About the foundation
"Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld" was founded by the couple Margit and Kjeld Andersen, who are the founders of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S
Get insight into the Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld, its purpose and values. Here you can read about the foundation's history, statutes, board, and the work to support charitable and humanitarian causes throughout Denmark. At the same time, the story of Margit and Kjeld Andersen and their life's work, which continues today through the foundation, is told.
The Story of Margit and Kjeld Andersen
The story behind the foundation began when 27-year-old Margit Andersen bought a summer house plot in Lyngså in 1973. The idea was to build a house that could serve as a base when the young woman was home on vacation from her job at the then-EEC headquarters in Brussels.
In 1974, Kjeld Andersen met the love of his life when he coincidentally ran into Margit in Brussels. The love led to marriage, and the couple held the celebration in the newly built summer house in Lyngså. Afterwards, they went on a camping honeymoon to Lapland in Finland, and while they were away, they decided to rent out the newly built summer house. This way, the newlyweds could save a little while they were gone.
During the honeymoon, Kjeld Andersen pondered how one might find those people from near and far who would like to vacation in the Danish summer houses that stand empty for a good part of the year. Somehow, the summer houses and guests need to find each other, and perhaps he could help? In 1979, the couple established a small business for summer house rentals, and since then, it has taken off.
Today, Sol og Strand Feriehusudlejning A/S is one of the largest Danish-owned holiday home rental agencies, employing 135 staff and more than 1,000 seasonal employees.
In 2019, the couple Margit and Kjeld Andersen chose to transfer the majority of their shares to a foundation that supports charitable organizations and local causes. This was done out of a heartfelt desire to keep Sol og Strand as a Danish-owned company – also in the future.
The goal is for both holiday guests, employees, and owners of summer houses to feel that it is about “Holidays with a Good Heart”, when being a part of Sol og Strand.
From Summer House to Social Responsibility and Hope – a Lifework that Lives On
Even though co-founder of Sol og Strand Feriehusudlejning A/S, Kjeld Andersen, passed away last year, his and his wife's values continue through the Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld, which supports charitable and humanitarian causes across the country every year.
On October 7, it will be one year since Kjeld Andersen passed away. He left behind a life's work, created from dreams, courage, and a heartfelt desire to make a difference.
For his wife and longtime work partner, Margit Andersen, the loss is still great. But when she looks back, it is not sorrow, but gratitude that fills her the most.
– When I look back on my life today, I am filled with gratitude. Among other things, gratitude for the people I have met, for my shared life with Kjeld over 50 years, and for the fact that we have always dared to dream big together. I am especially grateful that we founded the foundation together in 2019. I never imagined how much benefit, joy, and hope it would bring to others, and I sometimes ask myself: 'Am I dreaming, or am I awake?', says Margit Andersen.
From Summer House to Foundation
The story of Sol og Strand Feriehusudlejning began modestly with the rental of the couple's own summer house in Lyngså. The couple established Sol og Strand Feriehusudlejning A/S in 1979, which today is one of the country's largest companies for renting Danish holiday homes.
“There were many challenges and many years of hard work, and it was not always easy. But we had our hearts in it, and we had skilled employees who believed in us. Without them, we would never have come this far,” emphasizes Margit Andersen.
Over the years, there has been no shortage of offers from investors who wished to buy the company. Despite the prospect of a large profit from a sale, it has never been an option that the couple has considered.
“Our wish has always been that Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental would exist in the future and remain in Danish hands – even when we are no longer here,” says Margit Andersen.
The couple went their own ways.
Kjeld Andersen was visionary and had an international outlook. According to Margit Andersen, the ideas for development and growth were lined up.
“He was very forward-thinking, and he dared to show initiative where others might hesitate. Often, he would get up in the middle of the night to jot down his ideas and thoughts,” she says with a smile.
There is no doubt that Sol og Strand, with Kjeld Andersen at the forefront, has made its mark in the holiday home rental industry. In 1979, renting summer houses was a niche. Today, the industry contributes to creating jobs and is a significant part of the economy in Denmark.
“We have never followed in others' footsteps – instead, we have followed our own paths,” says Margit Andersen.
For her, intuition has always been a guiding principle, often leading to something one could never have imagined, reaching far beyond oneself.
“My whole life, I have tried to listen to my heart. That was also what we did when we decided to establish the foundation. We wanted to give something back,” she shares.
Donations with great significance
The foundation has already supported hundreds of both local and nationwide initiatives. By the end of the year, the total amount is expected to exceed 25 million kroner for projects across the country. In the long run, the ambition is to further increase the annual distribution – for the better Sol og Strand does, the more the foundation can give back.
Margit Andersen visiting Ønskeland, where Camilla Bundgaard Astorp explained the significance of the funds from Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld for the place.
Margit Andersen has closely followed the impact. She has visited organizations that have received donations – experiences that have made a strong impression, she says.
Margit Andersen visiting Det Kærlige Måltid, where she met founder Charlotte Thyberg.
“Every time I meet the people who have benefited from our support, I feel a deep joy that still fills me with warmth when I think about it. That’s where it all makes sense, and I wish Kjeld could have experienced the significance of the foundation,” she says.
Social responsibility and hope in practice
For Margit Andersen, social responsibility is not just empty words, but a practice that both she and Kjeld Andersen lived by. Her fundamental belief is that each individual should use some of their resources to create hope and opportunities for others in need.
“In my nearly 80 years of life, I have learned that dreams can turn into actions that truly make a difference. Kjeld and I followed our dreams, we listened to our hearts, and we created something that lives on. I am deeply grateful for that, and I am incredibly happy for the mark we manage to leave in life. For me, it is a gift to experience that the foundation grows and brings light into others' lives – a testament that dreams turned into actions can create hope for the future,” she says.
– I know that Kjeld would have been just as happy and grateful as I am if he had been among us today. The foundation is in many ways also a testament to his tireless efforts and his big heart.
A special memory stands out clearly for her.
In the spring of 2025, the foundation held an event at Hotel Koldingfjord, where employees of Sol og Strand, recipients of donations, and the foundation's board met. Here, the recipients shared how they have used the funds from Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld.
“To stand face to face with people who have benefited from the foundation's support was deeply moving. Their stories, strength, and gratitude went straight to my heart, and here I could truly sense how our work makes sense and is worth it all,” says Margit Andersen.
Read the latest news from the foundation
Below, we share stories about the foundation's work – including donations, projects, and initiatives that support local communities, nature, and good causes around Denmark. Here you can gain insight into how the foundation's funds are used to create value and make a difference.
