The Adventurers' Club of Denmark

The Adventurers' Club of Denmark (Danish: Eventyrernes Klub) is a private club for explorers, globetrotters and pioneers, founded on 13 December 1938 by the polar explorer Peter Freuchen and nine other adventurers. According to the club's official website, it was created in defiance: as Europe's borders closed in the run-up to the Second World War, Freuchen and his companions decided to meet in secret to keep alive an interest in life in distant countries. The club attracted many freedom fighters with a global outlook from the start. The club is based in an old warehouse in Nyhavn, Copenhagen, where members meet every Tuesday around a legendary round table into which all members' names have been carved. Meetings feature lectures by members or invited guests who share their adventurous experiences, strengthening the bonds of comradeship. Today the club is home to 110 men, according to its website. Membership is by invitation only; one can only apply after being encouraged by the club. The admission criteria are not strictly defined but require that the candidate has had unusual experiences under unusual conditions (preferably abroad), continues to seek adventure, and is able to communicate those experiences to others. Members have included a diverse range of people — authors, doctors, engineers, journalists, actors, ambassadors, photographers, craftsmen, artists, musicians, aviators, seafarers, scientists and autodidacts. Notable past members include Thor Heyerdahl, Yuri Gagarin, Jens Bjerre, Ejnar Mikkelsen, Jørgen Bitch, Thomas Dinesen, Henning Haslund-Christensen, Palle Huld, Troels Kløvedal, Michael Knakkergård and Christian Vibe. Current members include Andreas Mogensen, Morten Kirckhoff, Jacob Holdt, Nikolaj Kirk, Kristian Leth, Lasse Spang Olsen, Ole Wøhlers Olsen, Martin Lidegaard, Sigurd Hartkorn Plaetner, Bengt Holst, Daniel Rye, Søren Solkær, Hjalte Tin, Christoffer Knuth, John Andersen, Eske Willerslev and Rane Willerslev. The club's chairman is Tom Twining-Ward. Since 1940 the club has published a number of books in which members share their experiences. It also administers the Expedition Grant for Young Adventurers (Ekspeditionslegatet for Unge Eventyrere), a joint grant with the Female Adventurers' Club, sponsored by Kipling Travel. The grant supports young adventure-seekers in realizing their expedition plans, awarding DKK 30,000 annually to an individual or group. Applicants must be under 30 and citizens of the Danish Realm. The application round opens on 15 November 2026. The club is not to be confused with De Berejstes Klub (The Travellers' Club).

The Adventurers' Club of Denmark was founded on 13 December 1938 by the polar explorer Peter Freuchen and nine other adventurers. The founding members were Dr. Aage Krarup Nielsen, engineer Ib M. Nyeboe, Mrs. Magdalene Freuchen, Captain A.P. Botved, Antoine Moller, director Chr. Ditlev Reventlow, Estrid Bannister (later Estrid Bannister Good), Janus Sørensen and the Foreign Legionnaire Carl Mogensen. According to the club's website, it was created in defiance: as Europe's borders closed in the run-up to the Second World War, Freuchen and his companions decided to meet in secret to strengthen interest in life in distant countries. They refused to go into hibernation even as the world was on fire, and the club from the start attracted many freedom fighters with a global outlook. The club has been based in an old warehouse in Nyhavn, Copenhagen, where members meet every Tuesday. Meetings feature lectures by members or invited guests who share their adventurous experiences. Around the legendary round table, into which all members' names have been carved, stories are told and experiences shared to strengthen the bonds of comradeship. Since 1940 the club has published a number of books in which members share their experiences. The club also administers the Expedition Grant for Young Adventurers (Ekspeditionslegatet for Unge Eventyrere), a joint grant with the Female Adventurers' Club, sponsored by Kipling Travel. The grant supports young adventure-seekers in realizing their expedition plans, awarding DKK 30,000 annually to an individual or group. Applicants must be under 30 and citizens of the Danish Realm. The application round opens on 15 November 2026. Membership is by invitation only; one can only apply after being encouraged by the club. The admission criteria are not strictly defined but require that the candidate has had unusual experiences under unusual conditions (preferably abroad), continues to seek adventure, and is able to communicate those experiences to others. Members have included a diverse range of people — authors, doctors, engineers, journalists, actors, ambassadors, photographers, craftsmen, artists, musicians, aviators, seafarers, scientists and autodidacts. Notable past members include Thor Heyerdahl, Yuri Gagarin, Jens Bjerre, Ejnar Mikkelsen, Jørgen Bitch, Thomas Dinesen, Henning Haslund-Christensen, Palle Huld, Troels Kløvedal, Michael Knakkergård and Christian Vibe. Current members include Andreas Mogensen, Morten Kirckhoff, Jacob Holdt, Nikolaj Kirk, Kristian Leth, Lasse Spang Olsen, Ole Wøhlers Olsen, Martin Lidegaard, Sigurd Hartkorn Plaetner, Bengt Holst, Daniel Rye, Søren Solkær, Hjalte Tin, Christoffer Knuth, John Andersen, Eske Willerslev and Rane Willerslev. The club's chairman is Tom Twining-Ward. The club is not to be confused with De Berejstes Klub (The Travellers' Club).

• 1940

  The club began publishing books in which members share their experiences.

• 1938

  Founded on 13 December by Peter Freuchen and nine other adventurers.

An exclusive, invitation-only private club for explorers and globetrotters, preserving a tradition of adventure and storytelling since 1938.

• Club membership

  Invitation-only membership for explorers and globetrotters.

• Book publications

  Books published since 1940 featuring members' adventures.

• Expedition Grant for Young Adventurers

  Annual grant of DKK 30,000 for adventurers under 30, sponsored by Kipling Travel.

1. 1FORSIDE - Eventyrernes Klubadventurersclub.dk
2. 2Eventyrernes Klub - Wikipediada.wikipedia.org
3. 3The Adventurers' Club of Denmark - Wikidatawikidata.org