short of amazing. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Nordsjørittet
“To me, this is the most beautiful cycle race in Norway,” Ommedal says, depicting the 91-km race further as “simply stunning” and “suitable for all levels of difficulty and proficiency”. Now in its 18th year, Nordsjørittet has welcomed thousands of cyclists between the ages of 17 and 84, of whom a regular 20 per cent quota are women, who all compete for the great win. Between 400 and 500 teams and businesses take part every year, and make up a large portion of the spectacular feeling Nordsjørittet is famous for. And,
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set in some of the most beautiful nature sceneries of western Norway, you can hardly go wrong with a spot in the line-up. All-encompassing: sports, nature and culture “The race starts in Egersund and finishes in Sandnes – two of the most gorgeous parts of the country. We’re a road race, but the substrate varies between gravel and asphalt, and the terrain is both hilly and sweeping. This way you will experience a wide variety of what our country
has to offer throughout the whole race, a welcome addition to the whole experience,” says Ommedal, adding: “You will also meet the sea at one point, and cycle along the white beaches. All in all, it’s sports, nature and culture at its finest.” Holding a firm belief that cycling should be both physically and spiritually developing, while also being an inclusive sport with great possibilities for development, Nordsjørittet has made a point of striving for a higher female participant rate. While one fifth of participants currently are female, Ommedal says she hopes for even more women to find an appreciation and passion for cycling. This, she says, is part of the reason why Nordsjørittet has added a new, 45km long distance to their 2015 racing repertoire, launched as a stepping stone on the way to the full-length race. “Some women want to start out with a shorter race, where they can get a feel for
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what cycle racing is and what they can achieve through it. So many have the desire to get out there and try it, but they don’t have a stepping stone to aim for in terms of training. We hope to provide that for them, as part of Nordsjørittet,” says Ommedal, adding that the shorter race takes place within the same road framework as the longer race. The perfect outside adventure Beyond the 45km distance, Nordsjørittet also offers races for young people, who can participate in these from the year they turn 13. Also this distance, of 30km, is set within the same roads where the longer races are held. “Our slogan is ‘for most people’ – and that’s the exact definition of Nordsjørittet. Young people, old people, men and women – everyone is welcome to try out
road cycle racing. You may do it for the competition aspect or just for the fun of it, but whatever your reason, it’s a spectacular opportunity to engage in an outside experience that doubles as a true adventure,” explains Ommedal. On the question of why one should choose Nordsjørittet for that special summer cycling experience, Ommedal is quick to point out the extraordinary nature of western Norway, combined with kind but effective exercise opportunities. The celebration at the finish line may only be the topping on an already perfect sundae, but it’s definitely a good one. “Imagine racing for 91 km through the often hilly terrain – you’re pretty tired when arriving at the finish line. Well there you will get a tasty meal to recharge your batteries, and if you have some energy left in you, you
will be able to celebrate your feat with the people who have cheered you on via our big TV screens. It’s truly a great race with that Tour de France kind of feeling, and everyone who comes plays a huge part in bringing that fantastic atmosphere all the way to the finish line,” concludes Ommedal.
Price: NOK 760 Registration deadline: 1 February Race date: 13 June 2015
For more information, please visit: www.nordsjorittet.no
BOTTOM: “It’s truly a great race with that Tour de France kind of feeling, and everyone who comes plays a huge part in bringing that fantastic atmosphere all the way to the finish line,” says Ommedal about the magnificent experience that is Nordsjørittet.
ABOVE RIGHT: The 91-km Nordsjørittet race has been described as one of the most beautiful road cycle races in Norway.
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More than 60 nations will be watching the race on TV in 2015, and around 800,000 people are expected to line the streets to celebrate the racers.
Tour des Fjords: celebrating the stars of cycling For a century the best professional cyclists have ridden the roads of central Europe – now, they are venturing north. Behold a stage cycle race that unites the stars of cycling, competitive spirits and breath-taking Norwegian nature sceneries in five days of racing that is broadcast to more than 50 countries. Tour de France has found its northern match – Tour des Fjords is here to stay.
had some very good feedback from the teams that have taken part in the past,” says Hegreberg, adding: “2015 will see several large teams join us, as well as Alexander Kristoff, who will be defending his 2014 win on home ground.”
By Julie Lindén | Photos: Einar Oliver Landa
An inclusive, celebratory experience “I feel an immense pride in being able to show off Norwegian cycle sports and our nature to a large audience,” says Race Director Roy Hegreberg, who has also competed as a professional road cycle racer. “It’s also a chance to reach out to our local communities and showcase the sport, something I find very important.” Racing through Norwegian quintessence Held in the west of Norway on 27 May to 1 June, between the cities of Bergen and Stavanger (Norway’s second and third largest cities respectively), Tour des Fjords
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is primarily a UCI 2.1 race. This classification entails that the race is categorised by the Union Cycliste Internationale – the world’s governing body in the sport of cycle racing – as a multiple-day stage race. Throughout its five days and as many stages, the race offers various levels of difficulty. Both top continental and Norwegian cyclists take part in the race, which is made up of 22-24 teams racing for the win. “Some of the stages are very challenging and some offer less of a fight, but we’ve
With some 800,000 spectators cheering from the side of the race roads on the west coast in late May, there is all the more reason for racers to do their best. Additionally, more than 60 nations will be watching the race on TV, a sturdy increase from 2014. Norway’s largest commercial TV station will broadcast three hours of the race each day – a testament to its prominence, if any. Tour des Fjords will take racers and TV spectators through both larger towns and smaller coastal pearls of Norwegian quin-
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tessence: Bergen, Haugesund and Stavanger making up the selection of cities, and famous attractions like the Pulpit Rock, above Lysefjord, showing off the best of Norwegian nature. Furthermore, Tour des Fjords will become glorious scenes of public celebration, as regional, national and international visitors gather to cheer on the racers. Beyond the televised professional race, Tour des Fjords makes a point of including as many as possible in the sport of cycling. Tour des Fjords Classic, a race that is physically suitable for a larger portion of exercise cyclists, takes place within the same topographical framework as the professional race and offers just as many spectacular nature experiences. “It’s unique that this kind of race takes place on the same roads as a professional UCI race, and we hope to keep building on the classic race to attract even more people to this great region and sports event,” says Hegreberg, adding that children between two and 12 years of age are also welcome to enjoy Tour des Fjords through eight children’s races that are free of charge. Unmatchable beauty Hegreberg is noticeably proud when addressing the many attractions of western Norway as a region, and pauses, as many before him, at the point of unmatchable nature. “The beauty of this part of the country, with its fjords, mountains, winding roads and flora – it’s truly one of a kind. Also, combining this with a cycle race brings you so much more from the region; not just because you get further and get to see more, but because you reach more places and can engage in various parts of local culture,” he says, paus-
ing for a moment. “I often meet with various directors of tourism in this region and they highlight what Tour des Fjords and its televising does for the region as a tourism destination. That is quite something.”
your local area. Also, it’s a very social sport!” says Hegreberg excitedly.
For more information, please visit: www.tourdesfjords.no
As for cycling, there are no signs the popularity is on a decrease. According to Hegreberg, this is partly owing to the rise of skilled Norwegian cycling stars, and partly to the public realising the possibilities of the sport. “We’ve had names such as Thor Hushovd and Edvald Boasson Hagen grace the very tops of cycling race charts. Recently Alexander Kristoff has passed them all. I think these sportsmen have made Norwegians understand the multiple benefits of cycling: everything from transportation benefits to the fact that it’s a great way to exercise and experience more of
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Photo: Guro Lien
Photo: Svein Olav Vaa
Photo: Guro Lien
Heroes of Telemark Whether you already know you embody the physical strength of a hero, or if your new year’s resolution for 2015 is to become one, the triple sporting event Telemarkhelten offers plenty of chances to show what you are made of. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Magnus Tjønn
If cross-country skis are your preferred mode of transport you get your chance already on 14 March when Helterennet takes place in Rauland. On the edge of the famous Hardangervidda you get the choice of racing the length of a marathon (42 km), 26 km or 13 km. If you are the competitive kind – and yearn to secure a prime starting point at Birkebeineren the following week – Helterennet has status as a seeding race. However, if you are in it mostly for the exercise you can also choose to complete the 26 km course without being timed. There is also a separate route for children, with obstacles and skijumps, as well as a route intended for families. “Of course, we are extremely dependent on the weather, but if the weather is good
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you are in for a spectacular outdoor experience,” says managing director Aud Irene Kittelsen. “If good weather is imperative to you, and you want to watch the forecast before making a commitment, it is possible to sign up on the race day,” she adds. If watching Tour de France this summer inspired you, then Helterittet in Rjukan on 8 August might be your cup of tea. With distances ranging from 13 to 100 km there should be something for you, whether you aspire to become the next Bradley Wiggins or just want to take in the view of the majestic Gaustatoppen. This year Helterittet also hosts the Norwegian championship in mountain biking, giving riders the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best of the best.
Telemarkhelten’s third and final sporting event, Helteløpet, takes place on 13 September. The location of the running course alternates: this year you get to run in the footsteps of Norway’s resistance heroes past Vemork, the site of the heavy water sabotage during World War II. Just like the other events Helteløpet offers separate distances for children and families. Telemark is easily accessible for international visitors, located only a few hours from the international airports Oslo Airport Gardermoen, Torp Sandefjord Airport and Moss Rygge Airport. HelteRennet: on ski 14 March HelteRittet: on bike 8 August HelteLøpet: on foot 13 September
For more information, please visit: telemarkhelten.no
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Norway Cup – embracing colourful diversity Colourful diversity, a profound love for the simplicity of sports and freedom to have fun. These are the key terms for Norway Cup, a football tournament that has brought together thousands of young talents from all over the world since 1972. By Julie Lindén | Press photos
“The Cup was founded to give young people from all over the world a place and time to feel free and engage in a sport they love. This especially for disadvantaged children,” says Torbjørn Andersen of Norway Cup. In a nod to the Cup’s long history of bringing young people from war-torn and poor nations to Oslo on trips paid by the tournament arrangers, he says: “It means the world for these players to experience a period of time away from the troubles they face on a daily basis. They return to their countries as role models for other young people.” Held at Oslo’s iconic Ekebergsletta every July, this tournament is home to more than a spectacular atmosphere and friendly encounters: the Cup is also home of some
impressive statistics. More than 30,000 players between the ages of 10 and 19 are invited to Norway Cup every year, a number that makes up 1,400 to 1,600 teams from more than 60 nations. A total of 1,400 volunteers make the tournament happen, while 40 guides are hired to take foreign teams around Oslo to visit the sights, museums and swimming facilities. In addition to this, teams can enjoy performances by well-known artists during the inauguration of the Cup. The head of the Norway Cup secretariat, Maria Jacobsen, adds: “Bringing teams from all over the world to Norway Cup dramatically widens the children’s horizons. They find friends, new strength and new hope.”
For more information, please visit: www.norwaycup.no
Race under Tromsø’s midnight sun Having welcomed more than 5,000 participants of 65 nationalities for 2014’s race, the Midnight Sun Marathon is certain to draw a large crowd again this year. So what are you waiting for? Strap on those running shoes for a marathon unlike any other. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Midnight Sun Marathon
Few people can say that they’ve raced in broad daylight during the night. In Tromsø, in the very north of Norway, these conditions are not only highly possible – they’re actually preferred. “Running in the northern summer night you’re exposed to perfect outdoor temperatures to boost your performance,” says Nils Hætta, manager of the Midnight Sun Marathon, continuing: “The Arctic experience of running with snow-covered mountain peaks in the background, while knowing it’s high summer, will make the race truly unique.” Apart from the splendour of the Norwegian nature sceneries, the key offering of the Midnight Sun Marathon is in its name. Held on 20 June this year, the marathon takes place during Norway’s high season for the midnight sun, when the sun never sets, and flora, fauna, and indeed people, are given an energy boost. However, should you not want to complete a
full 42 km marathon, there are other options for you: a half marathon, a 10K race, a mini marathon (4.2 km) and, for children under 10 years, the children’s fun run. “The races are popular with both participants and international media – it’s a great occasion to take part in. People come from the UK, Mexico, New Zealand and Brazil to run with us – and we can’t wait to welcome them in 2015,” says Hætta. The Midnight Sun Marathon is accepting applicants now. Remember to book your hotel in advance, as rooms fill up quickly. Tromsø is easily accessible by air travel, with several direct flights departing from Oslo every day. For more information, please visit: www.msm.no
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Every year in the first week of June, around 200 adventurous athletes from around the world flock to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to participate in the exotic Spitsbergen Marathon.
Competitive running in polar bear territory The Spitsbergen Marathon is probably the only marathon in the world where outrunning a polar bear is more important than outrunning your opponents. By Magnus Nygren Syversen and Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Spitsbergen Marathon
Every year in the first week of June, around 200 adventurous athletes from around the world flock to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to participate in the exotic Spitsbergen Marathon. This year, the Marathon takes place on 6 June and will mark the 21th anniversary of one of the world’s most extraordinary experiences in competitive running. “We have had participants from 22 countries. Many of them travel the world to compete in marathons, while gathering stamps for their passports. They are a different kind of breed, and the Spitsbergen Marathon is an important part of the journey for them,” says Silje M. Hagen, Manager at Spitsbergen Marathon. Starting and ending in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, the course sends the participants through a harsh
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but beautiful Arctic landscape. Despite the incomparable nature of the marathon itself, one aspect that stands out for most is undoubtedly the legitimate risk of running into a polar bear along the course. “That is something you definitely will not get anywhere else, and in itself a reason to participate for many of our runners,” says Hagen. She points out that while some of the runners are more worried than others, there has not been an incident where polar bears have wandered onto the course. But the organisers take no risks. “We have polar bear guards on ATVs, armed with rifles, spread out along the course,” Hagen asserts. Though growing in stature, the Spitsbergen Marathon has always been the little brother of the Svalbard Skimaraton. As it is the last race of the cross country sea-
son, over 800 skiers, including top athletes like Therese Johaug and Eldar Rønning, will flood Longyearbyen on 25 April anxious to set out into the vast snowy landscape, protected by polar bear guards who have exchanged ATVs for snowmobiles. “The Svalbard Skimaraton is very attractive to cross-country skiers because of its exclusive and exotic feel. It is more than just a race. It is an opportunity to experience Svalbard,” says Hagen.
For more information, please visit: www.svalbardturn.no
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Oslo Maraton is a publically inclusive event that wants to contribute to sound, all-round public health, and invites everyone to take part.
Oslo Maraton: focus on the runner Employing values such as quality of life, enjoyment and community, Oslo Maraton has taken the prominent spot of Norway’s top marathon. Joined by a massive public celebration in the capital of Scandinavia’s uncrowned country of outdoor sports, runners are invited to share the glory of their achievements in grand style. So what are you waiting for? Strap on those running shoes and join the movement.
Triple), Marsteinstredet recommends a good training schedule leading up to your chosen race. “This form of exercise does a lot to the body, so it’s imperative you keep fit and prepare yourself with some longer training sessions,” he says.
By Julie Lindén | Photos: Oslo Maraton
“The most special thing about the marathon is no doubt running through a capital,” says Odd Arne Marsteinstredet of Oslo Maraton, continuing: “It’s the biggest race in the country, and the life permeating the capital on the day is astounding. Around 30,000 people show up to celebrate each year, so it’s definitely a grand occasion.” Inspired by what Marsteinstredet calls the ‘first wave of running’ during the 1980s, the marathon was brought to Norway and Oslo. Central to this first wave of the trend was Norwegian national running hero Grete Waitz (the first woman ever to run a marathon in less than 2.5 hours), who contributed greatly not only
to the popularity of running, but all the more to its attractiveness amongst women. “In the beginning of the 2000s we saw a second wave of the running trend emerge, and key to this trend was that more women ventured out into the running pathways,” says Marsteinstredet, continuing: “Today the Oslo Maraton comprises the ‘10 for Grete’ race, a tribute to the running legend she was. She proved that everyone can run – it’s merely a matter of getting out there.” While Oslo Maraton caters to every runner’s needs and ability level, offering distances of 3,000m, 10,000m (‘10 for Grete’), 21,000m (half marathon), 42,000m (marathon) and 72,000 (the Oslo
All in all, Oslo Maraton aims to be a publically inclusive event that wants to contribute to sound, all-round public health. “Running is, after all, a lowthreshold sport, in that everyone can do it,” Marsteinstredet explains. “We can help you with training schedules and similar, but you need to decide to get out there. In the end, it will be worth it!”
Oslo Maraton takes place on 19 September.
For more information, please visit: www.oslomaraton.no
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Salmon fishing in Surnadal At the peak of the Norwegian summer, hundreds of people gather in the small village of Surnadal to compete in the salmon fishing event Norsk Laksefestival. Surrounded by fjords, mountains, deep valleys and forests, Surnadal makes the ideal place for fishing and exploring the wild Norwegian nature. By Camilla Brugrand | Photos: trollheimsporten.no
Visitors without a fishing rod can enjoy live music, taste some delicious food in the marketplace, take part in various activities for both children and adults, or simply savour the trickling sounds of river Surna during the bright summer evenings. Surnadal is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal in the western part of Norway. Although the village has less than 6,000 inhabitants, it attracts tourists from all over Norway and beyond when the festival takes place on 19 – 21 June 2015. “Although the festival is mainly a salmon fishing competition that aims to raise interest in salmon fishing, it is also a social event and cul-
tural happening, as manifested by the award Surnadal received in 2012 as the culture capital of the county,” says Eva Rønning, Marketing Manager at Norsk Laksefestival. Children are welcome to participate in the competition, as there is a great focus on encouraging and inspiring children to go fishing. Later in the evenings, visitors can enjoy live music, fresh food and drinks. In 2014, 120 people participated in the competition, and for the experienced or amateur fishermen out there wishing to try their luck, a first prize of NOK 30,000 is awarded to the participant with the largest catch.
Fishing for the win Pack your fishing gear and head to the spectacular scenery of Lofoten. It is time for the 25th anniversary of VM i Skreifiske, the World Championship of cod fishing. By Julie Minsaas | Photos: VM i Skreifiske
Considering that last year saw participants from 14 different nations travel to Svolvær, fishing an incredible amount of 75,000 kilos of cod during the twoday-long festival, the organisers expect this year’s jubilee to be a great success. “We have been getting phone calls all spring with queries on when we open for registration, and we are already fully booked,” says head organiser Sten S. Sortland, one of 250
dedicated boat club members who work voluntarily to make the World Championship happen. The 2015 tournament runs from 2021 March, and categories include juniors, ‘tourist fishers’ and professional fishers. Friday 20 March fishers set out to get the most kilos of cod, whereas the actual World Championship, where you win by catching the biggest cod, takes place Saturday 21 March.
ABOVE: A small child is proudly showing the fish she caught. BELOW: Fishing champions: Last year’s winners.
For more information, please visit: www.norsklaksefestival.no
And whether it is the prizes, ranging from money and fishing equipment to local art works, or the stunning landscapes, the tournament sure attracts people. After struggling to match demand and capacity, the World Championship has set the limit of participants to 570. “Boats are provided as part of the NOK 1,400 registration fee. By setting this limit we can provide boats of better quality,” Sortland says, proudly adding that in their 25 years they have never had an accident, thanks to continuous emergency services on the site. The full experience offered is the reason why people keep coming. Sortland says: “When contestants are out on the ocean and see the snow on the Lofoten mountains sparkle under the spring sunshine, it’s already an amazing experience – regardless of whether they end up as the World Champion or not.”
For more information, please visit: www.vmiskreifiske.no
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Stunning stages for memorable music Slottsfjell is unique amongst Norway's bigger festivals in having preserved its original vibe. Thousands of visitors travel every summer to Norway's oldest town for a wide range of acts surrounded by a spectacular view, but still in intimate settings. By Camilla Brugrand | Photos: Christian Roth Christensen
This music festival takes place in the city of Tønsberg in a park preserved as a cultural heritage site and includes the ruins of a medieval castle. This is the focal point of the festival, with its tower rebuilt in the 19th century being an iconic local landmark. It is one of Norway’s largest festivals and attracts 12,000 music lovers each day from all over the country, as well as abroad. "We stick to the original idea about our audience - treating them as good friends, like we wanted when the festival was smaller and first started. Combine this with a whiff of old Nordic history and some stages that artists look forward to playing every Sum-
mer, and there you have it," says one of the organizers, Siri N. Moen. A night time club programme also includes international DJs in a huge warehouse where club culture thrives, serving as an urban contrast to the daytime shows bathed in Scandinavian sun. Hotels, restaurants, parks, camping, beaches, boat trips, bus and train stations are all in walking distance from the festival area. This year’s festival runs from 16 to 18 July. Some names ready for the 2015 festival include Seinabo Sey, Lonely the Brave, Todd Terje, OnklP & De Fjerne Slektningene, Emilie Nicolas, Aurora Aksnes and Team Me.
American band Haim playing at Slottsfjell 2014. More names for the 2015 festival to appear on slottsfjell.no
For more information, please visit: www.slottsfjell.no
Bringing opera to the people It might feel like a bit of a schlep for many to catch an opera at the opera house. However, the Oslo-based group Opera til folket has found a solution – and brings opera to you, whether you are in your local pub or on the tram. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Oslo Operafestival
“We meet a lot of people who didn’t know they liked opera until they witnessed one of our performances,” says Managing Director Gjøril Songvoll. While Opera til folket might provide you and me with our first experiences of opera, it is also an important arena for up-and-coming singers. “If you look at the employees at the Oslo Opera
Puccini’s Tosca was one of the group’s productions in 2014. Photo: Gjøril Songvoll
House, the vast majority of the young singers there started out with us,” says Songvoll. “We always mix young talent with experienced performers in our productions. Working alongside veterans with international careers is a great learning experience,” she adds. Under the creative direction of the world famous soprano Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz the group has performed everything from single arias in pubs to full productions of popular operas such as La Traviata and Carmen. In October their annual festival, Oslo Operafestival, celebrates its tenth anniversary. The festival, which is run on a voluntary basis, will bring two weeks filled with various events, and the group hopes to set up more than one of their popular trips by Oslo’s blue trams. The festival’s main event will be the performance of Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin.
If you can’t wait until October you can catch a performance every Satuday at 3pm from 7 February – 25 April at Nedre Slottsgate 1. Tickets cost 100/75/50 NOK. For more information, please visit: operatilfolket.no
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Argentinean tango at Keiservarden mountain peak. Photo: Bjørn Erik Olsen.
Rooted in Nordic harmonies Visitors to Nordland Music Festival would be forgiven for thinking they were simply attending another music event, but the nearly 35-year-old festival has more in store for its audience than classical symphonies. Weaving together the old with the new, the urban with the characteristic nature of the north, and introducing inspiring new acts through special youth performances, the festival has not only become a favourite pit stop for all lovers of harmonies but a definite preference with those longing for unmatchable nature experiences. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Henrik Dvergsdal
The festival can be traced back to 1980, when it first graced Bodø with its symphonies of classical music as a church music festival. From the early days the festival’s core belonged to classical music, although the scope quickly widened. Moving into its 35th anniversary in August 2015, the programme is sure to be more varied and more exquisite than ever – especially as the arrangement has now
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grown to become the largest festival in Northern Norway. The profile artist of this year’s festival is folk musician and composer Ragnhild Furebotten, who will bring her own flavour of distinct harmonious skill to the week of events. Wide varieties and homegrown pride “We remain firmly rooted in a classical music background, but we also make a
point out of incorporating exciting new features that take the festival in a new direction,” says Linda Skipnes Strand, Marketing Manager for Nordland Music Festival. “Our aim is to appeal to a number of different audiences, from the young to the old, while focusing on the northern Norwegian music experience in its entirety. This means introducing club style music alongside the classical contributions, and always nurturing that wide variety.” Appearing in concurrence with the festival in 2015 – manifesting its cultural and musical importance once and for all – is Norway’s pride in classical music performances: Leif Ove Andsnes, who will perform together with Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Having risen to fame as a classical pianist and chamber musician, adding no
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less than eight Grammy Award nominations to his CV, Andsnes makes one of few stops on his Beethoven Journey tour in Bodø – as the sole location in the Nordic countries. “We’re incredibly proud to have Andsnes grace our stage. His tour mainly includes locations such as Tokyo, New York and London, so to have him perform in Bodø is truly remarkable,” says Skipnes Strand.
Photo: Marte Antonsen /Big Picture
Where culture meets nature Asserting the festival’s mark on the townscape through its wide-ranging profile, including popular shows in the town square for young people who would like to give a music career a try, Skipnes Strand says that the northern Norwegian wilderness makes up just as much of the festival’s identity as Bodø town itself. In fact, much of the music is performed outdoors, two musical hot spots being Keiservarden mountaintop and Nyholms Skandse – an islet just by the approach to Bodø harbour. “It’s completely unique to have this kind of nature grace the surroundings of the festival. The nature not only adds to the experience, it lifts the quality of the music to a whole new level. It’s quite something to put a fair bit of effort into reaching the
summit of a mountain, only to experience a one-of-a-kind music performance once you’re there,” says Skipnes Strand, explaining that people visiting Bodø as early as April 2015 will have a chance to experience the musical town in a whole new way. “We’re launching an app, Musikalske Utsikter [Musical Views], which will allow music lovers to combine our spectacular nature with new music in an innovative way. While not directly connected to the
Music Festival in August, it aims to give the audience a completely novel experience of listening to music. The app will, working through a GPS, activate at certain spots around Bodø, giving you exclusive access to several pieces of music composed for specific viewpoints,” she says. The app has been developed in close collaboration with local musicians who are noted performers in their particular genres. The app may be the perfect time to learn more about the world of classical music, a world often portrayed as difficult to grasp. Yet, Skipnes Strand states, this is often a misrepresentation of a truly appealing genre. “Classical music lures you in, and it’s first when you’ve given yourself some time to understand it that you fall for it,” she says, adding: “You just need to be reminded of its greatness, and you’ll keep coming back for more.” We are sure the same goes for Nordland Music Festival in its entirety.
