Karlshamn's beautiful archipelago extends from the western municipal border to Sweden’s southeastern corner. This group of islands is called Hällaryd’s archipelago and consists of 270 scenic islands of different sizes with stone or rocky beaches and meadows. Joggesö, Ekö, Hallö, Östra Bokö and Fölsö are the names of some of the islands. The largest in the archipelago is Tärnö. The archipelago boats visit most islands, starting at the archipelago terminal in the city centre across from First Hotel. Boats also depart from Matvik and Järnavik.

This one-of-a-kind nature reserve is filled with deciduous forest, seaweed belts, pines and a bloomy open ground that borders a waterfilled quarry. It also showcases the rugged beauty of Karlshamn's granite and coastal gneiss. Rich in history, the land areas harbour ancient and cultural monuments, including a Stone Age settlement, graves, and stone burials from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Notably, remnants of the Per Albin Line, a 500 km long defensive line from the Second World War, add historical significance to the reserve. Submerged in the water area around Sternö and Boön, several shipwrecks contribute to the reserve's maritime allure.

Kastellet, a fortress island situated just off the port entrance of Karlshamn, stands as a testament to historical conflicts during the 17th-century feuds with the Danish. Beyond its historical significance, Kastellet provides the picturesque backdrop for a beloved local theatre performance held during the summer months. Accessible by boat from the inner harbour in Karlshamn during the summer season, Kastellet invites exploration and appreciation of its rich history and scenic allure.

The village of Nuenen is also known as Van Gogh Village, and rightly so. There isn’t a place in the Netherlands where you can tread in the footsteps of this famous painter quite so literally. Here, stories about Van Gogh are still vividly told, his letters are available for reading, and there are no fewer than fourteen locations which have been immortalised by Van Gogh in a picture or a painting. Experiencing Van Gogh’s life in the Netherlands so intensely is not possible anywhere else. “The museum is a gem” In the Vincentre museum you will hear all about Van Gogh and read his own stories about Nuenen, where he lived and worked from 1883 to 1885. Who was he, how did he live, who did he socialise with, and why was he so passionate about Nuenen? It will all become clear during an educational tour with an audio guide in no fewer than eight languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Chinese. In the village itself, no fewer than 23 locations have a direct link with Van Gogh. Together, they form a walking and cycling route with interactive informational signs in Dutch and English. From The Potato Eaters to The Starry Night The Potato Eaters is based on a scene that Van Gogh saw at the house of a peasant family in Nuenen. It literally comes to life in theatre Het Klooster. The world famous designer Daan Roosegaarde designed, based on Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, the now famous and unique Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path, for which thousands of twinkling stones were incorporated in the asphalt. This cycle path, between Nuenen and the nearby city of Eindhoven, is part of the Van Gogh Cycle Route. Heritage locations in Brabant This cycle route connects the five Van Gogh heritage locations in Brabant, which of course include Nuenen. You won’t get any closer to Van Gogh than this. Or, as one of our enthusiastic guests wrote about Nuenen: “The same view that Van Gogh had!” Come and experience the place in which Van Gogh was inspired by the rural Brabant countryside, easily accessible at no more than ten kilometres away from Eindhoven, city of technology and design.