Text by Anne Sophia Hermansen, Culture Commentator at Weekendavisen.
Hotel Hesselet is located in one of the most beautiful spots on Funen. Right where the forest meets the sea, offering a view of the bridge that connects Zealand with Funen. Hesselet is situated in Nyborg, a town that, as far back as the Middle Ages, was the place where the king met with the kingdom’s most important figures. Today, the hotel is a place where everyone can meet, and where hospitality feels like coming home.
The hotel takes its name from the forest it is located in, and “Hesselet” means “the place where the small hazel trees grow.” We are proud to be one of Denmark’s most beloved nature hotels, and we strive to give all our guests an experience beyond the ordinary—whether they are staying, dining, or attending a conference at the hotel.
We achieve this by adhering to our three extra senses: a sense of quality, a sense of place, and a sense of history.
We use our sense of quality in everything we do, from selecting the ingredients in our restaurant to choosing the furniture in our rooms and the duvets that ensure our guests the best sleep. We also use it to enhance their experience of being in a place where attention to detail and a love for the surrounding nature shine through.
Just as we are hosts to our guests, you could say that nature is a host to us. When we say we have a sense of place, it means we prioritize local ingredients, preferably in season. We embrace the rhythm of the changing seasons and turn it into an experience for our guests, whether they enjoy swimming—or even winter bathing.
We also have a sense of history and cherish the fact that families, for generations, have chosen to celebrate christenings, confirmations, weddings, and even golden wedding anniversaries at the hotel. So, while we have promised ourselves to strive to measure up to the very best, we do so without forgetting who we are and the history that shapes us.
We are Funen-born, Danish, and international—in that order. And we are a sanctuary and a meeting place, right where the small hazel trees grow.
The image is from arkiv.dk
The hotel is named after the forest in which it is located, and “Hesselet” means “the place where the small hazel trees grow.” We are proud to be one of Denmark’s most beloved nature hotels, and we strive to give all our guests an experience beyond the ordinary—whether they are staying, dining, or attending a conference at the hotel.
The image is from arkiv.dk.
The image is from arkiv.dk.
The History of the Hotel
1801:
A small inn is built in the hazel forest near Nyborg Castle and is named Hesselet.
The name means: “The place where the small hazel trees grow.”
1911:
The inn becomes Christianslund Seaside Hotel.
1940:
The seaside hotel is seized by the occupying forces during World War II, converted into a military hospital, and left in such poor condition that it is ready for demolition.
1950s:
Two businessmen, Kaj Wolhardt and Karl Haustrup, decide to build a luxury hotel in the most beautiful spot in Nyborg. Haustrup originally comes from Svendborg, while Kaj Wolhardt lives in Japan. They dream of creating a world-class hotel with deep roots in Funen.
1960s:
Architect Bent Severin is tasked with building “Denmark’s most complete hotel” on the site where Christianslund Seaside Hotel once stood.
1967:
Hotel Hesselet opened in 1967 and has since been renowned for its era-defining architecture, which combines Scandinavian and Far Eastern influences, as well as for its unique location directly on the beach, surrounded by the most beautiful nature of Funen. The hotel takes the name Hesselet, meaning “the place where the small hazel trees grow,” and is operated by Lissi and Karl Haunstrup until 1993.
1993:
Hotel Hesselet is sold to Audrey and Mogens Frederiksen, who run it until 2003. The couple preserves the soul of the hotel and emphasizes the balance between elegance and relaxation.
2003:
Sinne and Steen Sørensen take over the hotel and continue its development with a passion for gastronomy and respect for its history.
2024:
The hotel is taken over by Carama Family Office, led by Kenneth and Bente Ramstrup.
The image is from arkiv.dk
Hotel Hesselet x Carama Family Office
With Carama Family Office, we have found a new owner who is not part of a large hotel chain, but rather individuals who wish to develop the hotel with respect for its history and our staff. They bring a vision and the opportunity to further unfold the hotel’s great potential, to the benefit of our guests.
– Steen Sørensen, former owner of Hotel Hesselet.
Contact
Hotel Hesselet
Christianslundsvej 119
5800 Nyborg
Visit
instagram.com/hotelhesselet
hotel-hesselet.dk