For more information, please visit: www.musikkfestuka.no
About Nordland Music Festival: The Festival takes place on 31 July - 9 August, in Bodø. Concerts with Leif Ove Andsnes and MCO take place on 18-21 July. Tickets for the festival, and the concurring concerts, can be purchased on www.musikkfestuka.no
Locations and musicians included in the Musical Views app: Music for Keiservarden mountain peak by the organist Bjørn Andor Drage Music for the pier in Bodø by jazz trumpeter Tore Johansen Music for the beaches at Mjelle by Kråkesølv Music for Per Karlsatind mountain peak by fiddle player Susanne Lundeng
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Combining Sunnmøre’s spectacular nature, with live, quality music events that offer heart, spirit and a unique atmosphere – little else can compete with Momentium’s inimitable position in the music industry.
Norwegian music gaining international Momentium Momentium started out as a wish: to bring people and music together in the purest of ways. A local, small-scale festival quickly turned huge, and the crowds were cheering for more. Today Momentium is – arguably – one of Norway’s biggest festival organisers, with three massively popular music festivals under their belt: Sommerfesten [The Summer Fest], Jugendfest and Ålesund Live. Beyond these examples, Momentum’s passion for music has been manifested in the innovative, state-of-the-art recording studio Ocean Sound Recordings. The results? Not so small-scale anymore. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Momentium
“It was some 13 years ago,” says Ronny Stokke, Manager at Momentium, continuing: “The founders of the company were hosting a smaller, private gathering for their friends – about 35 to 40 people or so. Everyone brought something to eat, as a joint effort – they had a lovely time – and it was such a success that they decided to make it a yearly thing. The next year 300 people showed up!” This was the start of Momentium’s company structure and very first festival, Sommerfesten, which eventually would to grow to encompass thousands of music lovers from all over the country and
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beyond. “Around 2011 Sommerfesten had 30,000 visitors,” Stokke continues. “The concept was still the same: pairing good music with good food that everyone brought to share. There was no set ticket price, so people just paid what they wanted or could pay. Imagine that!” Highly valued relationships Still today Sommerfesten remains the treasured heart of Momentium, a company which now also hosts the youthful Jugendfest and the more mature Ålesund Live, all taking place in the traditional north-western district of Sunnmøre. And,
while Sommerfesten remains a cosy outing where set ticket prices are unheard of and the coffee, cake and food is brought to share, Jugendfest attracts some of the world’s top live performers to a range of shows that will blow you away. If you’re not yet convinced of its prominence, names such as David Guetta on the list of previous performers should do the trick. “This year we’ll have artists like Norwegian Gabrielle and Lars Vaular at Jugendfest,” says Stokke. “At Sommerfesten we’ll welcome Isac Elliot, who has really grown in popularity recently. Festival planning is to some extent a very risky business, as we’re dependent on booking great artists, as well as having multiple other factors work in our favour.” He pauses, before explaining that while Momentium has a mere eight employees working for them full time, 1,000 volunteers help make every festival as great as it can possibly be. “Planning a spectacular festival is a long process, and so you’ll
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see us start booking artists in September every year, for the following year’s festival. That’s why it’s so important to keep good relationships with artists, employees and volunteers. It’s also very important for us to keep a strong relationship with the business sector, as many companies provide us with highly valued sponsorship – a relationship we try to honour by inviting companies to take part in activities related to the festivals, as well as the main music events themselves.” An integrated passion for music It’s clear that Momentium has created more than a north-western hub for music lovers: this is a company that has made music so integral to their passion that they have even ventured into making it themselves. “Five years ago we had this idea to build a recording studio somewhat out of the ordinary,” explains Stokke, describing the many features of Ocean Sound Recordings, the fruit of the original idea. “It’s a state-of-the-art recording studio,” he continues excitedly, “it has hosted artists like Arcade Fire and Travis, which is an ode to the quality of the facility.” The studio boasts both analogue and digital recording equipment, encased in a spacious room that invites the creation of unique sounds. Furthermore the studio gives access to several booths of various acoustics, as well as a control room and live room.
Asked what unifies Momentium, Stokke is nothing but confident. Combining Sunnmøre’s spectacular nature, characterised by its alpine peaks, glorious sunsets and stunning islands, with live, quality music events that offer heart, spirit and a unique atmosphere – little else can compete with Momentium’s inimitable position in the music industry. “I think the world of music is opening their eyes more and more to festivals that can be found somewhat off the beaten track – events that use the surroundings for what they are worth, and offer something more than the ‘regular’ festival experience,” explains Stokke. “When you have stood in the crowds of one of the town concerts, with
the sunset on one side, the revered Jugendstil buildings of Ålesund on the other, and a spectacular performance in front of you – you’ll know what I mean.” We are happy to oblige.
Ålesund Live: 12 - 13 June Sommerfesten: 4 July Jugendfest: 21-22 August For more information and ticket options where applicable, please visit: momentium.no
The studio boasts both analogue and digital recording equipment, encased in a spacious room that invites the creation of unique sounds.
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The sound of Lofoten Cellolyd is Norway's first cello festival: a small musical event that has attracted the likes of Sondre Lerche and Marit Larsen. Every August you can hear the warm, dark tones of what cellist and festival director Lisa Isabel Holstad calls the world's most beautiful instrument. By Maya Acharya | Photos: Cellolyd i Lofoten
It's no surprise that Holstad wanted to share her passion with her local community. After years away Holstad moved back to Northern Norway, where she established the country's only cello festival. The festival takes place in Moskenes municipality in Lofoten, and has its base in the fishing village Reine. Holstad is the driving force behind the event, helped by a team of fellow musicians and several local partners, including festival host Reine Rorbuer. “It is said that the cello is the instrument most similar to the human voice in terms of timbre, which is perhaps why so many people feel a special connection to it,” says Holstad. “I also think people associate it visually and symbolically with something very sensual.” Maybe this is why so many musicians, including famous Norwegian pop artists and a cellist from the Berlin Philharmonic, have felt
compelled to partake in this small, yet magical festival. These artists play in intimate settings such as cinema stages and local restaurants. “The cello is also very versatile. We showcase many genres: folksongs, contemporary music, music for children, sing-alongs and classic concerts. It's amazing to see interactions between people from hugely different musical worlds,” says Holstad. The cello goes hand in hand with Lofoten's beautiful nature; a notion most aptly summarised by festival-goer Christina Oden: “Lofoten is music itself, wonderfully transported through the cello's resonance. It slams and sighs, it darts and swoons, it bawls and whispers. Lofoten itself puts the strings in motion.”
Cellolyd beach concert with dancer Silje Michaela. Photo: Sigurd Haug
Cellists on the mountains of Sørvågen. Photo: Jana Julian
This year's festival takes place on 6 – 8 August For more information, please visit: www.cellolyd.com
A festival for adventurous listening Borealis is not your average music festival. Borealis – a festival of experimental music – celebrates musical culture in ways new to a lot of people. Pushing the boundaries of general perceptions of music, this Bergen-based festival is an event packed with new experiences for young and old. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Borealis Festival
For five days in March Bergen is taken over by contemporary and experimental music. The city comes to life with enthusiastic crowds and energetic performances. Describing it as the perfect event for “adventurous listening”, Peter Meanwell, Artistic Director of Borealis, explains what the music festival is all about. “Think about refurnishing a room,” he says, “you use the same furniture as before but place it differently and all of a sudden you have a new room. That’s essentially what we do. We reshape people’s general perception of what music can be.” Borealis is all about opening people’s minds and finding musical culture that has fallen between the traditional realms and boxes. From exciting young composers writing for local contemporary classical ensemble BIT20, to improvisers using mechanical typewriters from as
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far afield as South Korea, the festival celebrates those pushing the boundaries locally and globally. The 2015 festival includes visits from legendary American composer Christian Wolff, new work from Lithuanian experimentalist Lina Lapelyte and genre-defying jazz group Sons of Kemet, as well as the world premiere of an opera by British composer Emily Hall. Although contemporary and experimental culture may sometimes seem daunting and excluding for the broader masses, this experience is open for everyone – no matter background knowledge or previous experience. “No one’s going to quiz you afterwards,” Meanwell laughs. “Everything is created for people to come together and enjoy music in new and exciting ways.”
Borealis is all about opening people’s minds and finding musical culture that has fallen between the traditional realms and boxes.
For more information, please visit: www.borealisfestival.no
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Vossa Jazz – innovative and inclusive Vossa Jazz is an annual jazz festival, which will take place for the 42nd time on 27-29 March in Voss, situated 90 minutes by car or train east of Bergen. This innovative festival offers a range of musical experiences: from jazz via folk music to world music. It is also known as an inclusive festival that reaches out to young and old alike. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Vossa Jazz
“Our objective is to stimulate the interest for jazz and other complimentary genres amongst both listeners and active musicians,” General Manager Trude Storheim explains. Important elements that illustrate the diversity of Vossa Jazz include Badnajazz (for children aged seven to 13), UNGjaJAZZja (for young people aged 18 to 25), Eldrejazz, Superjazz and Ekstremjazz. Superjazz is an opportunity for disabled members of the audience to learn and participate. Ekstremjazz combines jazz music with extreme sport, such as skiing, cycling or paragliding at a natural spot in Voss’s mountainous natural beauty. Jon
Balke will be responsible for the artistic side of 2015’s Ekstremjazz. “Vossa Jazz is a good opportunity for musicians to launch new music,” Storheim says. For 2015 Live Maria Roggen has been commissioned to write the music for the festival highlight ‘Tingingsverket’. So far international and Norwegian artists Erlend Skomsvoll (new music mixing jazz and folk music), French artist Manu Katche, Ellen Andrea Wang, Mikko Innanen, Carsten Dahl and Thea Hjelmeland are among the stars who have announced their presence at the next Vossa Jazz.
A spectacular outdoor concert with jazz and extreme sports.
For more information, please visit: www.vossajazz.no
Celebrating jazz from south to north Having experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, the jazz genre in Norway is blooming. A perfect example of this is Vinterjazz – a national mustering of jazz that takes place in clubs across the country from 30 January to 8 February 2015. Take part in a wide-ranging celebration of this alluring genre, and visit some of Norway’s most beautiful sites along the way.
wide boom of the genre in the 1960s and 70s, Norway’s focus on musical education has added to the beneficial conditions for jazz and its growth. “Vinterjazz showcases the width of jazz very well: from the experimental and the improvisational to the traditional.”
By Julie Lindén
From Mandal in the south to Vadsø in the north, Vinterjazz will have you mesmerised by the harmonies of both national and international artists. Arranged by Norsk Jazzforum, a membership and interest organisation focused on uniting the Norwegian jazz community and promoting its conditions artistically and through cultural policies, the collection of events will
take place in approximately 40 different clubs and offer around 100 concerts. “Great musical activity is taking place in the Norwegian jazz community at the moment,” says Camilla Slaattun Brauer, Information Officer at Norsk Jazzforum, underlining that while the community has flourished since the world-
No matter what flavour of jazz you fancy, Vinterjazz will supply you with experiences out of the ordinary. From the Ice Music Festival in Geilo, where artists play on instruments made out of ice, to noted musician Arild Andersen’s performances at Tynset Jazzklubb and Urijazz, Hayden Powell Trio at Sunndal Jazzklubb and Glåmdal Jazzklubb, Stian Westerhus & Pale Horses at the National Jazzscene in Oslo and Marilyn Mazur’s shows at Hadeland Jazzforum and Nesodden Jazz club, Vinterjazz is a multidimensional gift for the music aficionado. LEFT: Arve Henriksen at the Ice Music Festival in Geilo. MIDDLE: Hayden Powell Trio will play at Sunndal Jazzklubb and Glåmdal Jazzklubb. RIGHT: Arild Andersen will perform at Tynset Jazzklubb and Urijazz.
For more information, please visit: www.vinterjazz.no Photo: Emile Holba
Photo: Andreas Ulvo
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The coolest place with the hottest music If you’ve ever wanted to see the famed Northern Lights, you’re not alone, and if you’re also a music fan – well then Polarjazz have got your interests covered. Set in Longyearbyen in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, this music festival brings together music fans, great artists and great nature over four days of sheer, exceptional festival joy. Beyond a jazz festival, Polarjazz has developed into a wider, broader music festival, which attracts many high quality artists every year,” says Lasse Stener Hansen of Polarjazz, adding: “At the same time it’s a small-scale, intimate festival that always
Kaizers Orchestra at Polarjazz.
Photo: Birgit A. Suhr
By Julie Lindén | Photo: Eva Theresea Jenssen
creates a special atmosphere. All in all, visitors are guaranteed a great experience.” We can only agree. Backed by spectacular nature sceneries of this northernmost part of Norway, providing brilliant conditions for seeing the Aurora during the festival period on 58 February, Polarjazz not only attracts a dedicated audience, but certainly also a mesmerised line-up of artists. “I think our rather special conditions up north is a big reason as to why we are able to book huge, popular acts,” says Stener Hansen. “Both visitors and artists keep coming back because they enjoy the Polar surroundings of Svalbard.” This year visitors can look forward to class acts like the Swedish best-selling group Bo
Kaspers Orkester, Norwegian pop artist Morten Abel as well as performances from other domestic, up-and-coming acts such as Emilie Nicolas and folk/rock band Violet Road. As Polarjazz maintains a great emphasis on including the whole family in the festivities through programmes to suit every age, all visitors are welcome to make musical memories in the Polar night.
For more information, please visit: www.polarjazz.no
Oslo Chamber Music Festival – an international stage Ground-breaking, inclusive and innovative: for years the Oslo Chamber Music Festival has been known as a musical gathering that brings international and national stars together with the talents of tomorrow. Showcasing their works in Oslo’s most admired buildings, churches and castles, these musicians have lifted musical quality to new heights – and made the Norwegian capital an international stage. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Oslo Chamber Music Festival
Initiated by renowned Norwegian violinist Arve Tellefsen in 1989, who was inspired by the intimate chamber music festivals in Europe and the USA, OCMF has become famous for providing a stage for high-quality music in new, ground-breaking spaces. Since its beginning the festival has been hosted at the atmospheric Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle just by the Oslo Fjord. A collaboration with the Royal Palace has made it possible to invite audiences into several more of Oslo’s architectural treasures. “The Nordic August nights create a magical frame for the festival. With a total of 16 concert arenas the scene is set for many different experiences. The audience often walk from concert to concert, so beyond relishing music of
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high quality, they are able to experience everything from Edvard Munch’s wall paintings in the University Aula, to the beautiful halls at Oscarshall Castle,” says Kristin Slørdahl, Manager at OCMF. Visitors to the 2015 festival, taking place August 15-21, can look forward to an opening concert in the University Aula with Akademie for Alte Musik, Berlin, a closing concert in Oslo Cathedral with Ensemble Matheus Paris – and numerous performances in between. More than 20 concerts with top-class artists can be experienced, such as Angela Hewitt, Truls Mørk, Rolf Lislevand, Charlie Siem, Brodsky Quartet, the English ensemble Galicantus, Håvard Gimse, Arve Tellefsen, as well as several more international and Norwegian musicians.
Oslo Cathedral, where you will be able to hear the Ensemble Matheus Paris during Oslo Chamber Music Festival.
For more information, please visit: www.oslokammermusikkfestival.no
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Chamber chimes between fjords and mountains Established as the only chamber music festival in Sogn og Fjordane, Gloppen Musikkfest offers audiences superb music experiences that bring people and harmonies close together. Linking large and small arenas to nature, this music gathering presents high-quality acts that invite to new interpretations in stunning surroundings.
the north. Furthermore, the acclaimed Norwegian ensemble Music for a While will perform in beautiful harmonies. Gloppen is a perfect location for those who wish to combine nature with stunning music performances: an experience that will stay with you long after you leave the fjords behind.
By Julie Lindén | Photos: Geir Skagen
“Gloppen Musikkfest is a grand festival where classical music meets new genres, in the most stunning nature you can possibly imagine,” says Hanne B Oftedal, Festival Manager at Gloppen Musikkfest. She paints a vivid image of a festival that does not shy away from contrasts, but embraces them as part of the programme. “Definitely. Although our main focus is classical music, we welcome other genres as well as completely different artistic expressions, such as literature and dance.”
Arenas of various sizes are employed, brilliantly adapting space to the art – while also accomplishing the characteristic trait of Gloppen Musikkfest: bringing audiences so close to the performers that the music can not only be heard, but felt. Furthermore, children and young people are invited to bring their own interpretations to the concert halls as well as take part in workshops and seminars, a feature that adds yet another dimension to the celebrated festival.
Gloppen municipality is home to a high-quality cultural centre, an immense advantage in the presentation of large and small artistic works.
In 2015 – the 13th annual festival – audiences can look forward to performances by solo and chamber musicians from the best orchestras of
Music as a bridge builder Oslo International Church Music Festival is a festival celebrating the diversity of church music across Europe. The theme of the 15th annual festival is “music as a bridge builder – at home and abroad”. The festival offers a rich and diverse international programme, crossing different periods, genres, and national borders. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Marco Borggreve
Opening the festival is the French early music ensemble Capriccio Stravagante with their performance of André Campra’s L’Europe Galante. The ensemble is accompanied by six outstanding soloists, led by Skip Sempé. With around 15,000 visitors yearly, Oslo International Church Music Festival is a central institution in the development of church music in Norway and is Norway’s largest exhibition of early music and associated international specialist performers.
The 2015 festival will see great performances of world leading musicians such as Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort, who will perform a beautiful a cappella programme centred on the Virgin Mary. Ensemble Odhecaton, the Danish vocal ensemble Concert Clemens, and a group of Scandinavia’s foremost jazz musicians will also perform. The project entitled Song of Songs offers a unique encounter between Jewish, Christian and Muslim musical traditions, and is written by five composers from different countries who have based the work on texts featuring symbols and metaphors shared by various cultures. The work will be premiered by one of the foremost choirs of our time, the Latvian Radio Choir, and the critically acclaimed Ensemble Sarband, conducted by Kaspars Putnins.
For more information, please visit: www.gloppenmusikkfest.no
The anniversary year closes with J. S. Bach’s famous masterpiece St. Matthew Passion performed by musicians from both Germany and France – Le Concert Lorrain and the famous Balthasar-Neumann-Chor featuring star soloists under the direction of Christoph Prégardien. During 12 days the festival offers seven world premieres, 854 participants from 18 countries and 29 projects.
Christoph Prégardien directs star soloists in a performance of J. S. Bach’s masterpiece St. Matthew Passion.
Festival period: 6 – 17 March
For more information, please visit: www.oicmf.no
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Musical contrasts and broadened horizons in Risør The successful combination of a small, picturesque location, a world-famous chamber music festival, the stunning Norwegian coastline and a whole lot of love for harmonies has made Risør Chamber Music Festival a treasure among international music gatherings. As you walk through this popular tourist city of southern Norway during the 2015 festival – its 25th anniversary – you will not only be able to listen to world-class music emerging from the rooms of the wooden houses – you may also get the chance to rub shoulders with famous stars while enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of Risør. You’ve been invited to a festival of contrasts. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Liv Øvland
“Starting out in 1990, Risør Chamber Music Festival was only the second chamber music gathering in all of Norway, making it rather special already at its birth,” says Per Erik Kise Larsen, Festival Director, continuing: “Since then we’ve experienced an immense growth in the popularity of chamber music as a whole, but the interest in this festival in particular has exploded. It’s because of the distinct atmosphere here, I believe, and how every single
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member of every audience gets to come up close to the music and its creators.” He pauses for thought. “There’s a reason why the New York Times wrote a whole piece on Risør Chamber Music Festival, praising its atmospheric strengths and festive spirits.” A famous beginning Indeed, the evidence for this festival’s prominence and appeal seems wonder-
fully apparent. Perhaps the name Leif Ove Andsnes, initiator of the festival and Norwegian chamber music talent extraordinaire, is enough to manifest this reality – but if not, names such as Joshua Bell, participating in the 2015 festival, will surely make you thirst for a ticket. “Andsnes was only 19 years old when he became part of the organisation of this festival, and therefore attendees have been able to see him grow as a performer throughout the years he’s been active. This has added a whole new dimension to the experience of the gathering,” says Kise Larsen, adding: “In 2015 we’re proud to welcome Joshua Bell, a well-known name and an extraordinary talent.” And it is this very trait, the mixing of international and national super talents, that defines Risør Chamber Music Festival. However, a definition of the festival’s
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway
RISØR CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL When: 23 – 28 June 2015 Where: Risør (240 km southwest of Oslo), Norway Artists 2015: Leif Ove Andsnes, Joshua Bell, Martin Fröst, Johannes Moser, Jostein Gaarder, Marianne Schirinyan, Vilde Frang, Alessio Bax, Tora Augestad, Golda Schultz, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra Artistic directors: Henning Kraggerud, Lars Anders Tomter Closest airports: Kristiansand/Kjevik (110 km), Sandefjord/Torp (132 km) Stay: Risør Hotel, Det lille Hotel, Lyngør bokhotell, Kragerø Resort Combine a picturesque Norwegian city, organisers in the know and personally evolving musical dialogue, and you get Risør Chamber Music Festival.
profile would not be complete without the inclusion of local and younger talents. As much as the festival has become famous for inviting the world of chamber music to little Risør, it has been commended for offering aspiring musicians a chance to mingle with the professionals and make music together with them. “Most music festivals would never do this. Here we mix young Norwegian music talents with international stars, and they make up their own ensembles here on the spot. It’s a conscious and very appreciated initiative; it creates closeness and intimacy among musicians, and it’s also attractive for them as a practising method.” Chiming harmonies and young talent Kise Larsen explains that the inclusive musical atmosphere makes the whole of Risør chime with harmonies – musical works that can even be appreciated while walking down the streets. This, he says, is a formidable way of also including the audience in the music-making. “Audience members are truly and most definitely part of making Risør Chamber Music Festival what it is. In the greater scheme of things we have been determined in not limiting this notion to the duration of the
festival, offering young locals the opportunity to engage in music through their schools and special workshops throughout the year.” He adds: “It’s important for us to inspire young people to use music actively in their lives – making them aware of their talents and motivating them to create.”
tional – it’s a memory to treasure for a lifetime. Add a picturesque Norwegian city, organisers in the know and personally evolving musical dialogue, and you’ll find it difficult not to come back. For more information, please visit: www.kammermusikkfest.no
Yet another way the festival has done this is through the risørUNG initiative. This festival-within-a-festival aims to unveil and promote classical music to a younger audience, and it always attracts a high level of musicians. “Young people today have a constantly developing set of expectations when it comes to music,” explains Kise Larsen. “Through this mini festival we attract young people between the ages of 18 and 25, and we create a programme that aims to challenge these expectations and broaden their musical horizons.” All in all, Risør Chamber Music Festival offers a comprehensive and exceptional experience of some of the world’s best music. Getting close to the best of the best, so close that you can feel the music vibrating through you, is not only excep-
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Still from the video installation The Feast of Trimalchio by the Russian artist group AES+F, which will be shown at an exhibition in Harstad the summer of 2015.
Top talent: inspired by the North A festival that offers experiences within every genre of culture, gives you access to numerous works of art that will challenge your senses, and invites children and young people to express themselves alongside amateur artists as well as professionals? The Arts Festival of North Norway is as diverse as it is inclusive, two features that are combined to perfection in the 2015 festival, to be held in Harstad on 20-27 June. So what are you waiting for? Let the North of Norway inspire you! By Julie Lindén | Press photos
“So many people believe that you can’t mix amateur artists with professionals, and children’s art with the established names, but that’s far from the truth,” says Tone Winje, Festival Director of the Arts Festival of North Norway, continuing excitedly: “It’s all in the inspiration! Young, up-and-coming designers are inspired by the professionals to an immense degree. I think it’s important to remember that one idea, or thought, doesn’t have to rule out another. By bringing everything to-
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gether we’re creating something unique to our concept – something we’re very proud of – and that’s an intriguing mix of cultural expressions.”
selves in the intriguing meeting point created between politics and culture. This, Winje explains, is a conscious decision taken to shine some light on the tried relations between east and west. “There have been noticeable recent changes in the way western and eastern countries, for instance the border-sharing Norway and Russia, relate to one another. For those of us who work in and with the cul-
Bridging the gap During the course of the much longed for festival week visitors will have the pleasure of listening to breath-taking music performances, viewing spectacular installations and, particular to the 2015’s edition of the festival, immerse them-
Monica Heldal. A rare bird in the fauna of Norwegian artistry. Photo: Bjørn Opsahl
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tural world, this is far from good news. We wish to keep these channels open, and keep co-operations intact; because where all else fails, culture is often the one point where we can still work together.” She explains that the focus on interactions between eastern and western countries, illustrated by recent relations between Norway and Russia, has also manifested itself in an emphasis on Sami culture – geographically found in and between these two countries. Sami-Norwegian musician, composer and producer Georg Buljo has just been announced as the very fitting profile of the Arts Festival of North Norway 2015, something that thrills Winje. “He is not just a fabulous musician, but one of the most exciting innovators and interpreters of Sami culture. He has a solid 20 years of experience, and has worked with other notable musicians such as Mari Boine and Lars Bremnes, of whom the former is also a famous Sami singer who will grace the festival with her presence.” Together with Buljo, music aficionados will be able to indulge in works from Niko Valkeapää, Mikkel Gaup, Ulla Pirttijärvi, Marja Helena Fjellheim Mortensson and more. The Festival also presents a broad ‘fan’ of genres, including young talents like Sondre Justad and Monica Heldal, along with artists in jazz and classical music.
Artists and children in happy dance on the quay. Photo: Roger Hennum
Astounding collaborations She describes the festival as a wellcomposed meal, offering a perfect circle of cultural nutrition. However, she says, the circle is never complete without the characteristic involvement of young talent that has made The Arts Festival stand out in the crowd of Norwegian culture festivals. “Children and young people symbolise much of what we’re all about: free creation, without locking ourselves in set genres. We also work with disabled children, who add to our ultimate goal of giving everyone the right to culture. All in all, different talents, skills, ages and abilities come together to express themselves – and the results are nothing short of astounding,” says Winje. Add to this the extraordinary setting of Harstad town, an Arctic Circle coastal
pearl, and the cultural meal of the Arts Festival of North Norway is flawlessly garnished. What is Winje herself most excited about come June 2015? “The entirety of the week,” she says warmly. “Seeing everything come together, and being able to offer some truly extraordinary experiences to those who venture north. I’m excited to see how the programme will be received – I’m very proud of the meal we have composed this time around!” The Arts Festival of North Norway will take place on 20-27 June in Harstad.
