The Sugar Factory

Sukkerfabrikken er en historisk bygning på langeland, hvor Tranekaer center holder til.

The History of Sukkerfabrikken

Idyllically situated just south of Tranekær Castle, Count Frederik Ahlefeldt-Laurvig established Denmark's first Sukkerfabrik in 1804. The English Wars had led to a sugar shortage, and attempts were made to produce sugar from potatoes. However, the dream of producing sugar at the factory was abandoned in 1810, as the Count never succeeded in crystallising the sugar.

Instead, the factory produced syrup, spirits, and beer. It later became home to the estate inspector and estate manager. In the 1980s and 90s, the building housed a production school, and the Home Guard also made use of the old factory.

En rød lade omgivet af grønne træer under en klar blå himmel.

The Venue

In 2004, our family took over and completely renovated the old Sukkerfabrik. Today, the venue is used for various courses, workshops, training programmes, and other events.

Sukkerfabrikken exudes a wonderful atmosphere with a homely feel. You'll find cosy living rooms and spaces. There is accommodation for 20 overnight guests, distributed across 8 unique double rooms and 4 single rooms with comfortable beds.

Trine og Mille elsker at kræse for gæsterne med lækker hjemmelavet mad lavet af gode råvarer. 

The place exudes a wonderful atmosphere. Sukkerfabrikken is surrounded by a beautiful park with a lake and forest edge, offering plenty of opportunities to find a cosy spot – both indoors and outdoors.

Et rækkehus med rødt facademaling og et huntonstegtræs tag med tagliers og skorstene. En have med planter, blomster, en glasvindue, og udendørs møbler.

The Family

Sukkerfabrikken is run as a family business.

TrineMor lives permanently on site and manages the daily operations of Sukkerfabrikken. She is both a hostess and has a great love for cooking and quality ingredients. Before Trine started this project, she had spent several years running an organic farm, working with nature restoration, wind turbine projects, residential institutions for children and young people, and much more. Her focus has always been on nature, environment, presence, spirituality, and human development, all of which are a natural part of Sukkerfabrikken's foundation.

Daughter Mille is a goldsmith and social pedagogue, living in Tranekær. Mille assists with all sorts of practical tasks in daily life to ensure everything runs smoothly at Sukkerfabrikken. This includes building expansions and maintenance, coordinating with tradespeople, procurement, and much more. 

Sønnen Adam bor og arbejder delvist i København som guldsmed og er ellers mest muligt på Langeland, hvor han har grundlagt Adamas, samt hjælper med markedsføring, økonomi og nye tiltag på Sukkerfabrikken. 

Together, as a family, they aim to further develop Sukkerfabrikken as a creative and sustainable spiritual development centre that provides high-quality experiences. 

Fire personer står udenfor i en grøn park. En ældre kvinde i midten, en yngre kvinde til venstre, og en yngre mand til højre smiler og ser mod kameraet.

Vision

An Oasis for Creativity, Spirituality, and Community

Sukkerfabrikken in Tranekær is more than a retreat centre; it is a sanctuary where people gather to develop, explore their inner lives, and connect with themselves and each other. Since 2004, we have been working to realise a dream of creating an ecological and sustainable centre that offers space for learning, creative expression, and spiritual growth.

Under the leadership of Mille and Adam, we continue the legacy that Trine has built. We invest our time and resources in creating a foundation that enables the centre to be financially self-sustaining, while preserving its philanthropic spirit. Our vision is to establish the Center as a meeting place for all who seek insight, creativity, and personal development.

Creativity and Spirituality

We offer a wide range of courses, festivals, and workshops, with a focus on yoga, meditation, dance, tantra, and arts and crafts. Our events inspire and engage, serving as gateways to deeper immersion and learning. Throughout the year, we will continue to attract skilled facilitators who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience.

Environment and Sustainability

We are deeply committed to creating a sustainable future, both for the environment and for the people who visit us. Our kitchen prioritises quality ingredients from the local area and our own kitchen garden. We have a clear strategy to minimise waste and protect our beautiful surroundings, which includes tidying up natural areas and investing in sustainable heating and energy systems.

Community and Collaboration

Tranekaer Center vil skabe et stærkt fællesskab af bevidste, kreative mennesker. Vi ønsker at samarbejde med lokale aktører, herunder Tranekær Slot og lokale håndværkere, kunstnere og producenter, for at styrke båndene i området og fremme en kultur af gensidig støtte.

Inspiration and Future

Vi ser Tranekaer Center som et rum, hvor nye idéer kan vokse, og hvor mennesker kan finde deres stemme. Inspireret af etablerede centre som Ängsbacka i Sverige, drømmer vi om at tiltrække folk fra nær og fjern, så vi kan dele viden, kunst og livserfaringer.

Our long-term vision includes growth in both activities and accommodation options, so we can accommodate more participants and offer even more experiences. We wish to develop our facilities, including the addition of new spaces for workshops and other events, which will further enrich our programme.

A Safe and Inclusive Space

Tranekaer Center er et stoffrit miljø, hvor respekt og medfølelse er i fokus. Vi stræber efter at skabe et inkluderende rum, hvor alle føler sig velkomne, og hvor der er plads til både dybe samtaler og leg.

PROJECTS

We constantly have many new projects in the pipeline and are working to develop and improve the place with new facilities and activities.

Our goal is to create a magical destination that can inspire, transform, and bring people together.

Warm regards
Trine, Mille & Adam

Flyveret udsnit af en landsby omgivet af grønne træer og marker, med røde og gule husbygninger, nogle med stråtag og andre med shingletag.