On Saturday, September 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Strandesplanaden in Brøndby Strand will be transformed into a long, festively set table as residents, organizations, and neighbors gather for a historic communal meal called “The Longest Table.” The evening will highlight the joy of food, community, and new green eating habits.
The event marks the start of the major food project *The Longest Table*, which is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with 6 million Danish kroner and developed in collaboration with Claus Meyer, Meyers Madhus, the Municipality of Brøndby, and the business-oriented foundation Democracy X.
Claus Meyer has high hopes for the project:
“Brøndby is the first municipality to serve as an incubator for a project of this magnitude. We dream that, two years from now, thousands of residents will be able to say, ‘We like vegetables more than we used to.’ And we want to share that realization with our neighbors, family, and friends,” he says.
Green food as a driving force for community
The project will run for two years and is one of the largest green food experiments in Danish history. The goal is to inspire citizens, organizations, and businesses to prepare and eat greener food together—for the benefit of the climate, health, and local communities.
Meyers Madhus therefore hopes that the Langborg dinner will be the starting point for something bigger:
“With this long-table dinner, we want to celebrate the strong sense of community in Brøndby. The dinner, where local food initiatives and private individuals provide the food, is literally a taste of the wonderful hospitality that already exists in Brøndby. It’s a kickoff to get more things going—green culinary experiences and shared dining experiences as a catalyst for a healthier, more sustainable, and meaningful life. We at Det Længste Bord would like to help with that—and we’re calling on everyone to join us,” says Nina Sindballe, program director at Meyers Madhus.
Mayor Maja Højgaard highlights the project's local roots:
“At Det Længste Bord, we show what Brøndby’s communities are capable of. It’s much more than just a meal. It’s the starting point for new communities, friendships, and a greener everyday life. It’s the starting point for a new way of coming together over food in Brøndby, where we’re inspired by and learn from each other’s differences, so that those differences become a strength. I’m proud that Brøndby is leading the way in making communal dining both a celebration and a catalyst for change.”
New hosts for community dinners
To strengthen the project, Democracy X will train local participants in hospitality and community leadership. Director Rune Baastrup emphasizes
“We shouldn’t force healthy food on anyone. On the contrary, we build on the communities’ own wishes and sense of initiative. Many people want to live healthier lives and protect the climate—and when we build on people’s genuine motivation, new eating habits can spread quickly.”
"The Longest Table" is also being held that same evening in Svendborg and Faaborg, but in Brøndby, "The Longest Table" also marks the start of a larger food project.
