LIFE AT THE DANISH WEST COAST

From Amsterdam to Varde: The Vinke family found a new everyday life at Stilbjerg

Ten years ago, Esther and Ramon Vinke made a life-changing decision. Together with their three children, they left Amsterdam in the Netherlands and moved to Varde.

DSC08735

Ten years ago, Esther and Ramon Vinke made a life-changing decision. Together with their three children, they left Amsterdam in the Netherlands and moved to Varde. They were looking for a different kind of everyday life – with more space, fresh air and more quality time together as a family.

When the family first visited Stilbjerg in early 2016, they immediately knew it was the right place for them.

Just seven months later, they moved to Denmark, and they have enjoyed life in their new surroundings ever since.

“We moved to Denmark because there were simply too many people where we lived, and we were very close to both the airport and industrial areas. We wanted fresh air and a little more quality time together,” Ramon says.

Today, Esther runs Stilbjerg Sleep & Hygge, which includes five guest houses and a small campsite. In addition, she also works at Kvie Sø Efterskole. Ramon works as head chef at Øse Efterskole.

DSCF7743

Play

For the family, life in Varde is not just about living in a different place. It is also about having a different kind of everyday life.

“Varde Municipality is a really nice place to live because there is plenty of space. You are also close to the town, close to the train station, close to Esbjerg – close to everything. The beach, nature. The area has it all,” says Ramon.

What has made the biggest impression on the family is the nature, the sense of peace and the way people live together.

“What we really like about Denmark is the area. The greenery. The nature. The people are very respectful. But also the sense of community. We do this together,” Esther says.

A strong sense of community and closeness means a lot to the family, who now call Stilbjerg and Varde home.

Of course, moving to a new country has also come with differences along the way – not least the humour, which the family takes with a smile.

“You Dutch people should be prepared. The humour is just different,” Esther and Ramon say with a laugh.

LIFE AT THE DANISH WEST COAST

The dream of a community-supported agriculture drew Jan-Philip and Kristin to Lunde

Close to the small town of Lunde in West Jutland, Jan-Philip and Kristin have found the space for their dream about ecology and farming.

DSCF8436-scaled-1800×1200

In March 2022, Jan-Philip and Kristin, along with their two children, moved from Northern Germany to West Jutland.

They did so with the dream of running what is known as community-supported agriculture (CSA), which involves growing seasonal vegetables on often relatively small farms to sell them in the local area.

"We want to live a sustainable life, where we can cultivate crops with a low CO2 footprint. Our hope is that we can provide vegetables to many of the local area's residents," says Jan-Philip.

In Germany, community-supported agriculture is more common, although it is not yet as widespread in Denmark. But it is the family's hope that the Danes will embrace the concept.

"For each hectare of agricultural land, we can grow vegetables for about 100 families. Depending on the size of the families, of course. The idea is that people should be able to participate in deciding what gets grown," says Jan-Philip.

The family has eight hectares of land for organic farming. They also have two cows and two calves, which roam together with the neighbor's animals.

DSCF8418-scaled-1800×1200

Affordable land made the difference

In Northern Germany, the family also lived in the countryside, but there they had no land attached to the house. To fulfill the dream of their small farm, they looked for a place with a bit more land. And land is expensive in Germany.

Therefore, they turned their attention, among other places, towards Denmark, where it has been easier to find land at an affordable price.

"We have been on holiday in Denmark many times, and we like Denmark. The vast beaches and nature are so wonderful," says Kristin.

After the family moved to the farm in Lunde, the difference between Denmark and Germany becomes clear when they are home visiting their family in Germany.

"Every time we drive to Germany, I am surprised by how many people there are and how much stress there is. Here it is so quiet and calm, and people are so positive. We are really happy with the community that is here in Lunde," says Kristin.

And in Denmark, they are only five hours from their family in Germany. A much shorter trip than from Norway and France, which they also considered moving to.

Good environment for the children

Before Jan-Philip and Kristin moved with their two children, they experienced that the children were not so happy with either school or kindergarten. A thing that has changed after they moved to Lunde.

"When you come to the school, the teachers greet the children and focus on them. In Germany, it is more like the adults talk together, and the children play by themselves. Here in Denmark, the children are seen," says Kristin.

Generally, the family experiences that there is another focus on a good balance between family life and work in Denmark.

"In Denmark, the pace is different. There is time to prioritize the family, and that is also felt on the other children's parents. Here both mom and dad attend events with the children. Everybody know each other," says Kristin.

On their Instagram account @stenbaekgaard_lunde you can follow the family and their farm.

DSCF8458-scaled-1800×1200