On this page you will find (click to jump):

• Used identification keys and other documentation on the flora of the areas we visited
• A day-by-day report of our Botanical Journey
• A list of all recorded species

Useful identification keys and other documentation

• Leni Duistermaat: Heukels‘ flora van Nederland (2020).
• Bo Mossberg and Lennart Stenberg: Den nya nordiska floran (2010).
• www.blumeninschwaben.de

Report of this BotanicalJourney

13 September 2026: Around Sønder Vorupør (Google map)

On the first morning of our Journey, we started exploring the surroundings of our holiday home in Sønder Vorupør. The home was situated in a pine forest, and there the problems started immediately. We noticed that the pine trees were different from the pines we knew. Because we had prior information about Pinus contorta being an invasive species in Thy, and because the needles of the pines were somewhat whorled, we initially thought that we were seeing many specimens of this species. However, something was not quite right. The cones were somewhat spiky, and many of them were bent like bananas. Furthermore, the scales of the pine cones were inverted. This was not quite right for Pinus contorta. Only after we discovered slightly different pine trees, with “normal” cone scales and equipped with big spiky thorns, did we realize that the spiky species was Pinus contorta (see picture), but that the trees with the curved cones were in fact Pinus mugo! They formed an assemblage with Pinus sylvestris and Picea sitchensis. It took us a while to figure this out, but Bo Mosberg's Nordiska Floran proved us right. Phew, first problem solved.

Directly around our cottage, we noticed many other conspicuous plant species as well, such as Pyrola minor, Euphrasia stricta s.l., and Anthyllis vulneraria. In the Netherlands, you would have to drive to a special nature reserve to find these kinds of species; in Thy, they grew literally next to our front door! The holiday home bordered a heathland with Erica tetralix, Calluna vulgaris, and Empetrum nigrum. Other nice species were Linum catharticum and Rhinanthus minor. From the heathland, we returned to the scattered houses of Sønder Vorupør. There were several nice plant species to find here as well, although it was sometimes a bit difficult to determine which species were wild and which had been introduced. For example, we recorded Cotoneaster bullatus (see picture), which is definitely not indigenous to Thy. On the other hand, Campanula rotundifolia, which is decorative in garden grasslands, seemed to be wild here.

Then we reached the edge of the dunes. We noticed a small stream that ran towards the sea and decided to follow it via a narrow footpath on the south side. Vast areas of the water were covered with Typha latifolia, Iris pseudacorus, Glyceria fluitans, and Glyceria maxima. However, along the shores we managed to record Sparganium erectum (see picture), Lathyrus pratensis, and Epilobium palustre as well. In the water there was Potamogeton polygonifolius. Many parts of the dunes were so wet that small bogs had started to form. They are vulnerable and should not be accessed, so we observed them from the side. This also had something to do with Rutger having forgotten his “Gummistøvler”.

At the edge of these bogs, we recorded species such as Pedicularis sylvatica, Lycopodium clavatum, and Vaccinium oxycoccos (see picture). On the wet parts of the path and the adjacent dunes, we recorded many Juncus species, such as J. effusus, J. ranarius, J. articulatus, J. tenuis, J. gerardii, and J. conglomeratus. Somewhat disturbing was the presence of invasive species such as Pinus contorta, Picea sitchensis, Prunus serotina, Rosa rugosa, and Taxus baccata. Nevertheless, the dunes were very beautiful, and the large variation in moisture created a diverse vegetation pattern throughout the area.

The closer we got to the sea, the more the vegetation changed. Species like Lathyrus japonicus, Honckenya peploides, Atriplex patula, and Cakile maritima clearly indicated the proximity of the sea and the beach. Nevertheless, the stream still contained fresh water, as was indicated by the presence of Ranunculus hederaceus (see picture) and Montia fontana. The sea was quite rough due to the strong winds. We saw about 50 Northern Gannets diving into the waves and braving the wind.

We then walked back into the dunes towards the town of Nørre Vorupør. In this town, especially the area around the church proved to be interesting for plant species. Construction work had resulted in disturbed soil, where we recorded species such as Lamium amplexicaule, Lamium confertum (see picture), Lamium hybridum, Solanum nigrum, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, and Anchusa arvensis. Back in Sønder Vorupør, Helictochloa pratensis caught our attention. This species is very rare in the Netherlands, and we were surprised to record it here. Later that day, we would find it in large numbers next to the main road in Nørre Vorupør as well.

13 September 2026: Around Nørrre Vorupør (Google map)

After having a late lunch in our holiday home, we headed a bit further north. Just outside the town of Nørre Vorupør, a footpath led east through a wet heathland. There were many small and larger ponds in the area. They seemed somewhat acidic to us, as indicated by species such as Eriophorum angustifolium. Other nice findings in these wet surroundings were Juncus balticus, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, and Eleocharis multicaulis. There were large quantities of Narthecium ossifragum throughout the area, often accompanied by Gentiana pneumonanthe. Unfortunately, the gentian flowers were closed because it was already late in the day and the sky was filled with clouds. Pedicularis sylvatica was less frequent here. North of a bird watching tower, we followed a path with interesting vegetation, where we recorded species such as Prunella vulgaris, Carex oederi, Juncus bufonius, and Juncus filiformis (see picture). There were also many specimens of Linum catharticum along the path.

This concluded a successful first day of our BotanicalJourney in Thy National Park. We recorded 261 plant species on this day and saw many birds as well. The natural beauty of the area was impressive!