For more information, please visit: www.festspillnn.no
The top shelf of talents Beyond musical performances, the wide-ranging programme of the Arts Festival of North Norway can offer visual art experiences in the shapes of installations and video contributions, as well as gallery art pieces. The festival has enlisted the help of renowned curator Joakim Borda to create intriguing exhibitions that have attracted interest both regionally, nationally and internationally. “I feel very lucky to be working with this festival, because we can really pick from the top shelf of talents,” says Winje, underlining the importance of Borda’s talent. She adds: “That manifests our profile as a very modern one in the cultural world, which attracts more talent.”
Sondre Justad – a young Norwegian sing & songwriter from the north. Photo: Bjørnar Øvrebø
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway
Ukrainian folk quartet Dakha Brakha giving a performance at 2013’s festival.
Barents Spektakel – breaking the boundaries Some of the most intriguing realisations exist in transboundary fields, especially when addressing art and culture. This is something the founders of Barents Spektakel have not only understood – they have decided to interrogate it, celebrate it and convey it to their growing audience. This February will see the festival – named Arctic Take Away – explore the boundaries between genres, countries and generations, all set in the gloriously beautiful landscape of Barents in the very North of Norway.
national borders, a premise for the rich and highly mixed cultural heritage that still lives in Barents. This can be seen as a positive connotation of the takeaway term, explains Ødegård Olsen, painting a very different picture of the region from that as an exploited resource.
By Julie Lindén | Photos: Mikhail Slavin
Barents Spektakel has been described as a cultural-political cocktail of contemporary art, performance art, literature, theatre, film, seminars and concerts, all blended together with timely societal issues related to Barents and the northern areas of Norway. Lene Ødegård Olsen, press officer for the festival, describes Barents Spektakel’s 2015 edition as “an Arctic takeout counter”, fully prepared with a range of both positive and negative connotations. Exploring attitudes and aptitudes “We seem to think of Barents as this deli counter we can keep emptying of its contents; a place we can come back to for
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more and more. This has been the case in several industries, from fishing to oil extraction, from mining to breaking iron ore,” she says, continuing: “This year’s festival aims to look at this area as more than an inexhaustible resource – and exploring people’s attitudes to that idea.” She mentions the long and proud traditions of culture exchange in the Arctic, cultural meeting points that initially manifested themselves through nomadic peoples and their sustainable ways of living. Barents, consisting of the northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland as well as northwest Russia, was until the early 19th century a geographical area without
“The differences are in the nuances. The good thing about taking something out from somewhere else is that it inspires change, growth and learning. Where Barents is concerned, one can be profoundly inspired. The cultural benefits were huge for nomadic peoples who travelled from site to site, seeing their world grow by each encounter,” she says, adding: “The benefits are equally grand for us, who get to take part in the transboundary heritage today through dialogue and reflection.” Take part in the dialogue From 4-8 February visitors to Kirkenes, in the extreme north-eastern part of Norway and about 400km north of the Arctic Circle, can take part in some cul-
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The festival audience eagerly waiting for the opening show.
tural exchange of their own. From the ‘Rømmekollecafé’, where you are invited to take part in storytelling and dialogue about food traditions (symbolised by the traditional Norwegian rømmekolle – a lightly fermented type of buttermilk), to the visual art walk complete with guides in the know, your cultural hunger will be fully satisfied by the best of the Arctic Take Away counter. “The art walk includes works of artists from all over the world, and it will definitely make its mark on the townscape of Kirkenes,” says Ødegård Olsen, men-
tioning renowned photographer Francois Zvardon who will be displaying photographs from his stay in Kirkenes and Nikel, an urban Russian locality seven km from the Norwegian border. Additional Russian influence will come from Murmansk-based artists Dimitri Novitsky and Glafira Severianova, who serve their audience with literal but humorous Survival Instructions that look at the best ways of dealing with one’s neighbour. Breaking down barriers “This brings us back to the topic of border communities, and how we through
Barents Spektakel aim to create meeting points and break down barriers,” says Ødegård Olsen. “There are strong ties between Russia and Norway, especially in this region, and we want to use this connection for all its worth.” An exciting extension to these connections has been created through Barents Spektakel’s double concerts. By staging concerts with Norwegian and Russian artists right after one another – though not at the same time – arrangers hope to bridge the gap between two cultures and create mutual understanding for musical talent. Noted rapper Lars Vaular is one of the headliners from Norway, while Russian hip-hop act Noize MC will represent his native Russia. “This way our audience will be able to listen to similar music styles but interpreted by two different performers, which will give the festival an additional type of dialogue,” says Ødegård Olsen.
Barents Spektakel takes place in Kirkenes on 4-8 February. For tickets, please see the website.
For more information, please visit: www.barentsspektakel.no Outdoor film screening of A Border Musical by Chto Delat from St Petersburg at Barents Spektakel 2013.
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István Csákány, Sudden gust of motivation (2012) at Anne Grethe’s garage at Svinøya. LIAF2013.
Challenging space and time in Lofoten Experimental Contemporary art meets nature in an alluring omission of permanent space. That’s how Lofoten International Art Festival could be described. This particular festival, however, does not transfer best through description. Lofoten International Art Festival has to be experienced. By Julie Lindén | Photos: LIAF
“We’re certainly a festival of contrasts,” says Svein Ingvoll Pedersen, Director of the North Norwegian Art Centre, of the distinctive festival, continuing: “Most people are used to modern and contemporary art being shown in larger museums in big cities. We are situated in Vågan municipality, Lofoten – a place of about 9,000 inhabitants. At the same time we offer a door into supreme, quality art from some of the world’s most famous creators. Nothing is true of this festival more than it’s a festival of contrast.” Becoming international Started as a regionally profiled festival in 1991, Lofoten International Art Festival
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grew organically out of a desire to combine Lofoten’s longstanding prominence within the art sphere with its possibilities for the future. Encouraged by the ‘boom’ of art biennales in Europe towards the end of the 1990s, the festival soon became an international gathering of the finest oeuvres and creators within contemporary art – a position it has kept ever since. “The municipality was very supportive of this movement. Then, at the very end of the 1990s the festival hosted its very first big international exhibition, and since then the international scope has been the format,” says Pedersen.
Since then the Lofoten International Art Festival has hosted a line-up of renowned names in various and wide-ranging subgenres of contemporary art, such as Elmgreen & Dragset, Olafur Eliasson, Laurence Weiner, Amar Kanwar, A K Dolven and Cildo Meireles. At the same time – as part of its experimental profile – it has been a platform for many young, emerging artists. Consciously alternative – exploring interpretations Exhibiting oeuvres in some of the world’s most gloriously stunning nature sceneries, it is perhaps not surprising that the initiators of Lofoten International Art Festival approached the notion of space in a consciously alternative way. The festival is not connected to a permanent location or venue, but chooses to re-invent itself every time it takes place. This creates an exciting tension between objects and existing structures, a tension festival visitors
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are encouraged to explore through their own interpretations. “By always moving to new locations and presenting works in new ways, we’re allowed to work both openly and freely. We aim to present you with art in places art has never been presented before,” Pedersen says, listing locations such as a private garage, a freeze storage, the town hall, the American car owners’ clubs and a barrel factory among the thought-provoking places where visitors have been able to experience art at the festival. “Most people are used to always seeing art in a white-painted, minimalistic room with artificial lighting. By showing pieces in unexpected places we give the experience a different framework, and thereby add to its story. It gives it another dimension, and an air of being approachable.” Boundary-pushing innovation And, when speaking of approaches to art conveyance, the notion of space is not the only one this festival has challenged. As a popular feature Lofoten International Art Festival has brought in local so-called ‘LIAF-loser’ [LIAF pilots] to guide visitors to the art in their own, personal way. The guides – 10 people of different ages, genders and backgrounds – convey the
pieces through their own eyes, after receiving training from LIAF. “We had a 9year-old boy as one of our previous guides,” says Pedersen, “and he did a great job explaining the tour in his own words. We’ve had a kayak instructor – and this year we are welcoming a priest. The point is that these people communicate the art from their own individual standpoint, informed by their particular background. That way we achieve two very important things: multiple, different guided tours for our visitors, and an anchoring in the local milieu.” The 2015 festival is entitled Disappearing Acts. It is curated by British Matt Packer
and Norwegian Arne Skaug Olsen and displays works by 25-30 international artists. The main exhibition is hosted in an architecturally compound 3,000 m2 former hardware and furniture store, a venue Pedersen is excited about. “The building is a thrilling space; architecturally it’s been growing from a small store in the 1940s until it covered a whole block in the 1990s. It tells a story in itself, however pragmatic the overall visual impression of it may be. We’re excited to reveal more about the theme in coming months,” says Pedersen. The year of 2015 will also be a special one for Lofoten International Art Festival, as it will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Through a specially compiled exhibition, works from all 25 years will be shown in Lofoten, alongside groundbreaking neverseen-before art. When it comes to telling stories, Lofoten International Art Festival will keep you both entertained, enlightened and enriched.
For more information, please visit: liaf.no
TOP LEFT: Elmgreen&Dragset, Tiergarten, Berlin, May 21.1991 (Cooling box #2) (2004) at the pier in Svolvær. LIAF2004. BOTTOM LEFT: Tori Wrånes’s performance Loose Cannon at Kuba, Svinøya. LIAF 2010. BOTTOM RIGHT: Kabelvåg in Vågan municipality, Lofoten. TOP RIGHT: David Horvitz, Stone Soup performance at the opening of LIAF2013. Kabelvåg Square.
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Scan Magazine | Special theme | Festivals in Norway
The Riddu Riddu Festival stages a diverse programme of music, dance, films, seminars, workshops, art, literature and theatre, that skilfully merges heritage with contemporary culture.
Creating awareness together If you inhabit a will to change the world, much can be done. This is the philosophy of the Riddu Riddu Festival – founded by Sami youth in 1991 – aiming to raise awareness of indigenous peoples. Initially focused on reviving the local coastal Sami culture, the week-long event quickly gained international momentum, and today hosts visitors from numerous countries and ethnicities. Welcome to a festival that prides itself on being out of the ordinary! By Julie Lindén | Photos: Ørjan Bertelsen
Held in Kåfjord municipality in northern Troms in July each year, this cultural festival invites everyone – young and old – to take part in joyful experiences that will enrich their lives in multiple ways. Riddu Riddu, meaning ‘little storm along the coast’ in Sami, stages a diverse programme of music, dance, films, seminars, workshops, art, literature and theatre, that skilfully merges heritage with contemporary culture. A brief look at the list of noted artists who have performed at the festival – such as Canadian Buffy Saint Marie, South-African Angelique Kidjo, Norway’s/Sápmi’s own Mari Boine and more – manifests the festival’s strong contemporary foothold. Sim-
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ilarly, projects like the successful ‘Northern People of the Year’ initiative, where representatives from an indigenous people from the northern hemisphere are invited to Kåfjord to share their culture, are reminders of the festival’s important work towards international unity. “We’re now entering our 24th year, and the sense of community has never been stronger,” says Karoline Trollvik, Festival Director of the Riddu Riddu Festival. “From the very beginning this event was one of international collaboration, and at the very core we had this common goal: to raise awareness of indigenous peoples.” She explains that she has seen lifelong friendships form as people have found
each other through voluntary work, a passion that has made its mark in many a visitor’s and volunteer’s heart. “We have invited indigenous peoples from remote regions such as Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kalahari Desert. This creates a perfect opportunity to engage in cultural exchange,” she says, emphasising that while Riddu Riddu has a cultural theme, politics is inevitably present in the dialogue. “Our festival provides a natural and informal arena for cross-cultural dialogue,” says Trollvik. Staying at camping sites in the glorious nature of Northern Norway, while enjoying music and partaking in interesting encounters with peoples you would not have met unless you ventured to Kåfjord, your time at Riddu Riddu will be a memory to treasure. Riddu Riđđu is held on 8-12 July, For more information, please visit: riddu.no
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Olavsfestivalen – a vibrant presentation of history No matter how you define your own spirit of adventure, you have most likely heard the many Viking tales of the North. Though this mysterious but alluring northern people have a reputation for being both ruthless and gruesome, their many fascinating traditions and customs live on. Olavsfestivalen in Sarpsborg has made it their mission to keep these treasures of the past alive, and bring them to a larger audience. So, do you have a Viking in you? By Julie Lindén | Photos: Thomas Andersen
“The Viking age is one filled with mystery, and that fascinates a lot of people. There is so much we don’t know about the way they lived, but what we do know tends to captivate many different audiences – from the youngest to the oldest,” says Guro Elise Berg, Manager for Olavsfestivalen, perfectly outlining the very essence of this grand gathering of yore: bringing together the whole family in a fun and educational outing that will have each and every visitor hooked on the magical tales of the Vikings long after the final festival day. “It’s an important part of our history. The Vikings brought so many customs to the country, especially through Christianity, that impact the way we live still today. Through Olavsfestivalen we wish to bal-
ance out the history, and bring forth a lot of the good things the Vikings stood for.” It is precisely this that the festival, named after Olav den Hellige (Olav II of Norway, who founded Sarpsborg in 1016), aims to promote. Hosting a large Viking market and theatre show in the wonderful Landeparken at Lake Tune, Olavsfestivalen showcases everything from Viking handicraft to food through a three-day cultural display. This leafy park offers plenty of additional recreational opportunities, such as swimming and canoeing, that will delight visitors even further. And, when you have listened to the close-to-authentic Vikings tell tales of their lives, had some real Viking grub and purchased a keepsake or two, the show Olav den Heldige
[Olav the Lucky] will add the final touches to your Norse experience. “Parts of this show are performed on a Viking ship in the lake, which is a thrill to everyone attending. The show is as humorous as it is educational, and it tells the story of Olav den Hellige with a new twist. Lake Tune provides a spectacular backdrop – I can’t wait to welcome the guests of 2015!” concludes Berg.
For more information, please visit: www.olavsdagene.no/olavsfestivalen
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Meet Norway’s most down-to-earth film festival On the tip of Northern Norway, where nature embraces you and only the islands of Svalbard separate you from the North Pole, there is a small community of 3,500 inhabitants living in a town called Honningsvåg. Some might say this is an unlikely place to find a film festival, let alone one that has distinguished itself both nationally and internationally, but appearances can certainly deceive. By Maya Acharya | Photos: North Cape Film Festival
There is something about living far north that affects you, and sharpens your senses. Perhaps it is because the contrasts are so great, or because you are confronted with nature's potency wherever you turn. In any case, it is a special part of the world. It's little wonder that acclaimed Norwegian film director, Knut Erik Jensen, decided to move back to his hometown and spark the beginnings of what was to become North Cape Film Festival: a
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five day festival dedicated to innovative cinema. In the midst of it all Since its conception in 2004, North Cape Film Festival has established itself as an important player on the film scene in Norway, with around 5,000-6,000 visitors a year. The festival manager, Edelh Ingebrigtsen, and her team have built up the festival's reputation as a progressive arena for discussion around topics partic-
ularly connected to the northern regions. The most pronounced examples of this are the festival's two side programmes, Fishernet and Samisk siidaprogram. Fishernet is dedicated to films that are in some way or another related to fishing and the sea. Samisk siidaprogram, on the other hand, highlights issues surrounding the indigenous Sami people, showcasing Sami film, culture and art. Although these are topics specifically pertaining to the local community and region of Finnmark, Jensen emphasises that this is an international festival. “It is important that the local community has the opportunity to 'experience themselves' through film, but at the same time we have to take our international audience into account,” he says.
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“For us it makes complete sense that the festival has a global relevance. When you talk about worldwide issues like climate change, discussions about the exploitation of natural resources, fishery, indigenous people, Finnmark is right there, in the middle of it all. ”
rectly inspired by his personal experiences in his home town and concerns the devastating aftermath of WWII in Finnmark and Northern Troms. An area as big as Scotland was completely destroyed and burnt down. In Honningsvåg only the church miraculously remained.
Nothing to hide behind
Close and conscious
The festival also organises a yearly film industry seminar where directors, producers and film folk have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. The event attracts a large number of high profile supporters of the festival. Of course, there is Knut Erik Jensen, the festival's ‘spiritual protector’, but the festival also boasts famous actress Gøril Mauseth as its ‘godmother’ and a string of collaborators hailing from Canada to Italy. Big fish for a small town.
Perhaps it's not so strange after all that here, among the rugged mountains and barren landscape, there should be a town and festival bursting with so much creativity and life. North Cape Film Festival is an event that is acutely aware of, and close to, its surroundings. From the locally sourced fish that is served during the festival, to personal encounters with locals and the confrontation with nature, it is a place where you get to feel and experience the festival as a living reality.
“It's interesting,” says Ingebrigtsen. “We had a director here a while ago who said to us ‘finally, a festival completely devoid of snobbery!’ People I meet often know of the festival and want to visit. I think this has something to do with the fact that we are in a unique and intimate setting, where festival bureaucracy doesn't dominate and where everyone is included.”
It is also a festival that is true to its philosophy. While planning to carry out original ideas such as projecting films in a meadow and screening horror flicks in an abandoned boarding school, Ingebrigtsen confides that there are no grand changes on the horizon for the film fest. “We don't have plans to be big and commercial. In terms of size we feel about right and we want to keep our intimate atmosphere. For us it's not about showing as many
Jensen draws this further into the context of nature. “You just can't avoid being confronted by nature in Honningsvåg; meeting a reindeer in the main street for example, that sort of thing makes you reflect on yourself and your surroundings. The landscape is wild and bare, there's nothing to hide behind. I think the local atmosphere brings people down to a human level and many of the filmmakers who come here appreciate that. They can meet fellow artists without thinking so much about strategies and networking. Film is about people, and great artists who come here are able to experience the essence of what they create.”
films as possible, but focusing on giving a platform to the films that have been chosen. A milestone for me is when I've met people who tell me they've been affected by a film that they would never have seen if it hadn't been for the festival.”
For more information, please visit: www.nordkappfilmfestival.no To learn more about Lengsel etter Nåtid (Yearning for Today), please visit: www.facebook.com/LengselEtterNatid
Edelh Ingebrigtsen and Knut Erik Jensen in Honnigsvåg.
Jensen himself is still an active filmmaker thriving creatively in Honningsvåg, a place he claims is much more international than other places that he has worked. His new feature film, Lengsel etter Nåtid (Yearning for Today), is di-
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway
Celebrating cinematic brilliance A wide range of cutting-edge film productions premiered to a wider audience on Norway’s west coast, supported by glorious late summer sceneries in Haugesund, also known as “The Nordic Cannes”? Welcome to the 43rd Norwegian International Film Festival – a celebration of cinematic brilliance and an ode to quality visual storytelling. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Haakon Nordvik
On 15-21 August the Norwegian and Nordic film industries will meet with the international film industry of more than 30 countries in Haugesund. Film lovers will be able to revel in a festival programme unlike any other: presentations of great cinematic work that will grace Norwegian silver screens for the coming year, and take Nordic films abroad. When the festival opens its doors on the morning of 15 August you are given direct access to the very newest films, long before they hit cinemas around the country. All in all, 120 films are set for Norwegian theatrical release. What is more, you may even get the chance to rub shoulders with noted film
stars, as they gather in Haugesund for the Amanda Awards – Norway’s answer to The Academy Awards – around the same time. From 7 August tickets for the individual film screenings will be available for purchase, but if you want unlimited access to all festival screenings you are better set with the Festival Pass. This gives you right of entry to all screenings during the festival, including the opening film of the main programme and a line-up of exciting festival events. Registration for the international and Norwegian film industries opens at the end of May.
For more information, please visit: www.filmfestivalen.no
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SW ED EN SP 20 EC I 15 : O AL T UR H TO EME PD : ES TIN AT ION
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Photo:Werner Nystrand
Photo: Lola Akinmade Akerstrom
Photo: Peter Grant
Photo Susanne Walstrom.
Welcome to Sweden in 2015! It’s a new year and lots of new things to look forward to in Sweden! Why not head up north this winter to view the Northern Lights? Lonely Planet has named Abisko and the Northern Lights the world's most illuminating experience as part of celebrating that 2015 is the UN Year of Light. By Anna Hjerdin, Online Communications Manager, Visit Sweden | Photos: imagebank.sweden.se
Aurora Sky Station is one of the best spots for seeing the Northern Lights. Here you can get a chair lift up to the station and learn about how the Aurora Borealis observations are made with radio receivers and cameras. And while you are up north you can visit Jokkmokk for the winter market in February, where this year’s theme is "The reindeer", or you can stay at the ICEHOTEL which is celebrating 25 years this season. If you are a fan of skiing you should pay Åre a visit, where you can try the new heliskiing experience. Åre has just been announced as the host for the Alpine World Ski Championships, which will not take place until 2019, but lots of work has already started to develop the area.
In Swedish cities there are always things to do. Stockholm is lovely in the spring, when you can take part in Walpurgis celebrations at Skansen, or in late summer, when you can visit the Eurogames. The European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) has appointed Stockholm the host of EuroGames 2015. If you have always fancied experiencing a proper Swedish midsummer party there are plenty of opportunities in and around Gothenburg. This area is famous for its seafood, and so it’s a great place to spend summer and early autumn when you can do a seafood safari. A new international attraction is set to open in Harads, Swedish Lapland, in Sep-
tember. Inspired by the success of Treehotel, there are plans to build floating cold baths on the Lule River. The south of Sweden is cosy year round and on 10 November you can try the annual goose feast, where all things goose are celebrated and then finished off with an apple cake. Speaking of cake, year round we Swedes celebrate cakes – from cream buns (Semlor) in February to saffron buns (Lussekatter) in December. Whenever you visit there will be plenty of opportunities for a ‘fika’: a coffee and cake break. Welcome to Sweden in 2015!
For more information, please visit: www.visitsweden.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
Winter view of Väven – the new and exciting Cultural Centre.
Umeå – once a Capital of Culture, always its champion In 2014 Umeå – a fairly small university town in the north of Sweden – was named the European Capital of Culture. Numerous events mesmerised visitors with Umeå’s capacity and extraordinary eye for entertainment and cultural heritage. In the aftermath of the success of 2014, Umeå is now preparing to keep on the brilliance with a vast selection of cultural activities and experiences. The Capital of Culture may be re-designated, but the highly cultural spirit in Umeå lives on. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Umeå
“2014 was a spectacular year!” exclaims Erja Back, project manager at Umeå Tourist Board, when asked to describe the past year. “I miss it already,” she says with a laugh. Without any exaggeration, 2014 was a phenomenal year for Umeå and its people. Being named the European Capital of Culture is a great honour and an even bigger responsibility – one that Umeå managed with finesse, enthusiasm and unprecedented social and cultural engagement. The international attention provided exposure on a scale this
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Swedish gem had never seen before, and restaurants, boutiques and other entrepreneurial businesses were quick to set up shop in the blossoming tourist climate. In addition to this, museums flourished and Sweden’s most modern Cultural Centre saw the light of day. Maintaining cultural richness Through its university Umeå has long enjoyed international exchanges and contacts, but 2014 was the year that took the people of Umeå from being globally savvy,
to becoming true world citizens. In 2015, as the world’s cultural elite turns toward the new Capital of Culture, Umeå’s next mission is to maintain the cultural richness and keep developing their region’s artistry and expression. “We are prepared to keep building on what we created during 2014,” says Back with conviction. “Being named the European Capital of Culture 2014 has been an enormous stepping stone and although we have a lot to prove, we are taking on the challenge from a completely different advantage point.” Indeed they do. Umeå has managed to equip itself to become a grand resource of cultural delights and is ready to offer visitors a lot from the very broad and vast culture spectrum 2014 helped cultivate. One unique Umeå feature is presented by two twin brothers – born and raised in
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
Umeå. Together they run Guitars – The Museum, one of the finest private electric guitar collections in the world. The brothers offer guided tours through their history-filled collection, telling tales of how the instruments came into their possession and how they connect to the history of popular culture. The museum has gained exceptional international coverage and is often cited as one of Europe’s most exciting exhibitions for music fanatics. Weaving original experiences When talking about the recent developments in Umeå, one simply cannot (and should not) forget to mention the brand new Cultural Centre, Väven (The Weave). This extraordinary Centre is made to weave various cultural expressions into one supreme meeting place for all kinds of culture vultures. There is no end to the innovative range of the original experiences waiting to be explored. For example, the first Swedish women’s history museum, created to highlight women’s roles in history in order to make structures and gender-biased agendas visible.
Väven is also suitable for conferences and business events, with the marvellous venue Black Box, which holds over 400 people and is flexible enough to cater to any event. Another unique feature of the Culture Centre is the indoor square, where culinary delights are enjoyed under a glass ceiling providing its guests with an authentic outdoor feeling. All of this and so much more is to be found within the many walls of Väven, which on its own is a unique piece of architectural innovation. One side faces the beautiful Umeälven (River Ume) and the other side looks upon the city centre where galleries and shopping opportunities compete for the visitor’s attention. This is Umeå; a place for culture, nature and academic accumulation; a city and a meeting place with a cultural life lusher than ever before situated in the beautiful and majestic nature of Northern Sweden and the Lappland region. The many restaurants are experts in knowing exactly how to best use the resources and fresh produce. If you’re interested in trying Swedish cuisine at its best, Umeå is an excellent destination. Fresh, local and deli-
Midnight? Not a problem – the sun never sets over Umeå in the summertime.
cious fish is served up next to other Swedish mouth-watering specialties such as mushroom stews, reindeer and elk. So why not experience it for yourself? The title of European Capital of Culture 2015 has been awarded to another city, but Umeå continues the legacy with impressive conviction and determination. Once a Capital of Culture – always its champion. For more information, please visit: www.visitumea.se/en
Stora Hotellet and Restaurant Gotthards both have a long history and rich traditions.
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Grand welcome A scenic view welcomes you to Karlskrona if you arrive with ferry or cruise ship; the two outstanding fortifications of Kungsholm Fortress and Drottningskär Citadel guarding each side of the entrance to the city. Both part of the World Heritage.
300 years of naval history Inside the guarded fences of Sweden`s main naval base lies the Old Naval Ship Yard, exhibiting 300 years of naval history. Join one of our guided tours available through the Tourist Office.
