Postcard from Hirtshals

The SURGE team kicked off the Danish leg of fieldwork in Hirtshals. Hirtshals is a coastal town in Northern Jutland. Historically a fishing town, Hirtshals is home to one of Denmark’s largest transport ports. The town lies along the coast, with cliffs and sandy dunes separating it from the ocean. From our conversations with residents, the port, the ocean, and the lighthouse emerged as important symbols of Hirtshals’ past, present, and future.

Many of the residents we spoke to mentioned the weather in Hirtshals, often saying: “When the wind isn’t blowing, it’s storming” (“Når det ikke blæser, så stormer det”). The ocean, rough winds, and breaking waves emerged not as matters of concern for most residents we met, but rather as facts of life in Hirtshals. Residents seemed to view the ocean, the weather, and the wind as integral parts of the town’s identity. The ocean had always been there, and for many, it was simply something they knew how to live with. It was just part of everyday life.