14 September 2026: Bøgsted Rende (Google map)

The next day, we started by checking out the area around Bøgsted Rende. The forest comes quite close to the sea here, and we were told that the area contains one of the oldest forests in Thy. In fact, Bøgsted Rende is said to be the oldest plantation, dating from the beginning of the nineteenth century. Fortunately, the experiment failed dramatically, leaving large parts of the national park open. We parked our car at the edge of a grassy field in a forest consisting mainly of Abies alba. Along the paths, we found many specimens of Euphrasia stricta s.l., including both specimens with rather large flowers and specimens with tiny flowers (see picture). In the grassland, we recorded Carex pilulifera, Veronica chamaedrys, and Cirsium palustre, and along the forest edges we found Digitalis purpurea as well.

At the end of the road, there was a parking area at the site of a former watermill. A small stream flowed into the sea. First, we climbed the sandy dunes, enjoying the views over the sea. A group of young Ravens (Corvus corax) was busy practicing flying in the strong winds, and on the sea we saw a Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra). Once we reached the stream at the shore, we followed it inland, where we found several specimens of Ligusticum scoticum (see picture) on a sandy ridge. In the water there was Montia fontana again.

14 September 2026: Quarry near Dollerup (Google map)

On the topographic map, we noticed a quarry near Dollerup. We decided to check it out. When we arrived at the site, there was no one to be seen except for a group of sheep, three of which had managed to get to the wrong side of the fence. The quarry consisted of large piles of stones, gravel, and mud. It was a bit dangerous, as was illustrated by Jeroen sinking into a muddy slurry when he strayed only a little from the path. The piles of gravel contained several new plant species. Many of them were typical of disturbed soils, such as Papaver rhoeas, Solanum tuberosum, and Buddleja davidii. On a pile of rubble, we recorded Barbarea intermedia and Conium maculatum. The sheep became increasingly restless and started bleating at us as we came closer. So, after recording quite a long list of plant species, we left the site, but only after finding some specimens of Solidago virgaurea (see picture) that were still in flower.

14 September 2026: Around the church in Sjørring (Google map)

Most of the time, graveyards can be very interesting for all kinds of obscure plant species. Derelict graves, deserted patches, and dumped plant waste can produce unexpected findings. However, this was not the case for graveyards in Thy. They were all well maintained, and literally every corner of the grounds was in perfect condition. So, in a way, our visit to the graveyard in the town of Sjørring was a bit of a disappointment. However, the church was surrounded by a wall made of large stones. On top of that wall and between the stones, we found several new plant species, such as Phedimus spurius and Cymbalaria muralis. It was interesting that Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii and Cotoneaster nanshan (see picture) grew next to each other, allowing us to easily compare the differences between the two species. A large number of Mentha spicata plants were growing at the base of the wall on the back side of the church.

14 September 2026: Nors Sø - Sejbjerg (Google map)

Wet and swampy areas are always interesting places to look for plants as well (aside from graveyards). In Thy, there are several large freshwater lakes, Nors Sø being one of them. Nors Sø is a karst lake, filled with water that seeps through crevices in the limestone underground. It is a rather large lake of approximately 350 hectares. It is also quite shallow, with an average depth of only 3.5 meters. On the south side of the lake, there was a recreational area where we could park our car. Visitors were allowed to wander along the shore of the lake all the way to a nearby bird watching tower. We started by recording some characteristic species of these kinds of environments, such as Myosotis laxa, Eleocharis palustris, Veronica scutellata, Scutellaria galericulata (see picture). We also recorded Carex hirta, a species whose presence in Denmark was, for some reason, still questioned by Observation.org.

Soon, we recorded some specialties as well, such as Baldellia ranunculoides (see picture) and Littorella uniflora, but also the delicate Sagina nodosa. By the time we thought that we had seen all the species on the marshy shores of the lake, we made our way back to the woods, creating our own path through the reed. In the forest we recorded, for example, Oxalis acetosella, Torilis japonica, Primula veris, and Gymnocarpium dryopteris. Ulmus glabra and Aesculus hippocastanum were present as well, but they were less frequent.

On our way back from the bird watching tower, we briefly looked at a map. A friendly gentleman immediately asked us if he could be of assistance. That was not necessary, but an animated conversation started that way. The man confided in us what he considered to be the most beautiful place in Thy: a remote area where you would see no other human beings, but instead be at one with the wildlife of Thy. The area he pointed out was part of the Hanstholm Vildreservat. So that was where we went next.

14 September 2026: Isbjerg - Blegsø (Google map)

From the parking area north of Nors Sø, we headed straight north, crossing a high dune called Isbjerg. From there, we had a spectacular view over the Hanstholm Vildreservat: a vast area of dunes, heaths, ponds, and lakes. We felt somewhat humbled by the sheer size of the landscape. As we followed a path through the heath, a group of about 25 Cranes (Grus grus) flew over our heads, slowly descending towards one of the ponds in the Vildreservat. Meanwhile, a female Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) was hunting overhead while we were admiring thousands of specimens of Narthecium ossifragum and taking pictures of the beautiful flowers of Gentiana pneumonanthe (see picture).

After a while, we reached a steep chalk slope descending towards the lakes called Blegsø and Hykær. As we walked down, we recorded many calcicolous plant species, such as Carlina vulgaris, Briza media, Thymus serpyllum, and Cirsium acaule. About halfway down, we found many specimens of Gentiana amarella (see picture). Unfortunately, they had already finished blooming, but the find was nevertheless rewarding. Just as we were admiring the plants, we heard an ominous sound coming from the marshy area. It turned out to be a large group of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) bellowing. What a sound!

