Otterup is a former station town on northern Funen with 5,229
inhabitants (2020), located 15 km north of Odense, 6 km northwest of
the charging station Klintebjerg by Odense Fjord and 23 km east of
the municipal seat in Bogense. The city is the largest in Nordfyn
Municipality and is located in the Region of Southern Denmark.
Otterup is located in Otterup Parish. Otterup Church is located
in the city. 2 km northeast of the city is the manor Ørritslevgård.
Hofmansgave Park
One of Otterup's standout attractions is
Hofmansgave Park, a expansive manor park laid out over 200 years ago
adjacent to Odense Fjord, open year-round for visitors to wander freely.
The park belongs to the historic Hofmansgave Manor, originally on a
former island that became connected to Funen in 1756 through land
reclamation, and it served as a significant center for Danish botany in
the 19th century, where botanist Caroline Rosenberg conducted
groundbreaking work as one of the era's leading female scientists.
Spanning a beautifully landscaped area, it features rare plants,
flowers, and trees sourced from around the world, including Japanese
temple trees, set against stunning fjord views. Visitors can stroll
through well-maintained paths, admire the historic landscape, and enjoy
benches for picnics or relaxation—it's praised for its serene atmosphere
and free access, though some note it's best in late summer for blooming
flora. The park also houses additional points of interest like the
Sketch Museum, showcasing paintings and sculptures by the Hofman-Bang
sisters, the manor's last occupants. Guides are available seasonally for
deeper insights.
Danish Potato Museum (Danmarks Kartoffelmuseum)
Nestled within Hofmansgave Park, the Danish Potato Museum offers a
unique dive into the history and cultural significance of the potato,
housed in a compact 100-square-meter space curated by passionate
enthusiasts. The exhibit traces the vegetable's journey from its origins
in South America, where it was farmed by ancient civilizations, to its
introduction and popularization in Denmark by the Hofmansgave family
themselves in the 18th century. Displays include historical machines,
tools, figures, and information on potato varieties, planting
techniques, harvesting methods, and diverse uses through time, all
presented with evident love for the subject. While much text is in
Danish, key stories are available in English, and visitors often spend
about half an hour here, appreciating its quirky charm amid the
surrounding park's beauty—though it's noted as a niche gem rather than a
large-scale museum. Entry is typically low-cost or included with park
visits, making it a delightful stop for food history buffs.
Enebærodde Peninsula
For nature enthusiasts, Enebærodde stands out as
a 5.5-kilometer-long peninsula extending into Odense Fjord, offering
untouched landscapes ideal for hiking, biking, or beach walks. This
300-hectare area features sandy beaches, forests, grasslands, heather,
and the largest heath on Funen, dotted with juniper bushes that give it
its name (meaning "Juniper Spit"). Highlights include panoramic views of
Fyns Hoved, Samsø island, and the fjord entrance, plus opportunities for
birdwatching, foraging (like herbs for schnapps), or even kitesurfing in
windy conditions with flat waters in certain spots. A full loop trail
from Hasmark Beach (about 4 km from Otterup Marina) takes around 13 km
round-trip, with benches for picnics and a lighthouse at the
tip—visitors rave about the fantastic nature experience, though it's
best avoided in strong winds. As a nature reserve, it's free to access
and perfect for families or those seeking tranquility, with guided tours
available for herb foraging and schnapps-making.
Otterup Andedam
(Duck Pond)
A hidden gem for bird lovers, Otterup Andedam is a
volunteer-run small-scale bird park centered around a peaceful duck
pond, providing a cozy spot to relax and observe wildlife. The site
features ducks, swans, pheasants, silkies, peacocks, and other birds in
a naturalistic setting, making it a delightful, low-key attraction for
families or those seeking hygge (Danish coziness). It's one of Otterup's
more understated sights, with paths for strolling and benches for
enjoying the serene environment—visitors can feed the birds or simply
unwind by the old pond. Maintained by local enthusiasts, it exemplifies
community spirit in small-town Denmark, and entry is often free or
donation-based.
Otterup Kirke (Church)
Otterup Kirke is a
large, beautiful medieval church that has been a cornerstone of the town
since at least the early 16th century, first mentioned in records around
1524-26 and expanded during the Middle Ages. Originally belonging to the
nearby Nislevgård estate after the Reformation in 1536, it features
classic Danish architecture with a well-kept cemetery where locals
maintain family graves with flowers, adding to its picturesque
surroundings. Inside, visitors can explore historical elements like
altars and frescoes typical of Funen churches, and it's often described
as cozy and inviting, ideal for quiet reflection or attending events
like weddings. The churchyard is noted for its impeccable maintenance, a
common trait in Danish churches, and it's located near Otterup Museum
for combined visits.
Otterup Lystbaadehavn (Marina)
The
Otterup Marina, or Lystbaadehavn, is a vibrant waterfront spot featuring
a variety of boats from luxury launches to fishing vessels, surrounded
by shops, restaurants, and piers for leisurely walks. It's a great place
for boat-watching, enjoying meals with fjord views, or starting paths to
nearby sights like Hofmansgave Park (about 1 km along the embankment).
Visitors appreciate its pretty setting, though it's often windy, making
it suitable for a day trip focused on maritime ambiance and local
cuisine.
Other Notable Sights
Otterup Museum: A small
specialty museum near the church, focusing on local history with
exhibits on Viking finds, town development, and artifacts—perfect for a
quick, insightful visit.
Midgard Serpent Sculpture: On the central
market square (Torvet), this playful Viking-inspired sculpture allows
children to climb and play, symbolizing the town's ancient roots.
