1998 Norway
The Viking Tour
Some of the participants of the Viking Tour 1998 (click to enlarge)
In 1998 the Kiermeet theme was Vikings. The meeting was held both in Norway and in Denmark and 114 Kjærulfs participated during the Viking Tour from June 20 to June 24, 1998.
It all began in Copenhagen on June 20th 1998 where 45 Kjærulfs boarded the DFDS Seaways ferry and had a wonderful journey to Oslo. During the cruise we had a reunion party and a lovely dinner followed by dancing in the disco through the night. In the morning breakfast was taken while cruising through the magnificent Oslo Fjord. In Oslo we were greeted by Norwegian Kjærulfs who took us for a city tour through Oslo. We stopped at "Halfdan Kjerulf Plass" (Square), commemorating the great Norwegian national composer, where his grandson, also called Halfdan, took us through the exciting life of the composer. Later he took us to his appartment where he has put together a small museem with Halfdan Kjerulf relics. Finally he brought us to the cementary where Halfdan is buried and showed us the grave so well maintained. He told us that each year on Halfdan Kjerulfs birthday September 11th he meets with musicians at the grave and play pieces of Kjerulf music in honour of his great grand-uncle.
Kjærulfs on City tour in Oslo, Norway
We also visited the sculpture park Vigelandsparken, which is a unique park filled with sculpture made by one artist, Gustav Vigeland.
The main event in Norway was the family dinner held in a beautiful restaurant at Holmekollen (famous ski jump during winter Olympics 1952 in Norway). The dinner was spectacular with many Kjærulfs dressed in national Norwegian dresses and members of the Norwegian Opera singing tunes of Halfdan Kjerulf music. A really fantastic evening which no participant will ever forget.
Kjærulfs gathered for Gala Dinner on "Holmekollen" nearby Oslo, Norway
Next day we visited the Norwegian Parliament and had a specially prepared lecture on the life and controversies of Norwegian Prime Minister Otto Richard Kjerulf 1871-1884 who resided in Stockholm during the personal union between Norway and Sweden and had a very difficult time.
We also had time to visit the museum of the famous Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944). We saw his famous painting "The Scream".
Viking Ship Museum
Later we visited the impressive Viking Museum showing uniquely preserved relics from the Viking age in Scandinavia 800-1050 ad. Among those the Oseberg ship from 800 ad. Another modern "Viking" ship was "Kon-Tiki", built from balsa and used by Thor Heyerdahl in 1947 to demonstrate that indians from Peru could spread to Islands 8,000 km away in Pacific Ocean. Finally we saw the modern "Viking" ship "Fram" from 1892 used by Roald Amundsen in 1903-06 as the first to pass through the North-West passage close to the North Pole.
Kon-Tiki
Then the Kjærulfs took the ferry to Denmark and followed the classical Kjærulf trail: Vadum visiting Anders Wulffs farm, "Fogedgaard", "Lindholm Høje" a large Viking graveyard, Vitskøl Cloister (formerly owned by Kjærulfs), Overlade church with Kjærulf relics. During the trip we visited Edit Toft Nielsen (Kjærulf) and her private home with scrap books of the Kjærulf history.
Midsummer night was held at Æbeltoft Strand and singing traditional midsummer songs was lead by Mogens Kierulff.
Next day we transferred by ferry to Sealand and visited the Viking ship museum in Roskilde near Copenhagen with demonstrations of how Viking ships were built using the ancient methods.
The "Viking Tour" finished by a visit to Roskilde Cathedral built from 1170 and onwards. All Danish kings and queens are buried here since 1536 and some even before.
KIERMEET 98 ITENERARY:
Sat 20 Jun
98 - 5:00pm - Copenhagen to Oslo - Luxury Ship
- Welcome Dinner - On Board
- Fantastic Fjord Tour - en Route
- Sleep or Dance - the Night Away - !
Sun 21 Jun
98 - 8:00am - Arrive Oslo - Norway - Bus to Hotel
- Day of Sight-Seeing
- KIERMEET 98 GALA DINNER !
- at Holmekollen
Mon 22 Jun
98 - More Oslo Sight-Seeing
- Tour Viking Ship & Kon-Tiki Museums
- Tour North Pole Expedition Museum
- Late Aft - Board OverNite Ship to Jutland Denmark
Tues 23 Jun
98 - Early Morning Arrive North Jutland Denmark
- Visit Fogedgården Kjær Herred !
- where we all came from - 600 years ago !
- Kjærulfs were Chief-Sheriffs-Kjær-County -
- for over 250 years! Lunch in a Castle -
- Bus to Ebeltoft - Saint Hans Dinner
- "Midsummer-Night" - "BonFires-by-the-Bay"!
- Farewell Dinner -- OverNight in Ebeltoft
- Next day - visit "Jylland" restored war-ship
Wed 24 Jun
98 - Sight-Seeing - On our way to Copenhagen
- Visit - Viking Ship Museum & Roskilde Cathedral
- Arrive Copenhagen - 7:00pm
Kiermeet98 Committee
Lef to right: Fin Kierulff, Hans Kierulff-Hansen, Mogens Kierulff, Ray Kjærulff, Cap Kierulff