Naturpark Lillebælt

Name

Naturpark Lillebælt

Legal name

Naturpark Lillebælt

Website

https://naturparklillebaelt.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Park and Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Marine ecosystem restoration
• Nature park services
• Environmental education programs
• Stone reef installation
• Fish nursery habitats

Headquarters

HQ city

Middelfart

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Municipal and Government Funding: Naturpark Lillebælt is financed through contributions from Fredericia, Kolding, and Middelfart municipalities. The municipalities must finance projects and pay for marking systems. This is the primary funding mechanism as the nature park is a municipal collaboration rather than a commercial entity.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: The nature park receives significant funding from various foundations including Havnaturfonden and Den Danske Naturfond (9.8 million DKK for marine restoration), Nordea-fonden (for mussel reefs, scout badge, Blå Bånd project), and Velux Fonden (for biohuts). The Danish Outdoor Council provides some support. Funding also received from EU through Den Europæiske Regionalfond for Middelfart Marina development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Naturpark Lillebælt is Denmark's largest nature park (approximately 370 km², 70% sea) operating as a municipal collaboration between Fredericia, Kolding, and Middelfart. Its core offerings include marine ecosystem restoration projects (stone reefs, biohuts, mussel reefs, smolt reefs), nature education programs for schools and daycares, guided tours led by local guides, and visitor experiences including diving, hiking, and porpoise watching. The park is funded through municipal budgets, foundation grants, and government support, with experience bookings handled through the Place2book platform.

Product overview

Naturpark Lillebælt is Denmark's largest nature park (approximately 370 km², 70% sea) and the first and largest marine nature park in the country, established as a collaboration between Fredericia, Kolding, and Middelfart municipalities. The nature park operates as a unified platform combining nature conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education. The core offering centers on the Bælt i Balance (Belt in Balance) umbrella project, which encompasses marine habitat restoration products including Biohuts (fish nurseries), Smoltrev (smolt reefs), Torskestenrev (cod stone reefs), biogenic reefs, and interpretation stone reefs at the Old Little Belt Bridge. Supporting offerings include guided tours and booking services, Naturrum (Nature Rooms) with themed visitor centers, Lokale Guider (Local Guides) for specialized experiences, Spejdermærket (Scout Badge) educational programs, underwater cameras for marine observation, Middelfart Marina as a visitor hub, and REBOOT Nature regenerative activities. The nature park is certified by the Danish Outdoor Council (Dansk Naturpark) and features a Code of Conduct for responsible porpoise watching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bælt i Balance: A major project focused on improving the marine environment in the Little Belt through fish population restoration, volunteer agreements with anglers, and various marine habitat restoration initiatives including stone reefs, biohuts, and smolt reefs.
• Kolding Stenbank
• Biohuts / Fiskebørnehaver

