Record number of overnight stays in nature shelters despite coldest winter in 16 years

Despite this winter being the coldest in 16 years, a record number of people booked overnight stays in nature shelters in the Copenhagen area and North Zealand, according to figures from the Danish Nature Agency (Naturstyrelsen).

A total of 11,700 overnight bookings were made in the capital region between December and February—over 2,000 more than the same period last year. “Any businessman would be thrilled with a growth curve like this, rising year after year. It’s quite remarkable,” said Jes Aagaard, a nature guide with the agency.

Sarah Falk, who recently spent a night in an Amager shelter with temperatures hovering around 3°C, said the experience was worth the chill. “I love the coziness so much that I’ll happily freeze for one night to get that feeling,” she told DR. She described waking up with “a wonderful sense of calm and slowing down.”

The surge in bookings was particularly strong in urban areas, with more than half of all shelter reservations nationwide coming from Copenhagen and North Zealand. Aagaard suggested city dwellers may have a greater need to reconnect with nature. “People now realize they can use shelters year-round,” he said. “Even though we’ve built many new ones, demand is extremely high. People use them all year just to ensure they get outside.”

Falk agreed, noting that urban life makes nature stays especially valuable. “Out here, time feels different. You have space for deeper conversations that wouldn’t happen over a quick coffee in the city. There’s time, peace, and presence.”