Craving an escape into nature near Copenhagen? Vestskoven, Finlandia.Fri teltning. offers just that. It is a place where you can pitch your tent freely.
Vestskoven itself is not ancient. It was established in the late 1960s. The aim was to give Copenhagen’s growing western suburbs easy access to nature. The area was carefully designed. Artificial hills and lakes were created. The first trees were planted in 1967.
Vestskoven covers 13 square kilometers. That is about 5 square miles. It stretches across four municipalities. These are Albertslund, Høje Taastrup, Glostrup, and Ballerup. The forest surrounds the villages of Risby and Herstedøster.
Look around you. You will see a varied landscape. There is open forest and large plains. Artificial hills rise gently. Lakes shimmer in the sunlight. Paths and roads wind through the area. Most of the forest is oak. But you will also find beech, ash, birch, and maple. Alder, lime, poplar, larch, fir, and pine trees also grow here. Deer, foxes, and badgers roam freely.
The soil is rich in clay and nutrients. The land was farmed for a long time. It was cultivated from the Stone Age until the forest was planted. Because of this long cultivation, few prehistoric finds have been discovered here.
Vestskoven has been a gathering place for young people for many years. They play soccer. They hold evening events. They ride mountain bikes. A local soccer team FC Westwood even created a tribute to Vestskoven. It was their regular meeting place growing up.
Today, Vestskoven is a large recreational area. You can find campfire sites here. There is also Naturcenter Herstedhøje. A nature school provides education. A Viking village offers a glimpse into the past. The Ole Rømer Museum tells the story of the famous astronomer. His observatory was once located nearby.
Herstedhøje is a group of artificial hills. They rise 67 meters above sea level. Oxbjerget is another artificial hill. It is 35 meters high. Cattle graze in Store Vejleådal. Harrestrup Mose is a bogland on the north side of the forest. Harrestrup Å stream originates here. Porsemosen is another bog in the western part of the forest.
Herstedøster Church dates back to the 12th century. Risby is known for its film studios. Kroppedal is now a local history museum. It has exhibits about Ole Rømer. You can also learn about local history and astronomy.
Hvissinge Stone is the largest stone on Zealand. It weighs 250000 kilos. A reconstruction of a Viking village stands in Store Vejleådal. It includes a communal building, houses, and a pig stable.
The idea for Vestskoven began in the 1920s. Planting forests was seen as important. It could strengthen recreational opportunities. The Finger Plan of 1947 also emphasized the need for forests. In 1964, officials agreed on a sketch for a new forest. This forest would separate growing urban areas. Albertslund Municipality took the initiative. They began planting Vestskoven along Store Vejleådalen. A local forest supervisor E. Laumann Jørgensen helped. He negotiated with landowners. In 1966, a final decision was prepared. This was partly due to a newspaper campaign. The campaign was called “Let’s plant a tree”. In 1967, parliament approved funds. This money was for buying land and building the forest.
Vestskoven has a rich history. It started as an idea. It became a reality through planning and effort. Now, it is a valuable green space. You can immerse yourself in nature here. Whether you are camping, hiking, or exploring historical sites, Vestskoven offers something for everyone.