Hasmark Beach and Flyvesandet: Nearby sandy beaches offer relaxing walks
and views, extending toward Enebærodde for coastal exploration.
North
Funen Distillers: A modern attraction for tasting local spirits,
highlighting the region's agricultural traditions.
Hidden Gems like
Humblebakke Vineyard and Enebærodde Nature Reserve: For
off-the-beaten-path experiences, including wine tastings, art galleries,
and serene gardens in the vicinity.
Sletten Skole, with a total of 860 pupils, has three departments:
Both the Northwest department in Otterup's north-western detached house
quarter and the Skovløkken department, 3 km southeast of the city, have
0.-6. class, and department Otterup in the middle of the city has 0.-9.
class. All three departments have after-school care for children in
grades 0-2. class and club for children in grades 3-6. class.
Otterup Realskole from 1884 has 232 students, divided into one track in
grades 0-6. grade and two tracks in grades 7-9. class. The school has an
after-school program with guaranteed places for children in grades 0-3.
class.
Otterup Ball- and Sports Club (OB&IK) has its home ground in the town. In 2009-13 the club played in the 2nd division (football). It was founded in 1913 and has over 500 members. In addition to football, it has room for other sports such as handball, badminton, table tennis, boxing, karate and gymnastics, but several of these have gradually been separated into independent clubs. Thus, Otterup Handball Club (Otterup HK) was founded in 1953. It has approx. 300 members and runs a gym together with OB&IK. Most recently, the Otterup Gymnasts have formed their own club.
The town is named Ottorp in 1427.
Vikinggrave
In the field Galgedil in western Otterup, Odense City Museums have
found a burial site from the Viking Age with a large number of
graves. In these, both bone material and Viking objects have been
found. In the summer of 2005, when the area was to be laid out for
detached house construction, a further 19 graves were found, which
brought the total number up to 50. Thus, the burial site is the
largest known Viking burial site on Funen. The finds can be viewed
at Odense Museum.
Nislevgård
On the western outskirts of
the town is the former manor house Nislevgård. Its owner established
in 1722 the "Savior's Hospital" in a house by the church with room
for 8 poor people. A couple of hundred years later, Otterup parish
took over the house on Bakkevej 2 and used it as a library. When the
library moved in 1958, the house became the Otterup Museum.
After the railway had come to Otterup, an 800 m long rowing track
was built between the station and Nislevgård in 1896. Its route is
preserved as Kærlighedsstien between Damløkkevej and Nislevgård and
is one of Denmark's best preserved beetle tracks.
The State
Land Law Committee took over Nislevgård in 1925. The buildings,
which were later supplemented with extensions, were infant homes
1926-80. Nislevgård is now an after-school center for the dyslexic
and has room for approx. 100 students.
The railway
Otterup
had a station on the North Funen Railway (1882-1966). It was the
largest intermediate station on the track. The railway took a major
detour to get to Otterup, as the direct line between Odense and
Bogense would be over Søndersø.
The names Jernbanegade and
Banepladsen are still reminiscent of the station town time, but the
station building has been demolished. Inside the city, small
sections of path have been laid out on the track route between
Gartnervænget and Banepladsen and along Skydebanevej. Outside the
city, a longer section of the route is preserved between Rødevej and
Åkandevej.
The development of the station town
Around
1870, the conditions are described as follows: "Otterup by
Landeveien, with Church, Pharmacy and Hospital, Hjorslev with
School".
The station was laid a few hundred meters west of
the village street (Nørregade-Søndergade), where Otterup had already
grown together with the neighboring village Hjorslev to the south.
At the start of the course, Otterup, like many other villages, had a
school, smithy and mill, but also a pharmacy, a doctor's residence
and a midwife's house.
Around the turn of the century, the
conditions are described as follows: "Otterup (formerly Form
Ottorp), by Landevejen, with Church," Savior's Hospital "(founded
1722 by Gehejmer. Chr. Sehestedt, † 1740, and Wife, with a House by
the Church for 8 poor af Nislevgaards Gods), Apotek, Lægebolig og
Mølle; the Hjorslev (1497: Hiorsløff) built together with Otterup,
by Landevejen, with School, Realskole, Forsamlingshus ("Otterup
Forsamlingshus"), Brewery, Cementtagstensfabrik etc. and Post-og
Jærnbanestation ("Otterup Station") ".
Around 1960, Otterup
also had a technical school, mission house, stadium, police station,
cinema, hotel, bank, savings bank branch, dairy, fruit warehouse,
malting plant, cooperative cooling house, cooperative laundry,
electricity plant, waterworks, printing house and factories that
manufactured pipes, roof tiles, clogs, packaging. and furniture.
Between 1889 and 1994, the rifle factory Schultz & Larsen was
located at Fabriksvej and Skydebanevej. The company mainly produced
hunting and saloon rifles, but also in the 1920s and 1930s engaged
in the production of rifle barrels for both machine guns and
submachine guns. It developed the "Ultra 2" anti-tank weapon. The
factory building is now a culture and community center.
Otterup Municipality was formed by merging 11 parish municipalities
on 1 April 1966, i.e. before the municipal reform in 1970. A town hall
was built for the new municipality where the railway station had been
located. The new town hall replaced Otterup parish municipality's old
town hall, which is still located opposite the Otterup Hotel in
Jernbanegade. The old town hall most recently housed the school's dental
care, but the municipality put it up for sale in September 2015.
In the municipal reform in 2007, Otterup Municipality was combined with
Bogense and Søndersø municipalities to form Nordfyn Municipality.