Hirtshals
Encyclopedia
Hirtshals is a town in Hjørring
municipality
in Region Nordjylland
on the north coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy
at the top of the Jutland
peninsula in northern Denmark
, Europe
.
, it is especially known for its fishing and ferry harbours.
It is the home of one of the largest aquarium
s in Europe, the Nordsøen Oceanarium
. It was built in 1984 as Nordsømuseet, The Norths Sea Museum. It got its present name after it was expanded in 1998 with a fish tank containing 4,5 million liters of water, making it the largest in northern Europe. The Oceanarium has 70 different species in its collection. A fire in December 2003 destroyed the new expansion, but the Nordsøen Oceanarium
was rebuilt and reopened on July 22, 2005.
The town's 35 meter high lighthouse
, Hirtshals fyr is a local landmark. Building was begun June 28, 1860, and it was first lit on January 1, 1863. It is constructed of red brick, and covered with Dutch tile.
Fishing plays a big role for the town and its inhabitants, as does tourism and the renting of summer homes
.
Hirtshals is the Danish hometown for the Norwegian ferry company, Color Line. Each year thousands of Norwegian, German and Dutch tourists travel back and forth from Hirtshals to the Norwegian cities of Kristiansand
and Larvik
. Previously, Color Line also offered trips to Bergen
, Stavanger
and Oslo
, but decided to stop operating these routes in early 2008. Another ferry operator, Fjord Line
now operates a route that goes to Bergen
and Stavanger
. It has also been possible since the autumn 2010 to travel to Torshavn
on the Faroe Islands
and to Seyðisfjörður
on Iceland
with Smyril Line
. The shops in Hirtshals thrive on the excessive number of especially its Norwegian visitors, who shop regularly in the small town all year long.
: kommune) in North Jutland County
. The municipality covered an area of 196 km² (76 sq mi), and had a total population of 14,088 (2005). Besides Hirtshals, it covered the villages Tornby, Vidstrup, Asdal, Tuen, Bindslev, Tversted, Emmersbæk, Lilleheden and Horne. Its last mayor was Knud Størup (independent).
Hirtshals municipality ceased to exist due to Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with existing Hjørring
, Løkken-Vrå
, and Sindal
municipalities to form an enlarged Hjørring municipality. This created a municipality with an area of 92 km² (36 sq mi) and a total population of ca. 67,816.
http://www.skagafm.dk/ The Skaga FM official website (Mainly in Danish, but offers German tourist radio during the summer)
Hjørring
Hjørring Municipality is a municipality in North Denmark Region on the west coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 929,58 km², making it the largest in Vendsyssel, and it has a total population of 67,121...
municipality
Municipalities of Denmark
This is a list of Municipalities of Denmark.-Region Hovedstaden:* Albertslund Municipality* Allerød Municipality* Ballerup Municipality* Bornholm Regional Municipality* Brøndby Municipality* Copenhagen Municipality* Dragør Municipality* Egedal Municipality...
in Region Nordjylland
Region Nordjylland
North Denmark Region or North Jutland Region is an administrative region of Denmark established on January 1, 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which replaced the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger...
on the north coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy
Vendsyssel-Thy
The North Jutlandic Island , Vendsyssel-Thy, or simply Jutland north of the Limfjord are lesser-used names for the northernmost part of Denmark and of Jutland. It is more common to refer to the three traditional districts Vendsyssel, Hanherred and Thy...
at the top of the Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
peninsula in northern Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The town of Hirtshals
The town of Hirtshals has a population of 6,194 (1 January 2011). Located on the SkagerrakSkagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
, it is especially known for its fishing and ferry harbours.
It is the home of one of the largest aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s in Europe, the Nordsøen Oceanarium
Nordsøen Oceanarium
Nordsøen Oceanarium is a public aquarium and museum that opened in 1998 on the shores of the North Sea in Hirtshals, north Jutland, Denmark. It is the largest public aquarium in Northern Europe....
. It was built in 1984 as Nordsømuseet, The Norths Sea Museum. It got its present name after it was expanded in 1998 with a fish tank containing 4,5 million liters of water, making it the largest in northern Europe. The Oceanarium has 70 different species in its collection. A fire in December 2003 destroyed the new expansion, but the Nordsøen Oceanarium
Nordsøen Oceanarium
Nordsøen Oceanarium is a public aquarium and museum that opened in 1998 on the shores of the North Sea in Hirtshals, north Jutland, Denmark. It is the largest public aquarium in Northern Europe....
was rebuilt and reopened on July 22, 2005.
The town's 35 meter high lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
, Hirtshals fyr is a local landmark. Building was begun June 28, 1860, and it was first lit on January 1, 1863. It is constructed of red brick, and covered with Dutch tile.
Fishing plays a big role for the town and its inhabitants, as does tourism and the renting of summer homes
Summer colony
The term summer colony is often used, particularly in the United States and Canada, to describe well-known resorts and upper-class enclaves, typically located near the ocean or mountains of New England or the Great Lakes...
