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By Keith Kellett, Guest Writer Photographs by Ålborg Tourist Board
I've come across some odd things in my travels, but one of the oddest was the
place where they once pushed the Queen of Denmark through a hole in a beech tree.
This apparent piece of lese-majeste happened in Denmark's Rebild Hills, about 25 km south of
Ålborg. Hills might be rather an optimistic description in a country whose highest point is
only 500 feet above sea level. The highest of these is just over half that height, but
they do form a sharp contrast to the levels of the Jutland plain, so appear to deserve the
title.
As National Parks go, the Rebild National Park isn't very big. You could walk across
it in any direction in half an hour.
The royal connection is found in a stand of 300 year old beech trees called Troldeskov, or
Troll's Wood. "Stand", however, is not really the appropriate word here, for all
the trees are gnarled and twisted into grotesque shapes.
The distorted trunk of one tree forms a complete circle, and they say that passing a small
child through the aperture will give it immunity from rickets. A brass plate is sunk
into the wood of the trunk. This commemorates the day in 1952, when the then Princess
Margarethe and her sisters were so treated.
But, the park is best known for its 4th July celebrations which, except for during the two
World Wars, have taken place every year. And, every year, the President of the US
sends a personal message to the people of Rebild. It's said, now, to be the largest
celebration of Independence Day outside of the United States.
The celebrations don't only take place in the Park. Concerts and gala dinners are also held
in the nearby city of Ålborg, and 4th July celebrations are also held in the city's Kilde
Park. They know how to celebrate in Alborg, for, in May every year, they 'practise' by
hosting what's claimed to be the largest Carnival in northern Europe, with 40,000
participants attracting about 100,000 spectators.
Once, the Park was owned by Max Henius. He was a brewer, a pupil of Emil Hansen, the
developer of the yeast used in most lager beers today. Henius emigrated to the United
States in 1881, and settled near Chicago, where he founded the'Wahl-Henius Brewing Station'.
But, he was most noted for his work on pure yeast cultures, and the introduction of lager
yeasts to other breweries.
Max Henius never forgot where he came from. He created the Danish Emigration Archives, where
the records of emigrants from Denmark could be preserved for the information of later
generations.
He bought land in the Rebild Hills, where he built a summer-house to use on his frequent
visits to his home ground. But, he loved his adopted country as much as his homeland, and,
on 4th July, 1912, he held the first Rebild Festival, where he invited Americans of Danish
descent, and Danes with relatives in the US to join him in celebrating Independence Day.
And, on that day, he placed into the hands of King Christian X the deeds to his land, a gift
to Danish people, to be preserved in its natural state for ever.
As President John F. Kennedy said in 1962, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the
first Rebild Festival, it is ......"a most extraordinary example of international
friendship, when the people of another country celebrate American Independence Day on their
own soil."
INFORMATION
Rebild is about 25km south of Ålborg, just off the E3 autoroute. The Ålborg-Hobro bus
service stops just outside the National Park, and the nearest railway station is at Skorping,
about 5km to the east.
For those wishing a longer stay, Rebild offers a camp-site, a Youth Hostel and B&B
accommodations.
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JustSayGO Travel Show
The celebrations don't only take place in the Park. Concerts and gala dinners are also held
in the nearby city of Ålborg, and 4th July celebrations are also held in the city's Kilde
Park. They know how to celebrate in Alborg, for, in May every year, they 'practise' by
hosting what's claimed to be the largest Carnival in northern Europe, with 40,000
participants attracting about 100,000 spectators.
He bought land in the Rebild Hills, where he built a summer-house to use on his frequent
visits to his home ground. But, he loved his adopted country as much as his homeland, and,
on 4th July, 1912, he held the first Rebild Festival, where he invited Americans of Danish
descent, and Danes with relatives in the US to join him in celebrating Independence Day.
And, on that day, he placed into the hands of King Christian X the deeds to his land, a gift
to Danish people, to be preserved in its natural state for ever.