A World Heritage city In 1680, king Charles ordered the construction of the city as Sweden´s naval base, due to its location.The naval presence has ensured distinctive architectural qualities, and UNESCO has named Karlskrona a World Heritage city.
Naval Museum Our most visited attraction and a must see! The sensational new Submarine Hall opened June 2014. A perfect combination of Swedish Naval history and Cold War experience.
WORLD C
10/ .- ,+ * .- / ) + / ( .' & .% $ ( # " ! ( ' ) $ .," .# ' - $ + / .' ) .+ 0/ . $ ,) .," # $ ) .' & .1( ' " " . .! .' + .,) .+ 0/ .$ ( - 0, / # $ ' . . - 0.# ,! / . / ) ,- / .. ) ' + 0/ ( . / ,+ / ( ( $ ) / $ ) .+ ' - 0.," .+ 0/ .0' ( " .' & ." ) " 0,) / . / ( .* / $ ( .% $ ( # " ! ( ' ) $ . $ " . / / ) " ) ) ,/ " + .- ,+ * . .$ ) .
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HAPPIEND
Curious? 1650 islands
Scan the QR-code and enjoy our aerial movie!
and skerries make out Sweden´s southernmost archipelago.
So swedish The island of Brändaholm is often marketed as an image of Sweden: small, red cottages with white window panes and swedish flags waving in the wind. A definite picture point!
Knock yourself out In addition to world class cultural experiences, Karlskrona has plenty to offer if you seek adventure; some of the best fishing waters in the world, great places for kayaking and excellent trekking and bicycle opportunities.
LASS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
In close proximity to summer-dreamy islands, coastal points and wondrous winter skiing slopes, the region has got you covered no matter when you decide to stop by. Left: Photo: Monica Hasker Blucher. Top Right: Photo: Atelje Lena. Bottom Right: Photo: Lisbeth Holmaker.
Four seasons of pure delight The Swedish idyllic town Ängelholm looks forward to 2015 – a year filled with activities for young and old, all year round. This town, home of sports legends, ocarinas, and some of the nicest people you’ll ever have the privilege of meeting, invites you to spend time in beautiful scenery and a lovely sense of community. By Astrid Eriksson
“Right now it’s mostly our nature doing the talking,” explains Lisbeth Holmåker, Tourism Office Manager in Ängelholm. “Daylight hours are few but perfect walks along our 6km long beach. The calm, silence and fresh air blowing in from the sea is something everyone should experience at least once in their life.” Sports play a large part in Ängelholm’s everyday existence and in 2015 the BMX Supercross World Cup graces the town with its presence. The competition consists of five races located in different parts of the world. Other races take place in the USA, Argentina, The Netherlands and England. “To find Ängelholm on that list is amazing,” says Lisbeth. In 2016, Ängelholm celebrates 500 years, but you can already indulge in some of
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the traditions that annually take place in this lovely town. The Festival of Lights takes place in August every year and is a fantastic display of community spirit, fireworks and homages to the light. Other heart-warming events are the concerts of the orchestra of ocarinas. This choir with clay cuckoos consists of young people of Ängelholm putting on adorable performances on the streets and squares. The region will also present the Ekebo Festival for the 20th time. This musical delight takes place during three days in July and offers its 15,000 attendees a range of the finest Swedish traditional dancing music, encouraging everyone to brush up on the foxtrot, waltz and ‘bugg’. Ängelholm is a town with excellent means of transportation, making it the obvious base for anyone wanting to travel around
the southwest region of Sweden. In close proximity to summer-dreamy islands, coastal points and wondrous winter skiing slopes, the region has got you covered no matter when you decide to stop by. But those wanting to stay put will not be disappointed. The culinary traditions offer the freshest, local produce and true feasts, the landscape surrounding the region is sure to stun visitors throughout all seasons, and the friendly people of Ängelholm ensure that no matter where you’re from, in whatever walk of life, you will always be welcomed in Ängelholm.
For your diary: The Ekebo Festival: 3-5 July Festival of Lights: 7 August World Cup BMX Supercross: 15-16 August
For more information, please visit: www.engelholm.com
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
Tradition and cultural heritage at its finest The nature of province Värmland cannot be described as anything less than ‘breathtaking’. The dark forests, the calm lakes, and the almost untouched landscape is unmatched by any other region. In the middle of this bliss is Arvika – a cultural gem in the heart of one of the lushest parts of Scandinavia. By Astrid Eriksson
“People are always astonished by the nature surrounding us,” says Eva Aasum, tourism director in Arvika. “The nature reserve Glaskogen has over 30km of hiking trails and canoeing is also immensely popular. Both are unique and traditional ways to experience nature.”
Photo: Per Eriksson
The merge of tradition and innovation is defining of Arvika. A wide range of cultural events enclosed by the magnificent nature creates a unique experience package for any visitor. The year of 2014 was an all-time-high for tourism, and 2015 seems to reinforce the trend. With its standing cultural programme alongside endless outdoors possibilities, Arvika is a perfect destination for the entire family. A spectacular reoccurring event is “Gammelvâla”, which means “Old World”. This is a festival celebrating old Swedish traditions and craftsmanship during one week in July. Each day of the week has its own theme, and exhibitions, workshops, performances and other events guarantee guests a proper in-
Photo: Eva Aasum
sight into a world long before modern technology and life as we know it. This is in homage to the farming culture that built the lovely region today adored by thousands. Hotels, hostels, camping sites, B&B’s and private cottages to rent are all available to suit individual needs and desires. In addition to this, Arvika lies in close proximity to trains, an airport and the Norwegian border. Cars are available to rent and the local buses are naturally more than happy to take you wherever you need to go.
For more information, please visit: www.visitarvika.se
Västerås: Where frozen winter water warms your heart Situated just by the Swedish lake Mälaren, the third largest lake in Sweden, is the city of Västerås, a large and eventful city with lots to offer. Grand shopping and mouth-watering culinary experiences in central Västerås are just a short walk from the beautiful lake, where nature at its very finest awaits anyone keen to explore it. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Västerås
This is truly an idyllic place for a winter getaway. Everything you need in the modern and innovative city centre of Västerås, and merely a stone’s throw away: Mälaren. This lake is a beauty any time of the year, but when it freezes over it opens up for another nature experience entirely. Ploughed trails over the ice enable skating on the frozen lake and a fun time for the whole family.
But there is of course lots more to be done and explored in Västerås. Just a 15 minute walk from the central station you’ll find the Boiling Point (Kokpunkten), Sweden’s very first action bath. Visitors here will get their adrenaline pumping while enjoying the slides, streams and many other fun-filled, danger-flirting adventures suitable for anyone who is up for a real rush.
The paths are lined with cafés and restaurants offering cosy opportunities for coffee breaks and hot cocoa pauses – both essential to any true Scandinavian winter experience. It is a beautiful example of how the Swedish winter in all its glory will, despite the temperature, make us all feel warm inside.
This and much more is to be found in Västerås. A one-hour train ride from Stockholm will land you in the heart of the city. If you choose to go elsewhere after your visit, the options are many and convenient.
Photo: Pia Norlander
Västerås is truly an idyllic place for a winter getaway.
In the central city you will find the Boiling Point (Kokpunkten), Sweden’s very first action bath.
For more information, please visit: visitvasteras.se
Welcome!
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
For many, meeting moose at the unique plateau mountains Halleberg and Hunneberg is the most exciting part of a visit to this part of Sweden. Photo: Nunstedt.
Where moose-spotting meets film-shooting and canal-exploring “An earthly paradise!” exclaimed the visiting Carl Linneaus in 1746. With dense forests full of wildlife, magnificent rivers and a tranquil lake right at their doorstep, Trollhättan and Vänersborg are still just that: a paradise on earth. By Astrid Eriksson
The waterfalls, Trollhättefallen, where the Göta River under tremendous noise used to throw itself down the mountain flanks, have attracted visitors to the two towns of Trollhättan and Vänersborg for centuries. Now regulated for hydroelectricity to light up this part of Sweden, the falls have not lost their magic. Once a day during summer, visitors can enjoy a display of wild and immense forces of nature. “It is a real thrill to watch the sluice gates open at 3 o’clock when
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300,000 litres of water per second come tumbling down,” says Maria EngströmWeber, Tourism Manager and CEO at Visit Trollhättan Vänersborg AB. “Most tourists are amazed by the quality of the water, how clean it is. When I give a guided tour, I give everyone a special outdoors mug, a ‘kåsa’, and then we all quench our thirst simply by scooping up mouthfuls of river water. It is crisp, clear and beautiful!” ‘Trollhätteturen’, a daily tour through the locks on board the beautiful old river boat
M/S Elfkungen, one of the oldest of its kind, is another way to explore nature. And as if that is not enough, ‘Lilla Edet turen’ will take you up the whole flight of locks, where the water level raises 32.4 metres, passing some of the most beautiful parts of the Göta Canal. A closeness to both nature and the city Closeness to nature, especially water, is what makes Trollhättan and Vänersborg so special; they lie side by side next to Lake Vänern, Sweden’s largest lake and the third biggest in Europe. Vänersborg borders on 100 kilometres of coastline, where some of the country’s best beaches can be found – Skräcklan, for example, which is right at the city centre. Ursand is another lovely beach, pop-
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
Closeness to nature, especially water, is what makes Trollhättan and Vänersborg so special; they lie side by side next to Lake Vänern, Sweden’s largest lake and the third biggest in Europe. Photo: Atelje Clas.
ular among fans of camping and tranquil barbeques, alongside Nordkroken at Vargön and Gardesanna at Vänersnäs, where you will find the child-friendly adventure water park Vattenpalatset (the Water Palace). All these places are great for swimming, with the added value of crisp and clean fresh water.
experienced. Trollhättan has long been the innovative centre of the car manufacturer, and here everything from the first Darth Vader-resembling prototype to the last, Pheonix, can be admired, all alongside the legendary rally cars and the famous sports version of Saab, Sonnett.
There are various ways to go about exploring: rent a bike or kayak and slowly explore the peninsula. Lake Vänern has 22,000 islands you can hop on and off. Fishing in the area is easily accessible: pike, perch and zander are all found in the waters. Trolling for salmon and trout is also immensely popular. For people wanting to explore even more of Sweden, the great city of Gothenburg is only a short train ride away. “This makes everything so much easier for our guests,” says Engström-Weber. “Gothenburg has so much to offer anyone who’s in the mood for the city-life, and with its airport, rich infrastructure and well-working means of public transportation it is both easy and quick to get the best of both city and nature.” Heaven for petrolheads and movie fanatics A must-see for many petrolheads, the Saab Car Museum is where the rise and fall of a true Swedish giant can be fully
Photo: Roland Johansson
Incredible nature is also one of the reasons why Trollhättan is the film centre of Sweden, aptly nicknamed Trollywood. Favoured by Dogme 95’s famous screenwriter Lars von Trier in particular, the spot has been used for many Scandinavian productions.
has been royal hunting grounds since 1351, and HM King Carl XVI Gustav himself comes here with his entourage to control the amount of wildlife,” Engström-Weber explains. The homestead Fagerhult at Hunneberg is famous: this is where the king meets the press during the royal hunt, and autographs, carved in stone by some very prominent hunters, can be seen on the surrounding rocks. Wildlife safaris by bus are hugely popular, and no less than 85 per cent of the passengers saw moose last year – not bad for this nature reserve, where no enclosures are permitted, leading to some comical situations, especially during autumn. “There is a good chance to spot moose when they leave their grounds, tempted by the irresistible smell of fruit in autumn, and make their way into people’s gardens to filch apples,” laughs Engström-Weber.
Moose encounters as an attraction For many, meeting moose at the unique plateau mountains Halleberg and Hunneberg is the most exciting part of a visit to this part of Sweden. A big forest area with plenty of untouched nature makes it possible to encounter wildlife. “The area
Photo: Roger Lärk
For more information, please visit: www.vastsverige.com/en/visittrollhattan-vanersborg
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Paddling is a favourite pastime for many residents in the region and the possibilities for unique ventures and excursions are endless. Photo: Göran Assner.
West Sweden: the outdoor destination of Scandinavia West Sweden consists of the provinces Bohuslän, Dalsland, Västergötland and the city of Gothenburg. Each of these with their own special attraction, each of these with a certain ‘Swedishness’, each of them filled with reasons why West Sweden should be on your to-visit-list of 2015. By Astrid Eriksson
The reasons for taking a trip to West Sweden are many, but the nature is the most dominant feature of the region. Profiling itself as an outdoor destination, it is hard to avoid talking about the spectacular surroundings and the opportunities that arise from the excitingly rich and varied nature. “The region is a lovely mixture of archipelagos, lakes, canals, fields, coastlines and forests, all within close proximity of each other,” says Emelie Persson, PR Manager at West Sweden. “The adventure experiences we offer are unique and very versatile. Feel free to choose between
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guided tours or going on your own! West Sweden is the perfect destination if you are looking for an active holiday but also enjoy high quality local food and comfortable accommodation.”
one of the island-richest regions of Sweden and with over 8,000 small islands it’s easy to take your kayak and go island hopping. Find your own quiet corner and set up camp for a night or two, or stay at one of the many charming seaside hotels along the coast. “Kayaking in Bohuslän is extremely beautiful,” says Persson. “Especially around Kosterhavet Marine National Park. The nature is simply stunning and you can come really close to wildlife and the picturesque fishing villages along the coast.”
From island hopping to charming hotels One of the outdoor highlights in West Sweden is paddling. This is a favourite pastime for many residents in the region and the possibilities for unique ventures and excursions are endless. The beautiful coastline invites you to take part in kayaking trips at your own pace. Bohuslän is
Other parts of West Sweden offer great paddling adventures as well. Enjoy the silence, thousands of lakes, dense forests and the canals in Dalsland. The wilderness is breathtaking. Don’t miss the Dalsland Canoe Marathon that takes place annually. On 8 August 2015 approximately
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
1,000 people will battle it out on the 55km long canoeing race through various lakes and canals. But it is not just aimed at competitive racers. This is a fun and appreciated happening where anyone can participate in their own way and the locals will cheer you on along the race. Beautiful castles, car-free islands and shellfish extravaganzas Another active way to experience West Sweden’s nature is hiking. The region is filled with beautiful nature reserves with excellent hiking opportunities for both advanced hikers as well as beginners. During spring time you will get the opportunity to see thousands dancing cranes at lake Hornborga and the blooming ramson at Kinnekulle or combine your hike with a visit to one of Sweden’s most beautiful castles – Läckö Castle – with its beautiful setting next to Sweden’s biggest lake, Vänern. The car-free islands especially, like The Weather Islands and Marstrand, are popular hiking destinations for everyone. The smooth granite rocks are some-
thing that must be experienced and package deals are available for those wanting to combine their hiking with some Swedish culture and food. How does a long hike followed by a bath in a traditional wooden hot tub sound? Great indeed, especially accompanied by the grand finish of a Swedish shellfish extravaganza. This is a common combination in the region – mixing activities with the local cuisine. West Sweden is known for its fresh seafood and locally produced ingredients. The quality of the local producers’ food is often just as central in the adventure packages as the actual outdoor activity. Hand in hand they provide you with the best of West Sweden. Since 2014 West Sweden has offered visitors willing to accept a challenge a 70 km long hiking event. The Icebug Experience takes place during three days in early September, and either by running or hiking the participants trek through the ever-changing landscape of the Smögen area. Smooth pink granite rocks, hills,
forests and open fields. You can also eat well and stay comfortably at one of the local spa hotels. Entertainment and fascination The previously mentioned car-free islands also attract many cyclists. The undisturbed and calm landscapes of the islands are perfect for biking around and experiencing the picturesque scenery. Bringing your bike to the mainland is also a great opportunity to enjoy stunning views. Göta Canal – Sweden’s longest canal – is 190.5 km of pure delight. The many sluices and the boats going through the narrow gates are sure to fascinate and entertain the entire family. West Sweden is a place to come to just as you are and feel free to enjoy pure Swedish nature and tradition completely on your own terms. For more information, please visit: www.westsweden.com
Photo: Hans Schub.
Photo: Lisa Nestorson.
Photo: Lasse Forsberg.
Photo: Åsa Dahlgren
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There is no shortage of beautiful waters in the region of Östergötland. Lakes appear around every corner and the coastline is nothing short of divine.
Östergötland: bringing together wildlife and city life The province of Östergötland in the southeast of Sweden is a joyous mix of wildlife and city life. Here, deep forests and lush archipelagos meet university hubs and high seats of innovation. In this wide range you will not be pressed to find ways of spending your days. The options are many and the selection of attractions and activities broad. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Östergötland
Few places display this kind of perfect balance between rich nature and the business of larger cities. Several major Swedish tourist attractions lie in close proximity to each other, and thanks to excellent means of transportation you are never far away from your destination. Visitors flock every year to experience the nature-rich environments, the charming cities, and the exciting and historical sites that can only be experienced in Östergötland. The fact that the region is located just a couple of hours from Stockholm is an added bonus – it is
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as easy as it is convenient. The public transportation system will take you from the city to the coast in no time, and once you are there you are free to tackle the nature in any way you like. Island hopping and seaside tours are just a few of the many options at your disposal. A smorgasbord of experiences: from wildlife to Bamse When it comes to offering visitors something unique, Östergötland is a smorgasbord of various experiences waiting to be explored. One of the biggest and most fun family attractions is Kolmården, the biggest wildlife park in Scandinavia – a zoo combined with roller-coasters, shows and events, a first class hotel and many more attractions and activities for the whole family to enjoy. There is a lot to do at Kolmården: for the animal lover this park offers 76 species, a total of approx-
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imately 750 animals and a knowledgeable staff always eager to tell you all there is to know about your favourite creatures. Safari, Marine World, dolphins and tigers – all gathered in this spectacular wildlife park, leaving no one unaffected by the loving and joyous atmosphere.
what we could do in regard to storytelling if the technology is merged with the tours. The possibilities are endless and since we have such a big and forward-thinking university in the region, it is actually possible. It’s the beginning of the digital destination!” she says enthusiastically.
The Swedish Air Force Museum: a high-flying treasure
New for 2015 is the World of Bamse. The beloved children’s story about the bear Bamse and his forest friends will become a reality for Kolmården’s visitors in May 2015, when the zoo opens their new attraction sure to put a smile on everyone’s faces. Innovation and nature: endless possibilities Östergötland is a region where innovation is at the centre just as much as the beautiful nature. In collaboration with the University of Linköping new technologies are in the making, incorporating visual techniques into the tourism industry. “Vadstena Castle is a beautiful renaissance castle from the 16th century. Guided tours are immensely popular and tell historic tales of how the people who used to inhabit the castle lived their lives. But the castle has obviously gone through several transformations over the centuries,” Susanne Fredriksson, Tourism Manager at Visit Östergötland explains. “Just imagine
quiet time out on a field, all you need is some traditional ‘fika’ (the Swedish term for coffee or tea with a biscuit and a bun) and you are ready to ‘utflykta’! It’s a fantastic way to get away from the hectic lives we tend to live, get out and breathe the fresh air of our lovely nature.”
There is no shortage of beautiful waters in the region of Östergötland. Lakes appear around every corner and the coastline is nothing short of divine. Göta Kanal is a 190.5 km long canal that runs through the region, connecting the Baltic Sea with Kattegat. This is an excellent chance to enjoy nature at its finest as well as revel in the people of Östergötland’s favourite pastime: ‘utflykter’ [excursions]. “It is something we do all year around,” Fredriksson explains. “It doesn’t really matter if you want to go to the archipelago, the forest or just have some
Another addition to this mix of attractions is the Swedish Air Force Museum – the only one of its kind in Sweden. The Museum reflects the development of Swedish military aviation from the early pioneers to the present day. This is an experience you do not need to be a diehard Air Force fan to appreciate. The technologies are fascinating for all, and how often do you really get the chance to enter an attack plane and even have a sit-down in the pilot’s seat? Östergötland really has something for everyone to enjoy and delight in. It is well worth a visit – this much fun deserves to be experienced.
For more information, please visit: www.visitostergotland.se
When it comes to offering visitors something unique, Östergötland is a smorgasbord of various experiences waiting to be explored.
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“Everything, from the nature to the locals, contributes towards a sense of ease and comfort. Life is easy here. It’s easy to go hiking, it’s easy to go skiing, it’s easy to just be and live,” says Maria Cederberg, Vice President of Destination Vemdalen.
Vemdalen: the perfect nature experience, all year round You have never seen nature like this before. Vemdalen boasts one of the most scenically beautiful landscapes in Scandinavia. Majestic mountaintops, stunning waterfalls, green and lush hiking trails as well as opportunities for great alpine skiing. All in one place – all in Vemdalen. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Jocke Lagercranz
“For someone who has never been here, I would describe Vemdalen as authentic and genuine,” says Maria Cederberg, Vice President of Destination Vemdalen. “Everything, from the nature to the locals, contributes towards a sense of ease and comfort. Life is easy here. It’s easy to go hiking, it’s easy to go skiing, it’s easy to just be and live.” “The wintertime is when we are the busiest,” Cederberg admits. “The alpine skiing is nothing short of massive here, but we also offer downhill skiing, crosscountry skiing – whatever kind of skiing you’d like, really.” The winter activities are almost endless and whether you want to go dog sledding, ice skating, sleigh riding, ice climbing or just relax in one of Vem-
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dalen’s hotels with spa facilities – consider yourself covered. Despite the many wonders of the winter in Vemdalen, this place does not stop astonishing visitors during the remainder of the year. Mountain hiking is one of the more popular non-winter activities and one of the trails was not too long ago named one of Europe’s finest. “Hikers will be amazed by our genuine nature,” Cederberg says. “The trails are easy to orientate through without getting the feeling that the landscape is architecturally constructed.” In addition to the many hiking trails, there are paths dedicated to bicyclists. Mountain biking is a popular alternative when exploring the scenery. Both golfing and fishing are two other
favourites the visitors of Vemdalen love to indulge in. There are a lot of reasons why Vemdalen should be your destination of choice when considering a trip to the mountainside. “There is a notion of ‘crispness’ everywhere you go,” says Cederberg. “The air is crisp, the snow is of course very crisp – as is the entire winter, actually – even the bed linen is crisp.” This crisp atmosphere translates into an almost crystal clear sparkle that covers Vemdalen like a veil. Seeing the mountaintops enthroned over the town and feeling the joy and bliss in the air – calling it magical would be the understatement of the year.
For more information, please visit: explore.vemdalen.se www.vemdalen.se
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Björkborns Manor is the place where Nobel wrote his testament for the world famous Nobel Prize.
Education and entertainment at the Nobel Museum in Karlskoga In the middle of the nature-lush province of Värmland is Karlskoga, a picturesque town with an astonishing heritage. Here you will find the manor where inventor, entrepreneur and science hero Alfred Nobel spent his last three years. His old house has now become a memorial site and museum for his inventive techniques as well as a place for education, entertainment and cultural indulgence. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Hans Johansson
Travel 120 years back in time and visit Alfred Nobel’s last home in Sweden, Björkborns Manor, the place where Nobel wrote his testament for the world famous Nobel Prize. The museum is now inviting everyone – young and old – to stop by and share some of the venerable history. Experience a surprising and exciting guided tour in the footsteps of Alfred Nobel, where you can visit the science house and laboratory – a fun, entertaining and enlightening experience for all ages, where you yourself can research static electricity, how sound moves and escalates and much, much more. The museum exhibits the life of Alfred Nobel as well as his entire library full of interesting and thought-tickling books
and papers. The library contains more than 4,500 volumes with 1,100 titles. You’ll be able to find fiction, poetry, atlases, travel guides, lexicons and literature on chemistry, mines, electric railroads, explosives, pottery, medicine, museums and much more. These are all a testimony to how broad Nobel’s frame of reference and interest was. The library is now digitally catalogued, making it easier to search and find a specific title or reference. Recently Meeting Place Alfred Nobel was opened, and it’s a fantastic place for intellectual and cultural meetings, conferences and events. The museum also frequently arranges concerts, talks, seminars and theatrical performances.
This is a unique way to experience a part of Swedish history at its finest. Nobel’s legacy is enormous and the museum is a true gem when it comes to honouring this history, as well as passing it on to other generations who rejoice in the interactive learning experience. The Nobel Museum has something that everyone can enjoy. Partake in amazingly entertaining tours, invent and explore in the science centre and round your visit up with a coffee break in the excellent café. In the lovely surroundings of the nature-rich province, The Nobel Museum is well worth a visit.
For more information, please visit: www.nobelmuseetikarlskoga.se
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Surrounded by water, Luleå in the north of Sweden is annually turned into a grand arena for winter activities.
Luleå: magically magnificent winter splendour To most of us, ice is nothing new, but you have never seen it like this before. Dressed in a white robe made of ice and snow, Luleå is a magnificent landscape of crystal glittering splendour. The winter delights are many and astonishing as the city invites visitors to take part in what can only be described as frozen magic.
from the city’s wide range of shopping, events, hotels and restaurants.”
By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Fredrik Broman
Indeed, Luleå offers a lot of unique and exciting activities for those inclined to experience culture and other activities a bit differently. In the nature-rich park Gültzaudden you’ll find a specially made concert hall built out of ice and snow. Inside, instruments of the same material are played on to the delight and fascination of the many visitors. “There is only one way to find out what an ice-violin sounds like, and that’s here,” Åberg says proudly. So fragile and delicate due to the material, they hang in safety strings from the ceiling. “Should one of the musicians drop them, the instruments would shatter into thousands of irreparable pieces.” This special concert event has been gaining Luleå a lot of international attention. The sheer idea of making music out of ice is captivating –
Wintertime tends to make all of Scandinavia a little more magical. The snow and frost light up the dark season while outdoor activities are at your disposal at (almost) any time. But Luleå goes the extra mile to really highlight the beauty of the winter. “There is something special with ice,” says Karin Åberg, Communications Manager at Visit Luleå, “and frozen water like this is not something everyone can take for granted.” Surrounded by water, Luleå in the north of Sweden is annually turned into a grand arena for winter activities. Every year since 1986 the City Park has been decorated with enormous ice animals from the local fauna. Part decorations and part
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slides, the animals are an addition to the park appreciated by both young and old. This is a good example of how ice is incorporated into the everyday of the Luleå winter. “We are a bit spoiled by it,” Åberg admits. “The frozen lakes and the winter forests are merely a stone’s throw away
Ice music and ice driving at its most extreme
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and the vast repertoire of the musicians is a never-ending feast of entertainments. Here, you are welcome to enjoy rock, folk and classical music in different and beautiful arrangements.
