About the fund
The " Sol og Strand Foundation Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld" was established by Margit and Kjeld Andersen, who are the founders of Sol og Strand A/S.
Learn about the Sol og Strand Foundation Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld, its purpose, and values. Here you can read about the foundation's history, statutes, board of directors, and its work supporting charitable and humanitarian causes throughout Denmark. You can also read about Margit and Kjeld Andersen and their life's work, which lives on today through the foundation.
The story of Margit and Kjeld Andersen
The story behind the foundation began in 1973, when 27-year-old Margit Andersen bought a summer cottage plot in Lyngså. 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 EC headquarters in Brussels.
In 1974, Kjeld Andersen meets the love of his life when he happens to bump into Margit in Brussels. Love leads to marriage, and the couple holds the wedding reception in their newly built summer house in Lyngså. Afterwards, the couple goes on a tented honeymoon to Lapland in Finland, and while they are away, they decide to rent out their newly built summer house. This way, the newlyweds earn a little extra money for their savings account while they are away.
On his honeymoon, Kjeld Andersen spends a lot of time thinking about how to find people from near and far who would like to vacation in Danish summer cottages, which stand empty for a good part of the year. Somehow, the holiday homes and guests need to find each other, and perhaps he can help? In 1979, the couple set up a small holiday home rental business, and since then it has really taken off.
Today, Sol og Strand A/S is one of the largest Danish-owned holiday home rental agencies, employing 135 permanent staff and more than 1,000 seasonal workers.
In 2019, Margit and Kjeld Andersen decided to transfer the majority of their shares to a fund that supports charitable organizations and local causes. This decision was based on a deep desire to preserve Sol og Strand a Danish-owned company—now and in the future.
The goal is for vacationers, employees, and vacation home owners alike to feel that they are enjoying a "vacation with a good heart" when they are part of Sol og Strand.
From summer cottage to social responsibility and hope – a life's work that lives on
Although Kjeld Andersen, co-founder of Sol og Strand A/S, passed away last year, his and his wife's values live on through the Sol og Strand Foundation Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld, which supports charitable and humanitarian causes throughout Denmark every year.
October 7 marks one year since Kjeld Andersen passed away. He left behind a life's work, built on dreams, courage, and a deep desire to make a difference.
For his wife and long-time colleague, Margit Andersen, he is still greatly missed. But when she looks back, it is not sadness but gratitude that fills her heart.
"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 50 years of life with Kjeld, and for the fact that together we have always dared to dream big. Not least, I am grateful that we established 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 began modestly with the couple renting out their own summer house in Lyngså. In 1979, the couple established Sol og Strand A/S, which is now one of Denmark's largest companies for renting out Danish holiday homes.
"There were many challenges and many years of hard work, and it wasn't always easy. But we put our hearts into it, and we had talented 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 wishing to buy the company. Despite the prospect of a large profit from a sale, this has never been an option that the couple has considered.
"Our wish has always been that Sol og Strand should continue to exist in the future and remain in Danish hands – even when we are no longer here," says Margit Andersen.
The married couple went their separate ways
Kjeld Andersen was a visionary with an international outlook. According to Margit Andersen, ideas for development and growth were lining up.
"He was very forward-thinking, and he dared to take initiative where others might have hesitated. He often got up in the middle of the night to write down his ideas and thoughts," she says with a smile.
There is no doubt that Sol og Strand , spearheaded Sol og Strand Kjeld Andersen, has made its mark on the holiday home rental industry. In 1979, holiday home rentals were a niche market. Today, the industry helps to create jobs and is a significant part of the Danish economy.
"We have never followed in anyone else's footsteps – instead, we have followed our own paths," says Margit Andersen.
For her, gut feeling has always been a guiding principle, often leading to things she could never have imagined, reaching far beyond herself.
"All my life, I have tried to listen to my heart. That's what we did when we decided to set up the fund. We wanted to give something back," she says.
Donations with great significance
The fund has already supported hundreds of local and nationwide initiatives. By the end of the year, the total amount is expected to exceed DKK 25 million for projects throughout the country. In the long term, the ambition is to increase the annual distribution further – because the better Sol og Strand performs, the more the fund can give back.
Margit Andersen visited Ønskeland, where Camilla Bundgaard Astorp explained the importance of the funds from the Sol og Strand and Kjeld Sol og Strand Foundation for the place.
Margit Andersen has been following the impact really closely. She's visited organizations that have gotten donations, which has been a big deal for her.
Margit Andersen visited 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 sense of joy, and it 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."
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 every 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 become actions that really 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 about the mark we are able to leave on life. For me, it is a gift to see the foundation grow and bring light into the lives of others—a testament to the fact that dreams that become 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 with us today. In many ways, the foundation is also a testament to his tireless efforts and his big heart.
A special memory stands out clearly for her
Earlier this year, an event was held at Hotel Koldingfjord, where employees, recipients of donations, and the foundation's board of directors met. Here, the recipients of donations talked about how they had used the funds from the Sol og Strand and Kjeld Sol og Strand Foundation.
"Standing face to face with people who have benefited from the foundation's support was deeply moving. Their stories, strength, and gratitude touched my heart, and I could really feel how our work makes sense and is worth it all," says Margit Andersen.
Read the latest news from the fund
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.
