View source for Hirtshals

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Hirtshals
| nickname           =
| settlement_type    = Town
| image_skyline      = Hirtshals townscape.jpg
| image_caption      = Hirtshals
| pushpin_map            = Denmark#Denmark North Jutland Region
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Denmark
| image_map          =
| mapsize            =
| map_caption        =
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Denmark]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[North Denmark Region|North Denmark (''Nordjylland'')]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Hjørring Municipality|Hjørring]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]] of [[Hjørring Municipality]]
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1860, when the [[Lighthouse]] was built
| established_title2 = Incorporated (city)
| established_date2  = 1919-1931
| area_magnitude     =
| unit_pref          = metric
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_urban_km2     = 4.43
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| elevation_m        = 90
| elevation_ft       = 295.5
| population_as_of   = 1 January 2025
| population_footnotes= <ref name="BY3"/>
| population_urban   = 5,347
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title= Gender <ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY1?lang=en BY1: Population 1. January by urban areas, age and sex] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref>
| population_blank1= 2708 males and 2639 females   
| population_demonym  = Hirtshalsenser or Hirtshalsboer
| timezone           = [[Central European Time]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| timezone_DST       = European Summer Time
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = DK-9850 Hirtshals
| area_code          =
| coordinates        = {{coord|57|35|N|09|57|E|display=inline,title}}
| website            = [http://www.hjoerring.dk/ Hjørring Municipality]
| blank_name         =
| blank_info         =
| blank1_name        =
| blank1_info        =
}}
'''Hirtshals''' is a [[town]] and [[seaport]] on the [[coast of Skagerrak]] on the [[island]] of [[Vendsyssel-Thy]] at the top of the [[Jutland]] peninsula in northern [[Denmark]], [[Europe]]. It is located in [[Hjørring Municipality|Hjørring municipality]] in [[Region Nordjylland]]. The town of Hirtshals has a population of 5,347 (1 January 2025).<ref name="BY3">[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en BY3: Population 1. January by urban areas, area and population density] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref> Located on the [[Skagerrak]], it is especially known for its [[fishing port|fishing]] and [[ferry port|ferry]] [[harbour]]s.

== History ==

[[File:Nørregade, Hirtshals 2011.jpg|thumb|left|Shopping malls in Hirtshals]]
[[File:Hirtshals Kro, sept 2012, ubt 1.JPG|thumb|right|The ''Hirtshals Kro pub'' in the town centre.]]

The town of Hirtshals developed around the [[artificial harbour]] which was constructed between 1919 and 1931. In 1925, the [[Hirtshals Line|Hjørring-Hirtshals]] [[railway line]] opened to link the port of Hirtshals with the Danish rail network. In 1966, the harbour was expanded and became one of the largest [[fishing port]]s in Denmark. On 8 September 1989, [[Partnair Flight 394]] crashed off the coast of Hirtshals killing all 55 passengers on board making it the worst in Denmark's history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ap |date=1989-09-09 |title=Plane Crash Off Danish Coast Kills 55 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/09/world/plane-crash-off-danish-coast-kills-55.html |access-date=2024-05-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>   

Until 1 January 2007, Hirtshals was also the seat of [[Hirtshals Municipality]] which was merged with existing [[Hjørring Municipality|Hjørring]], [[Løkken-Vrå]], and [[Sindal]] municipalities to form an enlarged [[Hjørring Municipality]].

== Geography ==

Hirtshals is located on the [[sand]] and [[clay]] [[promontory]] ''Hirtshals'', overlooking the [[Skagerrak]] between the [[Jammer Bay]] and the [[Tannis Bay]]. The shoreline is backed by low [[cliff]]s, beneath which is a narrow and rocky [[beach]].

=== Cityscape ===

The town's 35-metre-high [[lighthouse]], ''Hirtshals fyr'', is a local landmark.  Building was begun on 28 June 1860, and it was first lit on 1 January 1863.  It is constructed of red brick and covered with Dutch tile.

=== Climate ===

[[File:Hirtshals DK 2005 by tsca 08.jpeg|thumb|left|The nature of Hirtshals: the beach, the cliffs, the North Sea and the history: the bunkers and the lighthouse.]]

