Vejle is proud of its museums and especially Kunst Museum, its Art Museum which offers a different look at the world around us and showcases Danish excellence in design.
Art in Vejle is not confined within the walls of a museum, it is on the streets and adorns its building many of which are architecturally significant. The town, in the centre of an area known as The Triangle in the Jutland region is easily accessible by train and public bus. Its travel interchange is a good place to start an exploration of the town. Dominating the square outside the train and bus station is the Ladder to Heaven – Jacob’s Dream (Himmelstigen - Jacobs drøm)
The Ladder to Heaven in Vejle
A towering sculpture, the Ladder to Heaven – Jacob’s Dream, was placed here to mark the opening of the new railway station in 1999. This tall granite stele (a vertical stone inscribed with writing) was created by Bjørn Nørgaard. Imagery on the stele varies from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to modern interpretations of travel. Not far from the station is the oldest building in Vejle, the church of Saint Nicolai.
The Church of Saint Nicolai in Vejle
There has been a church on Kirketorvet since the Middle Ages but only a very small section of that original church can be seen today. The architectural style of the original church was late Romanesque but renovations during the fifteenth century created a Gothic hall with two transepts. It was badly damaged during the Thirty Years’ War and the chancel and tower date back to the seventeenth century. Since then, it has undergone major restorations during the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This redbrick Lutheran church is dedicated to Nikolaos of Myra, the patron saint of children and seafarers. On the northern wall there are twenty-three holes each containing a walled-in human skull. The true origin of these skulls is not known but, according to legend, they are either the skulls of twenty-three robbers or Polish soldiers captured during the Thirty Years’ War. On one side the church is graced by a statue of Anders Sørensen Vedel.
Anders Sørensen Vedel (1542-1616) was a Danish priest and historian who was born and raised in Vejle but moved to Copenhagen in 1561. During the early 1570s he translated Saxo’s semi-fictional chronicle of Danish history “Gesta Danorum” from Latin into Danish. Prior to that very few people could read the Latin text. This granite statue was put here in 1953 and takes the form of a traditional monument to someone who has achieved something special. He is on a pedestal and must be looked up to. A pen, a book and a priest’s collar indicate his life’s work. In front of the church is a well, which is known as the Well at Kirketorvet.
During the Middle Ages, Kirketorvet, the church square, was a popular meeting place and site of the town market. But, in 1531, most of these activities were moved to Rådhustorvet, the Town Hall Square. But markets for potters, pewterers and coppersmiths were still held here and travelling entertainers would perform here. In 1915 a well, designed by Martin Nyrup, was built here and until the 1980s it was traditional for graduating students to dance around the well. But now, this, and all the other activities once associated with Kirketorvet have found a new home on Rådhustorvet which is overlooked by the Town Hall.
The Town Hall in Vejle
In 1530 Vejle’s first town hall, on Gammel Tory, was completely destroyed my fire. A year later the Danish king gave the town an old Blackfriars monastery, Sortebrødrekloster, to use as their town hall. This old monastery has been replaced by two more town halls built on the same site. Architect Carl Lendorf completed the present neo-Gothic style building in 1879. This building was restored by the famous architect and designer of Copenhagen City Hall, Martin Nyrop. The town hall bell that rings every day is the same bell that once called monks to mass. In front of the town hall are two groups of roughly sculptured figures.
Two groups of figures on either side of the main entrance to the town hall were commissioned in by Vejle Town Council in 1942 but, being the subject of some controversy, only took their present place in 1955. Each group features a man, a woman, a girl and a boy. The adults symbolise four occupations vital to the existence of Vejle – scales for trade, a saw for crafts, grain for agriculture and a cogwheel for industry. A tree of life grows in the middle of each group. Close to Rådhustorvet is Vejle gågade, a pedestrianised zone that includes a long shopping street and features some interesting modern sculptures.
The Pedestrianised Street of Vejle
This quaint street is a fusion of four main thoroughfares through the city. Special windows in its granite pavement give passers-by a glimpse of the original highway dating back to the Middle Ages. Near the start of this zone is an interesting trilogy of sculptures created by Pontus Kjermann and placed here in 2003. The first part of the trilogy is the Midgard Well (Midgårdsbrønden). This water art takes the form of a round basin. A mythical creature part horse, part human (Midgårdsbrønden) rears up on a plinth in the centre of the fountain and a huge coiled snake, known as the Midgard Serpent, forms the rim of the basin. The Midgard Serpent, an invincible creature from Norse mythology represents evil. But the horse man is Kjermann’s own creation and protector of the town. It symbolises Vejle’s refusal to bow down to adversity the key to the town’s survival. The other creatures placed in the basin itself represent various aspects of the town’s history.
