When you are at the southern tip of Bornholm, you might think you are on a beach by the South Sea. Dueodde is the name of one of the most beautiful parts of the island. The widest beach on Bornholm stretches from Boderne in the west for 12 kilometers to Balki in the east. At Dueodde beach surfers will find a little paradise. The sand here is so fine that it was once used to make hourglasses. This beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Denmark and is ideal for families with small children.
Access to the widest part of the beach on Bornholm is via a wooden walkway that winds through the pine forest and the neighboring dunes. The footpath serves two purposes - it protects the fragile dune landscape from damage by holidaymakers, and on the other hand, it makes access to the beach much easier for holidaymakers.
Dueodde beach is regularly awarded the 'Blue Flag' by an international jury - a mark of high quality and sustainable treatment of nature. The criteria also include accessibility or barrier-free access to the beach, as well as safety measures, sanitary facilities, and of course water quality.
- do not pick plants or disturb animals
- Walk carefully on the dunes
- Protect nests on the slopes of the dunes
- Do not leave any rubbish
- Keep dogs on a lead only
- Do not smoke on the beach or dunes
Strandmarken, as the entire southern area is called (Dueodde is actually just the southern tip), was once a remote field area owned by the King of Denmark. In addition to agriculture, sheep grazed on the dunes. Drifting sand spilled over the fields and forced farmers to give up their farms and move to areas further away from the dunes. To counteract this development and the complete depopulation of the area, King Frederick VII sold his damaged lands to the remaining farms with the requirement that the forests be reforested. Over time the pine trees grew and the forested area expanded rapidly and by 1930 the dunes were in danger of being completely displaced.
It was necessary to intervene again to save some of the dunes. 140 hectares were placed under nature protection to preserve this typical Bornholm landscape. With the increase in wealth after the Second World War, the demand for plots for holiday homes near the beach increased. Now the remaining dune areas were under threat of development. In 1967 a further 640 ha were placed under nature protection. In addition, specially selected areas were approved for the development of small holiday homes. This made it possible to handle the landscape with care. The beach was opened up to holidaymakers.
Not far from the sandy beach of the same name is the holiday area Dueodde in an idyllic pine forest. The wind-bent pine trees perch on the endless dunes. They are in constant motion by the ever-blowing wind and thus change the face of the region in a very special way. Dueodde is not a typical town, so the infrastructure here is quite limited. In the large car park at the entrance to the beach, there is a steak house, a souvenir shop, and a small snack bar where you can buy typical Danish hot dogs and the best ice cream from Bornholm.
A few steps away is the beach hotel. There is a small shop on the neighboring campsite. As holidaymakers arrive at the holiday homes and campsites in their own vehicles, it is advisable to buy your groceries at the supermarket in neighboring Snogebaek. Other shops and restaurants can also be found there.
An accommodation, Dueodde offers a full range: holiday cottages, campsites, hostels, and hotels. Especially popular are the summer cottages in the colony of Sommerode, as they are located close to the beach.
The biggest attraction next to the impressive landscape is the hexagonal Dueodde lighthouse. Climbing the tower is rewarded with a beautiful view of the island and the Baltic Sea. This is the second lighthouse at this location. It replaced its predecessor in 1880. Since 1977, when the tower was automated, there has been no lighthouse keeper here. Now, with a range of 40 kilometers, it shows the way to passing ships.
Other, less attractive structures are hidden in the Dueodde forest. Due to its unique location, the German occupiers chose Dueodde as the site of a large bunker and defense system during the Second World War. The battery structures were to measure 500x1000m and were to be completed in 1941. The German Wehrmacht wanted to control the southern Baltic Sea from Bornholm with four 38cm caliber guns. The unfinished concrete bunkers in the pine forest, which have never seen a cannon, are now a destination for tourists interested in history.
While on holiday in Dueodde, we can enjoy a variety of sports. In addition to water sports and cycling, golfers can also enjoy the nearby facilities. The Nexø Golf Club's golf course is just a few kilometers from Dueodde beach. The 18-hole golf course is located directly on Strandmarkenvej, north of Strandmarken.
The former Danish army tower, over 70 meters high, now serves as an observation tower with fantastic panoramic views of the whole of southern Bornholm. Bornholm's highest tower has been an attraction since the Cold War. Computer, telephone and communication systems, conference rooms, accommodation, and bunkers can now be seen in former military premises. The exhibition has been designed with lots of photographs and background information.