Against this backdrop, we initially followed the shore of Lake Blegsø, where we recorded species such as Valeriana officinalis, Menyanthes trifoliata, and Lobelia dortmanna. A Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) was swimming by, accompanied by two Mute Swans (Cygnus olor). It trumpeted softly at us from the water, twisting its neck in a funny way (see picture).

We then focused on the chalk hill, where we recorded Pinguicula vulgaris (at the bottom) and Parnassia palustris (almost at the top). Back at Lake Hykær, we found Pilularia globulifera (see picture), Isolepis fluitans, and Sparganium angustifolium. It was already late in the afternoon, so it was time to get back to the car and make ourselves something to eat. Dish of the day: pasta (again)!

15 September 2026: The shore of Flade Sø (Google map)

We have already commented on our fascination with water, so this would be the theme of the third day of our BotanicalJourney in Thy. The weather was appropriately wet and stormy, so it would also be a good opportunity to test Rutger's newly bought Gummistøvler. This time, we headed south from our holiday home. We pieced together a scenic route via a road separating the lakes Flade Sø and Ørum Sø. Both of these lakes were once part of the Limfjord, but in the seventeenth century they became cut off from the fjord. Since then, people have tried to drain the lakes in order to gain agricultural land. However, these attempts failed, so nowadays we can enjoy two vast lakes. Of the two lakes, Flade Sø lies closest to the sea. The water is brackish here.

Unfortunately, the road between Flade Sø and Ørum Sø was closed, but there were no signs indicating the construction work at the beginning of the long road. Or perhaps we simply did not notice them. Or perhaps we did, but could not understand the Danish text on the signs. We will never know. What we do know, however, is that we ended up on the shore of Flade Sø at a location where horses normally graze. They were absent when we were there, so we could easily walk through the grasslands and the shallow reedbeds along the shore. There was a curious mixture of freshwater and saltwater plants. For example, we found Rumex hydrolapathum, Butomus umbellatus, Rumex maritimus, and Bolboschoenus maritimus in the grasslands along the shore of Flade Sø. Caltha palustris (see picture) and Menyanthes trifoliata were found in the really wet parts of the grassland, while in the drier parts of the area we found Dactylorhiza maculata, Rhinanthus minor, and Succisa pratensis.

15 September 2026: Agger Tange (Google map)

The former Agger isthmus (“tange”) is a row of dunes stretching south of the town of Agger. Parallel to the dunes, there is an embankment leading towards a ferry. There are several beach meadows and wetlands here, with abundant birdlife. They proved to be interesting for plant species as well. First, we explored a beach meadow, where we found species such as Lathyrus japonicus (see picture), Odontites vernus, Centaurium pulchellum, Atriplex portulacoides, and Centaurium littorale. In the drier parts, we found Tripleurospermum maritimum subsp. maritimum and Silene vulgaris. It is possible that we accidentally entered the field of view of a wildlife camera that was filming some holes in the ground, the second camera we had encountered in less than 24 hours!

A little further on, we inspected the edge of a wetland. From a distance, we noticed an abundance of Cotula coronopifolia along the bank of a creek. We managed to recover Ruppia maritima, Zannichellia palustris, and Stuckenia pectinata from the water. These species look somewhat alike because they are all slender and rather fragile. It was nice to see them growing so close together. In a grassy patch, we recorded additional species such as Radiola linoides, Centunculus minimus (see picture), Samolus valerandi, Eleocharis uniglumis, and Eleocharis quinqueflora.

15 September 2026: The shore of Ørum Sø at Kalkær (Google map)

Thanks to the construction works, we had not been able to reach Lake Ørum Sø from the north. We were now south of the lakes, so we went to the shore of Ørum Sø at a rather random location. Unlike Flade Sø, Ørum Sø contains fresh water. There was a wooden bench with a nice view over the shoreline and the lake itself. The shore was grazed by cattle that somehow did not seem to be enclosed by a fence. In a small pool, we found Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Veronica beccabunga, and Lemna trisulca. In the grassy and very wet meadow, we additionally recorded Ranunculus bulbosus, Cicuta virosa (see picture) and Stellaria palustris. Afraid of disturbing the cattle, we left the area after recording only a few new plant species.

15 September 2026: Around Svankær (Google map)

We then went to the Hvidbjerg Klitplantage near the town of Svankær. We wanted to check out the plant life around a pond called Holden Sø. The pond was located in the middle of a boggy and wet heathland, surrounded by forest. In the forest, we recorded typical species such as Struthiopteris spicant and Melampyrum pratense. At Holden Sø, there were many species characteristic of wet heathlands, but we had already recorded them at other locations. The only new species was Carex echinata.

The pond itself, however, was very beautiful, and the smell of Myrica gale (see picture) was somewhat intoxicating. On the higher dunes around the pond, Succisa pratensis was present as well. We were enjoying the scenery when, all of a sudden, red deer started bellowing again from quite close by! We tried walking a little further, hoping to get closer to them, but we did not succeed. In fact, our extra effort made the walk back to the car unpleasantly long.

15 September 2026: Grønbakke Sø near Lyngby (Google map)

For the final stop of the day, we had our sights set on a lake called Grønbakke Sø, near the town of Lyngby. When we arrived, we discovered that the lake had dried up completely. The lake bed was colored green by the many Lotus corniculatus. However, upon closer examination, we found several other interesting plant species. Particularly noteworthy was Radiola linoides (see picture), of which many specimens were present. Interestingly, this species seemed to have a preference for old tyre tracks as a habitat.