For the culture vultures a UNESCO World Heritage site is to be found in Gammelstads Kyrkstad just 15 km from the city centre. This is where Luleå was once founded.
The ice is a big part in everyday Arctic life. In the frozen archipelago, roads are ploughed and prepared to serve both visitors and residents. Driving, walking, skating, cross-country skiing or making your way on a snow mobile or behind husky dogs – the possibilities for joyous transport are many and the roads are sure to be a good place to meet other people, socialise, and relish the beautiful winter land. Ice makes Luleå shine and the residents come to live like nowhere else.
One of the fastest developing cities in Scandinavia
If you are in the mood for something more daring and speedy, Luleå offers an extraordinary experience along with Ice Driving Institute by Tinseau. A racing track, an exact replica of the legendary French Le Mans, offers you the chance to drive a fully fitted and specially equipped Porsche and get a special course in how to manoeuvre the vehicle in these extreme weather conditions. A professional instructor is at your side every step of the way. If you are more into experiencing the speed rather than creating it, a passenger ride is an easy fix.
Luleå is a city with a high competence and a knack for attracting a wide range of national and international businesses. Recently, in four years the city has seen an astonishing increase in restaurants and hotels. Local businesses are growing, expanding and flourishing. When social media giant Facebook decided to open the first server room outside the USA they decided to do so – that’s right – in Luleå, thanks to the cold climate, low energy costs and highly educated residents. This Nordic city, known for its high standards in education and technological advancements continues to grow its presence on the international arena. With the airport a mere 15 minutes from the city centre and an increase in hotels and conference facilities, Luleå is quickly becoming a favourite for businesses looking to spend some company time away from home. Luleå is a grand city, ready and able to provide you with whatever your heart
desires. And, with the beautiful winter scenery located literally just around the corner, the uniqueness of your stay will be undisputable. For more information, please visit: www.lulea.nu
Luleå is a grand city, ready and able to provide you with whatever your heart desires.
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The city is a wonderful mix of busy big-city pulses and calm and soothing nature
Helsingborg: the southwest seaside pearl Helsingborg is a magnificent example of a city in constant flow and movement. It doesn’t matter if it’s the waves crashing in on the spectacular shore, or the many events and activities providing constant entertainment – in Helsingborg, there is always something going on. Here, local gems are mixed frequently and fluently with an international and continental vibe unlike any other.
anything, from local farmers markets, to the grand qualification rounds in the national Eurovision Song Contest. There will always be something going on, no matter when you stop by for a visit!”
By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Helsingborgs stad
“We’re so close to Europe,” says Emma Håkansson, Tourism Manager in Helsingborg. “Denmark is just a short trip away on the ferry and from there, the rest of the continent is just around the corner.” The ferries travelling from Helsingborg to Helsingør have long been popular with people wanting to explore surroundings within close proximity, and also experience seeing the beautiful coast of Helsingborg from the Danish side. The city is a wonderful mix of busy big-city pulses and calm and soothing nature. Pålsjö forest offers long and excellent walks in luminous and magical surroundings, and Sofiero Gardens is a marvellous display of impeccable landscaping. From May until July 10,000 rhododendrons are in full bloom, and concerts, theatre shows and other types of performance attract
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visitors from all over the region to sit down in the freshly cut grass, whilst being thoroughly entertained by whatever superstar or performance group is gracing the Gardens with their presence. Helsingborg is a pearl of the southwest coast of Sweden that nurtures a big and active living culture. Art and various exhibitions are always displayed at Dunkers Culture Centre, the local football team’s success in the top national league is a constant source of joy and festivities, and this city of restaurateurs provides fresh poultry, crops and a culinary expertise that exceeds all expectations. In 2015 the joyful times will keep rolling in. “We are looking forward to presenting at least one event a week, as a city,” says Håkansson. “These events will include
Dates for your diary: 7 March, Eurovision Song Contest Qualifier 15-16 May, National Championship in Dance 29 July, Concert Sofiero: Sting 5-9 August, Europeade, folk music and culture festival 3-6 September, Helsingborg Open (Golf) 12 September, Helsingborg Marathon 4 October, Mikaeli Market 4-6 December, Christmas at Fredriksdal’s Theatre
For more information, please visit: www.helsingborg.se
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Photo: Markus Alatalo
Photo: Mikko Nikkinen
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden 2015: Our Top Destinations
The National Border offers amazing opportunities for Northern Lights watching. Photo: Cahd Blakley
The Northernmost point of excellence It doesn’t get anymore ‘north’ than this – at least not in Sweden. With lots of opportunities for the entire family to experience the fine and unique Swedish winter, Riksgränsen (the National Border) and Björkliden welcome you to an unforgettable stay. By Astrid Eriksson
Two destinations – one region. The northernmost point of Lapland has something for everybody. Whether you want to go skiing at the National Border (known for its excellent downhill slopes) or chase the Northern Lights on sleighs dragged by some of the strongest and fastest sled dogs in the world in Björkliden, you will find the opportunities as many as they are lovely. One of the most exotic attractions in northern Scandinavia is the Northern Lights and in this region the chances of seeing them for yourself are great. Package deals and experience excursions are much-appreciated specialities. In the Aurora Village – up in the mountains above Björkliden, with an unbeatable view – are three small huts, traditionally used for ice fishing. These are now converted into cosy rooms for
overnight stays with amazing opportunities for Northern Lights watching. The open landscape is an attraction on its own. The dog sledges mentioned above are, together with snowmobiles, one of the most popular ways to get around in the snow-covered winter wonderland. A journey will give you a chance to experience the majestic mountain views and take in the scenery, which is unlike anything else. If you are comfortable in confined spaces, the magnificent cave tours are something you should look into. The local Kåppsjåkka Cave is one of Sweden’s longest cave systems, and as it allows you to crawl into it and explore it, this experience is described as simply extraordinary. This and so much more is on offer in northernmost Sweden. At the National Border excellent skiing, fantastic spas
and conference venues are all gathered in one place. The north of Lapland is a fantastic place, whether you are looking for a family adventure, a unique conference location for your business, or if you simply want to ski on some of the best slopes Scandinavia has to offer – you will always find something to tickle your fancy. So go on, book your trip right now.
In the northernmost of Sweden, everyone will find an activity to tickle their fancy. Photo: Mikko Nikkinen
For more information, please visit: www.bjorkliden.com www.riksgransen.se
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Borås has for long been associated with amazing performances, late-night shopping and festival activities and events for the entire family.
Borås: the forward-thinking innovator There are cities that are extraordinarily forward-thinking; cities that always think one step further than what is immediately in front of them; cities where the creative spirit and the enthusiasm for developing into something new and better are what colours the essence of the region. Borås is this kind of city: a city where standing still and getting comfortable in the old ways has never been an option. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Borås
“In Borås there is a certain entrepreneurial spirit that makes us want to do and create things, and we want to do it now. This combined with our willingness to spread and sell our innovations makes Borås’s trade and business life very vital and flourishing,” says Helena Alcenius, Managing Director of Borås Marketing and Destination. Over the years this spirit has kept the city at the forefront when it comes to the matter at its heart – the textile industry. “Over 50 per cent of all the
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clothes being sold in Sweden have in one way or another passed through Borås,” says Alcenius proudly. The Nordic heart of textiles Indeed, the roots of the textile tradition grow deep in Borås. Because of the early cotton factories in the region, the industry has managed to gain a strong hold and provide a stabile income and environment for the residents, a legacy still notable today. North Europe’s one and only textile
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museum is in Borås, offering a wide range of various exhibitions and machineries from the industrialisation. The once heavy textile industry has now turned into a flourishing centre of innovation, education, research and design. It is therefore no wonder that a Nordic textile and fashion centre, Textile Fashion Center, has been built as an addition to the museum. Borås is the place where fashion designs are created in the same room as space suits and protective clothing stronger than steel. Research is constantly conducted into how material research and innovations can help make the world better, and leave the planet in a better shape for generations to come. Beautiful sceneries and a gallery city However, Borås isn’t just about the trade and industrial business. Viskan, the river stretching 142 km far, is a beautiful example of the closeness to nature that people in Borås enjoy every day. Promenade trails and measured walking distances encourage people to walk along the streams for as long as they like. The soothing nature and the flowing water is a delight for everyone experiencing it. If you want to do something more adventurous, paddling in the river is a popular alternative way to experience the nature and indulge in the beautiful sceneries. Furthermore, Borås works a lot with international artists and uses the city as a gallery each summer. Every other year, the Sculpture Biennale puts national and international sculptures on display for everyone to see. In 2015 No Limit Street Festival will take place, where international street artists use buildings and open spaces to paint and display their art works. Both the Sculpture Biennale and No Limit feature walking tours with guides discussing and presenting the pieces of art you will encounter on your way. The tours are free of charge and no booking in advance is needed, but if you want to go at your own pace and discover all there is to know about the amazing sculptures and works of art that is of course fine as well. “Sweden’s first Africa” Borås Zoo profiles itself as Sweden’s first Africa, and is a green oasis in the middle
of the city. With over 600 animals and 65 different species, this is one of the biggest and most modern zoos in Scandinavia. Showing Nordic wildlife as well as a great range of African animals this is an attraction sure to stun and amaze its visitors. Experience the life on the Savannah, the Nordic animals or why not the bears new establishment? The big investment of 2014 has now provided the bears’ with an amazing landscape where they can feel right at home whether bathing in their lake or climbing one of the many trees. It is amazing to watch. If you are spending a summer in Borås, be sure to stay during a Thursday. Since the summer of 1989 Thursdays in Borås have been associated with amazing performances, late-night shopping and festival activities and events for the entire family. The Thursdays are one of Sweden’s biggest free events, and as they bring the city together they promise fun times, exciting shows and a wonderful sense of community in the warm and lush summer nights of Sweden.
For more information, please visit: www.boras.com
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: ME D E H N L T ELA A I C I EC SP T OF S BE
Hot spot in the North By Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Prime Minister of Iceland | Press Photos Iceland is a small island nation in the middle of the North Atlantic. In total we count just over 320,000 inhabitants in a land almost three times the size of Denmark, which makes Iceland the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Geologically placed on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, Iceland is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world. On average, eruptions occur every three years, labelling Iceland as the island of fire and ice. In recent times, in 2010, the most notorious eruption occurred in the unpronounceable Eyjafjallajökull and last year Holuhraun, another tongue twister, erupted and has produced more lava than any eruption in Iceland since the 19th century. In geological terms, Iceland is a so-called hot spot – a phenomenon that puts Iceland in a rather exclusive club with the Galapagos archipelago, Hawaii and Yellowstone National Park.
Open gateways We are a proud nation: proud of our history, longstanding democracy, culture and language – the language of the Sagas – and the last few decades of our young Republic have been characterised by progress and prosperity, although we have surely gone through some challenging times. Although stubborn at times, we are an open and welcoming nation, mindful of the necessity to reach out to the world – and centrally placed to provide gateways to different directions.
To the East Iceland is a European nation and shares fundamental values and principles with western democracies. Our major trading partners are European and we have our closest cultural and political relations with European nations, not least the Nordic countries which stand closest to us. Our common cultural heritage is truly a binding force. The Nordic welfare model attracts widespread admiration and, as a group,
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the Nordic countries can have a great impact given that, together, some 26 million people live in the Nordic countries and their economies, combined, constitute the fifth largest in Europe and among the ten largest in the world.
To the West Iceland is a transatlantic nation and also has strong links to the other side of the Atlantic. A nation without armed forces of its own, Iceland builds its defences on a bilateral defence agreement with the United States and on a founding membership of NATO, and Canadians of Icelandic origin amount to some 200,000 people. In this respect and looking at the map, Iceland embodies the transatlantic link.
Up North Iceland is also an Arctic nation. For centuries, Iceland´s economic and social well-being and livelihood has been shaped by the natural riches and climatic conditions of the North. Global warming and the melting of the ice cap in the Arctic entail challenges and opportunities alike. Alternative sea routes are emerging and bringing Asia closer, and extraction of hydrocarbons and minerals is becoming increasingly accessible in this environmentally sensitive and complex region where, ultimately, prudence, responsibility and sustainability will always have to prevail.
framework and welfare system, and a skilled and young labour force. These qualities are well portrayed in various competitive indices. Iceland is an open, equal and inclusive society and we are proud to rank at the top amongst nations in terms of gender equality and peace.
Welcome to Iceland The booming tourist sector has been instrumental in our recovery. In 2014, for the first time, tourism surpassed the fishing sector as Iceland´s largest generator of foreign currency revenues. This year, the number of tourists visiting Iceland is expected to exceed 1 million – three times our population. Frequent flight connections, competitive prices, central location between Europe and North America and, indeed, beautiful nature, volcanoes, high-quality food and musical life are amongst factors contributing to the surge in tourism to Iceland. People are also increasingly curious about Iceland. Who are these people who inhabit this volcanic island up North? What are they up to?
Dear reader, You are most welcome to find out and I hope you will find the time to visit Iceland in the near future. I wish you and your family a joyous and prosperous year 2015.
Down and up We are a resilient nation. The universal financial crisis hit Iceland severely in 2008 and still the Icelandic nation is working its way, slowly but surely, out of enormous difficulties. We are, however, making rapid progress and economic indicators have turned in the right direction. There are many factors that have contributed to Iceland´s robust economic recovery, including sound democracy, prudent economic policies, a strong institutional
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Prime Minister of Iceland
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the maritime museum
the art museum
thermal pools #reykjavikloves
24 48 72
Choose a card that suits your stay: 24, 48 or 72 hours
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best of Iceland
With its smooth and silky texture, Skyr is irresistible to health-conscious consumers looking for food that is fat-free yet satisfying, and – most importantly – delicious.
A snack fit for a Viking Made according to a traditional recipe tried and tested by none other than the Vikings, Skyr has been a household staple for over 1,100 years in Iceland. Boasting a wealth of nutritional benefits, as well as great taste, it is the ideal snack for the health- and taste-conscious alike. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: MS Iceland Dairies - Skyr
When Viking settlers first ventured over to Iceland, a then totally uninhabited island, they had to survive on something. Legend has it that when preserving food to see them through those cold harsh winters, they discovered that the curds from milk were actually pretty tasty, and so, a national treasure was born: Skyr. Over 1,100 years later, this delicious dairy product – which lies somewhere between yoghurt and cheese – is still a key staple of Icelanders’ everyday diet. They’re eating it with fresh fruit for breakfast, blended in a nutritious smoothie for perfectly balanced post-workout fuel and for dessert when dining out at top restaurants in Reykjavík. Nutrient-rich and tasty to boot Plain Skyr has a tart, yet pure taste – as pure as the surroundings in which it is
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cultured. If you find you need to take the edge off, you can choose from a variety of flavours: berries, fruits and grains that enhance not only Skyr’s flavour, but also its many health benefits. Rich in essential nutrients like calcium and high in protein, Skyr is one of the healthiest dairy products around. In spite of containing barely any fat, it still manages to be tantalisingly smooth and creamy. “Today, Skyr fits very well into the modern active lifestyle of its consumers, who are looking for proteinrich, satisfying and healthy nutrition onthe-go,” says Heimir Már Helgason, export manager at MS Iceland Dairies. An environmentally conscious organisation involving over 700 family-run dairy farms and milk producers across the country, MS Iceland Dairies has begun to
share this uniquely Icelandic product with the rest of the world, exporting to Scandinavia, Europe and the USA. “Sales of Skyr have increased tenfold over the last five years in Scandinavia in terms of both volume and sales revenue, something no other dairy brand has managed to achieve,” says Helgason. Well, if it was good enough for the Vikings, it should be good enough for us. They had to get their strength from somewhere, after all, and where better than from a nourishing product that never sacrifices flavour?
For more information, please visit: www.skyriceland.com
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Gorgeous knitwear is the key to the Farmers Market signature look, striking the perfect balance between style and functionality.
Effortless and ethical Nordic chic Icelandic design company and clothing brand Farmers Market lies at a crossroads where the national meets the international and the countryside meets the city. Their authentically styled, sophisticated and functional pieces will slot right into your wardrobe – whether you’re an outdoor adventurer or a die-hard urbanite. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Farmers Market
“We wanted to create a brand that reflected our Nordic roots, with an emphasis on natural materials and sustainability,” explains Jóel Pálsson, manager, musician and one half of the couple behind Farmers Market. “In Iceland people have a very strong and direct connection to nature and the weather. Everything we do is a reflection of our location here in the far north.” Best known for Nordic-style knitwear, the Farmers Market collection has expanded over the years to include everything from tweed capes to woollen underwear. Multifunctional pieces such as the sturdy, yet stylish waxed jackets can be worn on a refreshing hike along mountain trails or out and about downtown on a rainy day. The sharp pencil skirts and knitted dresses make for perfect office wear, while the cosy accessories will see you through the coldest of winters. All items are made
in New York, Paris, Copenhagen and Tokyo, as well as the odd ski resort. With the online shop in full swing, customers can browse the beautiful collection from the comfort of their own homes and purchase high-quality items from the far north wherever in the world they may be.
from the finest natural materials: merino wool from Australia, yarns from Italy, waxed cotton fabrics from British Millerain, Indian raw silk and, of course, Icelandic wool from the local yarn mill. Style with a conscience Constantly striving to maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold respect for the environment, Pálsson and his wife, Bergþóra Guðnadóttir, use top quality natural fabrics as far as possible in their designs, keeping synthetic materials to an absolute minimum. “We believe that sustainable fashion and recycling is not just a passing trend, but a key to the future,” says Pálsson. “We stay true to that belief in everything that we do. Sometimes that can get complicated, but we do our best.” In addition to the shop in Reykjavík’s old harbour, Farmers Market goods pop up in concept stores and fashion boutiques
For more information, please visit: www.farmersmarket.is
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Soak up the refreshingly laid-back vibe and treat your taste buds to Iceland’s finest craft beer at Kaldi Bar.
Micro-brews, bubbly and a little honky-tonk Showcasing a rotating selection of Icelandic microbrewery beers, Kaldi Bar has become a haven for those partial to a proper pint. Head there during happy hour and you can even treat yourself to some Champagne without having to splurge. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Kaldi Bar
Reykjavik has long been notorious for its nightlife, but for those who aren’t after a full-blown night on the tiles, it will come as some relief to hear that there is a way to avoid all the debauchery. On the main street, in the middle of all the mayhem, Kaldi Bar has set itself apart as a cosy, no-frills bar with a laid-back vibe, where punters come to savour some delicious local craft beer. On any given night, you’re likely to find a mixture of intellectuals, musicians and arty but unpretentious types spending a low-key evening chatting away over a pint, while someone tinkles away on the piano left to the mercy of customers in the middle of the room.
Leite, owner of Kaldi Bar. “We serve beer exclusively from Icelandic microbreweries and have the largest selection of Kaldi beer in Iceland. We change the beers on offer regularly, so you can always be sure to try something new and exciting.”
Beer lovers rejoice!
Made according to traditional Czech brewing methods, Kaldi beer has a rich, full taste. While beer-lovers rave about Kaldi dark, an unfiltered malty beer, Kaldi Bar usually has several beers on tap to choose from. The knowledgeable bartenders are ready to guide you towards the right one to suit your palate. Alternatively, you can start making your way through the wellselected and comprehensive wine list, which is also constantly changing.
“The idea was to open a bar linked to the Kaldi microbrewery, serving all its varieties of beer, where people could hang out and take it easy,” explains Georg
“Our customers don’t come here to get drunk – they come to appreciate the variety of flavours on offer,” says Leite.
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“During the daily happy hour, you can drink top craft beer at unbeatable prices. We even have discounts on Champagne, which, as you can imagine, has proved incredibly popular.” While even the finest Icelandic craft beer might not be to everyone’s taste, surely no one can refuse a bit of bubbly at happy hour prices.
For more information, please visit: kaldibar.is
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best of Iceland
Planet Apartments will take care of your holiday in more ways than accommodation. They are happy to help out with event bookings, attractions and recommendations of marvellous culinary experiences.
Modern comfort away from home Visiting Iceland is an extraordinary experience unlike any other. Planet Apartments is the accommodation service that enhances the sense of ease and comfort of your trip. Here you can feel free to relax with all the comforts of a real home, combined with services and features fit for a high-class hotel. Welcome to enjoy it for yourself!
sister and me and get it delivered to their apartment all freshly made of fresh and local products.”
By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Borgtho ́r Tho ́rhallsson
Planet Apartment is the incarnation of modern comfort away from home. The many services the siblings offer their guests are executed with the kind of warmth and joy that can only come from people truly passionate about what they do. Or, as Thórhallsson says: “Everything in life gets so much better if you tackle it with passion and devotion. If I can put a smile on each and every visitor’s face, I’d consider it a job well done.”
It all started with one apartment in downtown Reykjavik and snowballed from there. “I’ve always wanted to work with people,” co-owner Borgthór Thórhallsson says. “That in combination with my love for this country made hotels and hospitality the obvious choice.” The banker turned hospitality host runs his and his sister Diljá Thórhallsdottir’s apartments with as much passion and warmth as one would give one’s own home. “I want to make visitors relax in the apartments so that they can fully enjoy what Iceland has to offer. I believe in good energy and good living and I try to make the guests feel at home as much as possible.” The apartments are decorated in something Thórhallsson calls ‘modern luxury’
and are available as Penthouses, one bedroom- and studio apartments. The siblings personally decorate each apartment and make sure that all necessary appliances are available. “We ask ourselves: how would we like to live? And then we decorate accordingly,” Thórhallsson says. Planet Apartments will take care of your holiday in more ways than accommodation. They are happy to help out with event bookings, attractions and recommendations of marvellous culinary experiences. Food and healthy living is something that interests Thórhallson and his sister. In 2015 a new service will be offered the guests staying at the Icelandic Planet Apartments: breakfast delivery! “Guests will be able to order breakfast from my
And why wouldn’t you smile? Planet Apartments makes it very hard not to.
For more information, please visit: planetapartments.is
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Each floor of the charming townhouse, which is located on a quiet residential road off the main shopping street, has been converted into a private apartment sleeping from two to six guests.
At one with art and nature Operated by a group of individuals with strong ties to the local arts scene, Mengi Apartments promise top-quality self-catering facilities right in the centre of Reykjavik. With the opening of Mengi Kjarnholt next May, you’ll be able to continue living and breathing art even when you venture out of town and into nature. This rustic guesthouse will have the mighty Geysir – one of Iceland’s must-see natural wonders – right on its doorstep. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Matthias Arni Ingimarsson
Culture has long been the bread and butter of life in Iceland. From the epic Icelandic sagas to the experimental warbling of Björk, this small nation has contributed more than its fair share to art, literature and music over the centuries. At the end of 2013, a group of contemporary artists known as Mengi decided to open a performance venue and art shop in order to showcase Reykjavik’s pioneering arts scene. Not long afterwards, they began letting out a beautiful three-storey house
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just around the corner, with a view to giving visitors a first-hand experience of the capital’s dynamic cultural life. Live like a local Each floor of the charming townhouse, which is located on a quiet residential road off the main shopping street, has been converted into a private apartment sleeping from two to six guests. The bright, spacious rooms are all tastefully decorated with work by the crème-de-la-
crème of contemporary Icelandic artists, serving as your very own private gallery. Thanks to the fully equipped kitchen you’ll be able to save by self-catering, but for those days when you simply can’t be bothered to cook, restaurants to suit all tastes are just moments away. There’s a retro record player in every apartment, so after a long day (or night) gallivanting around town, you can stick on a vinyl record, put your feet up and relax to the sounds of Icelandic folk music. “By staying at Mengi Apartments, not only are you right in the heart of the city’s cultural life, but you’re also perfectly situated to enjoy the best that Reykjavik has to offer,” enthuses Jón Þór, manager at Mengi Apartments. “For example, Sundhöll swimming pool, which is only a fiveminute walk away, simply must be visited
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best of iceland
by anyone who wants to find out what it’s really like to live in Reykjavik. We basically want our guests to become locals during their stay.” As well as receiving the very latest insiders’ tips on what to do around town, every guest is given a complimentary pass to one of the events held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at the Mengi performance venue – guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience and a fascinating insight into the local contemporary culture. The focus is on experimental art: from installation and visual art to theatre and live music, and the stage has been graced by Icelandic and international artists alike. “The events are really intimate, as it’s quite a small place and the audience gets very close to the performers,” says Jón Þór. While you’re there, make sure to browse the shop for art books, design pieces and music by local artists and musicians.
trip would be wasted if you were not to explore the countryside at least a little. With Mengi Kjarnholt opening in May 2015, you no longer need to leave behind culture when you do delve into nature. A little off the beaten track with unbeatable views across to nearby Geysir and the surrounding mountains, this bed and breakfast in an old farmhouse – or arguably the closest thing you’ll get to a stately home in Iceland – has been renovated to accommodate guests in family-, double- and single-rooms. The décor has a rustic feel, with contemporary Icelandic art mixing with classic design.
Where contemporary art meets the natural world
“Mengi Kjarnholt is in such a peaceful place, and yet, there’s so much to do in the area – river rafting, glacier tours, geothermal pools, golf courses, horse riding and much more,” says Jón Þór. “Our aim is to offer a unique experience with a personal touch, whereby nature blends with the country’s cultural life. We want our guests to become one with nature, history and life in the countryside.”
Of course, there’s far more to Iceland than downtown Reykjavik, and with all those spectacular landscapes to admire, your
Whether you’re planning to spend most of your time in Iceland soaking up the cool
vibe in downtown Reykjavik or wondering at the natural pearls in peace and quiet, by booking your accommodation with Mengi, you’re guaranteed a tailor-made experience rich in authentic local culture. For more information, please visit: mengi-apartments.com mengi-kjarnholt.com
Photo: Auður Þórhallsdóttir
“Our aim is to offer a unique experience with a personal touch, whereby nature blends with the country’s cultural life,” says Jón Þór, manager at Mengi Apartments.
