A railway town with an airfield history
Vandel’s history can be understood through two distinct periods. With the opening of the Vandel Railway in 1897, the village developed into a railway town. During the occupation, the German Wehrmacht built an airfield. After the war, it became Vandel Air Base, which was decommissioned in 2003. Vandel also served as a supplementary base for operations during times of crisis and war. The history of transport and military use thus stand side by side as distinct chapters in the town’s development.
Local history at the museum
The Randbøl Parish Archive and Museum in Vandel is a local history museum. It includes household objects typical of the region from after 1850 and a classroom from the 1930s. Exhibitions also cover the business life of Vandel from the 1940s to the 1960s. A toy exhibition displays toys spanning a period of 100 years. The exhibition “Vandel and the Air Base 1943–2003” explores the airfield’s role during the Cold War. The subject matter thus ranges from everyday life to the history of the airfield. Admission is free during opening hours for visitors touring independently.
The Bunker Museum houses items left behind by German troops during the occupation. It is located on the grounds of the decommissioned Vandel Air Base, further strengthening its historical connection to the airfield.
Trails and landscape
The Bindeballe Trail connects Vejle and Billund along the old Vandel Railway. The marked route is 36 km long in total and designated for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the way, tunnel valleys and meltwater valleys meet, and there are several shelters where you can stay overnight. If you are planning an overnight stay along the route, you can consider these shelters as part of your itinerary. The Vandel Heart Trail offers different points of interest: it passes a playground/exercise trail and Vandelgård. The terms refer to different types of valleys; on the Bindeballe Trail, you can therefore pay attention not only to the route’s length but also to the contrast between these two landscape forms along the way.
More activities and nature
Vandel Go-Kart provides racing suits, gloves and helmets for both dry and rainy weather. Check these equipment details before your trip. Vandel Football Golf is a large 18-hole course in a scenic setting. Selected holes have tee-off points for women and children.
Near Vandel, Randbøl Heath is one of Denmark’s largest inland heaths. The landscape at the Seven-Year Lakes depends on rainfall: in years with a lot of rain, the lakes fill up, but at other times they are absent. In the area around Randbøl Heath and Frederikshåb Plantation, the Kirstinelyst nature centre offers nature interpretation and a picnic house.
Discover more destinations: Skærup, Give, Børkop, Bredsten, Båstlund, Vesterlund, Hvidbjerg, Randbøl
For the overarching travel overview: Vejle Municipality.
