Christiansø

As the administrative manager of Christiansø, Jens Peter Koefoed has many roles. Owned by the Danish Ministry of Defence, the island is not part of any municipality, and its special status means that everything from ensuring law and order to managing the local guesthouse, which is coincidentally the old prison, is in the hands of Koefoed. The 52-yearold former military man, who moved to Christiansø from Bornholm in January this year, has quickly become entranced by the island’s special way of life. “It’s a completely unique atmosphere out here. When you arrive, you immediately get this sense of tranquillity and peace. People just automatically slow down and get into the pace of the island,” he says.