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best of Iceland
Your home away from home What started out as a place for Faroese seamen to relax and recharge when fishing off the shores of Iceland has now become a cosy hotel enjoyed by people of all nationalities. Within walking distance from downtown Reykjavík, Hotel Ørkin (“the Ark”) is a safe haven where you’ll always be welcomed with open arms. By Stephanie Lovell | Press photos
When Faroese seamen used to dock in Reykjavík harbour, weary from life out at sea, they’d head straight to the home run by the Faroese Seamen’s Mission (a Christian non-profit organisation), knowing there’d always be a fresh cup of coffee and some homemade Faroese bread awaiting them. Several renovations and a relocation later, the seamen’s home has transformed into a charming threestar hotel and opened its doors to visitors from all over the world. Even though it’s just a stone’s throw from the city centre, Hotel Ørkin serves as a sanctuary where you’re guaranteed a
good night’s sleep. “We do our best to ensure that everyone feels they can make themselves at home,” says Ragnar Snær Karlsson, manager at Hotel Ørkin. “Just like in the old days, we always have a pot of coffee on the go and some freshly baked cake that our guests can help themselves to completely free of charge.” All of the well-lit, clean rooms are ensuite, with many offering stunning views of Mount Esja across the bay. The friendly staff are always more than willing to go the extra mile to accommodate your needs during your stay. Make sure to book early to take advantage of special offers.
Resting in Reykjavík In a family-friendly neighbourhood close to Reykjavík’s centre hides a hotel – one that’s easy to find but still manages to surprise you in a wonderful way. The cosy yet modern Scandinavian atmosphere is perfectly fitted to help you rest and gather your thoughts as you pen a journal or go through your photos after a day filled with Icelandic wonders. By Ingunn Huld Saevarsdottir | Press photos
It’s not just the in-style, beautiful interior design or the great facilities that are responsible for the instant attraction; there are hearts that beat with hospitality behind it all. Somehow you can feel it in the air. “We aim to make it cosy, making guests feel at home without stress. We try to help them as best as we can,” says hotel manager María Björnsdóttir. Since the house was built in 1965 it’s been owned by the same family. In 2013 it was turned into Hotel Lotus, with the first guests arriving in December the same year. The hotel has 13 rooms that all have a flat screen TV, safety box, hairdryer and free Wi-Fi. The rooms are single, stan-
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dard and deluxe rooms and most of the rooms on the second level have a private balcony. With plenty of parking lots Hotel Lotus is ideal for people travelling by car, and
At Hotel Ørkin you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
For more information, please visit: hotelorkin.is
whether on foot or wheels one can find the geothermal pool in Laugardalur at a short distance from the hotel. The same goes for the Zoo and the Botanical gardens. A great variety of restaurants and the shopping centre Kringlan are also in walking distance from the hotel. The hosts are sure to give you a warm welcome, serve you delicious breakfast and make you feel at home.
For more information, please visit: www.hotellotus.is
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Best of Iceland
Sæluhús, located in Akureyri, offers studio apartments as well as houses that come fully equipped with a wonderful view over Eyjafjörður fjord.
Family-friendly stays in the north of Iceland The north of Iceland has a lot of adventures to offer. The region is famous for its mountains, natural beauty and Northern Lights, and is a great source of outdoor sports.
kitchen, on the furnished veranda or making use of the barbeque – or they can enjoy one of the lovely restaurants in town,” says Hannesson.
By Ingunn Huld Saevarsdottir | Photos: Sæluhús
Sometimes called the capital of north Iceland, Akureyri offers a population of almost 18,000 friendly people along with peaceful wonders, cultural riches and beautiful crafts. It’s a great stopover on the Icelandic ring road, and one can also fly straight from Reykjavík airport and be in Akureyri in less than an hour. “With great skiing resorts, swimming pools, golf courses, botanical gardens, the famous Christmas house and the closeness to various towns and the islands Grímsey and Hrísey, Akureyri sure is a place that travellers in Iceland should not miss,” says Jón Þór Hannesson, Manager at Sæluhús. Sæluhús, located in Akureyri, offers studio apartments as well as houses that come fully equipped with a wonderful view over
Eyjafjörður fjord, where the Northern Lights are a keen visitor in the winter and the sun stays up late in the summers. Spacious and stylish with modern furnishing, the houses and some of the apartments come with a hot tub – mainly as it’s a big part of the Icelandic culture to soak in warm geothermal pools and tubs on the coldest of evenings. Since opening in 2008 Sæluhús has captured the hearts of Icelanders as well as people travelling from abroad. “Being a family-friendly hotel option and lacking in nothing, guests have come back and many regretted not having planned a longer stay. It’s a place where couples, friends and families can spend quality time exploring Akureyri and the surrounding towns. They can make homemade food in the evening, whether in a fully equipped
And what better way of recharging on your holiday than going on walks in the beautiful nature, playing in the nearby forest Kjarnaskógur, and ending the day relaxing in the hot tub outside? Over the summer Sæluhús offers breakfast for its guests in the beautiful botanical gardens in central Akureyri. The buses in Akureyri are free and Sæluhús also offers bikes for their guests. With facilities like washing machines, dishwashers, lovely toiletries, flat screens and great parking, Sæluhús manages to meet all their guests’ needs.
For more information, please visit: www.saeluhus.is
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Scan Magazine | Restaurants of the Month | Iceland
The atmosphere of Fridrik V Restaurant is friendly and familiar, and the menus span a wide and always fresh range.
Restaurant of the Month, Iceland
A professional kitchen with a homely atmosphere Iceland: a country known for its breathtakingly stunning nature, lagoons and volcanoes, and its people’s friendliness. In the middle of this hub of pleasantness is a culinary tradition as deep as the sea surrounding the island. At Fridrik V Restaurant, guests are all invited to take part in a true Icelandic culinary journey. By Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Björgvin Hilmarsson
“Iceland is quite well-established in terms of good restaurants,” says Fridrik Valur Karlsson, founder and Head Chef at Fridrik V Restaurant. “However, a lot of them shy away from the Icelandic culinary traditions and tend to go with a more global focus.” At his own restaurant, everything Fridrik and his staff do stems from Iceland. The products and ingredients used are not only local, but familiar to the extent that the staff know everything there is to know about said products. “If the cow we serve had a name, we would know it,” Fridrik laughs. Fridrik and his wife first opened their restaurant in 2001, but due to the financial crisis, they had to close. However, after some time spent working for
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other chefs and restaurants, the family was ready to go at it again, and now situated in the heart of Reykjavik, the business is better than ever. This is not a restaurant you go to for a quick meal. The menu Fridrik V Restaurant offers its guests is based on the freshest products available in Iceland. Therefore it is always shifting along with the seasons and local suppliers’ selections. ‘Pre-cooked’ is a foreign expression for the kitchen where the food is cooked after the order is placed. It is a family dinner experience and guests often stay for hours, enjoying a relaxed evening in good company and excellent and honest food. The atmosphere of the restaurant is friendly and familiar. The menus span a wide and always fresh range. Due to ex-
cellent green houses and thermal heating, juicy and fresh vegetables and berries are easy to come by. The knowledge of Fridrik and his staff is reflected in their service, and guests can expect a thorough presentation of each dish and product. With maps of Iceland, origins are pointed out and the local main suppliers have their own Wall of Fame. Every plate has a background story, and Fridrik V Restaurant is more than happy to provide you with it.
At Fridrik V, every plate has a background story.
For more information, please visit: fridrikv.is
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Scan Magazine | Restaurants of the Month | Denmark
Taste global culinary tradition in Scandinavia’s top city for great cuisine: Copenhagen.
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
French classics from a master Daniel Letz is best known for starting Copenhagen’s global culinary career after achieving Copenhagen’s first Michelin star in the 1980s. Over the past twenty years, Letz has dedicated most of his time to developing and cultivating Le Saint Jacques in the centre of the buzzing area of Østerbro, Copenhagen.
to perfect. Looking to the future, Letz will be opening more stores selling his own speciality products and the quality products he imports from France.
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photo: Le Saint Jacques
It is rare to experience food from a chef who has played such a big part in Copenhagen’s food history. Having introduced the global food scene to what are now world-renowned Danish products, he has taken a step back from the pressures of high-end culinary life and has instead, over the past twenty years, focused all his energy on making Le Saint Jacques a place where everyone can experience true and honest French cooking. “I just want everyone to be happy,” Letz says when asked what he wants the diner-experience to be like. As a diner you can’t really ask for more.
If you are looking for an upmarket brasserie with a relaxed feel and an accessible price tag, then Le Saint Jacques is the restaurant for you. During winter, it is a small, intimate restaurant with forty covers, but during the summer, it transforms into a bustling restaurant with plenty of seating – both inside and outside. “The summer and the winter restaurants are like two different worlds,” Letz says, “with their own distinct personalities.” With classic dishes such as smoked salmon, confit de canard and crème brulée, it is impossible to go wrong. Eighty per cent of those who visit Le Saint Jacques are regulars. New items are added to the menu each month to ensure
the restaurant stays current and to let customers experience the different regional and seasonal tastes of France. The predominantly locally sourced products are entwined with some fabulous French products, such as classical cheeses and wine. “I want the diner to experience our food and wine in a way which is wholesome and excites all the senses,” Letz explains. If you are not able to visit the restaurant, you can still try some of Letz’s famous products from his shops, Letz Shop, which you can find across from the restaurant in Østerbro and in Frederiksberg. Letz is particularly well known for his homesmoked salmon, which has taken decades
For more information, please visit: www.lesaintjacques.dk www.letzshoponline.dk
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Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Dual dimensions of excellent tastes A seafood institution based on principles of freshness, quality and true culinary indulgence, Tromsø’s Fiskekompaniet delights all your senses. Beyond offering authentically Nordic dishes made from locally sourced produce, the interior of the restaurant is contemporary and stylish – ensuring a rounded experience from beginning to end. Add 69°N Brasserie 500 metres down the road, another venture of Fiskekompaniet’s owner Anders Blomkvist, and you’re presented with a brand new dimension to excellent tastes. By Emelie Krugly and Julie Lindén | Photos: Fiskekompaniet and 69°N Brasserie
Having served hundreds of thousands of guests over a 17-year period, the team of talented chefs behind Blomkvists’s first success, Fiskekompaniet, knows how to impress and indulge its extensive clientele. “The idea is remarkably simple: genuine flavours of the sea – that’s what we’ve always aimed to achieve,” says Blomkvist, managing director of the restaurant. Constant variation with an eye to presentation In a location where both the climate and weather are most certainly ruled by nature’s powers, the sea is in constant change – changes that are paramount to the understanding of Fiskekompaniet’s menu. While always filled to the brim with
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fresh and delicious tastes, the menu is constantly varied, adding an exciting paradigm to dining at the acclaimed eatery. “The menu keeps changing, as we always focus on sourcing seasonal and fresh produce. Most of the fish is local and based on the catch of the day,” Blomkvist explains. “For example, late winter offers the cod with roe and liver, an absolute delicacy not to be missed, while spring and summer time bring shellfish, arctic char and, in particular for Norway, the whale season, an important sustainable and cultural tradition. Whale meat has a beautiful flavour, very much like a fine piece of steak; it’s not to be missed on our menu.” Explaining that some guests are sceptical to begin with,
Blomkvist says they soon change their minds when tasting the fine meat. As for signature dishes at Fiskekompaniet, Blomkvist suggests the menu speaks for itself – and that visual aspects are equally important as those of taste, when composing a fine dining experience. “King crabs, mussels, lobster and oysters with careful preparation all look very impressive when they leave the kitchen. Presentation is key to us, and traditional dishes with a modern twist are served on beautiful porcelain.” A French-inspired venture in “Paris of the North” Having experienced the success of Fiskekompaniet, Blomkvist came up with a new venture to complement the traditionally Nordic seafood cuisine – as well manifest Tromsø’s denomination as “Paris of the North”. The French-inspired 69°N Brasserie, which he describes as “a loving symbiosis between classical French and Norwegian cuisine”, is situated a mere 500 metres from Fiskekompaniet and offers locals and visitors to Tromsø an exciting alternative to more traditional eateries.
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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
“Presentation is key to us, and traditional dishes with a modern twist are served on beautiful porcelain,” says owner Anders Blomkvist.
“Regulars will definitely recognise our refined style as we are striving for the same excellence in terms of serving the finest, locally produced meat, such as lamb, deer and beef,” says Blomkvist, explaining how 69°N Brasserie breaks off from trends such as Nordic molecular gastronomy and Asian cuisine that have been dominating the restaurant scene for the last couple of years. “People have eaten and enjoyed French cuisine for centuries, and we thought we could make something different yet familiar by returning to the classic basics. Many people have been longing for this, and trends seem to come and go; but in the difficult financial times we have been through, people tend to seek safety and
security even when it comes to food – and French food has a strong foundation and solid thought behind it,” he adds. Tromsø’s moniker, “Paris of the North”, stems from the 18th century when the town was a thriving northern business centre with fashionably dressed ladies parading the streets. It’s still very much a trend-aware city with a buzzing cultural life and good connections to Europe – a scene that goes hand-in-hand with 69°N Brasserie’s sophisticated menu.
where the food they’re eating comes from, and sometimes ask for produce from a specific farm,” Blomkvist says. Lamb shank with roasted root vegetables, potato puree and a red wine sauce was already a very popular dish that has been praised by reviewers. Boknafisk or stockfish is another favourite local delicacy, served with creamed salsify, ginger carrots, bacon fat and potatoes. Booking a table at Fiskekompaniet and 69°N Brasserie is recommended, as interest is high.
Praised by reviewers Diners can look forward to top-quality meat and fish sourced from local producers as well as an interesting range of fine wines. “People today are very conscious of
For more information, please visit: www.fiskekompani.no www.69grader.no
At 69°N Brasserie, diners can look forward to top-quality meat and fish sourced from local producers as well as an interesting range of fine wines.
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark
TOP LEFT: Hotel Villa Gulle is situated a stone’s throw from the harbour, with a beautiful view of the water. Photo: Lone Frost.
Hotel of the Month, Denmark
Hot sauce and cosy atmosphere galore in the heart of Denmark Explore the historical surroundings of Nyborg and indulge in authentic Danish cuisine while feeling right at home at charming Hotel Villa Gulle. By Ann Bille | Photos: Hotel Villa Gulle
“First thing I do every morning is to light up candles and fill the rooms with music,” Gulle Simonsen, owner of Hotel Villa Gulle says. The former stewardess bought the place 18 years ago and has since refurbished the hotel beautifully, according to the original style, while modernising the 23 rooms with new facilities. The guest book bears witness to the warm and homely atmosphere the hotel provides. “Lovely spirit and smiles from everyone – and the food here completely surpassed our expectations,” are the words of former guests Jørn and Solveig Klücker-Klok. At Villa Gulle guests enjoy authentic Danish classics, such as the newly appointed official national dish ‘stegt flæsk’ – roast pork with parsley sauce – cooked by the
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owner herself, always in ample quantities. Her traditional brown sauce is a particular treat. “My guests request it by the jug,” she says with a giggle. “No one leaves the table hungry at Hotel Villa Gulle.” Based in the centre of the medieval town of Nyborg, right in the heart of Denmark, Villa Gulle is perfectly located for exploring both local and regional sights. Nyborg was the King of Denmark’s favourite residence in the middle ages, and today the historic town centre has a lively trade with lots of shops and cafés. From the hotel guests can enjoy the beautiful view of the old streets and the harbour, while the oldest, most wellpreserved castle of Denmark, Nyborg Castle, is just a stone’s throw away.
For those keen on exploring a bit further, Funen has plenty of things to offer – and the hotel happily provides a picnic basket to bring for a day out. Odense, the third-biggest city of Denmark and birthplace of famous fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen is just a 14minute train ride away. Hotel Villa Gulle is comfortably located within walking distance from good connections to both Sealand and Jutland. It is the ideal setting for a relaxing couples’ retreat or a family holiday let, and with a restaurant and facilities large enough for 100 guests, the hotel has also become a good place for conferences, weddings and other functions.
For more information, please visit: www.villa-gulle.dk
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland
Photo: Olli Rinne
LEFT: Villa Maria is the latest log villa at Hawkhill. It provides a great conference or event venue for up to 12 people. RIGHT: Villa Taavetti, built in 2012, has the same capacity as Villa Maria. Like all the other Hawkhill villas it has the cosy atmosphere of a traditional Finnish forest building enhanced with modern facilities and decoration elements.
Hotel of the Month, Finland
Hold your meetings in the heart of Finnish nature Hawkhill Nature provides two rugged charming log villas including modern conference areas, saunas and sleeping arrangements for up to 12 people. In addition, there are three other cottages with the same facilities for smaller teams or travellers looking for atmospheric locations in the middle of majestic Finnish forest scenery. By Tuomo Paananen | Photos: Hawkhill Nature Hawkhill is a rarity amongst the conference venues within the metropolitan area of Helsinki, only 45 minutes from the capital. “Most of our visitors wonder how a place like this can exist so close to Helsinki. During the summer public transportation takes you as close as a mile away from here. In winter a bus drops you 2.5 miles from the location, but we can either pick you up or send a taxi,” says Annu Huotari, one of the owners of the company. The key word in all activities at Hawkhill is participation. Alongside their meetings the visiting groups can design something to do themselves or choose from hiking, open fire cooking, wild herb expeditions, mushroom picking with
trained experts, paddling, ice fishing, snowshoeing or whatever fits best the groups' needs. “It really revitalises team spirit when you get people to participate. Some groups want us to show them how to make their own candles or wooden cutlery, and then they can start crafting themselves,” tells Huotari. Hawkhill also encourages people to visit the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia nearby. “Of course some visitors just might want to sit tight, relax and enjoy the beautiful nature, sauna and swimming.” You can book a Hawkhill cottage for a day, weekend or a whole week. If you don't want to bring your own food, there is a catering serv-
ice offering tasty Finnish dishes, most of them cooked outdoors for groups of minimum six persons. “We have great catering packages, but some of our visitors want to bring their own meals. In case you wish to cook, you can even give us a list of the ingredients you need, and we'll pick them up before you arrive,” says Huotari. “We are not a franchise, but a unique and traditional location. Hawkhill has been here for over three decades – ask for anything in the context of outdoor life, cooking and accommodation, and we are most likely able to arrange that.” All the services are available separately or together for companies, families, groups or sole travellers.
For more information, please visit: www.hawkhill.fi
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
There are 14 houses on the grounds at Røisheim, and the oldest ones have been traced back to 1530. Photo: Bjørn Moholt
Hotel of the Month, Norway
Top comfort at the top of Norway In Bøverdal, Lom, lies a traditional timber hotel sealed off from the hustle and bustle of busy urban life. With a long history as a coaching station and resting place for travellers, the atmosphere of the location holds memories from a rich past: a past which is honoured in every nook and corner of the hotel’s magnificent quarters. Welcome to Røisheim Hotel. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Røisheim Hotel
Although there are mentions of Røisheim in historical documents from the 17th century, it was in 1858 that Røisheim became operative as a coaching station, offering lodging for travellers – often government officials in need of a place to rest before continuing their journey, or traveling salesmen requiring a place to recharge their batteries before their next business stop. Later on, the hotel was to become a resting place for tourists hoping to climb peaks in the nearby mountainous area of Jotunheimen, such as Galdhøpiggen (Norway’s highest mountain)
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or Glittertind. Tourism had reached Jotunheimen – and Røisheim provided a glorious and perfectly situated location from which to explore the surroundings. Fairytale-like expectations “There are 14 houses on the grounds, and the oldest ones have been traced back to 1530,” says Erik Teigum, Manager at Røisheim Hotel, when recounting the revered hotel’s historical background. In fact, the history of the lodgings has been honoured with a place among ‘De Historiske’ [‘The Historical’], a collection of
the most charming mansions, stately homes and wooden hotels in Norway. “The rooms are spread throughout all the houses in the courtyard. The hotel, in its entirety, gives off a very cosy feel,” continues Teigum, adding: “It’s like coming straight into a fairytale entering these grounds. You could almost expect a fairytale creature coming into the courtyard any given moment.” The historical atmosphere is thoroughly depicted in all the hotel’s rooms, which all bear marks of their former functions. Teigum says the old stable, for instance, has now been converted into comfortable rooms with a truly authentic feel, where artefacts of the old stable are used for decorative purposes. “We’d like the rich history of Røisheim to be reflected in everything you see around you when you stay here,” he says. “Beyond the old sta-
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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
Guests at Røisheim are often after the spectacular nature experiences available nearby.
ble building the grounds retain an old school building, and in this room you will find an old school desk that mirrors the heritage of that particular setting. No two rooms are alike, and that’s much of the charm about Røisheim.” Making the most of the surroundings Another particular feature that has long distinguished this charming hotel from others is its focus on quality cuisine. And, with Erik Teigum at the helm, educated chef and former head waiter at renowned restaurant Bølgen & Moi, the culinary experiences at Røisheim will add definite seasoning to the memory of your stay. “The food at Røisheim has been noted for its quality for a long time, and so I am merely continuing a great tradition,” says Teigum. “We serve four-course suppers that vary from day to day. This is because
we use the best of fresh, natural produce that’s available at any given time – and therefore the menus are kept open for interpretation of this produce. In this way we are able to make the most of what our surroundings have to offer, and thus add to the great experience that is staying at Røisheim.”
It was mostly due to his skill and passion for climbing that Røisheim has now become a famous base for rock climbing in Europe. “Most of our guests today come here because they want to climb Galdhøpiggen – the highest peak in Northern Europe. This is a huge goal for many outdoorsmen, and we are perfectly located for this mission,” he says.
Cresting the top of Norway Though times have moved on, guests at Røisheim are still after the same things as when they first ventured here: peace, silence, quality, comfort and spectacular nature experiences. The latter, in particular, attract a large part of the clientele. Teigum tells me that Ole Halvorssen Røisheim, who owned and ran Røisheim Hotel when Galdhøpiggen was first crested in 1850, was one of Jotunheimen’s most famous mountain guides.
Whether you are after a calm and relaxing weekend away from everyday stress, a splendid menu or that longed-for reach to the top of Norway, Røisheim has got your request covered. We’d just about call it a fairytale – albeit this one is true.
Facts about Røisheim Hotel: The hotel consists of 14 houses. There are 24 rooms in total. Every room has a shower or rustic wooden hot tub. Wi-Fi available. The hotel is open from the beginning of May until the end of September.
The historical atmosphere is thoroughly depicted in all the hotel’s rooms, which all bear marks of their former functions.
For more information, please visit: roisheim.no
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Finland
The landmark museum building is the joint creation of legendary Finnish architects Eliel Saarinen, Armas Lindgren and Herman Gesellius and was built between 1905 and 1910.
Attraction of the Month, Finland
Curiosity and plenty of grey charm: the National Museum is a window on Finland In the centre of Helsinki stands a sprawling building of grey granite, adorned with a high bell tower that sometimes causes people to mistake it for a church. This, however, is a different kind of sanctuary – built to house the national collections of Finland, it serves as a hub of knowledge about Finland and the world beyond. Welcome to the National Museum. By Joanna Nylund | Photos: the National Museum
The landmark building itself is the joint creation of legendary Finnish architects Eliel Saarinen, Armas Lindgren and Herman Gesellius and was built between 1905 and 1910. The style is typical of museums of the time, strongly influenced by Art Nouveau and the National Romantic ideal. The idea behind the architecture was for the different collections to be housed in spaces that would highlight their unique features. The entrance hall is adorned by frescoes from the hand of in-
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ternationally renowned artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting different aspects of Finnish life and industry. The initial aim of celebrating the national Finnish heritage by preserving treasures of every historical period has expanded over time. As well as highlighting that which is uniquely Finnish, there is also an eye on the world at large. The National Museum is now shaping into a brand that encompasses a variety of museums
around the country. Together, they present different facets of Finnish history and form a national treasure in their own right. From the Stone Age to the Digital Era The permanent exhibitions are divided into six parts, and the scope of history presented here is sweeping. Prehistory of Finland is the largest permanent archeological exhibition in Finland. The Treasure Troves presents the collections of coins, medals, orders and decorations, silver, jewellery and weapons. The Realm covers the development of Finnish society and culture from the 12th to the early 20th century, through the Swedish Kingdom period and Russian Empire era. The ethnological exhibition A Land and its People presents traditional Finnish culture in the 18th and 19th centuries; life in the coun-
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Finland
Finnskogar – Forest Finns presents the story of Finnish migrants who moved to uninhabited forest regions in Sweden and Norway in the late 1500s and 1600s to practice slash-and-burn farming. In the autumn of 2015, the National Museum will celebrate that 150 years have passed since the birth of Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius, with an exhibition retracing his life in music. During a visit to the National Museum it is possible to book a guided tour, offered in English, Russian, German and French.
ing history accessible as well as interesting. One icon in the family of national museums is Hvitträsk architectural office and home of the aforementioned three architects and their families. Hvitträsk remains a popular site for visitors who enjoy the National Romantic building as well as the lush English gardens surrounding it. Travellers to Helsinki can pay a visit to the long-term residence of one of Finland’s most beloved presidents, Urho Kekkonen. The Tamminiemi Villa has been kept just as it was while the unofficial centre of Finnish politics.
The Museum of the Future
tryside before industrialisation. The VINTTI Workshop is an interactive exhibition for the whole family. “Another permanent exhibition that is really popular is Suomi Finland 1900. It covers our modern history and is easy for people to identify with,” explains Mikael Neuvonen, Head of Service Sales and Communications.
“The National Museum is undergoing some changes right now that we are very excited about. We want to expand the idea of what a national museum really is, and incorporate a total of 11 different museums under the same umbrella. This also means offering a more comprehensive museum experience,” says Neuvonen. “The cafés, restaurants, museum shops and conference facilities that we offer will be given a greater role in shaping the visitor’s experience.” Already now the Museum emphasises its educational role, providing material for students and mak-
Nearby Seurasaari Island is a charming outdoor museum perfect for a summer visit, as are the many great manor houses around the country that serve as museums under the National Museum brand. The National Museum also arranges a number of popular public events throughout the year. Information about these, and much more, can be found on the website.
