The Buildings: 1898 and 1968
The oldest we now know for sure: The hostel consists of two buildings—an older one from 1898 (150 sqm + 120 sqm attic) and a newer one from 1968 (319 sqm + 68 sqm basement). Your oldest building is therefore 128 years old and stood there, while Frederiksværk was still a smoking industrial town. The 1968 building indicates that the hostel as an institution was likely established around then – it was precisely the era when municipal hostels were popping up all over the country (Denmark's first hostel opened in 1930). From the 2016 sales material, we also know the scope of the facility: a camping area of 35,000 sqm with a main building of 400 sqm with a shop, cafe, kitchen, and reception, as well as 10 cabins of varying sizes; the hostel is located on two plots totaling 2,577 sqm. Slks + 2
The municipal era and Margareta (approx. 1996–2016)
The site was municipal for many years: the area and buildings were owned by Halsnæs Municipality and had been leased to Margareta Andersson for the last approximately 20 years—meaning from around 1996. During that period, the site was part of the Danhostel chain as “Danhostel Frederiksværk,” with 18 rooms and 10 cabins, a dining room, guest kitchen, TV lounge, large terrace, playground, tennis court, and soccer field. SlksHymn
2016: The year space almost disappeared
This is the dramatic part of your story—and the part that few people know: A majority of 11 (the Liberal Party and the Danish People's Party) against 10 decided in the closed session of the city council meeting to put the area up for sale. And mind you, without requirement to continue as a campsite: There was no requirement for a buyer to continue either the campsite or the hostel — the area could also be used for housing, for example, and easements on the property that stipulated use as a hostel were revoked. The bidding deadline was August 12, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. In other words, had a developer bid the highest, there could have been terraced houses where your cabins stand today. One vote in the city council — that's how close it was. Danish Nature Agency + 2
2017: Joyful birth
And then came salvation: Winnie Topp took over Frederiksværk Camping and Hostel on January 1st; the deal was approved by the Halsnæs city council in September (the article is from November 5, 2016 - the takeover was thus January 1st 2017, just as you yourselves date your era). And here is the finest detail: “Fredfyldt” var visionen fra allerførste dag. Winnie, a trained coach specializing in stress, wanted to create a place in green, tranquil surroundings – “a place you come to for a peaceful vacation without a lot of fuss,” with wellness, yoga, and meditation – still with "Fredfyldt" (Peaceful) as the guiding principle. The brand you operate today is therefore not a marketing gimmick – it is the place's founding idea from 2016/17. CampingCamping
2017 → Today: Your chapter
The rest you have written yourself: You took over operations in 2017, from 2021/22 you housed displaced persons from Ukraine for Halsnæs Municipality (a collaboration that is still ongoing in Building C), the cabins have grown from 10 to 12 units and were renovated last season, and today guests praise the place — like the Hawer family at DCU: “Frederiksværk Camping is a hidden gem in the middle of town… not least an unsurpassed host Julius, who made us feel at home”. 😊