A list

I've never done this before but I got inspired by Sandra Juto. I guess for those of you who've followed along for a while know me a little but maybe you don't. Here are a few facts to maybe get acquainted. Also, I'd love to hear who you are so feel free to tell me a little bit about you in the comment section. Alright, here goes:

Do you have beer in the fridge?
Yes, I think there's some in there. I never drink beer and they must be a leftover from a party. It's good to have if you have visitors...

Do you have a pet?
No. I'm allergic to cats and dogs but we once had a dog. Her name was Rosa, she was the biggest diva and we were all mad for her. Unfortunately, she had a tumor in her brain and died on my birthday in 2012. I miss her all the time even though I needed medicine for my allergies after a half hour in her company.

Do you have any plans for the future?
Yes. I want to write a book. I have wanted to do that since I was 8 years old and spent my holidays at my grandparents typing stories on my grandmother's typewriter. I write for a living, but I want to get back to writing fiction.

Do you have an addiction?
My brothers. When I haven't seen them in a while, I get a physical longing to be in their company and just laugh about silly things or talk about important things. They're my home.

Do you wear nail polish?
YES! I haven't had one day without nail polish since autumn 2007. My nails hurt when I leave them bare. It's a necessity for me, I care a lot about the colours, hate when there's the slightest chip, and I love removing and applying a fresh coat.

Do you have a friend who lives in another country?
Many, and I wish I could see them more often.

Which day is your birthday?
December 17th and this year is a big one...!

Which town did you grow up in?
I have moved A LOT and was three weeks old when I moved to Paris with my parents. I've spent 2+5 years in Fredensborg north of Copenhagen and I think it's the place that comes closest to a hometown.

What are you doing right now?
Writing this list instead of writing something more important...

What is good about you?
I make people laugh and I observe little things most people don't. I also hope people would call me a good friend who listens and who is good company.

What is bad about you?
That I never think I deserve anything. That I don't think I'm good enough. And that I sometimes talk before I think.

What is most fun at the moment?
The little glimpses of weirdness in daily life. Like the old, drunk and very confused man that was just arrested in my street because he had been drunkdriving into somebody's car. I felt so bad for him but it was a great scene for observing people's behaviour.

What are you going to do now?
The important thing I was supposed to do instead of writing this list.

Thanks for reading along!

A N T W E R P 3

Wednesday began at Faber Makerspace, a sort of workshop for creatives who need machines like 3D-printers, laser cutters and such. We looked at a 3D printer creating sunglasses and I still don't understand how it actually works...

No.

Next to Faber's was PinkEye, a design bureau that does all sorts of graphic design. They had decorated walls with raw, golden wood and in a corner was this slot machine with little white butt figures they had made for fun one time.

We had lunch at Mercado (Groenplaats 43), a food hall partly inspired by Torvehallerne in Copenhagen. The décor was a bit more urban and cool than its Danish counterpart - and located in an old post office building instead of a newly built Scandinavian simplicity.

I did send my greeting to the homeland as I fell for the temptation and ordered smørrebrød (open faced sandwiches). There were so many great stalls to choose from - Mexican, Malaysian, Chinese - but the smørrebrød just looked too good to pass up. And it was wonderful, albeit a little under-salted. But I'm a tough judge.

Speaking of Denmark, we came by this café on our way to our next destination. I think it's hilarious that everybody wants to incorporate our little concept og hygge, and I was asked whether it's a propaganda push from the Danish government. I don't think so but no matter what it seems to have worked!

After lunch, we visited Plus-One Gallery (Sint-Hubertusstraat 57). Located in the backhouse, I immediately wanted to move into the airy rooms with leafy views out the window. And just look at this office!

José looking at art. By the way, check out his beautiful work here!

Outside was this beautiful facade. I love the leaves crawling over the tiles and the window and the bike. A little girl peaked outside the door, just before I snapped the photo.

Later, we went out for dinner. All mornings and all afternoons looked like this: the gang meeting up outside the hotel before going somewhere. We would catch each other up on events that had happened in those few hours of not seeing each other, and now looking at this photo I really wish I could hang out with them all again. Such a cool bunch!

Dinner was at Fosbury and Sons, one of the coolest venues I've ever been to. It's an office collective who took over an old office building from 1958. It hasn't been open for more than a few months but has already become a sensation, and I can understand why. Who wouldn't want to work in those surroundings?

The venue was also where the exhibition would be. We were 13 who had been invited to Antwerp by ThisIsAntwerp, and six of us were artists. Before coming to Antwerp, they had collaborated with six local artists on art works that were to be exhibited while we were in the city. Wednesday night, we hung up the pieces - they were all so beautiful! - and admired the works. Some of us hung around a few bottles of wine and ended up having long discussions about men, feminism, being children of divorce, and other things. It was such a powerful conversation, and it was one of my favourite moments of the whole trip. I love the bond women can create instantly no matter where they're from.
I was invited to Antwerp by VisitAntwerp. They showed us around the city and took us to restaurants and to meet locals. I haven't received any money and everything I write or photograph is of my own opinion and responsibility.

