Skagen

Skagen (The Skaw) is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in North Jutland County on the northernmost tip of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 143 km², and has a total population of 11,803 (2005). Its mayor is Hans Rex Christensen, a member of the Venstre (Liberal Party) political party.

Related Topics:
Municipality - Danish - Kommune - North Jutland County - Tip - Vendsyssel-Thy - Jutland - Denmark - Km² - Venstre - Political party

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The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Skagen.

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Neighboring municipalities are Hirtshals to the southwest, Sindal to the south, and Frederikshavn to the southeast. The spit of land on which the municipality is located stretches out to the northeast surrounded by the following waters:

Related Topics:
Hirtshals - Sindal - Frederikshavn

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• to the east is Ålbæk Bay (Ålbæk Bugt) and beyond that the waters of the Kattegat, the strait that separates Denmark from Sweden
• to the west is Tannis Bay (Tannis Bugt) and beyond that the waters of the Skagerrak, the strait that separates Denmark from Norway

The two straits, which are part of the Baltic Sea, meet to the north of the municipality at the headland known as Grenen.

Related Topics:
Baltic Sea - Grenen

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By January 1, 2007 Skagen municipality will cease to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It will be merged with existing Frederikshavn and Sæby municipalities to form the new Frederikshavn municipality. This will create a municipality with an area of 642 km² and a total population of 63,799 (2005). The new unicipality will belong to the new Region Nordjylland ("North Jutland Region").

Related Topics:
2007 - ''Kommunalreformen'' ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007) - Frederikshavn - Sæby - Km² - Region Nordjylland

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The area is extremely picturesque, and distinguished by its low, yellow houses with red tile roofs nestled into the beach areas. The impressive and wild landscape was largely formed by a severe process of desertification that hit the area in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Problems with moving dunes and desertification were brought under control in the latter 19th and early 20th centuries by large-scale plantations of grasses, bushes and fir trees. Two significant migratory dunes remain in the area, including the enormous Råbjerg milen.

Related Topics:
Dune - Råbjerg milen

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The area is closely associated with the Skagen Painters, a community of artists (artist colony), who flocked to this picturesque, and then unspoiled, area in the late 1800s to escape the city and to record artistically a way of life they realized was soon to disappear.

Related Topics:
Skagen Painters - Artist colony - 1800s

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The area continues to be a popular tourist destination visited by many people each year. A highlight of the year is the celebration of Midsummer Eve or St. John's Evening (Sankt Hans Aften) on the beach with blazing bonfire and song.

Related Topics:
Midsummer Eve - St. John

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Skagen: History ►