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Explore the fjord from a National Park canoe or dinghy
Skjoldungernes Land offers everything you could wish for in a national park – from fjords and forests to cultural heritage. With the park’s free canoes and dinghies, you can experience it all from the water.
Roskilde Fjord and the National Park Boats
Roskilde Fjord makes up one third of Skjoldungernes Land National Park and has been used for fishing and sailing since the Stone Age. You can still explore the shallow waters and enjoy the fjord at your own pace.
The national park offers you the chance to experience the nature and history of the fjord up close – either by canoe or in a traditional clinker-built dinghy. Both options are free to borrow and require no booking in advance.
Borrow a National Park Canoe
During the summer season, you can borrow one of the park’s six canoes, which are located at Gershøj Beach and Møllekrogen. You'll find them on racks alongside life jackets, paddles and a map of the fjord. The canoes are free to use and unlocked via a text code – more information is available on signs at the loan stations.
You can start at one site and return the canoe at the other. The number of canoes may vary depending on how they are being used. When you're done, please return the boat and equipment properly. The system is based on trust, so it's important that you help take care of the canoes.
Try a Clinker-Built Dinghy at Kattinge Værk
At the sluice house in Kattinge Værk, you can borrow one of the two traditional clinker-built dinghies and go for a trip on the calm Kattinge Vig inlet. The dinghies are free to use and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The boats are part of a longstanding Nordic tradition and represent a living cultural heritage that is recognised by UNESCO. You borrow both oars and life jackets together with the dinghy, and you are expected to return everything neatly after use.
About the National Park
Skjoldungernes Land National Park covers 170 square kilometres and offers outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Here you'll find glacial landscapes with hills and meltwater valleys, forests, fjords and landmarks such as Roskilde Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and the Viking Ship Museum, which still builds clinker boats using traditional methods. This boatbuilding tradition has also been designated as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.