The Danish Coast

 

Denmark’s coastscape has shaped life and identity in Denmark in several ways. One of these ways is through the industry of fishing, as the people of Denmark have used their coastal areas heavily for this purpose both in modern times and throughout history. Despite Denmark’s small size, it is the fifth biggest exporter of fish in the world, and the largest in Europe. The coastal towns still retain their fishing identity, as the ports are active and packed with both new and historical vessels, and the Danish fish, such as the popular herring, are sold to locals and tourists alike in these beach towns. Below, a historic work vessels is displayed, showing how the Danes take pride in their identity as fish exporters.

 

 

 

We visited on of these towns today, called Gillelej, which has the fifth biggest fishing port in Denmark, to see the industry still at work as a crucial part of their society. Below is an image of the port, which is heavily used daily.

 

Much like the kolonihavn created during times of industrialization, the coast was also used as a way to escape from the dirty, polluted urban environment. Many people began to build summerhouses along the northern coasts of Zealand and in Jutland around the nineteenth century. At first these were difficult to obtain without some wealth, but by the turn of the twentieth century, the middle class was also able to use these summerhouses as a recreational resource as they were made more affordable to all. They are still used today as an important element of Danish lifestyle, as Danes of a variety of income levels often spend up to six months out of the year staying in these summer houses, enjoying the beauty of the coast and escaping the urban lifestyle. Some of these summer houses can be seen below from Gillelej.