{{Review|section|date=May 2010}}
[[File:Memorial to the crew of the Danish lifeboat RF2..jpg|thumb|upright|Memorial in Hirtshals to the crew of lifeboat RF 2, sunk in 1981.]]

The sea level has been{{when?|date=July 2021}} as high as 1 metre over the norm.{{what?|date=July 2021}} But in days where there is no wind, the waves typically will not be higher than maximum {{convert|20|cm|0|abbr=on}} over normal sea level.

Due to the proximity of the town to the coast, sea fog is not an uncommon occurrence. In the winter, the air temperature can fall as low as 1.6 degrees, but in the summer, it can reach over 25 degrees Celsius.<ref>[http://www.hirtshalshavn.dk/default.aspx?m=2&i=63 Hirtshals Havnekontor Weathermeasurings]</ref>

==== Waves ====

Hirtshals Havnekontor (Hirtshals' Harbour Office) keeps track of wave periods. Annual wave periods fluctuate between half a second, up to about 9 seconds. According to Hirtshals Havnekontor (Hirtshals' Harbour Office) normal wave heights are between 2 and 2.5 metres.

==== Wind ====

The prevailing wind in Hirtshals is to the south or south-west. Wind speeds vary all year long, usually topping at 10&nbsp;m/s during the winter.

== Economy ==
[[File:Maersk Guardian in Hirtshals, maj 2001 (ubt)-000.JPG|thumb|301px|[[Drilling rig]] [[Maersk|MAERSK]] GUARDIAN during renovation in Hirtshals]]
Fishing plays a big role for the town and its inhabitants, as does tourism and the renting of [[Summer colony|summer homes]].
Due to the ferry connections with [[Norway]], the shops in Hirtshals thrive on the large number of visitors, especially Norwegians, who shop in the small town all year long.
Hirtshals also provides good employment in manufacturing industries like ‘Jackson, Lilleheden and Scanvogn’.

== Culture ==
It is the home of one of the largest [[aquarium]]s in Europe, the [[Nordsøen Oceanarium]].  This was built in 1984 as Nordsømuseet, The North Sea Museum, and got its present name after it was extended in 1998 to include a fish tank containing 4.5 million litres of water, making it the largest in northern Europe. The Oceanarium has 70 different species in its collection. A fire in December 2003 destroyed the new extension, but it was rebuilt and reopened on 22 July 2005.

The 2014 Danish film ''[[The Sunfish]]'' is set in Hirtshals.

== Transportation ==
[[File:Hirtshals Havn 2009 2 ubt.JPG|thumb|Hirtshals Harbour]]
[[File:Norrøna and Bergensfjord outside Hirtshals 03.jpg|thumb|[[MS Norröna]] leaving Hirtshals while [[MS Bergensfjord (2013)|MS Bergensfjord]] is arriving.{{credit|Marius Vassnes}}]]

=== Port of Hirtshals ===

Hirtshals is the Danish terminal for the services of the Norwegian ferry company, [[Color Line (ferry operator)|Color Line]]. Each year thousands of tourists travel back and forth between Hirtshals and the Norwegian cities of [[Kristiansand]] and [[Larvik]]. Previously, [[Color Line (ferry operator)|Color Line]] also offered services to [[Bergen]], [[Stavanger]] and [[Oslo]], but decided to stop operating these routes in early 2008. Another ferry operator, [[Fjord Line]], now operates a route to [[Bergen]], [[Stavanger]], [[Kristiansand]] and [[Langesund]]. It has also been possible since autumn 2010 to travel to [[Tórshavn]] in the [[Faroe Islands]] and to [[Seyðisfjörður]] in [[Iceland]] with [[Smyril Line]]. The port has [[LNG]] facilities for the ferries,<ref>{{cite web |title=Fjord Line is rebuilding single-fuel LNG-ships to dual-fuel |url=https://www.shippax.com/en/news/fjord-line-is-rebuilding-single-fuel-lng-ships-to-dual-fuel.aspx |website=Shippax |language=en}}</ref> and hosts the first [[Wind power in Denmark|wind farm]] built without subsidies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Subsidy-Free Onshore Wind Gains Traction in Europe |url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/subsidy-free-onshore-wind-gathers-pace-in-europe |website=www.greentechmedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{youtube|IAHm92UEKn0|title=Hirtshals wind turbines}}</ref>

