Gilleleje is a lively tourist-, shopping- and fishingtown with with Zealand's biggest fishing port as its natural center. Gilleleje is situated in Gribskov municipality at the northernmost point of Zealand, Gilbjerg Hoved.

The town has managed to preserve many of the narrow streets and old thatched roof houses of the original fishing hamlet.

Besides being an active fishing port Gilleleje every year attracts a large number of tourists. The many fine Blue Flag beaches of the Kattegat Coast, the beautiful nature and the vicinity to Copenhagen makes Gilleleje an attractive destination.

As a commercial centre, Gilleleje offers a wide range of shopping possibilities whose quality is more than a match for far larger towns.
Furthermore the town stages an impressive number of cultural events during the season: The "Bakkefest" Summer Festival, The Harbour Festival, Jazz at the Harbour Festival, "Kunst i Filet'en" art exhibition, the open workshop art festival "Kunstrunden" etc.

Historical facts:

The name Gilleleje derives from the word "gil" which in old norse means cleft, and "leje" which means fishing hamlet. Settlements can be traced back to the 16th. century.

During World War II, in October 1943, Gilleleje was departuring harbour for more than 1000 Danish Jews fleeing from the Nazi's. Local citizens helped hiding the refugees until the fishermen were able to sail them across Øresund to neutral Sweden.