Sæby on the Kattegat: Harbour, Coastal Paths and Town History

Sæby combines harbour, coast and a remarkable density of natural and cultural sites. If you enjoy spending your days between walks, maritime experiences and town history, your orientation begins at Sæby Harbour: the North Sea Trail runs through the harbour, and all four designated hiking routes start there.

Between Harbour, Beach and Forest

Several paths reveal different sides of the town. The green Kløverstierne route is 2.5 kilometres long, passes Sæby Watermill and returns to the harbour through Sæby’s oldest district. The blue route is 5 kilometres long and runs through Sæbygård Forest. In Gybels Plantation, a 3.5-kilometre path has the status of a Heart Trail. There is also a dog exercise area or dog forest, as well as the opportunity to do strength training. The different route lengths make it easier to adapt your day’s planning to your own interests.

At Sæby Nordstrand, the beach promenade stretches several kilometres northwards from Sæby Harbour and passes Sæby Søbad. South of the town, Professorens Plantation and the Kattegat coast form a landscape of forest, heath and the fish-rich coast along Solsbækken.

Nature Watching Around Sæby

Sæbygård Forest is a privately managed beech forest with a diverse birdlife. Gedebjerget rises 85 metres above the water’s surface within the forest and offers views of the sea and the town. The bat-spot at Sæby Å has an information platform and a listening device that makes the bats’ calls audible to the human ear. At Sæby Å, Daubenton’s bats, common pipistrelles, serotines and northern bats can be observed.

Town History, Art and Crafts

Kystmuseet Sæby is located in the half-timbered building “Konsul Ørums gård”. Its exhibitions cover the historical development of the town from the Middle Ages to the present day; the museum also offers guided tours, lectures and activities for children. Sæby Church is known for its fine frescoes from the early 16th century, depicting the story of Mary’s parents. It 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.

More recent town history and design also form part of the townscape. The building of Sæby Jernkilde was erected in 1887 in the Art Nouveau style, based on a design by Ulrik Plesner. Sæby Watermill is one of the few places in Denmark where the development of milling technology in the 1920s can be traced. With “Fruen fra Havet”, you will also encounter a two-sided figurehead made of white concrete by Norwegian artist Marit Benthe Norheim.

Experiences for Different Day Plans

Nellemanns Have houses the largest collection of ornamental apple trees north of the Danube and includes a covered picnic house, a nature playground, a shelter with a fire pit, a shelter site and a barbecue area. Sæby Bypark is a park of approximately 14,000 square metres close to the town centre and a green oasis in the heart of Sæby.

In the southern harbour of Sæby Harbour, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and surfing generally take place. Swimming in Sæby Harbour is permitted in the designated area in the southern part of the new harbour. Sæby Glaspusteri is an active glassblowing workshop with a studio, gallery and shop, where Leni Bille processes glass at 1,100 degrees Celsius into unique glass objects. Visits outside the stated opening hours can be arranged by telephone.

Other places to compare: Skiveren, Strandby, Kvissel, Napstjært, Nordby, Kandestederne, Bunken, Jerup

For the higher-level travel overview: Frederikshavn Municipality.