A 28-year-old Dane has given up his apartment to cycle roughly 3,000 kilometers through Jutland, visiting the region’s traditional brown pubs along the way. On Sunday, he was on day nine of the trip.
Anders Melsen is making his way north through Jutland by bicycle, stopping at local pubs and documenting each visit online. DR reports that he has terminated the lease on his apartment in order to complete the journey.
According to DR, the planned route covers about 3,000 kilometers. As of the broadcaster’s report on August 9, 2026, Melsen had visited 16 pubs in the South Jutland region. One of his first stops was Hjørnekroen in Augustenborg on the island of Als.
Melsen tells DR that he does not like staying in the daily grind for long stretches, and that cycling gives him a sense of freedom. He adds that he loves beer and pubs, and thought combining the two with a long ride was a good idea.
Documenting the route on Instagram
The journey is documented on the Instagram profile “Værtshusrytteren”, where Melsen posts daily videos. DR reports that the profile had more than 10,000 followers at the time of publication, and that the first video was posted on July 31, 2026.
Melsen says he also wants more people to notice what local pubs offer. As he describes it to DR, the pubs function as small communities where regulars support each other when someone is struggling. He says he always feels welcome, and that it is easy to find someone to talk to at the bar.
DR notes that a growing number of pubs around Denmark have closed in recent years, and that the closures come up in conversations Melsen has on the road. The broadcaster has previously reported on the closure of a long-running pub on Vesterbro in Copenhagen.
In the course of the trip, Melsen has also become something of a pub reviewer. He tells DR that a pub needs at least one part of what he calls the holy trinity: darts, a pool table or slot machines.
Asked whether he had doubts about giving up his apartment, Melsen says he did not. He tells DR that he can always return to his parents in Ebeltoft if things go wrong, and that they worry he might become an alcoholic.
Melsen acknowledges to DR that the mission is not the healthiest, but says he usually has only one or two drinks at each stop. Some days he visits several pubs, other days only one. He says he plans to build in more rest days as the trip continues.
He also rejects the idea that he is promoting unhealthy drinking habits. Melsen tells DR that he is doing it mainly for himself, and because it is fun. He adds that he will be cycling farther than he ever has, and that finishing would be something to be proud of.