For more information, please visit: www.nba.fi
The Museum also curates three temporary exhibitions. They are multi-cultural and diverse – right now The World of Religions takes the visitor on a crash course of our relationship with religion and its different aspects. Faiths covered include Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all of which originated in the Middle East; the Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Shinto, as well as Chinese religions. Also introduced are Earth religions, new religious movements, atheism and syncretism.
Adventures in Siberia is a fascinating photographic exhibition curated by the Museum of Cultures, featuring unique photographs by explorer and linguist Kai Donner (1888‒1935) from his expeditions to Siberia between 1911 and 1914.
The entrance hall of the museum is adorned by frescoes from the hand of internationally renowned artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting different aspects of Finnish life and industry.
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
Samsø Festival welcomes some 5,500 visitors every year to four days of great music, togetherness and splendid nature experiences by white beaches.
Attraction of the Month, Denmark
The cosiest festival in Denmark Music, sun, beach and water. Those are the four words to describe the festival of Samsø, which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary. For four days in July the little island located in Kattegat transforms itself into what the organisers believe is not only the most family friendly, but also the cosiest festival in Denmark. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Samsø Festival
It was back in 1989 that a group of inhabitants at Samsø decided to see if the island was ready to arrange a music festival. The founders all enjoyed going to other festivals in Denmark, so they felt it was time for their island to have its own. They wanted to create a festival that was both welcoming and relaxing for its visitors, but first of all cosy. Just one year after their first meeting, the festival was ready for its first opening and 25 years later, the same values are still the very
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foundation of the festival. Two of the founders are still on the committee. “We are a small festival, where everything is nearby. The camping area is only three minutes walking distance from the main stage, so you do not waste a lot of time walking from one end to another. We have many families who come here, because the parents can relax, while the children run around. The area is very safe so the parents are not afraid of letting their chil-
dren run around on their own. That means the young ones get a good experience, so when they become teenagers, we often see them come back,” says Thomas Jakobsen, who is the PR Manager for Samsø festival. Another advantage of having everything nearby is that it only takes a couple of minutes to get to the beach. According to Jakobsen that makes Samsø Festival a holiday experience for the families who come. “Last summer the weather was brilliant during the entire festival, so every day we had around 500-600 people lying on one of Denmark’s best beaches in the morning, and then they could go straight to the concerts in the afternoon. Our festival is also about having time to
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
relax and this combination of holiday and music is unique.” Supporting Danish musicians Next year Samsø festival will take place from 15-18 July, and it is expected that all 5,500 tickets will once again be sold. When you then add volunteers, sponsors and musicians, close to 8,000 people will pay a visit to the festival during the four days of music. With an audience of all ages, one of the biggest tasks for the festival is to try to find something for everyone. In recent years big Danish artists such as Michael Learns to Rock, Nik & Jay, Sort Sol, Medina and Rasmus Seebach have all played at Samsø. This year’s programme is still being prepared, but a few artists have already been published and the audience can yet again expect to see some of the biggest names Denmark has to offer. “The last couple of years we have had exclusively Danish artists here, because we believe the Danish music market is very good at the moment, and it is our way to support Danish musicians. This year we have already made deals with D.A.D., Magtens Korridorer, Stine Bramsen, Scarlet Pleasure, Suspekt, Lars H.U.G. and Johnny Madsen,” says Jakobsen.
On this stage young, aspiring musicians can get a chance to perform and maybe win the right to perform on one of the main stages plus some financial help to record their own album. A makeover To celebrate the 25th anniversary last year, the organisers decided to give the many bars at the festival area a makeover. It turned out to be a great success, so
Jakobsen reveals that they will do something similar in 2015. “We have tried to do more about the way the bars are decorated, and I believe it has given the entire festival a boost. More events are taking place there and each bar now has a different theme. It created a great atmosphere amongst our audience and it only confirmed to us what we already knew: we are the most family friendly and the cosiest festival in Denmark.” For more information, please visit: www.samfest.dk or facebook.com/samso.festival
Samsø festival has three stages in total, one of which is a so-called talent stage.
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
In a city that’s as compact as Reykjavík, you’ll be able to fit plenty of the sights into your itinerary. Purchase the Reykjavík City Card and you’ll get unlimited access to all the Reykjavík Art and City Museums, the National Museum and the National Art Gallery, as well as a free ferry trip to Viðey Island.
Attraction of the Month, Iceland
Your ticket to the world’s northernmost capital With museums and galleries galore, Reykjavík has everything you’d expect from a big city. What you may not expect, however, is to find yourself right on the edge of nature and with a thermal pool on your doorstep. Experience all the city has to offer at an unbeatable price with the Reykjavík City Card, allowing you to see more and save more during your stay. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: Visit Reykjavik
Whether you’re a history nerd, an art aficionado or a health nut, you’re guaranteed to find something to satisfy your interests in the world’s northernmost capital. A typical day in Reykjavík might begin with a refreshing walk along the coast, followed by a wander around one of the many fascinating history museums or beautiful art galleries. After all that sightseeing, your feet will need a rest, so head to your near-
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est thermal pool for a well earned soak in the hot tubs. Steeped in history, rich in culture Comprising five individual sites, Reykjavík City Museum was founded to preserve and promote the city’s cultural heritage. Learn about Reykjavík’s first Viking settlers through multimedia technology at the Settlement Exhibition, or get a feel for what it
was like to live in Reykjavík back when it was little more than a couple of turf farms at the Árbær Open Air Museum. Board the Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn at the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, which honours fishing as one of the driving forces of the city’s economy. See Reykjavík through the ages in a series of nearly five million images at the Reykjavík Museum of Photography. Catch a ferry from the old harbour to Viðey Island just off the Reykjavík coast and spend the day exploring ancient ruins and admiring spectacular natural beauty. For art lovers, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found at Reykjavík Art Museum. If modern art’s your thing, head to Hafnarhús to see its extensive collection of
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Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
the summer, hike up Mount Esja across the bay for a panoramic view of the city or swim in the sea at Nauthólsvík beach. In the winter months, Heiðmörk conservation park and Grótta lighthouse make for ideal viewing points if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. See more, save more! In a city that’s as compact as Reykjavík, you’ll be able to fit plenty of these sights into your itinerary. Purchase the Reykjavík City Card and you’ll get unlimited access to all the Reykjavík Art and City Museums, the National Museum and the National Art Gallery, as well as a free ferry trip to Viðey Island. You can also visit any of the thermal pools and travel by bus for free within the Reykjavík capital area. On top of all that you’ll also receive discounts on various tours, services and goods in shops. Valid for periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours, this one-time purchase will serve as your ticket to as much of the history, culture and nature as you can handle.
For more information, please visit: www.visitreykjavik.is Iceland is best known for its natural wonders and many of them can be witnessed from the very heart of the city centre.
the controversial Icelandic pop artist Erró. Housed in a refurbished fishery warehouse by the old harbour, the gallery provides a visually striking setting for the progressive and experimental art inside. Kjarvalsstaðir showcases the work of one of the most influential Icelandic painters, Jóhannes S. Kjarval, while at Ásmundarsafn, the scenic sculpture garden is the perfect complement to the work of Ásmundur Sveinsson. The coming year at Reykjavík Art Museum will feature a number of pioneering exhibitions. To name but one, Just Painted at Hafnarhús will present the most extensive overview of Icelandic contemporary painting ever. Re-connect with the outdoors Once you’ve exhausted all those cultural activities (if that’s even possible), it’s time to recharge your batteries and where better than in one of the thermal pools
around town? All the pools have outdoor facilities, but with all that geothermal energy, you can take the plunge whatever the weather. In the western part of town, Vesturbæjarlaug is a favourite among locals who congregate in the brand new hot tub and more often than not engage in some healthy political debate. Kids love Laugardalslaug with its thrilling waterslides, while parents enjoy basking in the saltwater hot tub. Entry to the pools costs around 650 ISK – a real bargain considering that gives you access to what are essentially top spa facilities. Of course, Iceland is best known for its natural wonders and many of them can be witnessed from the very heart of the city centre. With walking paths all along the coast and mountains right on the city’s borders, there’s no need to drive long distances to reconnect with nature. During
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Photo: Terje Olsen
Photo: Beate Kjørslevik
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
Attraction of the Month, Norway
A beacon of seafarer history Perched by the waterline in Bygdøy’s stunning surroundings, the Norwegian Maritime Museum rises as an admired beacon of the nation’s seafaring history. Manifesting Norway’s position as a central maritime nation in everything from research to freight by sea, the institution offers permanent and changing exhibitions, a boat workshop for children, and interactive learning. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Rolf Estensen
“Many people believe that Norway’s seafarer history came and went with the Viking Age,” says Eyvind Bagle of Norwegian Maritime Museum, “but that is far from the truth. Our museum aims to enlighten both national and international visitors about the country’s strong position in this field.” This aim is perfectly accomplished in the acclaimed exhibition At Sea! where visitors are taken on a journey through a cavalcade of imperative Norwegian seafaring epochs. Here, you are presented with artifacts like navigation equipment, clothing, souvenirs and photographs, diaries and letters, making it easy to get close to 1,000 years of naval history.
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And, while other museums bring you stale, two-dimensional perspectives, this museum offers a completely innovative experience through interactive, digital ‘meetings’ with the past. “This initiative gives a rich reflection of the various eras: at one point you meet with a Viking and later on an on-board engineer, and hear about their lives at sea. It is a whole new experience,” says Bagle, adding that a brand new interactive experience centre has been launched at the museum, offering games and fun for the whole family. “The sea is in many ways further away than ever. Few people become seamen these days, and therefore we find it important to educate coming generations
about the sea as a whole, and how it impacts our lives. We host everything from summer schools with the Norwegian Society for Rescue at Sea to boat workshops for children, involving both schools and parents, to make the experience a fun and educational one,” says Bagle. As for 2015, guests can look forward to several new exhibition openings, highlights being the display Freight men of the World and Anders Beer Wilse’s ship portraits. The former will take you on an educational tour of the sea freight industry throughout time, while the latter will show parts of Norwegian Maritime Museum’s collection of the famous photographer’s works.
A combined ticket for the Norwegian Maritime Museum and the neighboring Fram Museum can be purchased at either venue. For more information, please visit: www.marmuseum.no
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Scan Magazine | Business | Key Note
Scan Business Key Note 99 | Conference of the Month 100 | Business Profile 102 | Business Column 104 | Business Calendar 104
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You never get a second chance to make a good first impression – unless you are Richard Burton By Paul Blackhurst, client director at Mannaz
The verb decide comes from the Latin decidere, which literally means to "cut off" (from: de = off and caedere = to cut). A decision, then, is a process of cutting off alternatives to leave the one choice. Most of us describe our decision-making as a very logical process but the reality is that we make our decisions quickly and intuitively. This is especially true in social interactions such as sales meetings, job interviews and speed dating. First impressions are the fundamental drivers of relationships," says Professor Frank Bernieri of Oregon State University. We make a reasonably accurate assessment of a person from observing just a few seconds, or a "thin slice", of their behaviour. If we decide that a new acquaintance is a certain type of person, who thinks, feels and behaves a certain way, we pay more attention to evidence that confirms our theory is correct. This is known as "confirmation bias". This is why it is so hard to change a first impression. If most judgments are immediate and instinctive, can we ever control the way that other people perceive us? Well, research suggests that here are two things to consider if you want to make a good first impression.
First, be open. "There's a behavioural principle known as the ‘expressivity halo’. People who communicate in an expressive, animated fashion tend to be liked more than difficult-to-read people," says Bernieri, "even if they are expressing something such as irritation. Because we feel more confident in our reading of them, they are less of a threat." Extroverts will find this more natural than introverts will, of course. Second, discover things you have in common. Books you have read, films you have seen, mutual friends or enemies – the things we share create a powerful bond. "It's called the similarity attraction hypothesis," says Bernieri. "It's powerful because it's a cognitive processing phenomenon – a reflex, not an analytical skill." It is not rational, but finding out that you share the same name or hometown as someone can create a sense of affection for that person. People buy things from people like them. Our first few seconds with a person are clearly significant – but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest we can overcome a bad encounter if given the chance. Richard Burton, in his autobiography Meeting Mrs. Jenkins, wrote of meeting Elizabeth Taylor for the first time. "She was so beautiful I nearly laughed out loud. I did not, of course, which was just as well. The girl
was clearly not going to be laughing back. I had an idea that, finding nothing of interest, she was looking right through me and was examining the wall behind." Somehow, Richard Burton turned this perception around to the point where she agreed to marry him – twice. Perhaps my next article will focus on how he did just that.
Paul Blackhurst, client director at Mannaz
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Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Denmark
Located right by Storebælt, Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter is surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Conference of the Month, Denmark
Give your conference a breath of fresh air from the sea Walking down the hallways of Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter, you would be excused for believing that you are onboard a cruise ship. Located right on the edge of Storebælt and saturated by the light, scent and air from the sea, only the risk of seasickness is missing. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Press images
Sitting on a 43.000 m² nature plot, Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter is surrounded by sea and forest. But though the location is so extraordinary that it can without hesitation be said to be the centre’s main attraction, it is not its only attraction. Having served as a conference centre for more than 40 years, Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter has been continuously refurbished and developed. Today, the centre offers flexible conference facilities for up
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to 250 guests, 123 comfortable and modern hotel rooms as well as an experienced staff and an ambitious kitchen. “Last week, I showed a new guest around and she was completely taken aback by our natural surroundings and the way that the sea light saturates most of our rooms – and to be honest; that is the one thing that everyone notices first,” reveals CEO Lone Vølding and adds: “But the reason a lot of people keep coming back is our flex-
ibility. We have numerous big rooms that can be split into two or more rooms in a short time. This means you can, for instance, easily and smoothly combine large marketing introductions with smaller product presentations. Besides, we have a staff of employees who have many years of experience; they know the business and know what is expected from a modern conference centre.” All in one place Located right next to the beautiful Storebælt Bridge, Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter is within an easy drive from most of Denmark. But many companies and organisations choose to treat their guests, clients and employees to a night or two by
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Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Denmark
joy. They might also visit some of the historic manor houses, including the wellknown Borreby Herreborg, the nearby Trelleborg (the remains of an old Viking fortress), the charming town of Skælskør or the larger Slagelse with all its shops and facilities. The centre also includes a leisure centre with pool tables, darts and table tennis as well as a café, a small gym and a natural outdoor fitness trail. ABOVE LEFT: One of the things many guests at Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter notice is the kitchen’s dedication to good food and fresh produce.
FACTS:
A warm welcome to everyone
ences, meetings and seminars. During the weekend, the hotel’s stunning location also makes it a popular destination for leisure guests, especially during summertime. No matter what the reason is for the visit, everyone is warmly welcomed. “The atmosphere here is quite relaxed, and the tone is warm, informal and familiar; we meet all of our guests with a warm welcome. Many of our regulars have been coming back for years, and our Head Receptionist, who has been working here for more than 25 years, knows just about all of them! She is great with names, and I know that many of them really appreciate being greeted by their name,” stresses Vølding.
Not surprisingly, many businesses and organisations keep coming back to Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter, and some have done so for decades. However, the centre is not just a popular venue for confer-
Swimming, walking or running along the spectacular coastline (the hotel provides maps of walking and running routes) are just some of the activities guests can en-
the sea. And, as all of the centre’s 123 single and double hotel rooms have TV, terraces and modern interiors, and some rooms even boast stunning sea views, guests are sure to have a comfortable stay. Guests can also enjoy the stunning views when dining in the centre’s restaurant, which is, like the conference rooms, located on the centre’s first floor. The restaurant serves a classic French/Danish cuisine based on fresh seasonal ingredients and a love for food. “Most of our guests are really impressed by our service as well as our food. It is something they remember after their visit,” says Vølding.
Kobæk Strand Konferencecenter is located right outside the town of Skælskør in southwest Zealand. The conference centre includes 20 meeting rooms in different sizes. The biggest can seat 250 guests. Many of the rooms are adjustable in size. All conference rooms are equipped with LCD projectors and all standard IT equipment. The centre has 123 hotel rooms, (including three suites and 40 ocean view rooms) and can accommodate a maximum of 192 overnight guests. The conference centre is split on two floors: hotel rooms are on the ground floor, while conference and meeting rooms as well as the restaurant are on the first floor.
For more information, please visit: www.kobaek-strand.dk
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Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Rawbite
A tasty bite with a raw philosophy Sometimes the simple things in life are the best. This is the view that led three Danes to create Rawbite, a 100 per cent natural, organic fruit and nut bar. The bar, which was awarded Health Food of the Year 2011 in Denmark, has become a staple within surprisingly diversified environments, including the military, health food and sports industries.
energy. Accordingly, the bars are used by the Danish archery team as well as several top athletes and Olympic participants, covering activities such as triathlon, badminton and CrossFit.
By Signe Hansen & Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Rawbite
Rawbite has also, as the only food bar, been selected to be included in the Danish defence forces’ individual field rations. Before being selected the bars were tested by the Danish military in the Middle East and the Sirius Patrol, a small naval unit patrolling ice-covered northern Greenland by dog sledge. “One thing which was important to them was that the product did not change texture in hot or cold surroundings, and uniquely, because there is no added sugar in Rawbite, it does not melt or harden in these conditions,” explains Fullerton. “Another thing which the test showed was that the soldiers simply function better when they eat something natural.”
As a part of the Danish defence’s individual field rations and distributed in more than 20 countries, Rawbite has travelled a long way since its modest beginning in 2009. The first specimen of the bar was chopped up and put together on a kitchen table by the three friends Morten Fullerton, Rolf Nolsøe Bau and Nikolaj Lehmann. All three founders are eager sportsmen, and Bau and Lehmann had worked in the fitness industry for years when the Rawbite idea surfaced. “One night, we were hanging around the grill discussing how the market was short of a product which was natural, healthy and tasty. There were plenty of energy
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bars on the market, but most were filled with sugar and additives,” explains Morten Fullerton. “We started chopping up ingredients and trying out different recipes; we wanted to create something simple, with a great taste and a high nutritious value.” The result was the organic fruit and nut bite Rawbite, which today comes in seven different variations, all organic, glutenand lactose-free with no preservatives or added sugar. For high-performance tasks – or a movie Because of its natural composition Rawbite helps maintain a steady blood sugar level and provides a long-lasting source of
The bar has not only become a hit in en-
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Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Rawbite
which helps us in producing probably the tastiest protein bar ever,” explains Fullerton. With that end result the long wait for
durance-demanding fields but also in the cinemas of the Danish capital. In some the bar even outsells regular chocolate bars.
the new protein bar was well worth it. “We have to feel that it is the most amazing product in the world and really love it before we launch a new Rawbite. For us, it’s about natural and tasty food, but most importantly it’s about enjoying life and every bite of it.”
Simple, honest and healthy The philosophy behind Rawbite is simple, or as the founders prefer to call it, “raw”. The ambition was plainly to create a simple, honest and healthy product. But the fact that the idea was uncomplicated did not mean that its execution was. Ensuring that the natural ingredients remained fresh without adding preservatives took a lot of testing and designing. “Because we wanted to use the ingredients fresh, not boiled or cooked beyond recognition, we had to work with some of the best researchers within natural food preservation,” explains Fullerton. Combining simple philosophy and advanced packaging technology allowed the founders to reach their goal: all variations of Rawbite contain only natural ingredients, but at the same time, the bar is handy and easy to bring along. “Rawbite is great when you feel peckish; you can have
For more information, please visit: rawbite.eu
it in your sports bag, the car or include it in your lunch box,” says Fullerton. Latest news With the bar’s growing success a desire to expand the selection with a protein bar arose. The process of creating the protein bar took one year in order to find a way to achieve a great taste without adding artificial flavouring and large amounts of sweeteners. This had not previously been possible with the use of conventional protein powders. “Eventually, we found our natural and organic protein sources,
ABOVE: Rawbite fouders (from left to right) Morten Fullerton, Nikolaj Lehmann and Rolf Nolsøe Bau.
Issue 72 | January 2015 | 103
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Scan Magazine | Business | Column
Your right way… and mine By Steve Flinders
As a British management trainer working across Europe, I adjust my clock in more ways than one when I’m on the road. A course in France? Shift up half a gear – Parisians want you to keep things moving. A course somewhere outside a Scandinavian capital – say Småland, or Rogaland? Shift down a notch – people are likely to be a bit more leisurely, a bit more ready to acknowledge the person as well as the task. Adjusting your pace is just one useful aspect of cultural adaptation which helps build relationships and get the job done. I’m a strong advocate of the Scandinavian business style which I think is characterised by respect for the other, a relative lack of hierarchy, and a consensual, collective approach to problem-solving and decision-making. Happily for you Scandis, the world of work has changed so radically in the last fifty years that the old topdown, conservative, command-and-control approach no longer works in today’s VUCA
(Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) environment. We can only operate today’s mind-bogglingly complex systems with cooperation and teamwork, and Scandinavians have got a head start on the rest of us here. The challenge for Scandinavia is how to come to the terms with the less perfect world outside. When you know you’re right about keeping everyone in the loop, how do you react to that unreformed male boss from that unreformed country for whom sharing power and information is alien. The idea that your right way only works in some contexts – sometimes not all – can be difficult for Scandinavians. But somehow you have to adapt and find a way to work with that big bad old-style boss in order to get the result you’re both looking for. You too may have to sacrifice some cherished beliefs and habits to get there.
Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, now based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com; www.coachingyork.co.uk/item/ steve-flinders/
Scandinavian Business Calendar
By Astrid Eriksson
-Highlights of Scandinavian business events Breakfast Seminar with Professor Simon Anholt Join the SCC for a breakfast seminar with Professor Simon Anholt, organised in collaboration with Strålfors. Professor Anholt is the creator of the field of “Place Branding” and founder of the concept of measuring global perceptions of countries and the Anholt Nations Brand Index. Those attending the event will learn how to use their Swedish origin as a marketing advantage and what “Brand Sweden” signifies in the UK today. Date: 13 January Time and Venue: TBC www.scc.org.uk Get down with THE Economic Update of 2015 The Finnish British Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Nordea,
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warmly invites you to the first event of 2015, where you can look into what lies ahead in the economy in 2015. Join in to hear the forecast and analysis for 2015 – in order to be prepared, you do not want to miss this! Date: 14 January Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm www.fbcc.co.uk Joint-Nordic Thursday drinks On 29 January the Danish-British, Finnish-British and Norwegian-British Chambers of Commerce will host an informal networking event at MASH. Enjoy the good company of the Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, and British business communities at this Nordic Thursday Drink. Date: 29 January Time: 18:00 Location: 77 Brewer Street, London W1F 9ZN www.ducc.co.uk
Meet Ian Lundin. Join the SCC for the first SCC MEET of 2015 with Ian Lundin of Lundin Petroleum. Lundin was appointed CEO of Lundin Oil AB following the merge of Sands Petroleum AB and IPC in 1998. Lundin Oil was thereafter taken over by Talisman Energy in 2001 and Lundin Petroleum formed with Mr Lundin as CEO. In 2002, Mr Lundin became Chairman of the Board of Lundin Petroleum AB. Date: 30 January Time and venue: TBC www.scc.org.uk
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Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
IS IT JUST ME...
By Mette Lisby
Who is terrified of the latest epidemic that has snuck up on the western world? It’s not Ebola. It’s perfection. It’s luring us in everywhere we go – from glittery magazine covers that promise “a better version of yourself”, to “experts” revealing that eating / drinking / doing this instead of that, makes you a healthier, happier, skinnier, prettier you – you know that version of you who is miraculously on top of everything in your life? “Being the best version of yourself” is a phrase that we use in all seriousness – and maybe it sounds great but frankly it’s exhausting, relentless and without mercy. Because you can always do better. You can be a better parent, you can spend more time with your kids – and of course once you do that you can always spend the time BETTER with your kids – you can work out more, you can eat healthier, you can be happier, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING BETTER!! And how could you not want to do that? Previously it was socially acceptable not to go overboard on diets, being a “work-out-aholic” to get a bikini-body, but today’s quest for perfection is not driven by superficial concerns
about looks (at least not by the look of it). No. This is about YOU! Your health, your happiness, your children. Do you know that by living better you could add years to your life? You owe it to yourself, don’t you? DON’T YOU??? This perfection disease has haunted women for decades. I had hoped that feminism and common sense would cure it, but unfortunately, instead of curing women of it, the disease that is “perfection” has spread to men. Men who were once comfortable with beerbellies are now tight-jawed, lycra-clad bicyclists, biking furiously around in the search of a better finish time. And who knows – maybe you actually will live longer if you bike, work out and eat healthier – or at least I’m pretty sure it will feel that way. Time doesn’t fly by when you’re not having fun, you know. I think I’ll stick to being “the next best version of myself”. “The best version of myself” seems too stressed out trying to be perfect to be any fun.
Hurtig
‘Hurtig’ is a word we use in Sweden to describe someone who embraces outdoorsy activities with a form of wholesome and, occasionally, mildly overbearing enthusiasm.
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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
A ‘hurtig’ person might have been your mum or dad, dragging you out of bed when you were eight on a Sunday and hauling you into the woods, a pair of flimsy skis on your feet and an itchy woollen hat over your ears. A hurtig person is the first person to tell you that “at least it’s nice and mosquito free” during a blizzard. Another thing that goes hand in hand with a hurtig person is the obligatory ‘fika’ – the snack that gets brought along on the outings. I remember these fikas to be a mildly redeeming aspect of the whole thing. Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns tended to feature. Often the cinnamon buns would be frozen solid, but when they were dipped into the hot chocolate they thawed into a lovely, sweet goo. My other half is the English equivalent of hurtig. On one of our very first holidays together, he dragged me across no less than eight peaks in the Lake District. As this was fairly early on in our relationship I pretended that I too was a very hurtig person. At least – I thought – I could
look forward to the fika, which I had been promised would be of an excellent British standard. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was to find that this was a thermos of bland tea and a dry cheese sandwich. I believe it caused our very first argument, as my pretence to be something I am not was exposed. A compromise was reached, whereby I hurtig-ly endured the rest of the holiday’s hiking activities, on the one condition that I made the fika, cinnamon buns included.
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. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.
