On the Waterfront.....is something you easily are, wherever you travel in Denmark. The country is, like UK, an island kingdom, apart from the rather handy, narrow stretch of border, which connects the southern end of the Jutland Peninsula to Germany.

Jutland, though by many Jutlanders considered the ‘main land’, is of course a province by virtue of being so far away from the capital Copenhagen. The famous UK north/south divide becomes the east/west divide here. Despite the considerably smaller area – a fifth of the UK, and population - approximately a tenth of UK’s, there is an equally distinct difference in dialekts, culture…and yes, wealth.

We may be on the edge of the economy, but as the famous saying goes: Money isn’t everything!

Western Jutland is rich on nature. Unspoilt beaches, heathland, woods and of course the North Sea. Wild geese and plenty of other birds, various kinds of deer and now even the odd wolf makes themselves at home. There is a wealth of medieval churches and manor houses, cosy market towns and opportunities for those who enjoy sports, be it land- or water based.

'Copenhagen cool' has been sucessfully showcased in UK, not least through modern design, the new Nordic kitchen (Noma) and the popular TV series ‘The Killing’ and ‘Borgen’ but there is so much more to Denmark.

It’s easiest to explore if you come by car (ferry Harwich-Esbjerg), but if you like cycling, it’s nice and flat – though the weather, just like in ‘old Blighty’, cannot always be guaranteed. But each season has its own charm, especially if you like foraging for wild berries and fungi in the autumn.

Head north from the port of Esbjerg until you come to the part where you have the sea on one side and the fjords: Ringkoebing, Stadil, Nissum and finally the Limfjord on the other.

It’s a popular holiday area, with summer houses to rent, camp sites, B&Bs and a few hotels. The main market town is Holstebro, which has a rich cultural life, but a visit to the small (working) harbour of Thorsminde with it’s St. George museum is a must, even if you are not that interested in the Royal Navy history and the exploits of Admiral Nelson. HMS St. George, together with HMS Defence sank just off this coast on Christmas night 1811 and it is a unique and touching experience to view what has been salvaged from this wreck.

But Thorsminde has its jolly aspects too. Every Saturday 10 a.m. during July until mid August you can come and take part in an old fashioned fish auction in the red auction house (fjord side of the harbour). It’s not just an opportunity to get a pint and`savour the atmosphere, but could provide you with ingredients for a delicious lunch, if you are self-catering.

Would you rather enjoy something prepared, there is always boiled crabs and brown shrimp ‘to go’ from ‘Sommerfisk’, Bjerghuse 13, Fjand Badeby, 6990 Ulfborg. Check the website www.fishandmoore.com for up to date information.

There are many links in the chain it takes to get the crabs from the sea to the table. Some of the first can be found on the west coast of Jutland, where the whole crabs are landed. Trying to change the Danish (and possibly German) food culture and make the whole crab popular, is primarily my idea, but without the industry expertise, past and present, I would not have come very far:

ABOUT THE WRITER



Margrete Thorsen Moore, returned to Denmark following 30 years abroad - 12 in Germany and the past 18 just south of Cromer on the coast of Norfolk. No one could have lived there without becoming a crab-enthusiast and as is evident, much of my inspiration comes from UK. There have been previous efforts trying to make the brown crab valued here in Denmark and not just for the white meat from its claws. I know how to cook and am in general passionate about sourcing ingredients, but that does not make me an expert on the catching or distribution of the crabs. Fortunately one of the pioneering fishermen, who took part in test fishing during the past decade is still going strong......

THE FISHERMAN



Jesper Jensen, a fisherman from Thorsminde, who has been very patient and an invaluable source of information, has now become my invaluable source of crabs too!

Getting There

As already mentioned there is a ferry service from the United Kingdom Port of Harwich to Esjberg in Denmark then it's a drive north from there.

The nearest International Airport is Billund Airport which is 77.1 kilometres (47.9 miles) from Holstebro. There are two Domestic Airports closer and they are Karup Airport a distance of 31.2 kilometres (19.4 miles) and Skive Airport a distance of 39.8 kilometres (24.7 miles).

To read more click on: http://www.fishandmoore.com