A N T W E R P 2

On Tuesday, we were equipped with bicycles and embarked on a tour around the city. After Monday's heat, the grey skies and cooler temperatures were a welcome break and for a Dane like me being on a bike was wonderful. We drove along the harbour - Antwerpen is home to Europe's second biggest port stretching over several kilometres.

We drove under huge cranes.

Before she died last year, renowned architect Zaha Hadid finished this impressive building on the harbour in Antwerp. The glass references both the sea's wavy blue notes as well as diamonds, one of Antwerp's biggest industries. Placed on top of an old firestation, the port house reaches both back in time and into the future at the same time. It's a building that some people love and some hate. I thought it was very fascinating.

There are comics on many facades around the city. It made me think of Tintin, one of Belgium's most popular comics.

Antwerp's central station is a majestic building, and although I didn't get to see whether it's true, apparently you can look directly into the zoo from the station...

We drove into the area Seefhoek, a multi-kulti neighbourhood with coloured houses and people in the streets.

In Berchem, we came by these beautiful palaces before our trip ended in front of the Jane. It's a Michelin-star restaurant in an area that used to be an old hospital. Today, it's turned into lots of cool apartments. As for the Jane, that'll be next time...

After lunch, we went to De Koninck, Antwerp's local brewery dating back to 1833 - at that time, Belgium as a country was only three years old. In 2010, the brewery moved a large portion of its production elsewhere turning the big halls into a food court; there's a cheese vendor, a chocolatier, a bakery, a restaurant, a butcher and of course the beer hall.

After a trip around the premises, we tried three of their beers - I think they were good, I don't know anything about beer and hardly ever drink it - and tasted some cold cuts and chocolate, too.

Lightheaded from the beer, we walked back to the hotel for a rest before going to dinner. Outside the brewery was this mural of one of their new brews. For dinner, we headed to Middle Eastern paradise Bizanaat (Kleinehondstraat 3). I was too busy eating hummus and eggplant to photograph, but check out more photos from day 2 at ThisIsAntwerp's Facebook page.
I was invited to Antwerp by VisitAntwerp. They showed us around the city and took us to restaurants and to meet locals. I haven't received any money and everything I write or photograph is of my own opinion and responsibility.

A N T W E R P 1

So, if you follow along on Instagram you might have noticed that I spent the last week in Antwerp. It's Belgium's second biggest city and it's absolutely worth a visit! I was invited there by ThisIsAntwerp, a part of VisitAntwerp, along with 12 artists, photographers and writers from all over Europe to take part in D.A.T.E. - 'Discover Antwerp Through Experience'. Over the course of five days we went all over the city and visited creative entrepreneurs, galleries, sights, restaurants, bars, cafés... It was truly an experience and it's been a whirlwind of impressions. I will take you through the trip over the next couple of days and let you in on some Antwerp secrets along the way. First, day one of D.A.T.E;

I flew down from Copenhagen on Sunday afternoon. The weather was clear and on my phone I could trace the route by looking at Google Maps and identifying the coastlines I could see from above. A bit nerdy, but the hour and a half long flight went by fast that way.

I arrived just in time for food which we ate at Fiskebar (Marnixplaats 11) - it was so so good!

I knew some of the others from before; Jessica for instance, who I know from Berlin and hadn't seen in three years. Anna and Søren of 12hours I had been following on social media forever so it was nice to finally meet them. And the rest I found to be immensely friendly and funny. We had the best group!

Monday began with a walk around the city. Our tour guide Erik used to be a police detective but now does guided tours and he introduced us to Antwerp's history as a sieged city, to its architectural influences and showed us some hidden spots.

He showed us Galerie De Zwarte Panter whose owner Adriaan Raemdonck greeted us - both as a statue and in real life. I love that the statue also shows his dog Fleur. The gallery is located in an old church and we saw works by renowned Belgian artist Fred Bervoets.

We walked on. It was around 30 degrees and sweltering but it was nice walking around discovering a new place. I love the architecture that seemed like a mix of mini-Berlin, France and Copenhagen somehow.

The university is located in this impressive building. It used to be the mayor's house!

After lunch at Coffeelabs (Lange Klarenstraat 19) (the most delicious salads - and carrot mash wrapped in bacon!) the group split up. Some headed over to Kastaar, a print shop, whereas six of us went to the fashion museum for a private tour. The current exhibition is about Martin Margiela's years designing for Hermès (1997-2003) and it displayed works that showed the eccentric designer's influence on the old-fashioned French fashion house.

The exhibition was really great. In his work, Margiela highlighted the way the clothes was tailored by showing off hems and seams and he playfully made jumpers out of vintage socks or made four sleeves on a shirt instead of two. But the best part our visit to the MoMu was our guide. I think she might be Margiela's biggest fan and her enthusiasm was contagious.

In the evening, we had dinner at Native (Muntstraat 8). For some reason I didn't photograph anything - I might have been too busy laughing and drinking wine. But head over to ThisIsAntwerp's Facebook-page to see photos from the night.
I was invited to Antwerp by VisitAntwerp. They showed us around the city and took us to restaurants and to meet locals. I haven't received any money and everything I write or photograph is of my own opinion and responsibility.