15. May 2015 · 18 comments · Categories: Denmark
Horne Land

Horne Land

This is the part of Denmark where I grew up as a child.

Having just spent a few days back in southern Denmark, where I grew up as a kid. I thought I would post some photos from the region as it’s actually very pretty. And not that visited by other tourists than Germans who drive up here during summer months. This is Horne Land where I grew up. I hope you like the photos.

Where is Horne Land?

Grubbe Mølle at Horne Land.

Grubbe Mølle at Horne Land.

Horne Land is located in south Denmark on the island Fyn. The closest town of any size is Faaborg which has around 7000 inhabitants. But Horne Land only has around 2000 inhabitants in the few villages and farmland it consists of.

 

Farming and fishing used to be the money maker at Horne Land.

Rapeseed fields and windmills at Horne Land

Rapeseed fields and windmills at Horne Land.

Just 50 years ago, a large percentage of the people made their living from farming and fishing here, as Horne Land is right by the sea. There is also very fertile soil in this part of Denmark. There is still a bit of farming these days. But the farms need few employees these days. So it’s a very small handful of people making a living from that profession today. And the commercial fishing has pretty much ended. But there are a few people fishing here as a hobby. There is a dairy factory that still keeps a few people employed. But otherwise most people commute to nearby Faaborg to work these days.

 

Rolling hills and old houses.

The little harbour in Bøjden.

The little harbour in Bøjden.

Horne Land is really scenic with rolling hills with corn and rapeseed fields. Many of the farm houses are well preserved, with quite a few still having thatched roofs on them. Wind energy has become very big here in recent years and you will see many windmills on the fields these days. Producing clean energy when the wind is blowing. Which it does quite often in Denmark. Wind power generates around one third of all electricity in Denmark these days.

 

The church in Horne is biggest village church on the island.

The round church in Horne.

The round church in Horne.

The church in Horne is quite large for such a small village. It dates back to the 11th century, where it was constructed as a round church. An extension was made during the middle ages. So it’s only the center part of the church that is round these days, but it’s very scenic and has some interesting artwork inside. Both new and old. There is also a mausoleum in the basement, where the rich people at Horne Land used to be buried, mainly the Brahe family who used to have the nearby castle Hvedholm. The church is sitting on the highest hill in the village, so it’s almost impossible to miss if you drive by Horne.

 

This is redneck country.

Massey Ferguson tractor festival in Bøjden.

Massey Ferguson tractor festival in Bøjden.

This is real redneck country, where you have a lot more men than women among the younger population. The girls are more likely to move to the bigger towns and cities to study. While most guys are quite happy living out in the countryside, where they can dig their cars and their old tractors. The annual Massey Ferguson tractor festival in Bøjden is one of the annual highlights at Horne Land. This is when tractor enthusiasts from the whole country come to visit with their old Massey Ferguson tractors. Bøjden is where I grew up by the way.

Me in the rapeseed field at Horne Land.

Me in the rapeseed field at Horne Land.

This was a little introduction to Horne Land where I lived as a kid and as you can see it’s a very pretty part of the world, so come and visit. If you give me a shout in advance and I am home then I will be happy to invite you for a coffee or a glass of local beer.

Sculpture by local artist Keld Moseholm.

Sculpture by local artist Keld Moseholm.

Bøjden

Bøjden harbour.

Fly fishing.

Fly fishing is popular along the coast.

Midsummer evening with bonfire.

Midsummer evening with bonfire.

18 Comments

  1. How beautiful! Wish to come there once…

  2. Carol Colborn

    I jst love those rapeseed fields!!! Yellow is my favorite color.

  3. Aleksei Maide

    Hello from Become A Traveller! I like your blog very much (Especially the thumbnail image with sheep) and therefore nominated you for Liebster Award: http://becomeatraveller.com/success/liebster-award-nomination/ Please check it out, I would be delighted to read your answers! Let’s stay connected!

    PS: Finally managed to list you on my travel blog directory as well 😉

  4. We were in the area a few years back. We are on a journey to connect with the home land. Jo, my wife, can trace part of her heritage to Faaborg. So we had to check it out. Never did find roots. Somewhere near Ballum.

