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Getting married in Esbjerg & Ribe is the perfect choice for couples who want to experience a wedding in Denmark close to the German border. A wonderfully welcoming location to have a town hall ceremony.
Why Get Married in Esbjerg & Ribe?
Couples have been travelling to Esbjerg and Ribe for many years because of its beautiful surroundings, its closeness to the German border and the focus on German tourism.
Travelling from Copenhagen airport takes a little longer but is worthwhile if you wish to experience the beautiful west coast of Denmark.
From January 2024, weddings are conducted ONLY at Ribe Town Hall on Thursdays. Weddings will no longer be conducted at Esbjerg Town Hall.
Witnesses are provided by the town hall and at no extra cost.
After getting approval of your marriage application from the AFL you can contact the Esbjerg municipality marriage office to arrange a ceremony (in Ribe).
After the Esbjerg municipality marriage office receives confirmation from the AFL they will usually respond to a date request for your ceremony within a couple of days.
How to Get to Esbjerg?
Your wedding can take place in Esbjerg town hall or in the old court house in Ribe, a lovely, small, historical village 30 minutes south of Esbjerg.
From Copenhagen to Esbjerg
Driving a car from Copenhagen airport should take you approximately 3 hours.
You can also take a train, the journey time is between 3h 25mins and 3h 55mins depending on the route.
For the routes and train/bus timetables: Have a look here..
From Billund to Esbjerg
Driving by car from Billund airport should take you approximately 55 minutes.
You can also take a bus or train, the journey time is between 1.25hrs and 2.5hrs depending on the route.
For the routes and timetables: Have a look here.
From Hamburg (Germany) to Esbjerg
Driving from this German airport should take you approximately 3h 20 minutes.
You can also travel by train which takes between 4h 20 mins and 4h 50 mins, depending on the route.
For the routes and train/bus timetables: Have a look here.
What Can We do While We are In Esbjerg?
What better place to get married than the capital of the happiest nation in the world!
Apart from having a wonderful time during your wedding ceremony in the lovely City Hall, you can do plenty of things in Copenhagen.
1. Man Meets The Sea 📍
When in Esbjerg, you can’t miss this landmark!
It’s a nine-meter tall sculpture of four seated men that ‘’contemplate’’ the sea shore.
The pure white statues were designed by Sven Wiig Hansen and they are often compared to Roman colossus and Egyptian pharaoh due to their mystical aura and the impressive size.
Located next to the lovely Sædding Beach, they are definite must see.
2. The Water Tower 📍
Built in 1987 and located in Municipal Park, just by the harbor, the Water Tower is one of the icons of Esbjerg.
Although it was built in 1987, its designer C.H. Clausen was inspired by the medieval Nassauer Haus in Nuremberg built in 1422, which resulted in the Water Tower having influences of the Gothic style in its form.
It was built on a Bronze Age burial mound at the top of a cliff. Now it’s open to visitors and offers impressive views over the harbour and the town.
Inside you can also enjoy a permanent exhibition of Europe’s water towers.
3. Art Gallery (Esbjerg's Kunstmuseum) 📍
Just by the Water Tower, there is the Kunstmuseum which is home to an impressive collection of the 20th century Danish paintings and sculptures.
You’ll be able to find works of artists such as Harald Giersing, Richard Mortensen, the Jorgen brothers, Wilhelm Lundstrom, Arne Haugen Sorensen and many others.
The museum also organises special exhibitions and concerts on a regular basis so if you’re in Esbjerg for a few days, have a look at the museum’s schedule, you might find some really nice events!
4. Esbjerg Museum 📍
The museum of Esbjerg’s history which also holds an impressive collection of amber.
The museum will take you back in time as far as the Iron and Viking Age, showing the history of Esbjerg in various ways including antiquity, city exhibitions and even recreated scenes.
You will also be able to find out more about amber which is known as ‘’Danish Gold’’ and was found in large quantities on the coast close to Esbjerg. The amber collection is not only strikingly beautiful but also represents 10.000 years of history.
How about the Greater Island of Esbjerg?
1. Fanø Island 📍
Just a 12-minute ferry ride from Esbjerg, there is this unique island.
Only 16 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, this beautiful, tranquil island is home to stunning beaches, lovely cycling paths, old villages, and excellent restaurants. The island also hides various bunkers from World War II.
1. Fanø Island 📍
Just a 12-minute ferry ride from Esbjerg, there is this unique island.
Only 16 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, this beautiful, tranquil island is home to stunning beaches, lovely cycling paths, old villages, and excellent restaurants. The island also hides various bunkers from World War II.
2. Wadden Sea National Park 📍
Another place where you can enjoy the wonders of nature is the largest National Park in Denmark.
The park has a very impressive birdlife and it’s home to Denmark’s largest population of spotted seals.
You can see the seals while enjoying one of the ‘’Seal and Wadden Sea Safari’’ cruises which depart from Esbjerg harbor every day in summer.
3. Ribe Viking Museum📍
Whether you’re interested in the ancient Nordic times and Viking history, or just looking for an interesting experience, you should definitely visit this museum located only 30-minute drive from Esbjerg.
The museum is like a travel in time and lets its visitors really experience life in the Viking Age.
With authentic reconstructions of Viking marketplaces, homes and farmhouses, you will feel like a Viking yourself.
To make it even more interesting, you can try archery, falconry, coin minting and other activities.
A great plan for an unique day out!
4. Henne Strand 📍
Famous white beaches located north of Esbjerg.
Strikingly beautiful, long beaches and dunes are one of the most popular places to visit in Denmark.
While they are a perfect place for a romantic walk any time of the year, in summer they offer a range of activities such as kite-surfing and beach games. There is also an indoor water park which you can enjoy all year round.
The neighboring town of Henne is filled with great restaurants and local arts and crafts places, making Henne Strand a fantastic place for a day trip.
5. Erikshale Beach📍
A truly unique and diverse beach.
Erikshale, just by the town of Marstal, is where two very different types of water meet.
On the one side, between the marina and the beach, there is a shallow bay with calm and warm water.
On the other side of the beach there is the crisp and refreshing Baltic Sea.
The beach is also home to cute, traditional beach houses famous among tourists from all over the world.
Do you wish to get married in Ribe or Esbjerg?
The History of Esbjerg
Esbjerg, located on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark, is the fifth-largest city in the country.
The town was established in 1868 although the oldest existing house in the town was built in 1660.
Esbjerg was built with a purpose of replacing the harbour in Altona, which had been Denmark’s most important North Sea port, until Germany took control of it 1864 after the Second Schleswig War.
The town of Esbjerg which at the beginning consisted of just a few farms, grew very quickly and became a major Danish port.
The Esbjerg harbour was opened in 1874 and had rail connections to Federicia and Varde – two very important hubs.
1892 was a year when some of the town’s most important institutions and facilities were built, including the town hall and the courthouse.
The town was growing so much that in 1983 it became a municipality.
It also received the privileged status of a market town in 1899.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Esbjerg established itself not only as a major fishing port but also one of Denmark’s most important export centres with connections to influential hubs such as London.
Nowadays Esbjerg is one of Denmark’s most important centres for education with the University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University.
In August the city holds an annual music festival with all types of music, from church concerts through opera to pop and rock.