Also abundantly present was Littorella uniflora, a species that has become rather rare in the Netherlands. We found thousands of specimens of this species in Grønbakke Sø. We fell to our knees in the middle of the lakebed in order to examine Juncus pygmaeus (see picture) more closely. Grønbakke Sø was a somewhat strange, but certainly not unpleasant, place to search for wild plant species.

16 September 2026: Around Hanstholm (Google map)

A new day, with lots of sunshine and a pleasant temperature of 17 degrees. A perfect day to head north towards the town of Hanstholm. Just before reaching the town, the main road came close to the sea. We stopped here for a while and found many specimens of Convolvulus soldanella in the low shrub vegetation of Hippophae rhamnoides. Although we hoped to find a flower of this species, we did not succeed. However, we did find one specimen of Ligusticum scoticum again. Lathyrus japonicus was present throughout the area.

A little further up the road, we noticed a grassland and a steep chalk slope. Both were accessible through a wooden gate, so we entered the area to look for plants. Empetrum nigrum was present throughout. Pilosella officinarum grew on the small dunes, and on the slope beside the main road we found many leaves of Primula veris. But the real fun started when we climbed the steep slope. The views over the dunes and the rough sea with its high waves were stunning. And so was the plant life! Euphrasia stricta, Origanum vulgare, and Thymus serpyllum grew on the slope, and almost at the top we recorded Carlina vulgaris (see picture) and Geranium sanguineum (of which only few specimens still had flowers). At the highest point, we found Heracleum sphondylium and Equisetum × moorei, both looking a little different from what we are used to.

Because we were still a bit short of species characteristic of forests, we visited the forest around the Bunkermuseum in Hanstholm. This was a good choice: we immediately found Convallaria majalis, Monotropa hypopitys and Pyrola minor. There were loads of toadstools in the forest as well. We took pictures of some of them for future identification. We found several species of Cotoneaster, such as C. franchetii (see picture), C. rehderi and C. simonsii. Apparently, the forest near Hanstholm is a suitable habitat for this genus.

By then, we were completely captivated by calcareous habitats again. So we went to a road leading towards the beach and cutting deep into the limestone, creating steep slopes on both sides of the road. The road itself was in quite a poor condition and, in order not to damage our small Peugeot, we left the car at the top of the road and continued to the sea on foot. The road was covered with fruit from Prunus cerasifera and Malus × domestica, and on the roadside we found Allium vineale. We had to climb the steep slopes to find Succisa pratensis and Solidago virgaurea. There was even one flowering specimen of Cirsium acaule (see picture)! On the outer edge of the slopes, we recorded several specimens of Gentianella amarella and only one specimen of Hypochaeris maculata.

From the high hill, we had a good view over “Cold Hawaii”: a sea with rather large waves and many surfers riding them. Just when we wanted to go back to the car, a large machine came along and pushed the stones off the road, turning it into a muddy mess. We never would have been able to get back up if we had driven through in the car!

16 September 2026: Hanstholm Vildreservat at Sårup (Google map)

Sårup is a popular place to enjoy the scenery of the Hanstholm Vildreservat. A short walk through the forest lead to two viewing points. In the forest, we recorded Trientalis europaea, Viola riviniana and Maianthemum bifolium. Only a few people seem to know that you are allowed to enter the Vildreservat at Sårup on foot in autumn, even if a Danish gentleman tries to stop you. We crossed a simple electric wire and descended into the heathland of the Vildreservat, following a fence with a narrow path alongside it. Surprising species in the heathland were Polygala serpyllifolia, Scleranthus perennis and Lathyrus linifolius (see picture). In a pool, we found Sparganium natans, and we recorded Schoenus nigricans in another wet part of the heath.

We were aiming for a hill with a steep slope, called Savbjerg. In order to reach the hill, we first had to cross the heath. That was impressive because, although we were already getting a bit used to it, there were again thousands and thousands of Narthecium ossifragum, often accompanied by Gentiana pneumonanthe. Really spectacular for outsiders like ourselves. Jeroen is the ecology manager of a nature reserve in the Netherlands, and it contains only three specimens of Narthecium ossifragum... On the slope were Polygala serpyllifolia (see picture), Cirsium acaule and Succisa pratensis, and in the ditch below (with the third wildlife camera we encountered on this journey) we found Isolepis fluitans. From the top of Savbjerg, we had a spectacular view over the southern part of Hanstholm Vildreservat. We could observe a herd of red deer in the distance, whose bellowing sounds were carried to us by the wind.

With the spectacular landscape and the impressive sounds of the deer in our heads, it was time to call it a day. We treated ourselves to dinner at an Italian-Mexican eatery, where the Turkish staff prepared a delicious dürüm for us. It was far more than we could manage to eat, but it was delicious.

17 September 2026: The dunes south of Vangså (Google map)

The Kystvej runs between the towns of Nørre Vorupør and Vangså, straight through a series of inland dunes. These dunes stand perpendicular to the coast, which is a bit unusual. They are likely parabolic dunes, with the "arch" having disappeared in some of them. However, some of the dunes are still intact. Water accumulates in the arch, creating perfect conditions for wet heaths and even peat to develop. We visited some of these dunes to see which wild plants could be found there. As in similar habitats, we found Narthecium ossifragum and Gentiana pneumonanthe again, this time accompanied by Rhynchospora fusca, Juncus filiformis and Viola palustris. In one particular area, we recorded Drosera anglica (see picture), which was a spectacular find for us, as we hardly ever encounter this species on our trips. The rain poured down in huge quantities, so it was not easy to take a decent picture of the plant.

