Things to do

Ever Seen a Dancing Cow? Join the “Øko-dag” on Sunday 14 April

— 2. april 2024
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In 2015 Crown Princess Mary and her children took part in the fun - as they helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Danish ØKO label. Picture: Økologisk Landsforening

Spring is in the air… and in the stables too. Organic milk producing farmers all over Denmark are setting out their cows to pasture after the winter months spent inside. The cows are literally dancing out as they get all excited and frisky by the air, the sun and the smell of spring.

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By Inger Stokkink                 Pictures: Private/ Økologisk Landsforening-Moment Fotografi

On Sunday 14 April at exactly 12:00, organic farmers all over Denmark celebrate organic produce day. They are also letting their cows dance – and you can be there to witness this astonishing moment.

Being put out to pasture during the summer months, feeling the fresh air in their nostrils and the green grass under their hooves is not something all Danish cows get to enjoy.

However, if they are producing organic milk, then they do.

Weather permitting the organic farmers let their cows out to pasture from April until November.

You can join them on Sunday 14th April – but ONLY with a PREBOOKED TICKET. Ticket sell out quickly, so don’t wait until the last minute but book well in advance.

More information below. 

The site økodag.dk has a map of Denmark, which shows all the participating farm,  – click on  find a farm to visit  to go to the site and here you can also PREBOOK the required tickets.

Look for “Find en gård nær dig”. A map of Denmark shows you the location of the farmers to help you find one close to you, here you can also put in your postal code to find those close to your location.

If you choose the English language option you will only get a pdf with information in English.

So it is better to have a go on the Danish language site and use a translation program to find the Danish words you do not know.

The day is special as it is the beginning of the cows outdoor season – during the summer months all of them have to be outdoors, whereas only 16 percent of the non-organic milk producing cows are let out according to Økodag.

It’s a popular event as more than 230,000 Danes put on their rubber boots and spend a day with the cows.

At the farms you can taste organic produce and learn more about life as an organic farmer.

Bring a picnic put on your rubber boots and go early to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams – or choose the farms further from large cities, as they generally have fewer visitors.

Your dog is not welcome!

 

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The official opening hours are from 10:00 to 14:00 but check if the farm you have chosen has other opening hours.

However, they all open the stable doors at 12:00 to let out the cows at the same time.

If you have never been to an organic farm, nor seen dancing cows – you are in for a fun day!

Here are cows dancing from a past year in Djursland in Jutland.