===Railway stations===
The [[Hirtshals railway line]] connects Hirtshals with Hjørring and the rest of the [[Rail transport in Denmark|Danish rail network]]. [[Hirtshals railway station]] is the principal railway station of the town. The town is also served by the [[halt (railway)|railway halt]]s [[Lilleheden halt|Lilleheden]] and [[Emmersbæk railway halt|Emmersbæk]].

==Notable people==
[[File:Danmarks utrikesminister Lene Espersen pa Nordiska Radets session i Reykjavik pa Island 2010-11-03.jpg|140px|thumb|Lene Espersen]]
* [[Niels Hausgaard]] (born 1944 in Hirtshals) singer, songwriter and comedian<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369573/  IMDb Database] retrieved 25 April 2020</ref>
* [[Kim Lynge Pedersen]] (born 1965 in Hirtshals) a Danish weightlifter, competed in the [[1992 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Lene Espersen]] (born 1965 in Hirtshals) former politician, [[Deputy Prime Minister]] 2008/2011
* [[Murder of Louise Jensen|Louise Jensen]] (1971 in Hirtshals – 1994) a tour guide working in Cyprus, murdered by three British soldiers 
* [[Simon Mathew]] (born 1984 in Hirtshals) pop singer
* [[Dodo and the Dodos]] (begun in 1986) pop band on Danish radio stations in the 1980s
* [[Patrick Pedersen]] (born 1991 in Hirtshals) footballer, plays as a striker for [[Valur (club)|Valur]]

==Local radio==
* [[Skaga FM]],<ref>[http://www.skagafm.dk/ The Skaga FM official website (Mainly in Danish, but offers German tourist radio during the summer)]</ref> formerly known as [[Radio Hirtshals]], is a local radio station that plays domestic and foreign hits from the 1980s, 1990s and onwards, and reports on current events happening within the municipality of [[Hjørring]]. MHz: 105.6 FM.
* Since early 2010, local ferry operator [[Color Line (ferry operator)|Color Line]] (serves two ferry routes between Hirtshals and Norway) have had their own radio station, Color Radio, that plays popular songs from mostly the 1980s and 1990s. It also gives passengers from Hirtshals to Norway information about the next departure, and when check-in closes. The radio can be heard all over Hirtshals town, and from the motorway roundabout near Aabyen at the [[European route E39|E39]]. MHz: 95.3 FM.

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.hjoerring.dk/ Hjørring Municipality's official website] {{in lang|da}}
* [http://en.nordsoenoceanarium.dk North Sea Museum]
* [http://www.skipperposten.dk/ Hirtshals local online newspaper] {{in lang|da}}

===Links to Hirtshals Weather===
*[http://www.hirtshalshavn.dk/default.aspx?m=2&i=63 Hirtshals Havnekontor Weathermeasurings, updates every minute (Only in metric)]
*[http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/danmark/byvejr_danmark.htm?by=9850 DMI Hirtshals (Only in metric)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223234249/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/danmark/byvejr_danmark.htm?by=9850 |date=2008-12-23 }}'
*[http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Hirtshals/forecasts/latest Weather-Forecast.com Hirtshals (Metric & Imperial)]

===Webcams of Hirtshals Harbour===
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090120124249/http://www.hirtshalshavn.dk/default.aspx?m=2&i=88 2 Webcams on Hirtshals Harbour]
**The first one on the page is Pier II, and the second is Frontbassin towards northeast.

==References==
<references/>
* Municipal statistics: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070812152043/http://www2.netborger.dk/Kommunefakta/ NetBorger Kommunefakta], delivered from [http://www.kmd.dk/ KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)]
* Municipal mergers and neighbors: [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208085744/http://kommune.eniro.dk/region/media/nyekommuner.shtml Eniro new municipalities map]

{{Hjørring Municipality}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hirtshals| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in the North Jutland Region]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Denmark]]
[[Category:Hjørring Municipality]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]