Hvide Fyr
Fyrvej 2, 9990 Skagen, Denmark
Name and Location
Hvide Fyr, also known as The White Lighthouse, is located in Skagen, Frederikshavn Municipality, North Denmark Region, Denmark. Its address is Fyrvej 2, 9990 Skagen.
Construction and History
The Hvide Fyr was erected in 1747 during the reign of King Christian VI and served as one of Denmark's oldest surviving coastal lights until its decommissioning in 1858. The lighthouse played a crucial role in guiding shipping into the Kattegat and around the northern tip of Jutland.
Architecture and Materials
The Hvide Fyr is an austere classical-style masonry lighthouse, constructed using locally quarried bricks set in lime mortar and whitewashed to create a striking white exterior. The tower has a cylindrical shaft with a gallery beneath the lantern room, standing 21 meters above ground level.
Light and Navigation
Originally lit by a coal or wood-fired brazier, later replaced by an oil wick, the lighthouse's light characteristic was flaring static white without rotation. Its nominal range was sufficient to be seen 10-12 nautical miles offshore.
Accessibility and Visiting
The Hvide Fyr is managed by the Skagen By- og Egnsmuseum (part of Nordjyllands Historiske Museum) and is open seasonally from April to October. Guided tours are available, introducing visitors to 18th-century lighthouse technology and coastal life.
Notable Views and Landscape
Perched on low coastal dunes, the Hvide Fyr overlooks sandy beaches leading northeast toward Grenen (the tip of Jutland). On a clear day, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Skagerrak strait, shipping lanes, and migrating seabirds.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Local fishermen once believed that the lighthouse's keeper's lamp warded off sudden squalls, earning it the nickname "the White Light." Anecdotal records also tell of a loyal dog named Lumi whose barking reportedly saved a shipwrecked crew in 1823 by alerting neighbors to distress signals on the beach.
Technical and Operational Details
The Hvide Fyr never had automated lighting; instead, it was manned by a keeper and assistants until its decommissioning. The original light source was coal or wood-fired, later replaced by an oil wick.
Further Information
For more information, visit the Skagen By- og Egnsmuseum website at https://nordmus.dk/skagen-museum/.
Details
| Name | Hvide Fyr |
|---|---|
| City | Skagen |
| Country | Denmark |
| Coordinates | 57.7290526, 10.6067281 |
| Year of construction | 1747 |
| Events | anecdotal records tell of the keeper’s dog, loyal ‘Lumi,’ whose barking reputedly saved a shipwrecked crew in 1823 by alerting neighbors to distress signals on the beach. |
| Historic significance | one of Denmark’s oldest surviving coastal lights |
| Stories | local fishermen once spoke of ‘the White Light’ as a benign guardian spirit—believing that its keeper’s lamp warded off sudden squalls. |
| Architectural style | mid-18th-century Danish masonry lighthouse, austere classical proportions |
| Construction material | locally quarried bricks set in lime mortar, whitewashed exterior |
| Focal height | 25 |
| Tower height | 21 |
| Access description | open seasonally (April–October), admission fee applies. Guided tours introduce visitors to 18th-century lighthouse technology and coastal life. |
| Accessible | true |
| Parking | true |
| Landscape type | coastal dunes |
| View description | panoramas of the Skagerrak strait, shipping lanes, and migrating seabirds |
| Guided tours | true |
| Facilities | small exhibition hall, on-site parking, picnic area |
| Opening hours | open seasonally (April–October) |
| Nearby attractions | Den Tilsandede Kirke (the Sand-Drowned Church ruins); Skagen Museum; the artists’ quarter around Brøndums Hotel. |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | flaring static white—no rotating apparatus was installed before decommissioning |
| Light range | "10–12 nautical miles offshore" |
| Automated | false |