While walking through the area, we started a discussion about the likelihood of finding Hammarbya paludosa. Rutgers' hypothesis was that we should look in peaty areas and then specifically in shallow ditches with a barren bottom. Just as Rutger was elaborating on this idea, Jeroen said, "You mean like this one here?" And yes... there it was: Hammarbya paludosa. The rain gods were less kind to us than the plant gods, for the rain intensified at that very moment. From beneath an umbrella, we quickly snapped a few photos of this unique orchid species (see picture), but we got soaked in the process. Nevertheless, Rutgers' feet were still dry, thanks to his new Gummistøvler.

17 September 2026: Vegebjerg (Nystrup Klitplantage) (Google map)

We wanted to expand our plant species list with some forest plants. So, while driving towards the town of Klitmøller, we stopped at a parking area near Vegebjerg, part of Nystrup Klitplantage. We entered the forest, where a narrow path soon led up the slope. We followed that path, and recorded Orthilia secunda, Spinulum annotinum (see picture) and Monotropa hypopitys. The rain had caused many toadstools to emerge, so Jeroen took lots of pictures of them as well.

A little further up the path, two trees had been uprooted. Thanks to that, we noticed that the soil consisted of chalk, not in the form of hard stone, but rather as a clay-like substance. This particular type of soil could well explain why we found Lonicera xylosteum and Daphne mezereum. The provenance of Symphoricarpos albus and Tsuga heterophylla, on the other hand, was a bit dodgy. Finding Linnaea borealis (see picture), Polygala serpyllifolia and Goodyera repens in Nystrup Klitplantage proved to be quite difficult and not necessarily a pleasant task.

17 September 2026: Søhult (Google map)

We visited the shore of the large lake called Vandet Sø at several locations. We started out in a swampy area called Kvadderkær. Once again, Rutgers' Gummistøvler proved invaluable, because we had to get into the water in order to record Potamogeton lucens, Ranunculus penicillatus and Ceratophyllum demersum. In the grasslands of Kvadderkær, we recorded species such as Viola palustris, Polygala serpyllifolia and Carex hirta. Gentiana pneumonanthe and Narthecium ossifragum were present there as well. Near Søhult, we entered a pebble beach, where we found many Littorella uniflora and Baldellia ranunculoides. Another plant drew our attention because it formed tangled clumps among the pebbles. It was Ranunculus reptans, another species with which we were not very familiar.

17 September 2026: Fru Hares Høj (Google map)

On the south side of Vandet Sø, we entered the forest again, this time in Vandet Klitplantage. We visited a heathland with some cows that is known by the name of Fru Hares Høj. In wet spots, we recorded Lythrum portula and Carex vesicaria, while in the drier areas we found Vaccinium myrtillus and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (see picture). Just as we were about to finish our visit there, we heard the bellowing of red deer coming from very close by. We walked a little towards the source of the sounds, but did not go too close so as not to disturb the animals' mating ritual. Then it started to rain even more. Time to go back to our holiday home!

18 September 2026: Ovesø (Google map)

The last day of our BotanicalJourney was spent visiting lakes. First, we drove to the northern shore of a lake called Ovesø, where there was a wet grassland along the lakeshore. There, we found species such as Stellaria alsine, Bidens cernua, Comarum palustre and Ranunculus hederaceus. In the water accumulating in small holes in the groudm we recorded Lemna gibba (see picture). While we were focused on plants, the ominous sound of large animals running and making strange noises, suddenly disturbed us. We realized that it was a herd of cows, accompanied by an impressive bull, that wanted to make it clear whose territory we were on. Fortunately, we managed to run back to safety near the fence. All of a sudden the cattle lost interest in us and walked away, leaving us to continue our hunt for wild plants. In some isolated places, the grassland had turned into small peatlands. In these locations, we recorded Viola palustris, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Drosera rotundifolia and Menyanthes trifoliata.

18 September 2026: Shore of Førby Sø (Google map)

The second lake we visited was Førby Sø. A gravel path ran alongside the shore. The lake was very shallow, so thanks to our Gummistøvler we could enter the water quite easily. In the water, we found some nice plant species, such as Lobelia dortmanna, Menyanthes trifoliata and Potamogeton gramineus (see picture). As you probably know, many plants growing on the shores of lakes look somewhat grassy. Therefore, it can be rather difficult to distinguish between certain species. Luckily for us, while we were walking through Littorella uniflora (whose leaves do not contain hollow spaces), the wind brought us large amounts of Isoetes lacustris, which has four hollow "chambers" in its leaves. The difference between the two species was clearly discernible. Under a jetty, we found Eleocharis acicularis and Helosciadium inundatum, and Jeroen got water in his boot while taking a picture of Myriophyllum alterniflorum.

Then it got even more interesting. We entered a wet grassland immediately bordering the waters of Førby Sø. In the soil, which had been somewhat disturbed by cow footprints, we recorded species such as Ranunculus hederaceus, Montia arvensis and Ranunculus aquatilis. Rutger found several specimens of Elatine hexandra, which initially caught us off guard. We looked around on the sandy parts of the shoreline, hoping to find even more interesting species, such as... (ahem). In the shallow water, we recorded Eleocharis acicularis (see picture), Isolepis fluitans, Glyceria declinata, Potamogeton obtusifolius and Callitriche stagnalis. The grassland and the shore of the lake were a very special place, with lots of interesting wild plant species. Førby Sø was a rewarding visit!