.
Hirtshals is the Danish hometown for the Norwegian ferry company, Color Line. Each year thousands of Norwegian, German and Dutch tourists travel back and forth from Hirtshals to the Norwegian cities of Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
and Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
. Previously, Color Line also offered trips to Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, but decided to stop operating these routes in early 2008. Another ferry operator, Fjord Line
Fjord Line
Fjord Line is a Norwegian ferry operator offering services between Norway and Denmark. In addition to passenger transport, Fjord line operates cargo transport through its cargo division in Norway and Denmark.-History:Fjord Line was founded in 1993...
now operates a route that goes to Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
and Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. It has also been possible since the autumn 2010 to travel to Torshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
on the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
and to Seyðisfjörður
Seyðisfjörður
Seyðisfjörður is a town and municipality in the Eastfjords of Iceland at the innermost point of the fjord of the same name.As of January 2011, the town has 668 inhabitants....
on Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
with Smyril Line
Smyril Line
Smyril Line is a Faroese shipping company, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland, previously, it also served Norway and the United Kingdom. Smyril is the Faroese word for the merlin....
. The shops in Hirtshals thrive on the excessive number of especially its Norwegian visitors, who shop regularly in the small town all year long.
Hirtshals municipality
Until January 1, 2007, Hirtshals was also a municipality (DanishDanish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
: kommune) in North Jutland County
North Jutland County
North Jutland County is a former county in northern Denmark. It was located on the eastern half of Vendsyssel-Thy and the northernmost part of the Jutland peninsula. It was the largest county in Denmark, but with a relatively low population. The county seat was Aalborg, Denmark's fourth largest...
. The municipality covered an area of 196 km² (76 sq mi), and had a total population of 14,088 (2005). Besides Hirtshals, it covered the villages Tornby, Vidstrup, Asdal, Tuen, Bindslev, Tversted, Emmersbæk, Lilleheden and Horne. Its last mayor was Knud Størup (independent).
Hirtshals municipality ceased to exist due to Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with existing Hjørring
Hjørring
Hjørring Municipality is a municipality in North Denmark Region on the west coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 929,58 km², making it the largest in Vendsyssel, and it has a total population of 67,121...
, Løkken-Vrå
Løkken-Vrå
Until January 1, 2007 Løkken-Vrå was a municipality in North Jutland County on the northwest coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 181 km², and hads a total population of 8,828 . Its last mayor was Knud...
, and Sindal
Sindal
Sindal is a town with a population of 3,081 and a former municipality in Hjørring municipality in Region Nordjylland on the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark...
municipalities to form an enlarged Hjørring municipality. This created a municipality with an area of 92 km² (36 sq mi) and a total population of ca. 67,816.
Local Climate
The Sea Level
The sea level has been as high as 1 meter over the norm. But in days where there is no wind, the waves typically won't be higher than max 20 cm (8 in) over normal sea level.Air Temperature (Celsius)
The air in Hirtshals can be foggy sometimes, because of the seawater, which vaporizes. In the winter, the air temperature can fall as low as 1.6 degrees, but in the summer, it can reach over 25 degrees Celsius.Waves periods
Hirtshals Havnekontor (The local Office of the open sea) do have a meter, who measures how many seconds there is between to waves. It has been between 0.5 sec. up to about 9 seconds all year.Waveheights
The waves can be high in Hirtshals, but the normal wave heights are about 2-2.5 meters, according to the Harbour Office.Force of the Wind
The force of the wind in Hirtshals varies. During some winter days it could easily top out at 10 m/s, and in the summer it's much more calm, but there can be strong winds.Links to Hirtshals Weather
- Hirtshals Havnekontor Weathermeasurings, updates every minute (Only in metric)
- DMI Hirtshals (Only in metric)'
- Weather-Forecast.com Hirtshals (Metric & Imperial)
Webcams of Hirtshals Harbour
- 2 Webcams on Hirtshals Harbour
- The first one on the page is Pier II, and the second is Frontbassin towards northeast.
Local Radio
- Skaga FM, formerly known as Radio Hirtshals, is a local radio station that plays domestic and foreign hits from the 80s, 90s and onwards, and reports on current events happening within the municipality of HjørringHjørringHjørring Municipality is a municipality in North Denmark Region on the west coast of the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 929,58 km², making it the largest in Vendsyssel, and it has a total population of 67,121...
. MHz: 105,6 FM.
http://www.skagafm.dk/ The Skaga FM official website (Mainly in Danish, but offers German tourist radio during the summer)
- Since the early year 2010, local ferry operator Color Line (serves two ferry routes between Hirtshals and NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
) have had their own radio station, Color Radio, that plays popular songs from mostly the 80's and 90's. Also it gives travelers from Hirtshals to NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
informations about the next departure, and when check-in closes. The radio can be listened to all over Hirtshals town, and from the motorway roundabout near Aabyen at the E39. MHz: 95,3 FM.