When Margit Andersen bought a summer house plot on the Jutland east coast near Lyngså at the age of 27, hardly anyone could have imagined what that decision would one day lead to.

– There isn't even feed for a goat on that plot, her father admonished when the young woman presented her idea to him.

But Margit Andersen defied her father's well-meaning admonitions and followed her gut feeling. She bought the 5,500 square meter plot outright with her savings, and with help from her brother, a summer house of 65 square meters was later built. What no one knew at the time was that the plot and the summer house would become the starting point for a remarkable business success.

Wanderlust and love in Brussels

Margit Andersen was born in Landbolyst near Dronninglund. Her father runs a bicycle shop, and there isn't much money to spare, but the home is loving and safe. The longing for travel has always lived within her, leading her in 1973 to Brussels, where she got a job at the headquarters of the EEC (now EU).

In 1974, Margit Andersen met agricultural consultant Kjeld Andersen in Brussels. The following year, they got married and held their wedding celebration in the newly built summer house on Margit's plot near Lyngså, and after the wedding, they went on their honeymoon to Lapland with a tent and camping gear.

While they were away, they rented out the summer house to earn a little money. What they didn't yet know was that this would be the humble beginning of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals.

During the honeymoon, Kjeld Andersen, who is notably very forward-thinking, began to ponder how one might help summer house owners find the people who dreamed of vacationing by the Danish coasts.

In 1979, the couple took the leap and established Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals A/S. It was now or never, they thought.

They had no experience in holiday home rentals whatsoever. No financial resources. But they had a strong belief in their idea, a high work ethic, and the courage to forge their own path. Their motto was: "One must either work hard or walk away from it all."

– We have never followed in others' footsteps. Instead, we have walked our own paths, says Margit Andersen.

Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals is now one of Denmark's largest Danish-owned holiday home rental companies. Over the years, there has been no shortage of offers from investors wishing to buy the company. Despite the prospect of a large profit from a sale, it has never been an option the couple has considered. Each time, the answer was: "Thank you for the offer, but no thank you – our life's work is not for sale."

– Our wish has always been for Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals to exist in the future and remain in Danish hands – even when we are no longer around, says Margit Andersen.

Against this backdrop, the couple decided in 2019 to establish Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld, which today is the main owner of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals.

– Throughout my life, I have tried to listen to my heart. That was also what Kjeld and I did when we decided to create the foundation. We wanted to give something back, she explains.

The foundation supports charitable and public benefit initiatives in Denmark and abroad. Since its establishment six years ago, nearly 30 million kroner has been distributed to projects that have made a difference for others.

Margit Andersen describes the feeling of gratitude as one of the most prominent emotions when she reflects on her life.

– In my 80 years of life, I have learned that dreams – if pursued – can turn into actions that truly make a difference, she says.

The life’s work continues

Kjeld Andersen passed away in October 2024, but his and Margit Andersen's shared life's work continues.

She also takes joy in the many travels that she and her spouse managed to experience together. A world map adorns the wall in Margit Andersen's office. Small red stickers testify to the many countries she has visited with her spouse.

Among the travel destinations have been both distant lands and remote corners of the world – from the headhunters in Borneo to Antarctica, Tibet, Mongolia, and Australia. Over the years, the couple has visited a total of 106 countries, and they have always felt welcomed, no matter where in the world they found themselves.

– We have never met anyone who wished us harm, and encountering other cultures with an open mind and getting to know the world around us is peace-building in itself, says Margit Andersen.

Today, Margit Andersen continues to closely follow the foundation's work and is pleased to see how the funds help make a difference for others. When the opportunity arises, she visits the associations or organizations that the foundation has supported.

– When I meet the people who have benefited from the foundation's funds, I feel a deep joy that still fills me with warmth when I think about it. That’s where it all makes sense. I truly wish Kjeld could have experienced the great significance the foundation has, and I look forward to following its development in the coming years, says Margit Andersen.