Here lies Lyngby Sö. It is a mirror reflecting both sky and history. Lyngby Sö is the smallest of Mölleåen’s four large lakes. But do not let its size fool you. It holds stories as deep as its waters.
Did you know Lyngby Sö’s landscape formed after the last ice age? As the ice melted, it sculpted the land we see today. Later, people raised the water level to power watermills. Lyngby has used watermills since the 11th century.
See that eastern embankment? It holds the S-train line and Lyngby bypass. This wasn’t the original plan for the railway. The railway was meant to run east of Lyngby Church through Sorgenfri Park. But a priest and a queen opposed it. The priest did not want the railway between the church and the rectory. The queen on Sorgenfri Slot didn’t want the railway through her park. So, they built the embankment across Lyngby Sö. They even named the small lake on the east side Præstens Hul or the Priest’s Hole.
In 1920, the Söpromenaden opened giving people access to the lake. The Havnehytten opened too providing a place to relax. Sadly, it burned down in 2003 but was rebuilt in 2004.
Take a look at Lyngby Åmose north of the lake. From 1934 to 1940, Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality bought plots here. They created paths and bridges and let the trees grow. Folkeparken was created in 1938 as a job creation project.
Notice the calm surface of Lyngby Sö. It was not always so peaceful here. In 2008, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation raised concerns about a possible rowing stadium. They feared it would harm nature so they started a conservation case for Bagsværd Sö and Lyngby Sö. Thankfully, in 2013, the area was protected. This included Lyngby Åmose and Sophienholm.
Have you noticed people walking and running around the lake? In 2010, Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality created a health path around the lake. They also installed exercise equipment along the Söpromenaden. The path stretches about 4.5 kilometers.
Pause for a moment and think about this. In 2012, some fishing boys found a human skull near Åmosestien. Experts believed it was from a stabbing or boating accident in the 1960s. But carbon dating revealed it was much older about 107 years old. Divers even found a pistol in the area. The police closed the case with no further leads.
Lyngby Sö has inspired artists and writers. The German poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock loved ice skating here. His poem Der Eislauf describes skating on Lyngby Sö. Christian Winther wrote about a walk from Prinsessestien and Lyngby Sö to Furesöen. Gyrithe Lemche described a boat trip on Lyngby Sö in her books. Around 1827, C.W. Eckersberg painted Lyngby Sö with boats and trees.
Today, Lyngby Sö offers many activities. You can rent a boat at Havnehytten or Nybro Kro. You can fish here with a license. Several rowing and kayak clubs call this lake home. Remember though swimming is not advised due to water quality.
Lyngby Sö is more than just a lake. It is a place of history and recreation. Its waters reflect the stories of those who lived and played here. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and history around you.