Quantifiable outcome

• Biohuts showed approximately double the number of small cod, double the number of sea scorpion fish, and three times the number of tompot blenny compared to areas without fish nurseries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sund Fjord VejlecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Sund Vejle Fjord is a partner in the 9.8 million DKK marine restoration project. The project establishes stone reefs and biogenic reefs as ecological connections between Naturpark Lillebælt and Vejle Fjord.
• Syddansk Universitet (SDU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Partner in the 9.8 million DKK marine restoration grant. SDU researchers, including Professor Mogens Flindt, contribute knowledge and data collection for the project studying ecological connections between Vejle Fjord, Svanegrunden, and Lillebælt.
• EcoceancoreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2022Ecocean is a French company from Marseille that invented biohuts in 2012. They installed 56 biohuts at 7 locations in Naturpark Lillebælt. Their technology uses cages filled with oyster shells to create fish nursery ecosystems in harbors.
• Fredericia KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the three founding municipalities of Naturpark Lillebælt. Fredericia Municipality contributes to marine restoration projects, hosts the Kanalbyen nature room, and has established biogenic reefs in Vejle Fjord as part of the Sund Vejle Fjord project.
• Kolding KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the three founding municipalities of Naturpark Lillebælt. Kolding hosts the Kolding Stenbank at Kolding Havn and has established multiple stone reefs including at Løverodde, Skibelund, and Trappendal with a total of 8,500 tons of stone.
• Middelfart KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the three founding municipalities of Naturpark Lillebælt and host of the secretariat. Middelfart Municipality has developed Middelfart Marina as a hotspot, established interpretive stone reefs, and hosts underwater camera installations.
• Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund (Kysthjælperne)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKysthjælperne from Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund provided advice and guidance on mussel hobby cultivation reefs, having previously established similar line systems in Aarhus-bugten.
• Friluftsrådet (Danish Outdoor Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriluftsrådet developed the Danske Naturparker badge initiative and approved Naturpark Lillebælt. They provide training for local guides, support for nature room projects, and coordinate the national nature park network.
• DTU AquacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTU Aqua researchers study the effects of smolt reefs and cod stone reefs on fish populations in Lillebælt. They analyze video footage and conduct field research with volunteer support.
• Aarhus UniversitetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Advisor Jens Würgler Hansen from Aarhus Universitet provides expertise on oxygen depletion and marine conditions in the Little Belt. Contributed to the Code of Conduct for whale tourism.
• Sund Vejle Fjord ProjektcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSund Vejle Fjord project inspired the establishment of the first biogenic reef in Naturpark Lillebælt at Bøgeskov and Flansbæk. Provides experience and best practices for mussel bank restoration in Vejle Fjord.
• Houens Odde SpejdercenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouens Odde Spejdercenter is Northern Europe's largest scout center. Collaborates with Naturpark Lillebælt on the scout badge program with five different activities for children and young people. Hosts approximately 5,000 scouts from 14 countries annually.
• LAKORminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLAKOR is a sponsor of Kolding Stenbank, creating merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, posters) with a creative stone reef logo. All proceeds from sales go to Kolding Stenbank for marine biodiversity work.
• Kolding StenbankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKolding Stenbank is a collaborative project between Kolding Municipality and Naturpark Lillebælt that collects stones from citizens, farmers, and businesses for use in stone reef restoration. Located at Kolding Havn.
• Gl. Ålbo CampingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGl. Ålbo Camping collaborates with German universities for annual field diving courses. The new stone reef at Gl. Ålbo will serve both diving tourism and research purposes. Nominated for Dive Award at Boot Düsseldorf 2025.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Sund Fjord Vejle: Danish marine restoration project in Vejle Fjord, a partner with Naturpark Lillebælt on the 9.8M DKK grant. Comparable as a regional marine ecosystem restoration initiative with similar mussel reef and biogenic reef methodology.

Direct peers

• Nationalpark Mols Bjerge: Another Danish national park with similar visitor services, nature education, and recreation programming, operating under the same Danish national park framework governed by the Danish Outdoor Council.
• Nationalpark Thy: Denmark's first national park, established in 2008. A direct comparable state-designated nature park offering visitor experiences, recreation, and educational programs — though terrestrially focused rather than marine.
• Wadden Sea National Park (Vadehavet): Denmark's other flagship national park, focused on the Wadden Sea tidal ecosystem. Comparable as a Danish national park combining nature conservation, public visitor services, guided tours, and educational programming, with multiple municipal/state stakeholders.
• Øresund Marine National Park (planned): One of Denmark's first two marine national parks being designated alongside Lillebælt. The closest direct parallel as a sister marine national park, sharing the same political agreement and funding framework.
• Norfolk Wildlife Trust: UK regional wildlife trust operating nature reserves with visitor centers, educational programs, and conservation projects. Comparable as a regional nature conservation body combining habitat restoration, education, and public access.

Broad incumbents

• The Wildlife Trusts (UK): A UK network of 46 wildlife trusts operating nature reserves, education programs, and visitor experiences. Comparable scale and model as a federated nature conservation network with public-facing recreation and educational programming.
• Marine Stewardship Council: Global NGO working on marine sustainability standards and certifications. Comparable as a marine conservation organization with public-facing awareness, although operating on a much larger scale and different model.

Emerging players

• Ecocean: French company that invented biohuts (fish nurseries) and installed 56 units across Lillebælt's harbors. Comparable as a marine restoration technology provider deploying biohut infrastructure in protected marine areas.

Others

• Friluftsrådet (Danish Outdoor Council): The governing body that certifies Danish Nature Parks, including Naturpark Lillebælt. Comparable as the broader ecosystem organizer for Danish nature parks, training local guides and setting standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCq7Kw5JbZQjIsLjLj4QnLAA
• Facebookfacebook.com/naturparklillebaelt
• Instagraminstagram.com/naturparklillebaelt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naturpark-lilleb%C3%A6lt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Naturpark Lillebælt