18 September 2026: Tvorup Hul (Google map)

The last stop of our visit to Thy was Tvorup Hul. This was a rather small lake, that once used to be much larger, but was drained to accommodate the plantations surrounding it. Today, Tvorup Hul is threatened by leaf litter from the surrounding trees, which adds nutrients to the water. We followed an indistinct track along the southern shore of the lake. Wearing our Gummistøvler, we waded a short distance into the water, where we found Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Callitriche brutia, Lobelia dortmanna and Elatine hexandra (see picture).

We concluded the day with a visit to Nørre Vorupør, where many surfers were enjoying the waves of “Cold Hawaii”. A nice way to end our BotanicalJourney!

Conclusion

During our BotanicalJourney in the beautiful Thy National Park, we recorded a total of 574 different plant taxa, consisting of 552 species, 5 aggregate species, 5 subspecies, 11 hybrids and 1 variety. Although we fell just short of our target of 600 species, we are very pleased with this result. Thy National Park is home to a remarkable variety of habitats, and its extensive dune and heathland landscapes were truly breathtaking.

List of the recorded plant species

PLEASE NOTE:
Only the first finding of species is displayed. So species that were recorded, let's say, both at Sønder Vorupør on the 13th and in Svankær on the 15th of September ONLY are noted at Sønder Vorupør.

13 September 2026: Around Sønder Vorupør (Google map)

Acer pseudoplatanus
Achillea millefolium
Aegopodium podagraria
Agrostis capillaris
Agrostis stolonifera
Aira praecox
Alcea rosea
Allium vineale
Alnus glutinosa
Anagallis arvensis
Anchusa arvensis
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Anthriscus sylvestris
Anthyllis vulneraria
Aquilegia vulgaris
Arenaria serpyllifolia
Armeria maritima
Artemisia absinthium
Artemisia vulgaris
Atriplex littoralis
Atriplex patula
Bellis perennis
Berula erecta
Betula pendula
Betula pubescens
Bromus hordeaceus
Cakile maritima
Calamagrostis arenaria
Calamagrostis canescens
Callitriche obtusangula
Calluna vulgaris
Campanula rotundifolia
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Cardamine pratensis
Carduus crispus
Carex arenaria
Carex canescens
Carex echinata
Carex nigra
Carex rostrata
Cerastium fontanum
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Chenopodium album
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium vulgare
Comarum palustre
Convolvulus sepium
Corylus avellana
Corynephorus canescens
Cotoneaster bullatus
Crataegus monogyna
Crepis capillaris
Cytisus scoparius
Dactylis glomerata
Danthonia decumbens
Daucus carota
Diplotaxis tenuifolia
Dryopteris carthusiana
Dryopteris filix-mas
Echinochloa crus-galli
Elymus repens
Empetrum nigrum
Epilobium hirsutum
Epilobium montanum
Epilobium palustre
Equisetum arvense
Equisetum fluviatile
Erica tetralix
Eriophorum angustifolium
Erodium cicutarium
Euphorbia helioscopia
Euphorbia peplus
Euphrasia stricta s.l.
Fagopyrum tataricum
Fagus sylvatica
Fallopia convolvulus
Festuca rubra
Fraxinus excelsior
Fumaria officinalis
Galium aparine
Galium palustre
Galium verum
Genista anglica
Geranium pusillum
Geranium robertianum
Glyceria fluitans
Glyceria maxima
Gnaphalium uliginosum
Helictochloa pratensis
Hieracium umbellatum
Hippophae rhamnoides
Holcus lanatus
Honckenya peploides
Hydrocotyle vulgaris
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' (H. spectabile x H. telephium)
Hypericum perforatum
Hypochaeris radicata
Iris pseudacorus
Jacobaea vulgaris
Jasione montana
Juncus articulatus
Juncus conglomeratus
Juncus effusus
Juncus gerardii
Juncus ranarius
Juncus squarrosus
Juncus tenuis
Juniperus communis
Knautia arvensis
Lamium amplexicaule
Lamium confertum
Lamium hybridum
Lathyrus japonicus
Lathyrus pratensis
Lemna minor
Leymus arenarius
Linaria vulgaris
Linum catharticum
Lolium perenne
Lonicera periclymenum
Lotus corniculatus
Lotus glaber
Lotus pedunculatus
Luzula campestris
Luzula multiflora
Lycopodium clavatum
Lycopus europaeus
Malus x domestica
Malva sylvestris
Matricaria chamomilla
Matricaria discoidea
Medicago lupulina
Montia fontana
Myosotis scorpioides
Myrica gale
Nardus stricta
Oenothera oakesiana
Pedicularis sylvatica
Persicaria lapathifolia
Persicaria maculosa
Phalaris arundinacea
Phragmites australis
Picea sitchensis
Pilosella officinarum
Pimpinella saxifraga
Pinus contorta
Pinus mugo
Pinus sylvestris
Plantago coronopus
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago major
Plantago maritima
Poa annua
Poa pratensis
Polygonum aviculare
Polypodium interjectum
Potamogeton polygonifolius
Potentilla anserina
Potentilla argentea
Potentilla erecta
Prunus avium
Prunus cerasifera
Prunus serotina
Prunus spinosa
Pyrola minor
Quercus robur
Quercus x rosacea (Q. petraea x Q. robur)
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus hederaceus
Ranunculus repens
Rhinanthus minor
Rosa rugosa
Rosa spinosissima
Rosa subsect. Caninae
Rosa subsect. Rubigineae
Rubus laciniatus
Rubus sect. Rubus
Rumex acetosa
Rumex acetosella
Rumex crispus
Rumex longifolius
Rumex obtusifolius
Rumex thyrsiflorus
Sagina procumbens
Salix cinerea
Salix repens
Salix x smithiana (S. caprea x S. viminalis)
Sambucus nigra
Saponaria officinalis (cultivar)
Schedonorus arundinaceus
Scleranthus perennis
Scorzoneroides autumnalis
Sedum acre
Senecio vernalis
Senecio viscosus
Senecio vulgaris
Silene latifolia
Sinapis arvensis
Solanum dulcamara
Solanum nigrum
Sonchus arvensis
Sonchus asper
Sorbus aucuparia
Sorbus intermedia
Sparganium erectum
Spergula arvensis
Spergularia rubra
Stellaria media
Tanacetum vulgare
Taraxacum officinale s.l. (incl. all sect.)
Taxus baccata
Thlaspi arvense
Tragopogon pratensis
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium campestre
Trifolium dubium
Trifolium medium
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Tripleurospermum maritimum
Tussilago farfara
Typha latifolia
Ulmus spec.
Urtica dioica
Vaccinium oxycoccos
Vaccinium uliginosum
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Veronica arvensis
Veronica officinalis
Veronica persica
Veronica serpyllifolia
Vicia cracca
Vicia sativa
Vinca major
Viola arvensis
Viola canina
Viola tricolor subsp. curtisii
Vulpia myuros

