23rd World Carillon Congress 2029
GRINDSTED – DENMARK
President Koen van Assche
and the Executive Committee
of World Carillon Federation
Oslo, 30 December 2025
Proposal: World Carillon Congress 2029
On behalf of the Nordic Society of Campanology and Carillon and in collaboration with Grindsted City, Grindsted Church Council and Grindsted Carillon Society, it is a true pleasure and honour to invite the World Carillon Congress to choose Denmark and Grindsted as the location for the 23rd World Carillon Congress 2029. Together with the local congress committee we do assure you that the World Carillon Federation’s congress guidelines will be fulfilled and we offer to organise the 23rd World Carillon Congress in Grindsted.
Yours sincerely,
Vegar Sandholt
President NSCC
From Grindsted Church Council and Grindsted Carillon Society
Our carillon was inaugurated in Grindsted Church on 23 March 2024. The carillon has certainly received good and positive coverage in several relevant media. Peter Langberg is also employed as a carillon player in Grindsted Church and had both the honour and the work of launching this instrument. Both Mr. Langberg and our guest carillonneurs have given good reviews about the carillon's structure, function and sound. This is of course to the great joy of the parish council and the city's cultural life in general.
We are aware that the Nordic Guild of Campanology and Carillon would like Denmark as the destination for the World Carillon Congress in 2029. In this context, we would be pleased to showcase our fine instrument and we would also like to offer to host this event. We are located close to Billund International Airport and within reasonable travel distance to the other carillons that may be visited in connection with this congress. In addition, we have several interesting attractions in the area that can bring both ears and thoughts to something else and more than carillons. We do have suitable facilities for lectures, meeting activities, workshops, etc., and there are excellent facilities for accommodation and meals.
Such an event includes a great deal of planning and preparation. Therefore we wish to recommend ourselves with good efforts on this organisational part. In connection with the collection of funds for the carillon in Grindsted, we have also ended up with a positive overfunding; that makes us able to contribute financially to the project.
Best regards,
Regnar Lykke Jensen
Chairman Grindsted Carillon Society
Congress dates
Saturday 25 August – Wednesday 29 August
Location
Grindsted in Denmark
Congress theme
Playful learning!
– Creating a vibrant young carillon culture
Congress programme
4 Carillons | Congress concerts | Guild concerts
Presentations | Exhibitions | Meetings | Meals
Cultural events | Meals | Social gatherings
Congress tours
Løgumkloster Carillon | The Carillon School
The Danish Bell Museum | Legoland
Rohden Manor House Carillon
Congress organisation
Grindsted Church | Grindsted Carillon Society
Nordic Society of Campanology and Carillon
Playful learning!
Playful learning!
CONGRESS THEME
Playful learning!
Creating a vibrant young carillon culture
The suggested congress theme is based on the company LEGO’s ideas about “Playful learning” connected with a Grindsted’s desire to teach young musicians. The number of carillons is increasing in Denmark, but there is a lack of professional carillonneurs. This seems to be the situation other places in the carillon world too. At the same time the number of carillon students and the quality of musicality is growing in some areas. We want the World Carillon Congress 2029 to be an exchange of inspiration and knowledge to create a vibrant young carillon culture.
Congress programme
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Saturday 25 August
GRINDSTED
arrival
registration
get together
meetings
opening concert
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Sunday 26 August
GRINDSTED
Grinsted church
carillon concerts from the tower
church service with carillon + brasspresentations
The Nordic Travelling Carillon
congress concerts
guild concertsmeetings
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Monday 27 August
CARILLONNEURS ON TOUR
Danish Bell Museum
visit, lunch and guild concertsLøgumkloster Carillon
congress concert and guild concertsThe Scandinavian Carillon School
visit and presentationsLøgumkloster Church
travelling carillon + organ
evensongformal dinner and cultural events
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Tuesday 28 August
GRINDSTED
presentations
congress concerts
guild concerts
meetings
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Wednesday 29 August
CARILLONNEURS ON TOUR
Rohden Manour house
carillon + travelling carillon
open air lunchLegoland
visit and guided tourGrindsted
final meetings
formal dinner
farewell concert -
Post congress
Thursday 30 August – Saturday 1 September
visit and share concerts on some of the 31 carillons
in the Danish main areas Jutland, Funen or Zeelandattend masterclasses at The Scandinavian Carillon School
or choose to explore “Denmark in a Nutshell”
Grindsted
Denmark
Grindsted is first mentioned in the 14th century. For several centuries it was just a small, remote, distinctly moorland village. The construction of main roads, later the railway installations and culture development made Grindsted an important railway hub and town. Today it is the municipal seat and largest town of Billund Municipality and belongs to the Region of Southern Denmark. Grindsted just a few minutes drive from Billund International Airport and Legoland.
Denmark has a rather large number of carillons and chimes. During the recent years two large instruments has been added to the collection; Grindsted church with 61 bells and Løgumkloster carillon now enlarged to 73 bells. All these singing towers and the fact that one of very few carillon schools are located in Denmark, makes the country to an important and active carillon culture in the Nordic region.
