Vandel: History, Trails and Heathland

Vandel combines railway history, a military past and trails through the landscape. With the opening of the Vandel railway in 1897, the place developed from a village into a railway town. During the occupation, the German Wehrmacht built an airfield that became Flyvestation Vandel after the war. Flyvestation Vandel was decommissioned in 2003. Vandel also served as an auxiliary base for operations during times of crisis and war.

Exploring the old Vandel railway

The Bindeballestien trail connects Vejle and Billund via the old Vandel railway. The marked route is 36 kilometres long in total and designed for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the Bindeballestien, there are several shelter sites for overnight stays. The length of the route allows it to be divided into sections; the shelter sites add the option of spending the night along the way.

Active experiences in Vandel

Vandel Gokart provides racing suits, gloves and helmets for both dry and rainy weather. Taking both weather conditions into account makes the equipment suitable for planning even on a changeable day. Vandel Fodboldgolf is a large course with 18 holes in a scenic setting. The 18-hole format gives the round a fixed scope for planning the day. Selected holes on the course have tees for women and children. The Vandel Hjertesti trail passes a playground and an exercise trail, as well as Vandelgård. The three offerings differ in that they consist of motorsport, a fixed course and a trail with several stations.

Museums of local and military history

On the grounds of the decommissioned Flyvestation Vandel, the Bunkermuseet houses objects left behind by German troops during the occupation. The Randbøl Sogns Arkiv og Museum in Vandel is a local history museum with household objects typical of the region from the period after 1850.

The museum includes the exhibition “Vandel og Flyvestationen 1943-2003”, which also explores the role of the airfield during the Cold War. The museum also includes a 1930s schoolroom and exhibitions about commercial life in the town of Vandel from the 1940s to the 1960s. A toy exhibition displays toys from a period of 100 years. Admission is free during opening hours for visitors taking a self-guided tour. The historical themes therefore cover the history of the airfield, everyday school life, commercial life and toys.

Heathland, changing lakes and natural surroundings

In the area around Vandel, Randbøl Hede is among the largest inland heaths in Denmark. The Syvårssøerne lakes fill with water in years with heavy precipitation but are not present at other times; their water surface is therefore not a permanent part of the landscape. The water surface of the Syvårssøerne remains a landscape feature that varies from year to year and is not visible every year. In the area around Randbøl Hede and Frederikshåb Plantage, there is a picnic house and nature interpretation at the Kirstinelyst natural area. The Kirstinelyst natural area therefore provides a picnic house and nature interpretation within this landscape area.

Find more destinations via Randbøl, Bredsten, Vejle County, Båstlund, Vesterlund, Skærup, Hvidbjerg and Give.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vejle Municipality.