Experience the harbour, coast and culture of Sæby

Get to know Sæby through its trails, coastal landscape and historic sites. For planning, the routes described vary in length and layout; the harbour, forest and town history each offer a different focus.

Walking and trails around the harbour

The North Sea Trail runs through Sæby Harbour. The harbour is also the starting point for all four signposted walking routes in Sæby. Two of the described Kløverstier routes differ considerably in length and layout: the green route is 2.5 kilometres long, passes Sæby Watermill and returns to the harbour through Sæby’s oldest neighbourhood. The blue route is 5 kilometres long and passes through Sæbygård Forest. When planning, you can take both the distance and the named points along each route into account.

Another marked trail is in Gybels Plantation: this 3.5-kilometre trail has Hjertesti status. The plantation also has a dog exercise area, or dog forest; strength training is also possible there. These details describe different uses of the area and do not require any specific equipment.

At Sæby North Beach, the promenade stretches for several kilometres north from the harbour and passes Sæby Sea Baths. There are more specific locations for activities in the harbour: canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and surfing, as well as training with this equipment, usually take place in the South Harbour. Swimming is permitted in the designated area in the southern part of the new harbour.

Coastal landscape, forest and wildlife watching

South of Sæby, Professorens Plantation and the Kattegat coast form a landscape of forest, heathland and the fish-rich coast at Solsbækken. Sæbygård Forest offers a different woodland setting: a privately managed beech forest with diverse birdlife. Gedebjerget is located in the forest, 85 metres above the water’s surface, and offers views of the sea and the town. The blue Kløverstier route also passes through this forest.

At Sæby River, Flagermusspot combines an information platform with a listening device that makes bat calls audible to the human ear. Four species can be observed there: Daubenton’s bat, common pipistrelle, serotine bat and northern bat. Species information may change when updated by local nature conservation authorities.

A visit to Nellemann’s Garden offers another way to enjoy nature: the garden is home to the largest collection of ornamental apple trees north of the Danube. The grounds include a covered picnic shelter, a nature playground, a shelter with a fire pit, a camping shelter area and a barbecue area. The centrally located Sæby Town Park covers approximately 14,000 square metres and is a green oasis in the centre of Sæby.

Town history, art and crafts

Kystmuseet Sæby is housed in the half-timbered building “Konsul Ørums gård”. Its exhibitions cover the town’s development from the Middle Ages to the present day. Guided tours, talks and activities for children round out the programme. At Sæby Church, delicate frescoes from the early 16th century tell the story of Mary’s parents. The church is also the last surviving part of a large four-winged Carmelite monastery, founded in Sæby around 1470 with the support of the Bishop of Børglum.

Sæby Watermill and the Sæby Jernkilde building are other historic landmarks. The mill offers insight into the development of milling technology in the 1920s; it is one of the few places of its kind in Denmark precisely because of this insight. The Sæby Jernkilde building was constructed in 1887 in the Art Nouveau style to a design by Ulrik Plesner.

Art and craft venues include “Fruen fra Havet”, a double-sided figurehead made of white concrete by Norwegian artist Marit Benthe Norheim. At the active Sæby Glassworks, Leni Bille works glass at 1,100 degrees Celsius to create unique glass objects; the venue also includes a workshop, gallery and shop. Visits outside the stated opening hours can be arranged by telephone. Please arrange such a visit before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Strandby, Lodskovvad, Nordby, Nielstrup, Tolne, Lyngså, Bunken, Dybvad

For the overview of the wider area: Frederikshavn Municipality.