Our history
Our history
Hotel Europa was built in 1926 by Wilhelm Holm and his wife Dorthe. The hotel was named “Grand Hotel”. The guests who visited the hotel came from “better circles”.
On September 4, 1944, the hotel, along with a number of other hotels, was seized by the Wehrmacht.
When the buildings were evacuated in May 1945, a major clean-up operation was underway. At the same time, a new owner took over the hotel.
Director of “Cimbria A/S”, Consul Kresten Hansen, as long-time chairman of the hotel's limited liability company, led the negotiations with the new buyer, Marie Schmidt.
In a very short time, the “Grand Hotel” became a place buzzing with activity and atmosphere. It was here that the hotel’s heyday truly began.
Son Johan and his wife Britta took over the hotel when Marie Schmidt passed away in 1956. Since then, the hotel has undergone a number of changes.
- In 1959 they had a number of rooms fitted out in the attic and in an extension above the former lodge hall.
- In 1961 they set up a tavern, which was accessible from the foyer and the restaurant.
- In 1962/63, an extension of 130 m2 was built on 4 floors north of the hotel.
- in 1966 the basement restaurant “De 3 Makreller” was established
- “The 3 Mackerels” was soon filled by “Restaurant Havbunden”
- In 1972, the restaurant was renovated with a grill, which was placed towards the buffet.
- in 1975, a new entrance door was built from the hotel's west side
Our history
When the couple chose to end their hotel career in 1976, they sold the hotel to a newly founded limited company, which was formed by 3 of the hotel's department managers at the time; head waiter Georg Thaysen, reception manager Christian Jessen and head chef Karl Olsson.
Under that management, the hotel was operated until 1982, when the hotel was sold to “Cevo Invest”, who leased the hotel to Georg Thaysen and Christian Jessen.
In mid-December 1987, a chapter in the hotel's history ended, as the doors were closed for a 2-year period.
When the hotel reopened after this closure period, “Cevo Invest” had invested somewhere between 22 and 25 million kroons in the venture. The new tenants were Niels Ole, Søren Christian and Vagn Aage Haagesen.
The hotel now appeared brand new, with the most impressive thing that greeted guests was a large indoor swimming pool located in the lobby.
At the beginning of March 1990, the operating company “Hotel Europa Aabenraa A/S” had to cease its activities due to an accumulated debt of 1.6 million kr.
The hotel's operations were now taken over by “Cevo Administration”, which employed the former tenants to manage the hotel going forward.
The operating company stopped their payment as of 09.11.1990, and the lease was terminated on 5 March 1990.
On November 17, 1990, “Magasin Ejendomme A/S” took over the hotel with Bernhard Morillon as director.
On January 1, 1995, the hotel got new owners again, namely Helle Taulbjerg and Simon Martin. Shortly afterwards, the 'Krostuen' was transformed into Fox and Hounds in the basement. Fox and Hounds is part of the family business in Herning and Holstebro that Simon Martin created, together with the Taubljerg family.
The hotel has been continuously renovated. The large pool is no longer in the hotel and all rooms and rooms have been updated to meet modern requirements. The Europastuen, where the former swimming pool was located, has been transformed into a modern conference room.
There is a large covered terrace attached which is used as a restaurant in the summer.
All changes to the hotel have been made carefully and with respect for the hotel's history, as evidenced by the large hall with its large ceiling decorations.
Today, Hotel Europa is still run by Helle Taulbjerg. In 2020, the hotel gained 2 new co-owners in the form of Alex Taulbjerg and Lasse Rosenberg.
All 3 are still involved in the operation and have their daily routine at the hotel.
In addition to Hotel Europa, they also operate Fox and Hounds in Sønderborg, which opened in October 2015.
→ See a portrait of our director Helle here
