About
Denmark is widely known as the Hawaii of Europe. Ok, not really, but one stretch of coastline in North Jutland has earned the nickname "Cold Hawaiʻi," as well as a reputation as one of the hottest surfing scenes on the continent. Cold Hawaiʻi is a loosely defined area that spans from Agger to Hanstholm, with a coastline that includes Thy National Park and the town of Klitmøller, which has become the unofficial headquarters of Denmark’s growing surf culture.
Klitmøller is a modest fishing village of about 1,000 inhabitants. Due to its location on the North Sea, and because of two reefs nearby, big winds and waves ideal for surfing conditions are created. Despite harsh conditions (Cold Hawaiʻi is one the same latitude as Alaska!), the waves drew in windsurfers, kite surfers, and well, regular surfers of course. When athletes began flocking to the area in the 1990s, it took the locals some time to warm up to its newfound reputation as a surf colony. But today the town regularly hosts various water sports championships and also has a surf school called Cold Hawaii Surf Camp.
Know Before You Go
Klitmøller is the unofficial capital of Cold Hawaii, but there are various places to enjoy surfing and water sports in the area. If you need to fly, Aalborg is the closest airport. From there, hiring a car is advisable but public transport is possible, while lengthy. Cold Hawaii Surf Camp has a useful website providing advice on what time of the year is best for water sports.
Published
March 31, 2022