Grindsted church
The first modest church on this site was built in the 12th century. It was extended around 1300, and again in the 16th century with the addition of a porch. Thus, the church has served as a gathering place for the local community for more than 900 years. Between 1921 and 1923 the church underwent a major transformation. In the early 20th century, Grindsted grew rapidly as an important railway hub with train lines stretching out in six different directions. At the same time, a spiritual revival swept through the region, and the need for a larger church became urgent. A new nave and tower were added, and with its impressive new appearance and scale, the church soon earned the nickname “The Cathedral of the Moors”.
The new carillon in Grindsted
Since 2005, the parish council has worked through several committees to realise the dream of installing a carillon in the spacious tower. The vision was ambitious, both in terms of size and quality. Plans changed along the way, and necessary approvals from the relevant authorities took time. In addition, it required extensive fundraising, relying entirely on charitable foundations and voluntary contributions. On March 23, 2024, the dream became reality. On this date the carillon was inaugurated, and today the town can delight in the sound of the largest carillon in the Nordic countries.
With 61 bells and a total bronze weight of 15,984 kg, the new carillon at Grindsted Church takes a distinguished first place among the elite of carillons — not only in Denmark, but also in the surrounding countries.
The Danish company Thubalka designed the bell frame and carried out the complete installation. Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry supplied the bells, baton keyboard, magnetic hammers and clappers.
The instrument spans 5 octaves, beginning with a bourdon bell Bb0 below the low C1, continuing with D1, and then chromatically up to c6. The largest bell weighs 3,300 kg and measures 176 cm in diameter. The carillon is non-transposing and tuned according to the unequal temperament “Neidhardt für das Dorf” (1732), giving the sound a special, almost golden character.
The playing cabin also contains a practice keyboard from Reinold van Zijl of the same standard as the carillon. The practice keyboard and the carillon console are placed so they can be operated from the same bench.
Carillon concerts can be experienced in the peaceful surroundings of the church. Inside the church, one can follow the carillonneur live on a TV screen wile listening. There is also access to the second-highest floor, where the performing carillonneur can be observed up close.
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Grindstedt Church
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Bells from Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry
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Installation by Thubalka bell company
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The tower is open for teaching and visits
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Practise, turn around and play
The Danish Bell Museum
The Danish Bell Museum was founded in 1991 with the purpose to collect, deepen and preserve the knowledge of bells culture through Danish history. More than 800 bells of all kinds, from large, old church bells and carillons to ship bells and animal bells from all over the world are collected in the museum. Visitors may touch, play and interact with almost everything in the museum. The museum has been expanded to include a foundry building where bronze bells are cast and may be purchased!
Løgumkloster
Løgumkloster town is located in the southern part of Denmark. It dates back to 1173 when the Abbey «Locus Dei» was founded and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. When the abbey was dissolved during the reformation, the church became the parish church of Løgumkloster.
Løgumkloster Carillon
The Løgumkloster carillon is a landmark and, as the carillon school, a well known instrument for carillonneurs. It has currently been renovated and expanded to 73 bells, transposing a minor third up. The inauguration took place 9 November 2025.
Løgumkloster Church
Løgumkloster Church was built in the period 1225-1325. Of the original 4 wings of the monastery, only the east wing (Chapter Hall and Dormitorium) and the north wing (church) remain today. The Church is considered to be among the most beautiful and significant church buildings from the Middle Ages of Denmark.
The Scandinavian Carillon School
Løgumkloster School of Church Music and the Scandinavian Carillon School is well known for many carillonneurs. The school teaches organ, singing, choral conduction and carillon. The carillon department covers the entire Nordic region and the teaching takes place mainly in Løgumkloster and Grindsted.
Rohden Manor House
While the story of most estates and manors is one of decay and decline, the story of Rohden is quite different. From being a series of farms under Rosenvold Castle in 1662, Rohden has grown to be a large and beautiful estate. The estate was in one family's possession for three generations, before it was sold to Anders Kirk Johansen in 2003, who has since been the owner of the place.
With its 48 bells, the carillon at Rhoden is the first concert carillon at a Danish manor house. The bells are cast at Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry and the installation is done by Thubalka bell company close by Rohden.
Legoland
Denmarks most famous and popular amusement park. In the early 1960s, LEGO products were so successful that more than 20,000 guests annually visited the factory in Billund. The many guests at the factory laid the foundation stone for the first LEGOLAND park, which opened in Billund in 1968.
Travelling to Grindsted
Billund International Airport (BLL) provides easy access to and from the world with direct routes to over 90 destinations. The distance from the airport to Grindsted is 15 km. It’s easy to travel between with public transport, taxi or shuttle bus.
Hotels and accommodation
Hotel Hedemarken ***
Hotel Legoland ****
The Logde Billund ****
The distance from Hotel Hedemarken to Grindsted is 2,5 km. The distance from Hotel Legoland and The Lodge Billund to Grindsted is 14 km. Public transport and shuttle busses are available.
Welcome to the 23rd Carillon Congress in Grindsted - Denmark
Grindsted Carillon Society
Chairman Regnar L. Jensen
Organist Eva Kirkegaard
Carillonneur Peter Langberg
Nordic Society of Campanology and Carillon
President Vegar Olav Sandholt
Treasurer Povl Christian Balslev
Secretary Karsten Hermansen