Open Heath takes place on Kallesmærsk Heath between Blåvand and Vejers, where the Army opens Oksbøl Shooting and Training Area to the public for a day. This is not a polished exhibition hall, but a heathland with military equipment, engine noise and wide open distances as the setting.
Visitors can experience modern artillery, mortars and tanks both as displayed vehicles and in action. Many of the vehicles are open to the public, so children and adults can get closer to the machines than they would at a regular museum.
The day’s most striking moment comes late in the day, when there is live firing with tanks and self-propelled artillery. Oksbøl Armoured Vehicle and Artillery Museum also takes part with historical weapons and vehicles, creating a clear contrast between old equipment and modern firepower.
This is an experience where sound is part of the content. Hearing protection is not decoration, especially not for children, and dogs must be out of the area well before the live firing starts.
Kallesmærsk Heath is not a place where you can simply roam freely. Parts of the area are permanently closed because of unexploded shells and ammunition debris, and access depends on the Armed Forces’ cordons. The open day is therefore also a look into a landscape that is normally kept at a distance.