A Drinking Fountain is the second part of the trilogy and has the Angel Cat (Englekatten) leaning against a block of stone or rune. There is a plate portraying the sun on top of the stone. Close to the two fountains is the third part of the trilogy, The Bench. Sitting on this bench, holding hands, are the two fabled creatures, Midgårdsbrønden and Englekatten. Further north along the pedestrian zone is the Latin Quarter of Vejle
The Latin Quarter of Vejle
The narrow streets of Vejle’s Latin Quarter are lined with a diverse selection of restaurants, cafés, bars, specialty boutiques, smørrebrød stores (traditional Danish open sandwiches), groceries, a baker and a chocolatier and pastry shop. A stage on Vejle Midtpunkt is used for events during the summer. Between the months of April to October a canopy of colourful umbrellas hangs along the length of Vejle Midtpunkt. Close to the Latin Quarter is Vejle Musikteater.
The Musik Teater in Vejle
In 1992 the Musik Teater became an important part of the cultural life of Vejle staging concerts, plays, musicals and many other events. On the road at the front of the theatre is a roundabout with a path for pedestrians going through it. Fountains play on either side of the path and the pulsating jets of water are illuminated at night. Visitors can control the rhythm and height of these jets. On the far side of the road is an impressive mansion, C M Hess’ Villa. This mansion was the property of an iron foundry owner, an important industry in the town. The mansion was built next to the foundry which was demolished after it close in 1975 and the site is now occupied by the town park Byparken. Around the corner from the Musik Teater is the Kunst Museum, the Art Museum.
The Art Museum in Vejle
Admission to this extraordinary museum is free as the city prides itself on the range of exhibits that it wants to share with its visitors. It embraces local artists, the latest contemporary art and experiences based on everyday life. Permanent exhibitions feature a variety of themes and include a large collection of graphic works and a sensory zone. This museum started in 1890 when private citizens donated funds and artefacts with a view to establishing an art museum. In 1924 the museum found a permanent home when they were donated a building. This building was extended in 1933 and included a library as well as a museum. It was extended again in 2007 with the addition of a large hall for special exhibitions, a workshop and storage. Street art is also prolific in Vejle.
Street Art in Vejle
In 2023 a project to create colour in the urban spaces was started by the municipality. Eleven local artists and four guest artists were invited to create works of art on urban spaces from walls to scaffolding based on theme 'we give more than we take'. This project has continued in 2024 when eleven local, national and international artists left their mark on the urban spaces of Vejle. These colourful creations appear in the most unexpected places all the way through the town and down to Vejle harbour.
The Harbour in Vejle
Amongst the industrial buildings in Vejle harbour (Havneøen) are two cutting-edge futuristic developments that add a new dimension to the town’s architectural diversity. Henning Larsen Architects’ apartment complex The Wave (Bølgen) really does look like the sea about to crash on the shore with its exaggerated undulating roofs. Nearby is Fjordenhus a vertical complex created by the world-renowned Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. There is an exhibition of his work on the ground floor that is open to the public. Above that is an exclusive gourmet restaurant, Lyst. The top two floors are offices. Water flows through the ground floor and lights illuminate the building from the inside at night. Fjordenhus is off-shore and accessed by a small bridge. Guided tours are available.
Where to Stay
Situated in the middle of Havneøen’s residential area, overlooking Vejle Fjord and Fjordenhus is the Zleep Hotel Vejle. This modern hotel offers 109 rooms on twelve floors and stunning views across the fjord from the breakfast restaurant on the eleventh floor. It also has a restaurant on the ground floor and a playground and outdoor fitness area in front of the hotel. This hotel offers several different types of room including the Zleep Living room which is larger than a regular room and equipped with its own kitchen so it is ideal for a longer stay in the city and time to experience the urban and natural aspects of this fascinating city.
For more information about attractions and events in Vejle click here.
Getting There
British Airways (Heathrow) and Ryanair (Stanstead) have regular flights to Billund. A good public bus and train service operates from Billund to Vejle.
Valery Collins is the Experienced Traveller . An excellent raconteur, Valery has been writing about her experiences on the road since she started travelling 28 years ago. After publishing four books she turned to online travel writing and now contributes to several different websites.