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Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
The Colour Blue We can be green with envy, see red, or feel a bit blue. Colours have a strong symbolic force, but not everyone agrees what they stand for, as these examples for blue suggest:
By Adam Jacot de Boinod
I det blå far (Swedish) from reality (lit. in the blue)
Blå bog (Danish) a social register or a school yearbook (lit. a blue book)
Ljuga sig blå (Swedish) to lie very much (lit. to lie yourself blue)
Blå mandag (Danish) an unauthorised day off from work or a celebratory day after church confirmation (lit. a blue Monday)
Blåveis / blått øye (Norwegian) a bruised eye (lit. a blue eye)
Blåstemple (Danish) to designate as acceptable or high-quality (lit. to stamp with blue ink)
Blålys (Norwegian) police cars (lit. blue lights)
Att skita i det blå skåpet (Swedish) to go too far, make a fool of yourself (lit. to defecate in the blue cabinet) Blåögd (Swedish) naïve (lit. blue-eyed) Farbror Blå (Swedish) the police (lit. Uncle Blue) At være blåøjet (Danish) to be naïve (lit. to be blue-eyed)
Bare blåbær (Norwegian) something easy (lit. only blueberries) Blåmandag (Norwegian) an anticlimactic day after a good weekend (lit. a blue Monday) Blåøyd (Norwegian) naïve (lit. blue-eyed)
T THØR: H ØR: L LÖVES ÖVES C CRISPBREAD RISPBREAD HE HE JUST JUST DÖESN’T DÖESN LIKE LIKE T TØ Ø SHØW SHØ W IT. C Crispbread: rispbread: one one o off o over ver 6 600 00 d delicious elicious S Swedish, wedish, D Danish anish aand nd N Norwegian orwegian ffoods oods aavailable vailable aacross cross tthe he U UK K ffrom rom o our ur o online nline sshop hop and and in in our our L London ondon sstore. tore. SCANDIKITCHEN.CO.UK SCANDIKITCHEN.CO.UK GOOD G OOD FOOD FOOD W WITH ITH L LOVE OVE F FROM ROM S SCANDINAVIA CANDINAVIA
Blåfrossen (Norwegian) blue-skinned from the cold (lit. blue frozen)
Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the BBC television series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and the creator of the iPhone App Tingo, a game involving interesting words. For Scan Magazine he looks at what interests the outside world about the Scandinavian languages.
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Leila Lindholm: a not so cookie-cutter TV chef Having taught Swedes that cooking can be both fun, beautiful, inclusive and nourishing, Leila Lindholm has not only become the face of a new age of TV cooking – she has created a culinary empire that today stretches far outside Sweden’s borders. Sharing a meal in central London, Scan Magazine sits down with “Sweden’s Nigella Lawson” to discuss a lifetime of cooking, English cottage dreams, and mouth-watering goals for the future. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Wolfgang Kleinschmidt
“As long as I can remember, I’ve been in the kitchen,” she says, grabbing hold of a canapé in a picturesque back street a stone’s throw from London’s busy Carnaby Street. “I got in there, I butted in. For me, the kitchen was where it happened. From the age of four I engaged in food, I told the people around me that I was the one who would be cooking that day – it was all very natural to me.”
cooking] was mixed with exciting new dishes, bread-baking as well as the occasional visit to the local hotdog stand, the groundwork for a long career in all things culinary had been laid before Leila even started school. Fast-forward to present day, and this groundwork has culminated in chef positions at some of the world’s most famous restaurants, a “Female Chef of the Year” honour, some ten TV cooking shows, five cookbooks, one home interiors book, her own publishing business, a web platform including an online food channel and blog, as well as a popular concept store Leila’s General Store. Skimming over her empire of food-related enterprises, it’s not difficult to see that her immense drive must have grown from a deep passion for creation – and her authentic beginnings.
From potato-peeling to TV glory Growing up in a food-loving family where Swedish “husmanskost” [traditional home
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“Most definitely. I will never forget the day I understood that cooking could be
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Lila Lindholm
carried out as a profession,” she says, her eyes glittering. “The older brother of one of my best friends applied for the restaurateur programme, and it finally clicked: I could, and should, study cooking.” After a downswing in food adoration during the last years of her gymnasium education (“I did not know how much work and toil it would be peeling potatoes for hours and hours”), the young Leila wanted to try her wings abroad. Soon enough the now 21-year-old found herself on a plane to New York and the Swedish-owned restaurant Aquavit. From there, the journey to Sweden’s modern throne of TV cooking was just a matter of time, care, devotion – and that famous passion.
Cottage dreams and inspiring women
Sweden, and a huge melting pot. I’ve always loved England. A dream would be to own a cottage in the English countryside, and an apartment in London!”
As she whisks up another canapé with beautifully manicured hands in central London, far from her small town of Mariefred, it dawns on me that it is her skilful combination of rural, traditional Swedish and European cooking, and big dreams free from fear, that has led her to where she is today. And, with a London expansion of her successful Leila’s General Store on the to do list, it all seems to be going in the right direction. “It’s close to
As for her recipe for future success, the mix is one of old and new. “I want to keep the expansion of Leila’s General Store going, and keep writing books. It would be amazing branching out further, doing TV in Britain for instance. Perhaps open a store in New York. I’d like to inspire more women to get out there and follow their dreams. To be a modern day role model in that way. You can’t ever stop dreaming.”
draw inspiration from everything: travels, magazines – everything.”
All in the details “My passion today is in the entirety of what I do – the lifestyle and the whole concept behind it. Everything I do happens within the same world, from the cookbooks to the shows. Then again, I’ve worked for 20 years now, so I’ve had time to explore various fields within that world. But the drive throughout has always been to inspire others – giving them some joy along the way.” Despite the number of projects under her belt, recently dipping into the world of home décor, she says she has always had executive influence on everything she has put her name on. “Of course. So much of who I am and what my brand stands for lies in the details. People would notice if I didn’t put myself heart and soul into what I do.” Indeed, doing something half-way is a concept Leila is unfamiliar with. She is often compared to her likes in the US and UK, from Martha Stewart to Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, chefs and food devotees who have made a name for themselves by letting their thoroughness and enthusiasm shine through TV screens and pages of cookbooks. However, she is not one to let praise get the best of her. “It’s flattering, naturally. I’m hugely inspired by them, from how they construct their TV shows to how they build online platforms. But that doesn’t mean I copy them. I find it important to
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A taste of Leila’s kitchen Do you want your own taste of Leila’s famous grub? Dig into these simple and tasty recipes! By Julie Lindén | Photos: Wolfgang Kleinschmidt
Walnut pasta from Tuscany
Saffron waffles
400 g linguini pasta 50 g pine nuts 150 g walnuts 2 table spoons bread crumbs 1 garlic clove 2 table spoons of olive oil Sea salt Black pepper 2.5 dl milk or cream 50 g pecorino cheese 50 g walnuts (for decoration)
150 g butter 2 small bags (1 g) of saffron 7 dl plain flour 1 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons of baking powder 3 tablespoons of powder sugar 4 organic eggs 8 dl milk Melted butter for baking Whipped cream and jam to serve
1. Boil the pasta until “al dente” in salted water. 2. Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan. 3. Mix pine nuts, walnuts, bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper in a blender. 4. Bring the milk/cream to a boil, pour it over the nut blend and mix. 5. Mix the walnut sauce with the cooked pasta. 6. Serve with shredded pecorino cheese and decorate with additional walnuts.
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1. Blend butter and saffron while stirring. Let it cool completely. 2. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, powder sugar and eggs with half of the milk and stir until the batter becomes smooth. 3. Let the batter rise for 20-30 minutes. 4. Warm your waffle iron, brush the insides with melted butter and bake the waffles until golden in colour. 5. Serve the waffles fresh and warm, with lightly whipped cream and jam.
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Hans Olav Lahlum
“I do consider Christie to be one of the greatest plot writers of the century,” Lahlum says about his inspiration in crime writing.
Catching up with Norway’s answer to Agatha Christie Fans of Hans Olav Lahlum and his bestselling international crime series will be excited to hear that the Norwegian police inspector Kolbjørn Kristiansen (K2) will be back with a gripping new mystery to solve in February 2015. Satellite People is the second instalment in Lahlum's series. By Helen Cullen | Press photos
For those meeting K2 and his inestimable sidekick Patricia for the first time, this mystery-solving duo has a similar dynamic to the original crime-stoppers Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It is Agatha Christie, however, that Lahlum has drawn favourable comparisons to in his classical approach to crime writing. “I do consider Christie to be one of the greatest plot writers of the century,” he explains. “I am inspired by her best novels. The Poirot books have truly great plots, but I am not a copycat.” In his crime writing, Lahlum aims for work that combines Christie’s excellence at plotting with the fine character writing of Georges Simenon, who he also cites as a great in-
spiration: “Simenon was extremely good at creating characters and exploring psychology, which Christie was not so concerned with.”
Satellite People continues in the stylistic tradition of the first novel in the series, Human Flies. However, both books exist independently of each other and so can be read in any order. This time around, K2 and Patricia must identify the culprit responsible for murdering a multi-millionaire businessman at a dinner party in his own home, and each of his ten guests is a suspect. Lahlum explains: “The first novel inhabited a closed room, but this book exists inside a closed universe where we
know one of the eleven at the table must be the murderer.” Lahlum’s approach to writing the second book was significantly different than with the first. “For book one, the inspiration came suddenly, when I was traveling on a train, and by the end of the journey I had the whole novel planned in detail. The second time around I wasn’t inspired in the same way at all. I tried catching the train back and forth all the time but nothing happened!” Instead, Lahlum started working in a new way by creating a scenario that he developed as he wrote: “This time it was much more of a building project.” The end result is a gripping tourde-force.
Satellite People will be released on February 12 2015 by Pan Macmillan publishers.
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Culture in Scandinavia 2015 A new year is certainly a chance to start afresh. Out with the old and in with the new. Scandinavia is a fantastic place to do this. In a healthy economic and social climate changes and developments occur often and are encouraged. The year of 2015 will without a doubt be a lush year for reinvention, innovation and inspiration. However, some things are worth keeping around. Here is a selection of annual festivities and happenings we are happy to welcome back with open arms.
week offers visitors a lovely event filled with harmonious and grand classical compositions. Orchestras and musicians from all over the globe show off their skills while dance productions and workshops are available for adoration and participation.
By Astrid Eriksson | Press photos
JANUARY MP Helsinki, Finland (30 Jan - 1 Feb) At the biggest motorbike event in Scandinavia, the Helsinki Fair Centre becomes home to endless Harleys, Triumphs and other famous names, along with vintage models and society stands. Copenhagen Fashion Week, Denmark (28 Jan – 2 Feb) Twice a year, Copenhagen hosts the Nordic Region’s largest fashion event, Copenhagen Fashion Week. As industry movers and shakers get dressed and
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ready for a week of sartorial extravagance, the runways come alive with a diverse cast of fashion talents. FEBRUARY Stockholm Furniture Fair, Sweden (3-7) Over 750 exhibitors present visitors with furniture, textiles, and interior design in Scandinavian styles. Stockholm Furniture Fair usually receives 40,000-50,000 visitors each year. Musica Nova, Helsinki, Finland (6-14) This festival combines classical music with international performances. The
Reykjavik Blues Festival, Iceland (12-14) Still considered a secret gem among blues and gospel lovers, but the attendance is growing each year, so you better be quick before the whole world invades Reykjavik. Performers come from all over the globe to show off through performances and concerts, and collaborations with each other. Finland Ice Marathon, (18-21) This annual event in Kuopio, Finland, attracts beginners of all ages as well as professionals. Various competitions in a wider range of categories are hosted and well-suited for the entire family. Short
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Full–year culture calendar
races are mixed with longer, endurancetesting marathons. If you’re a fan of winter sports, you’ll love this! MARCH Architect At Work Copenhagen, Denmark (11-12) This two-day event is being held at the Forum Copenhagen and showcases products like exterior joinery, facade and exterior cladding, insulation, air & water tightness, roof construction, load bearing structures, roof covering, drainage and rainwater systems, fixed lighting, and much more from the Architect and Design Industry. DesignMarch, Iceland (12-15) DesignMarch is Iceland’s most important annual design festival. Four days, dozens of events, hundreds of participating designers and many different fields of design, from architecture to food to furniture and services. APRIL Designer Forum, Denmark (10-12) This event focuses on the fashion accessories industry and showcases products like clothing, eye wear, accessories and
more. Be prepared to rub elbows with interesting and important fashion knowers. Walpurgis Night (Valborg), Sweden (30) Walpurgis Night precedes Labour Day in Scandinavia and is most of all celebrated in Sweden. The forms of celebration vary slightly depending on which city you chose to spend the last day of April in. Common are the large bonfires, the sense of community and overall festivity which is unmistakable no matter where you are.
MAY The Lantern Festival in Helsinki, Finland (3) Also known as the Shan Yua, this festival concludes the festivities of the Chinese New Year. The Festival celebrates the arrival of light and offers its visitors a peek into authentic Asian culture, food, drinks, entertainment and of course a beautifully lit up night sky of hundreds of soaring lanterns. The Aalborg Carnival, Denmark (15-23) This is the largest carnival in Northern Europe and a guarantor of fun-filled, festive days. “Tabu” is the theme of this 32nd edition of the Aalborg Carnival and is set as a creative kick-start for costume ideas
for the carnival and parade. But if you don’t fancy dressing up for the occasion, you are equally welcome just as you are. Norwegian Constitution Day, (17) Celebrate the happiest day in all of Norway – in Norway! Enjoy delicious waffles, watch the colourful children processions and soak up the sun and patriotic spirit in one of the country’s many beautiful cities and towns. Reykjavik Arts Festival, Iceland (17 May - 2 June) This is one of the oldest and most respected arts festivals in Northern Europe. For over two weeks visitors are offered a variety of concerts, exhibitions, dance, theatre and opera performances. Focusing on Icelandic culture and tradition, the festival also hosts many outstanding international artists and performers. The Bergen International Festival, Norway (27 May – 10 June) The Festival presents art in all its guises: music, theatre, dance, opera and visual art. The programme is colourful to say the least and is sure to have something for any taste and occasion.
Photo: Nancy Bundt, Innovation Norway
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JUNE Taste of Stockholm, Sweden (3-7) A foodie’s absolute dream! Countless free events and other food-related activities take over Stockholm for six days and offer hundreds of delicious treats for the hungry and culinary masses.
many additional features available during these Viking-filled days.
vendors and a traditional market are all available for visitors of this prime festival.
JULY
Reykholt Music Festival, Iceland (21-25) Classical music played in a classic environment at the gorgeous church in the west Iceland community, once the home to saga writer Snorre Sturlason. Internationally known musicians and performers play a colourful programme of classical music in and around the church.
The Viking Festival, Iceland (14-17 June) The Viking Market in Hafnarfjordur is the oldest, largest and most important event of its kind in Iceland. Visitors can see Viking-style costumes, musical instruments, jewellery and crafts in the Viking Village. Sword fighting and demonstrations of marksmanship are a few of the
Karlshamn Baltic Festival (Östersjöfestivalen), Sweden (15-18) The Baltic Festival is one of the most spectacular festivals in the south of Sweden. It is the biggest free festival in the same area and attracts a quarter of a million visitors annually. Music, song contests, a vintage car rally, food and drink
AUGUST Reykjavik Jazz Festival, Iceland (Dates TBC) Celebrate jazz in all its forms as artists from across the world meet in Reykjavik to share their sound. The music at the festival ranges from traditional jazz to contemporary, and is performed by everyone from international mega-stars to local talents.
Photo: Rodrigo Rivas Ruiz
Bergenfest, Norway (11-14) Bergenfest 2015 will take place at Bergenhus Festning – one of the oldest and bestkept castles in Norway – where three stages will be providing spectacular performances for three smashing days.
The Roskilde Festival, Denmark (27 June – 4 July) Roskilde Festival is the largest North European culture and music festival and has existed since 1971. It is a non-profit organisation that offers a wide range of entertainment and experiences as well as delivering concerts with some of the world’s biggest names in the music industry.
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Photo: Miriam Preis
Photo: Mikko Nikkinen
The Malmö Festival, Sweden (14-21) Arguably the biggest event of the year in southern Sweden. The eight-day (free) festival attracts over 1.5 million visitors every year and is a constant source of music, joy, dance, food and other festivities.
the drink Äppelcider (apple cider) and rejoice in the simply gorgeous coastline of Sweden.
SEPTEMBER Aarhus Festival, Denmark (28 Aug – 6 Sept) Aarhus Festival is among the largest cultural events in Scandinavia and showcases local, national and international artists. For 10 days every year, the streets, clubs, stages, galleries and museums merge with national and international entertainment and art. ULTIMA Contemporary Music Festival, Norway (10-19) When autumn hits Oslo, ULTIMA moves into the city’s big and small concert venues. ULTIMA Oslo Contemporary Music Festival has been an annual event since 1991, and is Norway’s biggest festival for contemporary music. Kivik Apple Market Festival, Sweden (21-30) Probably a unique festival in Scandinavia. People come from near and far to pick apples, watch how the makers produce
DECEMBER St Lucia, Scandinavia (13) The day of St Lucia is an essential part of Scandinavian Christmas tradition. Each year St Lucia is celebrated widely with traditional, candle-lit processions and singing. According to the legend, the Saint is honoured for dying for her Christian faith. Enjoy the processions
OCTOBER Baltic Herring Fair, Finland (4-10) This popular seafood festival has been taking place since 1743. Fishermen provide their best Baltic herring cooked in different ways, with different tastes. Not a fan of the herring? No problem, the fair is filled with handmade crafts and wool clothing that even the most sceptical herring eater will appreciate. Copenhagen Culture Night, Denmark (9) Copenhagen’s annual Culture Night kicks off the autumn break in the city as young and old are invited to take part in the hundreds of cultural events that open their doors for the greater masses. Some exclusively for this night. NOVEMBER Iceland Airwaves Festival,Iceland (4-8) Potentially Scandinavia’s biggest music event in November. Taking place in Reykjavik, this event mixes music genres like nobody’s business. Award-winning international artists perform on the same stages as mesmerising rising stars and local talents.
Photo: Magnu Skoglof
Norwegian Food Festival in Ålesund (22-26) Lots of people, friendly and festive moods and food, food, food! What more could you ask for? As the oldest food festival in Norway, this holds quite some weight and attracts more people than ever before. Why not join in?
Göteborg Book Fair, Sweden (24-27) This is a big must for all literature lovers and enthusiasts, publishers and authors. The Gothenburg Book Fair is the biggest, most popular book event in the Scandinavian countries.
Photo: Cecilia Larsson
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It’s your choice TePe’s wide selection of interdental brushes offers an option for every need. The brushes are available with a short or long handle, straight or angled brush head and different filament textures. Of course, they also come in a variety of sizes to fit every interdental space. Which TePe do you choose?
www.tepe.com
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Scan Magazine | Culture | Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Music
One of the biggest success stories in the Scandinavian dance music scene in 2014 was Kygo – or Norway’s answer to Avicii, as critics have been calling him. He made a name for himself by remixing songs for international artists with some of his own remixes, going on to become bigger hits than the originals themselves on the US Billboard charts. Now though, Kygo’s first release as an artist has finally come out, and already gone to number one in his native Norway.
Firestone, featuring the vocals of Conrad, will appeal to anyone who enjoyed his remix work. And actually, the chorus sounds like the best bits of his mix of Kyla La Grange’s Cut Your Teeth. It’s highly likely that we’ll be hearing much more of Kygo in 2015 – outside of Norway too. X Factor UK has just found its latest winner, but in Sweden it is still Idol which is the biggest TV talent show. Sixteen-year-old Lisa Ajax won the contest in December, and has already released her first single. It’s an uplifting, inspirational pop ballad called Unbelievable. You always know what you’re getting with winner’s singles released immediately after the contest, and it’s the same in the Nordics. They do, however, make them so much better. Young Finnish pop talent Ronya has returned after a two-year hiatus with a brand new sound and a brilliant comeback song. Sounding like something from Solange Knowles’ True EP, it’s called Work Harder. An instant pop hit that rewards repeated listens with the revelation of new production intricacies each time. The 28 artists who will be competing in Sweden’s biggest annual music festival have
By Karl Batterbee
just been announced. Melodifestivalen, which kicks off in February, will feature Swedish pop superstars such as Eric Saade, old contest veterans like Jessica Andersson and Magnus Carlsson, and fresh faced newcomers (including the Swedish boyband made popular on Australian X Factor, JTR). The winner of Melodifestivalen gets the perceived honour of representing Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest. Finally, if you are after more than a song to listen to, then check out two boundary-pushing EPs that have just come out of Sweden. Borderline by Tove Styrke, which has attracted the attention of the head of BBC Radio in the UK, and Coordinates by Swedish boyband The Fooo Conspiracy. A boyband EP that doesn’t really sound like a boyband EP – just a really good pop record that sounds like nothing else out there.
For more information, please visit: www.scandipop.co.uk, scandipop@gmail.com
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Century of the child (18 Jan - 30 Aug) The exhibition borrows its title from the book of the same name by Swedish educational reformist Ellen Key. In her book of 1900, she predicted that the 20th century would be a century to focus on the creative development of children and deal with children's rights and needs in a new and inclusive manner. The exhibition will focus on Nordic design for children, with a particular emphasis on Danish contributions to the field. Tue-Sun 11am-5pm, Wed 11am-9pm. Designmuseum Danmark, Bredgade 68, Copenhagen. designmuseum.dk Sofie Hagen (19 Jan) Award-winning Danish comedienne Sofie
Hagen teams up with Alfie Brown, Pat Cahill and Jimmy McGhie for a free gig at the Defectors Weld, London, W12. sofiehagen.com The Magic North: Finnish and Norwegian art around 1900 (30 Jan-16 May) At the turn of the 19th century cultural life in both Norway and Finland was dominated by the yearning for national independence and many artists were inspired by local traditions and symbolism. The exhibition is the first to establish a dialogue between Norwegian and Finnish art. Tue, Wed & Fri 10am-6pm, Thu 10am7pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm. The National Gallery, Universitetsgata 13, Oslo. www.nasjonalmuseet.no
By Sara Schedin
Postmodernism 1980-1995 (30 Jan-17 May) The exhibition will present the broad frame of reference of postmodernism from a Finnish perspective in architecture, design, popular culture and the arts. It will include work by Stefan Lindfors, Leena Luostarinen and Kimmo Arje, to mention a few. Tue 11am-8pm, Wed-Sun 11am-6pm. Designmuseo, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Helsinki. www.designmuseum.fi Elliphant on tour (Feb) Swedish singer and rapper Ellinor Olovsdotter, known as Elliphant, is touring Europe this February with her dancefloorfriendly pop songs. www.elliphant.com
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Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra (12 Feb) Finnish Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Ravel's fantasy opera L'Enfant et les Sortilèges and his jazzy G major Piano Concerto as part of the City of Light series. Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1. www.philharmonia.co.uk John Storgårds and the BBC Symphony Orchestra (13 Feb) A classical evening with music by Beethoven and Brett Dean conducted by John Storgårds, Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Barbi-
can Hall, London, EC2Y. www.bbc.co.uk/events Team Me on tour (Feb/Mar) Norwegian electro-pop band Team Me are touring Europe with their latest album Blind as Night. teamme.no Peder Balke (Until 12 April) Largely forgotten for more than a century, Norwegian artist Peder Balke is only just being rediscovered and recognised as one of the forerunners of modernist expressionism. This exhibition will see around 50 paintings representing every facet of the artist's career. Daily, 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-9pm. The National Gallery, London, WC2N. www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Peder Balke, Sami with Reindeer under the Midnight Sun, about 1850 © Northern Norway Art Museum, Tromsø. Photo: Northern Norway Art Museum, Maria Dorothea Schrattenholz
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Team Me. Photo: Arnfinn-Johnsen
Wolf on UK tour (Feb) Swedish heavy metal band Wolf is touring the UK with their 2014 album Devil Seed. wolf.nu
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V Viking iking sships hips in R Roskilde oskilde H History istor y ffor or a all ll tthe he ssenses enses – yyear ear rround ound iking sships hip s a nd ssee ee o ur Experience Viking and our Experience five five original original V impressive in the the scenic scenic Museum Museum Harbour. Harb r o impressive boat boat ccollection ollec tion in Look, Look, feel, feel, smell smell - and and try! tr y ! The Ship Museum on Vikings’ The Viking Viking S hip M useum ffocuses o cu s e s o n tthe he V ikings’ maritime and impressive maritime craftsmanship craf tsmanship a nd ttheir heir im pressive ships. ships. EExciting xciting e exhibitions xhibitions – Films Films about about the the Viking Viking sships hips and an d Sea Sea Stallion Stallion from from Glendalough Glendalough – Dress Dress as as a Viking Viking Activities on board board Viking Viking ships sh i p s A c tivities ffor or children children – Go Go on Boatyard B o a t y ar d – M Museum u s e um S Shop hop – N New ew Nordic Nordic Viking Viking Food Fo o d S Scenic cenic h harbour arbour llife ife w with i th V Viking iking ships ships and and historical historical wooden w ooden boats. boats. G Go o ssailing ailing on on Roskilde Roskilde Fjord: Fj Fjord: May May 15 15 - September September 30. 3 0.
SPECIAL S P E C I A L EEXHIBITION X H I B I T I O N 2014 20 1 4 T The he W World orld iin n tthe he V Viking iking Age A ge –S Seafaring eafaring iin n tthe he 9t 9th h ccentury entur y cchanged hanged tthe he w world! orld! vikingshipmuseum.dk
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Open Open daily daily 10:00 10:00 - 16:00 1 6:0 0 (May (May 16 16 - Aug. Aug. 24: 2 4: 10:00 10:00 - 17:00) 17:00)
Å rhus Århus
Roskilde R oskilde l e
Transport: T ra n s p o r t:
København K øbenhavn
Free car park. Train to Roskilde. From Roskilde Station bus route 203 or about 20 minutes’ walk.
Odense
27/3/14 17:07 Vindeboder 12 • DK-4000 Roskilde • vikingshipmuseum.dk
Nordfyns Museum The history of the town of Bogense and North Funen, in words, artifacts, paintings and pictures. Nordfyns Museum Vestergade 16, DK-5400 Bogense, Denmark Phone: +45 6481 1884 E-mail: nordmus@mail.tele.dk www.nordfynsmuseum.dk
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