Rågeleje is a former fishing village and popular tourist resort on the north coast of

Zealand Zealand ( ) is the largest and most populous islands of Denmark, island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size) at 7,031 km2 (2715 sq. mi.). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 Januar ...

, midway between

Gilleleje Gilleleje () is a fishing town and seaside resort on the north coast of the peninsula North Zealand, Denmark. The town is located at the northernmost point of the island of Zealand. It is one of the main towns of the Gribskov municipality in Regio ...

and

Tisvildeleje Tisvildeleje is a village and the coastal part of the town Tisvilde, located on the north coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark, 60 km/40miles north of Copenhagen in Region Hovedstaden. To the west, Tisvildeleje is bordered ...

, some 50 km north of

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

. As of 2024, it had a population of 700.

History

The fishing village

The name Rågeleje was first mentioned in 1582 in the form Raageleie, meaning the harbour of Råge (1211 Roka), a no longer existing settlement. Rågeleje remained a quiet fishing community where the families supplemented their income with a bit of sheep herding until the late 19th century. The fishing village was located at the mouth of the Højbro Stream. The fisherman on the west side of the stream was traditionally known as the Vejby fishermen while the ones on the east side were known as the Hesselbjerg fishermen. Rågeleje had 55 residents in 1890 of which 13 were fishermen. The number of residents had by 1911 declined to 34 of which 10 were fishermen.

1910s: New residents

The first tourists began to arrive at the turn of the 20th century. In the early 1910s, Anders Nielsen, the owner of Damgården, sold most of his land off in lots to wealthy people from the city. Anders Nielsen's Son, Niels Nielsen, made a business out of picking the new residents and their belongings up in

Helsinge Helsinge is the municipal seat of Gribskov Municipality in Region Hovedstaden on Zealand in Denmark. As of 1 January 2025, it has a population of 9,719.

at the beginning of the summer season and to drive them back at the end of the season. Anders Nielsens was Vej was after Anders Nielsen's death named after him and the new landowners in 1921 erected a memorial stone at the end of the road to commemorate him. A beach hotel soon opened. The slope towards the beach was protected by the conservation authorities on the initiative of the lot owners in 1940.

Later history

In the late 1940s and 1950s, Rågeleje's inn was a popular hangout for jazz musicians, artists and actors. The inn was later destroyed in a fire.

Today

Dorthea's House from 1752 is the oldest house remaining in Rågeleje. At the far end of Anders Nielsensvej stands a monument commemorating Anders Nielsens, a farmer who owned most of the land in the area until he sold it off in lots to new residents. His farm, Damgården, is still seen on the left side where the road makes a bend and continues to Unnerup.

Rågegården Rågegården is an Arts & Crafts inspired country house from 1915 situated on the eastern outskirts of Rågeleje, Gribskov Municipality, some fifty kilometres northwest of Copenhagen, Denmark. The house is perched on a small wooded hill, overlooki ...

is an

Arts & Crafts The Arts and Crafts movement was an international trend in the decorative and fine arts that developed earliest and most fully in the British Isles and subsequently spread across the British Empire and to the rest of Europe and America. Initiat ...

inspired country house from 1915 designed by

Povl Baumann Povl Erik Raimund Baumann (9 November 1878 – 3 July 1963) was a Denmark, Danish architect who was a central figure during the transition from Neoclassical architecture, Neoclassicism to Functionalism (architecture), Functionalism in Danish resi ...

It was listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1989.

Notable residents

Grethe Sønck Grethe Sønck (born Grethe Ingeborg Nielsen Hald; 16 July 1929 – 12 February 2010)Grethe Sønck er død
< ...

(1929 - 2010 Rågeleje) a Danish actress and singer

Holiday homes

* Valdemar Michael Amdrup (1860-1937) a Danish lawyer *

Albert Edvard Wang Albert Edvard Wang (1 September 1864 - 19 December 1930) was a Danish landscape painter. History Wang was born on 1 September 1864 in Horsens, the son of merchant Søren Monberg Wang and Ane Cathrine Borg. He completed an apprenticeship as a bui ...

(1864-1930) a Danish landscape painter *

Helen Schou Helen Schou (19 April 1905 – 27 March 2006) was a Danish sculptor most known for her works of horses. Her two most-known commissions are the equestrian statue of King Christian IX commissioned for the Aarhus Cathedral and the ''Jutland Stallio ...

(1905–2006), sculptor, resided at Huldrebakken *

Jan Leschly Jan Leschly (born 11 September 1940) is a Danish businessman and former professional tennis player. He was a semifinalist in the men's singles at the 1967 U.S. National Championships and a quarterfinalist in doubles at the 1966 Wimbledon Champio ...

(born 1940), former tennis player *

Claus Meyer Claus Meyer (born 27 December 1963) is a Danish entrepreneur, cook and television host. He is often accredited as the founder of the New Nordic Cuisine philosophy. Projects Claus Meyer has been engaged in a plethora of projects and has been ...

(born 1963), gastronomic entrepreneur

Image gallery

Image:Rågeleje - house.jpg, A house on the cliff Image:Rågeleje - beach 1.jpg, The beach Image:Rågeleje - beach 2.jpg, The beach

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rageleje Gribskov Municipality