Venø is a small Danish

Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

 island located in Limfjorden in the north of Jutland

Jutland

Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...

, 3 km north of Struer

Struer

Struer Municipality is a municipality in Central Denmark Region on the Jutland Peninsula in west Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Venø, and it covers an area of 248 km². It has a total population of 22,672...

. It is 7.5 km long and has a maximum width of 1.5 km. With an area of 6.5 km², it has a population of 197 as of 1 January 2010. Since 1958, there has been a ferry service from Venø Odde, the island's most southerly point, over the narrow sound to Kleppen. Venø's highest point, Forstov Bakke, is 27 meters above sea level and has cliffs to the west. The island is a popular holiday destinaton with good beaches and camping facilities. Venø By in the centre of the island has Denmark's smallest church as well as a small fishing harbour which is suitable for pleasure boats.

Venø Church

The church is difficult to date but it was probably built around the time of the Reformation (1536), making it the oldest building on the island. According to tradition, it is the smallest church in Denmark measuring only 9.8 by 4.2 meters. The low ceiling and the limited seating capacity (only about 50 places) reinforce this impression. The church is built of fieldstone while brick has been used for the corners and later extensions. There is no tower as the church bell is inside the gable at the west end of the church.

Venø today

Most of the island's inhabitants work on the mainland but some still farm the land or are fishermen. The island has an exciting network of paths allowing for interesting walks with views over Limfjorden. Many varieties of land and sea birds frequent the island but the nature reserve around Nørskovvig is closed from 1 April to 15 July for breeding purposes. The village inn, Venø Kro, has a cosy atmophere while the island's summerhouses and camping sites offer accommodation. The sandy beaches around the island are suitable for children.