13 September 2026: Around Nørrre Vorupør (Google map)

Briza media
Calamagrostis epigejos
Carex oederi
Carex panicea
Centaurea jacea Cynosurus cristatus
Drosera intermedia
Drosera rotundifolia
Dryopteris expansa
Eleocharis multicaulis
Gentiana pneumonanthe
Juncus anceps
Juncus balticus
Juncus bufonius
Juncus bulbosus
Juncus filiformis
Molinia caerulea
Narthecium ossifragum
Phleum pratense
Polygonatum x hybridum (P. multiflorum x P. odoratum)
Populus tremula
Prunella vulgaris
Trichophorum cespitosum

14 September 2026: Bøgsted Rende (Google map)

Abies alba
Arrhenatherum elatius
Athyrium filix-femina
Carex pilulifera
Cirsium palustre
Digitalis purpurea
Dryopteris dilatata
Holcus mollis
Ligusticum scothicum
Picea laxa
Raphanus sativus
Salix aurita
Senecio sylvaticus
Sonchus oleraceus
Struthiopteris spicant
Veronica chamaedrys
Vicia hirsuta

14 September 2026: Quarry near Dollerup (Google map)

Aethusa cynapium
Agrostis gigantea
Aira caryophyllea
Anisantha sterilis
Arabidopsis thaliana
Atriplex glabriuscula
Avena sativa
Barbarea intermedia
Brassica napus
Buddleja davidii
Chenopodium ficifolium
Cichorium intybus
Conium maculatum
Erigeron acris
Galeopsis tetrahit
Geranium dissectum
Hordeum vulgare
Lactuca serriola
Lamium purpureum
Lapsana communis
Leucanthemum vulgare
Lupinus polyphyllus
Lysimachia nummularia
Melilotus albus
Myosotis arvensis
Oenothera biennis
Papaver dubium
Papaver rhoeas
Papaver somniferum
Rubus armeniacus
Sagina apetala
Salix caprea
Salix viminalis
Sisymbrium officinale
Solanum tuberosum
Solidago virgaurea
Spergularia marina
Symphytum x uplandicum (S. asperum x S. officinale)
Tanacetum parthenium
Verbascum thapsus
Viola tricolor
Viola x contempta (V. arvensis x V. tricolor)

14 September 2026: Around the church in Sjørring (Google map)

Anthemis austriaca
Armoracia rusticana
Convolvulus arvensis
Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii
Cotoneaster nanshan
Cymbalaria muralis
Epilobium ciliatum
Erigeron canadensis
Fragaria vesca
Geum urbanum
Glechoma hederacea
Hedera helix
Malva moschata
Melissa officinalis
Mentha spicata
Myosotis ramosissima
Phedimus spurius
Ribes alpinum
Rosa multiflora
Stachys sylvatica

14 September 2026: Around Thisted (Google map)

Clematis vitalba
Pastinaca sativa
Picris hieracioides

14 September 2026: Nors Sø - Sejbjerg (Google map)

Abies grandis
Abutilon theophrasti
Acer campestre
Aesculus hippocastanum
Baldellia ranunculoides
Bidens tripartita
Blysmus compressus
Carex disticha
Carex elata
Carex hirta
Carpinus betulus
Circaea lutetiana
Deschampsia cespitosa
Eleocharis palustris
Epilobium parviflorum
Equisetum palustre
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Hamamelis x intermedia (H. japonica x H. mollis)
Juncus compressus
Littorella uniflora
Lysimachia thyrsiflora
Lysimachia vulgaris
Mentha aquatica
Mycelis muralis
Myosotis laxa
Oxalis acetosella
Persicaria amphibia
Poa trivialis
Potentilla reptans
Primula veris
Prunus padus
Rubus idaeus
Sagina nodosa
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
Scutellaria galericulata
Stellaria graminea
Torilis japonica
Ulmus glabra
Veronica scutellata

