by Dimitri Louwet

A Special Birthday Journey

I have travelled to many beautiful places around the world, but for my 40th birthday, I wanted to experience somewhere truly special. Somewhere that would feel different from anything I had seen before. The choice quickly became Lofoten, a remote archipelago above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway.

Our journey started in Brussels, flying via Oslo to Evenes. From there, we began our road trip towards the Lofoten Islands. Almost immediately, the landscape started to change. Dramatic mountains rose from the sea, quiet fjords stretched into the distance, and small fishing villages appeared around every corner.

The Villages and the Mountains

Places like Reine, Sakrisøy, Hamnøy and Svolvær were exactly what I had imagined Lofoten to be: colourful fishermen's cabins surrounded by mountains and water, with a feeling of peace that is difficult to describe. Henningsvær had a completely different atmosphere, with its small harbour and lively character, but was just as beautiful.

One of the highlights was hiking Reinebringen. The climb was tougher than expected, with hundreds of steep steps leading upwards, but the view from the top made every step worthwhile. Looking down over Reine, the fjords and the surrounding mountains was one of those moments when you simply stop and take it all in.

The hikes around Råten and Haukland offered a different perspective again. Walking through the landscape and seeing the mountains, beaches and ocean from above made it easy to understand why Lofoten attracts photographers from all over the world.

Life on the Road

We were incredibly lucky with the weather. During our two weeks, we experienced beautiful conditions almost every day, something you certainly cannot take for granted in Lofoten. The changing light constantly transformed the landscape.

Our accommodations were another part of the experience. Staying in beautiful places right beside the water meant that even waking up or returning after a long day felt special.

And then there were the cinnamon buns. Almost every afternoon, we would find somewhere to stop for one. It became our little daily ritual before heading out again.

Chasing the Northern Lights

Our days were long, but our nights were even longer.

Almost every evening, we went back out into the darkness to search for the Northern Lights. Sometimes we waited for hours without seeing anything. Other nights, the sky suddenly came alive, and the entire landscape changed.

The most memorable night came on my birthday. Standing beneath the Northern Lights, surrounded by the mountains and silence of Lofoten, was something I could hardly have imagined when I first left Belgium.

A Place I Won't Forget

Lofoten gave me much more than photographs. It gave me peaceful mornings, challenging hikes, beautiful villages, cinnamon buns in small cafés, and countless nights spent beneath the Arctic sky.

For my 40th birthday, I could not have chosen a more special place.