Herlev Municipality: Nature, Trails and Culture

Herlev Municipality offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: protected nature, signposted trails, contemporary art and local history. If you are looking for a hotel in Herlev Municipality, these interests can shape the focus of your stay. Nature watching, cultural events and travelling by train each raise different practical questions.

Natural Areas and Trails in Herlev

Hjortespringkilen is a protected and exceptional natural area in Herlev. Wooded areas, several lakes and wildlife shape the landscape. You can explore the area on foot, by bike or on horseback; riding requires your own horse. Hjortespringkilen also has 2.4 kilometres of separate riding trails. Herlev’s six signposted running and walking routes offer a different way to explore: they range from 2 to 10 kilometres in length. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between marked routes and the designated facilities for riders.

The natural areas also differ in what they offer. Smør- and Fedtmosen is a breeding and resting area for nearly 200 bird species and is among the most important botanical sites within Hjortespringkilen. At the Træbanken Arboretum, a collection of Danish trees and shrubs is labelled with information about each species. Bakkegården Nature Park is a place to relax and explore nature. It is home to more than 500 different plant species and a variety of habitats, including meadow, lake and woodland. A pavilion has space for a school class; there is also a fire pit and toilets.

These details offer different reasons to explore the landscape: Hjortespringkilen focuses on trails, woodland, lakes and wildlife, while Bakkegården features a wide variety of plants and several habitat types. Træbanken complements these nature-focused experiences with labelled trees and shrubs. A settlement from the Early Stone Age and a dugout canoe were also discovered in Smørmosen. This connects the landscape with a specific archaeological context.

Art, Architecture and Local History

Gammelgaard is Herlev Municipality’s exhibition centre for contemporary art. It presents three to four changing exhibitions over the course of the year. With concerts, events and an integrated café, Gammelgaard also serves as a cultural centre and meeting place for people of all ages. If a particular exhibition or event is central to your trip, check the current dates in advance. The Music Park offers something different: it invites visitors to play music, and its instruments are arranged for making music together.

Herlev Church combines architectural history with a present-day music programme. The church is a late-medieval Gothic building and has two wall paintings created by the Isefjord Workshop. The workshop was led by someone known as the Isefjord Master, also called the Vallensbæk Painter. The church also hosts concerts featuring new and older music. Finds from Smørmosen and the area’s local ceramic history offer another perspective on the past: the Saxbo building in Herlev is associated with Nathalie Krebs’s pioneering work and the area’s cultural and industrial history. The Saxbo ceramics company was based in Herlev from 1937 to 1968.

Herlev Town Centre brings together activities, meeting places, cultural offerings, historic buildings and shops. Herlev Teaterbio has its own programme of film screenings; you do not need to be a member. The venue also hosts occasional theatre performances. As the film screenings change, it is worth checking the current schedule if you are planning a film night. Herlev Skolebio is a special film programme for children at Herlev Teaterbio and has been running for more than 70 years; the programme and registration details may change. Herlev Festival Week is a recurring event in Byparken, with activities and concerts for different age groups. Check the event dates for your travel period.

Getting There by Train and Bicycle

S-train lines C and H stop at Herlev Station in both directions. There are two secure bicycle shelters at the station. Access is available through the DSB app with a DSB profile; check the latest station information if you plan to use this option. This provides specific train and bicycle options for getting there, while your choice of activities can depend on whether you are most interested in nature, culture or events.

For the wider travel overview: Herlev Municipality.