14 September 2026: Isbjerg - Blegsø (Google map)

Achillea ptarmica
Agrostis canina
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Amelanchier lamarckii
Carex flacca
Carlina vulgaris
Ceratophyllum demersum
Cirsium acaule
Elodea canadensis
Galium saxatile
Gentianella amarella
Isolepis fluitans
Lobelia dortmanna
Lythrum salicaria
Malus sieboldii
Menyanthes trifoliata
Nymphaea alba
Ononis arvensis
Parnassia palustris
Picea abies
Pilularia globulifera
Pinguicula vulgaris
Potamogeton natans
Potamogeton praelongus
Sium latifolium
Sparganium angustifolium
Succisa pratensis
Thymus serpyllum
Tilia cordata
Valeriana officinalis
Viburnum opulus

15 September 2026: The shore of Flade Sø (Google map)

Angelica sylvestris
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Butomus umbellatus
Caltha palustris
Dactylorhiza maculata
Filipendula ulmaria
Jacobaea aquatica
Juncus inflexus
Pedicularis palustris
Ranunculus lingua
Ranunculus sceleratus
Raphanus raphanistrum
Rumex hydrolapathum
Rumex maritimus
Silene flos-cuculi
Triglochin palustris
Tripolium pannonicum

15 September 2026: Agger Tange (Google map)

Atriplex portulacoides
Atriplex prostrata
Carex extensa
Centaurium littorale
Centaurium pulchellum
Centunculus minimus
Cotula coronopifolia
Eleocharis quinqueflora
Eleocharis uniglumis
Eryngium maritimum
Glaux maritima
Odontites vernus
Puccinellia maritima
Radiola linoides
Rubus caesius
Ruppia maritima
Sagina maritima
Salicornia europaea
Salix pentandra
Salsola kali
Samolus valerandi
Silene vulgaris
Spergularia media
Stuckenia pectinata
Suaeda maritima
Trifolium fragiferum
Tripleurospermum maritimum subsp. maritimum
Zannichellia palustris
Zostera marina

15 September 2026: The shore of Ørum Sø at Kalkær (Google map)

Cicuta virosa
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Lemna trisulca
Nigella damascena
Ranunculus bulbosus
Spirodela polyrhiza
Stellaria palustris
Veronica beccabunga

15 September 2026: Around Svankær (Google map)

Alnus incana
Barbarea vulgaris
Galinsoga quadriradiata
Melampyrum pratense
Populus x canescens (P. alba x P. tremula)

15 September 2026: Grønbakke Sø near Lyngby (Google map)

Juncus pygmaeus

16 September 2026: Around Hanstholm (Google map)

Arabis hirsuta
Artemisia campestris
Centaurea scabiosa
Cochlearia danica
Convallaria majalis
Convolvulus soldanella
Cotoneaster franchetii
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Cotoneaster rehderi
Cotoneaster simonsii
Diplotaxis muralis
Equisetum hyemale
Festuca filiformis
Galium mollugo
Geranium molle
Geranium sanguineum
Heracleum sphondylium
Hypochaeris maculata
Ilex aquifolium
Koeleria macrantha
Ligustrum vulgare
Monotropa hypopitys
Ononis spinosa
Origanum vulgare
Plantago media
Symphyotrichum x versicolor (S. laeve x S. novi-belgii)

16 September 2026: Hanstholm Vildreservat at Sårup (Google map)

Carex demissa
Lathyrus linifolius
Maianthemum bifolium
Mentha x verticillata (M. aquatica x M. arvensis)
Polygala serpyllifolia
Schoenus nigricans
Sparganium natans
Trientalis europaea
Viola riviniana

17 September 2026: The dunes south of Vangså (Google map)

Deschampsia setacea
Drosera anglica
Echium vulgare
Epipactis palustris
Hammarbya paludosa
Rhynchospora fusca
Viola palustris

17 September 2026: Vegebjerg (Nystrup Klitplantage) (Google map)

Cerastium glomeratum
Cotoneaster divaricatus
Cotoneaster spec.
Daphne mezereum
Goodyera repens
Juncus alpinoarticulatus
Larix kaempferi
Linnaea borealis
Lonicera xylosteum
Orthilia secunda
Primula elatior
Ribes sanguineum
Ribes uva-crispa
Spinulum annotinum
Symphoricarpos albus
Tsuga heterophylla
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Viola reichenbachiana

17 September 2026: Søhult (Google map)

Bidens cernua
Myriophyllum spicatum
Oxybasis rubra
Potamogeton lucens
Potamogeton perfoliatus
Ranunculus fluitans
Ranunculus reptans
Rorippa palustris

17 September 2026: Fru Hares Høj (Google map)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Carex vesicaria
Lythrum portula
Vaccinium myrtillus

18 September 2026: Ovesø (Google map)

Carex leporina
Carex paniculata
Lemna gibba
Persicaria hydropiper
Persicaria minor
Ranunculus flammula
Stellaria alsine
Syringa vulgaris

18 September 2026: Shore of Førby Sø (Google map)

Alopecurus geniculatus
Callitriche stagnalis
Elatine hexandra
Eleocharis acicularis
Glyceria declinata
Hedera hibernica
Helosciadium inundatum
Isoetes lacustris
Isolepis setacea
Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum
Moehringia trinervia
Myriophyllum alterniflorum
Petasites hybridus
Potamogeton gramineus
Potamogeton obtusifolius
Ranunculus aquatilis
Stellaria crassifolia

18 September 2026: Tvorup Hul (Google map)

Amelanchier spicata
Callitriche brutia
Quercus rubra