Brændesgårdshaven

Brændesgårdshaven, marketed in association with the name Joboland, is a seasonal family attraction situated approximately three kilometres west of Svaneke on Bornholm, Denmark. Its offer combines several forms of leisure activity in one rural site: landscaped gardens, amusement rides, a playground, a small zoo, boating, miniature golf, live entertainment and a water area with slides and children’s facilities. The combination gives the attraction a broader proposition than a conventional ride-based amusement park and reflects its development from a historic farm and ornamental garden. The site’s roots reach back to a farm documented from the sixteenth century. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Emil Ipsen modernized the property and developed gardens along the Vaseåen stream. In 1910 he dammed the stream, creating a pond that supplied electricity and later became a recreational focal point with rowing boats. Ipsen also built a pedal boat and a small playhouse for his children, establishing an early connection between the farm’s landscape and family recreation. The gardens became well known on Bornholm and attracted visitors beyond the immediate area. Meetings held by the farmers’ association in 1929 and 1932 helped raise the site’s profile. Against a backdrop of difficult agricultural conditions, Emil Ipsen and his wife opened the garden to the public and charged an entrance fee of 25 øre. The opening proved highly successful: the attraction reportedly received about 21,000 visitors in its first year, approximately three times that number the following year, and continued to grow before the Second World War. After the war, the site expanded its recreational offer for both Bornholm residents and visitors from other parts of Denmark. Boating and children’s rides remained important, while later development added animals, performances and other activities. Following Emil Ipsen’s death in 1961 and his wife’s death two years later, their son Ewald Ipsen and his wife Ana assumed operation. They enlarged the gardens, introduced animals and hosted concerts by popular artists, sometimes in cooperation with local sports clubs. A further generational transition took place in 1972, when Lillian and Hans Emil Ipsen continued the business. They added attractions and enlarged buildings while retaining older features such as the manually operated carousel and rowing boats. Their changes also included a miniature-golf course and daily magic performances. The development of a roughly 5,000-square-metre water area, including slides, a lazy or adventure river and a dedicated children’s section, became a major part of the attraction’s modern family positioning. In its contemporary form, Joboland presents a mixture of rides, gardens, animals, water recreation and entertainment. Reported animal residents have included monkeys, llamas, oxen, coatis, goats and rabbits, while daily magic shows provide a live-performance element. More recent thematic additions include caves associated with jobos, underground beings from Bornholm folklore, and exercise circuits. The park generally operates during the main tourism season, from around mid-May to mid-September, making it closely connected to Bornholm’s visitor economy. Its identity remains rooted in continuity: historic gardens and traditional attractions are maintained alongside newer water, animal and play facilities.

Brændesgårdshaven developed from a historic farm near Svaneke on Bornholm. The property can be traced to the sixteenth century, but its recreational identity began to emerge under Emil Ipsen in the early twentieth century. Around 1904, Ipsen modernized the farm and cultivated ornamental gardens beside the Vaseåen stream. In 1910 he dammed the stream, both generating electricity for the farm and nearby users and creating the lake that later supported rowing and pedal boating. A playhouse and pedal boat built for his children became early examples of the site’s family-oriented use. The gardens gained a reputation across Bornholm. Farmers’ association meetings held there in 1929 and 1932 increased public awareness, and the economic difficulties affecting agriculture encouraged Ipsen and his wife to seek additional income by opening the property to visitors. Admission was set at 25 øre. The opening attracted approximately 21,000 visitors in its first year, followed by roughly three times as many the next year. Visitor numbers continued to rise until the interruption caused by the Second World War. Children’s rides and rowing boats formed part of the early public offer. Following the war, the attraction expanded to serve local residents and tourists arriving from other parts of Denmark. After Emil Ipsen died in 1961 and his wife died two years later, their son Ewald and daughter-in-law Ana took over. They expanded the gardens and introduced animals, broadening the site from a garden destination into a more varied family park. The venue also hosted concerts by popular artists, often connected with local sports organizations. In 1972, the third generation, Lillian and Hans Emil Ipsen, continued the operation. They added new attractions while preserving distinctive older elements, notably the hand-operated carousel and rowing boats. Further investments included enlarged buildings, miniature golf and daily magic shows. The most significant later development was a waterland of approximately 5,000 square metres, equipped with slides, a river-style attraction and a separate area for younger children. The attraction is now known as Joboland as well as Brændesgårdshaven. Its facilities include gardens, amusement rides, water activities, animal exhibits, play areas, miniature golf, boating and daily magic entertainment. Animals reported at the park have included monkeys, llamas, oxen, coatis, goats and rabbits. Later themed features drew on Bornholm folklore through caves associated with jobos, described as underground beings, as well as jobo exercise circuits. The park generally opens during the principal visitor season, approximately from mid-May through mid-September. Its distinctive model remains the integration of a historic rural landscape with low-threshold family entertainment rather than the operation of a large-scale destination resort.

1. 1972Third-generation management begins

   Lillian and Hans Emil Ipsen continued the family operation and introduced further attractions.

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2. 1961Death of Emil Ipsen

   After Emil Ipsen’s death, the attraction later passed to his son Ewald and daughter-in-law Ana.

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3. 1932Second farmers’ association meeting

   A further annual meeting reinforced the site’s reputation as a notable destination on Bornholm.

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4. 1929Farmers’ association meeting held at the gardens

   A farmers’ association annual meeting helped bring wider attention to the gardens.

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5. 1910Dam and lake created

   Ipsen dammed the stream, creating a lake that supplied electricity and later became a boating and recreation area.

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6. 1904Farm modernization and garden development

   Emil Ipsen modernized the historic farm and began developing ornamental gardens along the Vaseåen stream.

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7. Waterland expansion

   A water area of approximately 5,000 square metres was developed with slides, a river feature and facilities for children.

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A seasonal, family-oriented Bornholm attraction that combines a historic garden setting with amusement rides, water recreation, animals, playgrounds and live entertainment.

• Amusement ridesAmusement park attractions

  The park offers family-oriented rides and play attractions. A manually operated carousel is specifically noted as a retained historic feature, showing how the site combines traditional amusement equipment with newer activities.

• WaterlandWater park

  The waterland occupies approximately 5,000 square metres and includes slides, a river-style water feature and a dedicated section for children. It is one of the park’s principal modern additions and extends the attraction beyond gardens and dry rides.

• Historic gardensGarden attraction

  The landscaped gardens are the foundation of the attraction’s identity. Developed from the farm landscape in the early twentieth century, they remain a central visitor experience and distinguish Brændesgårdshaven from a conventional amusement park.

• Animal parkZoo and animal attraction

  Animals reported at the park include monkeys, llamas, oxen, coatis, goats and rabbits. The animal collection adds an educational and family-activity dimension to the garden and amusement-park offer.

• Magic showsLive entertainment

  Daily magic performances form part of the park’s entertainment program. Live shows continue a tradition of supplementing rides and outdoor facilities with scheduled performances.

• Boating lakeWater recreation1910

  The lake created by Emil Ipsen’s 1910 dam supports rowing and pedal boating. These activities are among the site’s longstanding attractions and preserve its connection with the original farm gardens.

1. Joboland