    • Yes Arnie, this is where you went. Horneland is where you were staying at the B&B and I actually know the guy who owns that place. If you need any help in tracing your ancestors, feel free to help me as I have very good contacts in this part of Denmark and I am almost certain that I can help you finding your relatives, if there are still any around here.

  5. Hi Claus, my name is Mark Hasenkam and I live in Australia. I have traced my ancestors back to the mid 1700’s to Horne. Some are buried there is a local cemetery I believe. I hope to travel to Horne in the coming 3-5 years when I retire to do some more looking around. My great grandfather Johan Frederick Hasenkam emigrated here from Horne in around 1820 to the gold fields of New South Wales, Australia. As far as I can trace my relative was Jorgen Hasenkam from the 1700’s. Any information you may know would be appreciated.

    • Hi’ Mark.
      Very nice to see your comment here. I am quite sure that you have ancestors from this part of Denmark as there is a farm called “Hassenkamgaard” right outside Horne. If you like then I will most likely be able to help you trace some of your distant relatives and I can certainly show you the farm that bears your surname. Feel free to write me any time you come to Denmark or if you need any other help regarding this subject. I am from the area and my father is one of the people who knows the most about the local history in the area.

      • Claus, My wife and I are planning to travel to Sweden in July 2017 to see her sister who lives in Stockholm. After that we were planning on heading down to Denmark to Copenhagen to see a friend and then down to Horne for a few days to have a look around. Would love to catch up if you are there at the time. I will send another message when the time gets a bit closer and I have some firm dates. Cheers Mark

        • Hi’ Mark. That sounds great. Would love to catch up with you and show you around if you come to Denmark.

          • Hi klaus. Well I am a year later than first thought but my wife and I and one other couple are travelling to Sweden and Denmark in August this year. Will be arriving in Copenhagen about the 13 August and then down to Horne for about 2 nights? Then back to Sweden as we fly back to Bangkok on the 20th. Would love to catch up and pick your brain about my ancestors and Hassenkamgaard. I have a fairly extensive family tree that I can trace back to Jorgen Hasenkam about 1680s I think. Can’t trace back anymore as I think they may have emigrated from Germany prior to that. I think there are some buried at Horne Church. Anyway hope we can catch up and if you are available as a tour guide would be more than happy to employ you to show us around the sights. Regards Mark

          • Hi’ Mark. I should be in Horne in mid august and would love to meet and show you around. I am quite sure that I can help you with a few things regarding your ancestors.

    • Hi Mark,
      I too trace my ancestry through Johan(I believe you have met my Grandfather, Errol), however I believe his middle name was Ludwig. Researching a little through ancestry and other such websites, I believe there is also a connection to Tranekær on Langeland. It also appears that my Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather Jorgen was a Hussar and his son, Peder, was a Saddle maker. I too will likely be making the journey in about 3 years time probably about this time of year too so I don’t get too cold.

      • Hi’ mate.
        Thanks for popping by my blog.
        I have spoken to a woman who knows a lot about ancestry and she has confirmed to me that there was a guy called Johan Ludwig Hasenkam, who was born in Tranekær in 1839. He moved to Australia and died in Gulgong in 1926. He was the son of Peter Christian Hasenkam and Frederike Caroline Friderichsen. You are also right about Jørgen being a Husar. He was in the Oldenborgske Regiment in north Germany. If you have any more questions then you are most welcome to write me and I will ask around the area where I grew up. And if you ever come by this part of Denmark then I will be happy to help out a buy you a few beers.

      • Going to Horne Denmark in August This year. Have sent email to Klaus to maybe catch up.

    • Hi’ again Mark.
      I can also tell you that the name Hasenkam originates from a small village in central Germany called Hasenkamp. It was a blacksmith from Hasenkamp who migrated to Denmark and made the name common as he had some sons who had several children. The Hasenkam family lived on the address “Kirkeballe 4” for several generations as blacksmiths. Kirkeballe 4 is right next to the church in Horne.

  6. Hey Claus,

    Jarryd Hasenkam here, son of the above Mark Hasenkam. In the car with him now, have just updated him on your last posts.
    Thank for for that information on Hasenkamp village in Germany, very interesting!

    Could you possibly send me an email to talk more with you?
    Jhasenkam@hotnail.com or my Dads is hasso357@hotmail.com

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  10. Johan hasenkam lived in Dapto NSW

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