Touristguide

Skodbjerge og Haurvig

Skodbjerge and Haurvig are next on our route. Haurvig gained its name from an inlet formed where the fjord was once open to the sea, while Skodbjerge probably means steep dunes.

An old wooden landmark towers over a tall dune on the left hand or seaward side of the road at Haurvig. Such landmarks or båker were built around 1880 to assist fishing boats and other ships in navigation. Holmsland Klit used to have three båker, all in wood and painted red. Each had its own top marker. The marks were shown in navigational charts thus making it possible for ships to make landfall by them.

Towards the fjord, on the right hand side of the road, we see the church Haurvig Kirke. This beautiful white-washed church building with its red tiled roof rises out of the open almost untouched landscape. Haurvig Church was built in 1869 and restored in 1947, on which occasion it acquired a new bell. The old bell was given to the Danish church community in Kappeln in south Schleswig (a special folder on local churches is available from the Tourist Bureau). Behind the church is a tiny pleasant fjord harbour known among locals as Kirkehavnen.

The old bell was given to the Danish church community in Kappeln in south Schleswig (a special folder on local churches is available from the Tourist Bureau). Behind the church is a tiny pleasant fjord harbour known among locals as Kirkehavnen. From Haurvig Kirke, Abelines Gaard, the attractive old farm of the local receiver of wrecks, is visible on the right side of the road.

Abelines Gaard

Abelines Gaard was built in 1854-1871 and is a typical example of West Jutland architecture. The builder was the receiver of wrecks Christen Christensen and his wife Kristine. In 1895 their son Laurids Jørgen Christensen took over the farm. His wife was Abeline Sørensen. Abeline was born on the neighbouring farm as the fourth of 18 children. Laurids died in 1904 from pulmonary tuberculosis, leaving his widow Abeline with five children aged 6-13 years, herself being then only 34. For 53 years, Abeline continued to work the farm, first with hired help and later with the aid of four of her children. She died in 1957 at the age of 87. Abeline was also manager of Haurvig telephone exchange and held the obligations of a receiver of wrecks which were tied to the farm.

A receiver of wrecks must survey the coast and report any event along the coast. Any wreckage stranded on the coast must be stored until its sale in an auction can be arranged.

In 1974 the property was bought by a private foundation and established as a local museum of the lives of the family of a West Jutland receiver of wrecks in the days before the intrusion of modern life after World War II. Some of the furnishings go back to Abeline’s time; others are donations. In the east end of the farmhouse, where wrecked sailors used to be accommodated, there is now a pleasant little coffee shop. The barn houses changing exhibitions, all related to the farm and the region. Many activities take place at the farm during the summer season: amber polishing, netting etc.

A folder with the complete activities programme is available from the Tourist Office. In 1996, the farm was awarded the prestigious European restoration of historic buildings prize, Europa Nostra.

Haurvig Redningsstation

West of Abelines Gaard stands the old life-saving station, Haurvig Redningsstation. The lifeboat was kept here, while rocket equipment was stored in a small adjacent building. Many ships were wrecked along the West Jutland coast in the past, also here at Holmsland Klit. An example is the bark the Elisabeth Rickmers of Bremerhaven, wrecked at Haurvig in 1894 straight out from Abeline’s home. It was heading for Cardiff where it was to take on a load of coal for Singapore. At Singapore it was to take on a load of rice for the voyage back to Bremen or Bremerhaven. But the voyage ended here in Haurvig. Fortunately, all men were saved and they were quartered at Abelines Gaard. Objects are still found at the farm stemming from this particular ship.

Aargab

We are again heading north, towards Aargab. The name means the far gap and refers to a channel formed where the sea has forced its way through to the fjord. Indeed, the forces of nature have always been awesome out here - and fascinating.

Aargab has a waterland. And if you should happen to wonder at the long low-slung buildings to the east of the road, they may well be mink farms. High quality mink are farmed at Holmsland Klit, and you will also find large trout farms in the area.

Navigation Marks

In Aargab, another of the old landmarks rises high above the dunes just outside Hvide Sande. When spotting it at sea, ships would know that they were now outside Aargab. This was before the age of technology.

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