Aarhus student boat race draws 30,000 for northern Europe’s largest university festival

The annual student boat race in Aarhus is underway, with around 30,000 people gathering in the city’s University Park for what organisers call northern Europe’s largest student event, reports DR.

Participants often arrive in the middle of the night to secure prime spots for the festival, which features 14 student party associations and Friday bar committees from higher education institutions competing for the coveted Det Gyldne Bækken (The Golden Mug) trophy.

The event, known locally as kapsejlads, is a long-standing tradition in Aarhus, blending boat races with student celebrations.