Lild Strand

Lild Strand is a hamlet at the Northwest coast of Jutland with about 35 permanent inhabitants and around 200 second-homers (summer house-owners). It is one of the most remote places in Denmark, situated at the longest non-built coastline and next to the first Danish Nationalpark Thy. Unlike many places with the well-known white beaches along Jutland’s west coast Lild Strand does not provide the typical tourist-activities, restaurants etc. Instead, they deliberately want to preserve the “remote-ness” of the area. Lild Strand has no public service facilities such as school, transport, library or GPs. However, there is a fish shop, a combined fish/smoke-house, and a summer shop at the beach. The Creative-House (KreativitetsHuset) offers accommodation and courses in handicrafts all year round; there is also a high quality gallery and an artisan shop. Lild Strand was established as a fishing community in 1883, and fishing ensured the main income to the community but was almost closed in 2007 due to a national fishing quota system. Without a harbour at the location, the strong but flexible clinker-built fishing-vessels were drawn on to the beach by winch; and this old tradition is kept alive in Lild Strand. In 2021 such clinker-built vessels and their function were acknowledged as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Masterplan Lildstrand was initiated back in 2016, the first edition published in 2018 and revised several times since. It is all done in an admirable and very valuable cooperation between permanent inhabitants and second-homers. The main objective of Masterplan Lildstrand is to increase the number of permanent inhabitants, with the limitations given by the surroundings: North Sea and protected nature, not allowing room for expansion. They want to attract people and families with time, competences and resources, willing to participate in the continuous development of the village.

Country

Denmark

Type

coasts, sparsely populated areas

Degree of urbanization

rural

population of 300

Check out the village strategy:

Masterplan Lildstrand 2018-2025

Village Solutions

Multi functional Coast Terrasses

The purpose of the Coast Terrasses is a combination of Coastal protection, living facilities and a safer working environment. The concrete coastal terraces at the landing site divide the site into recreational zones for visitors at a safe distance from the authentic and functional work zone for fishermen. With its design, the terraces get the landing site to form a functional whole by turning the previously "dead" corners into places of recreation. The Eastern part is designed with disabled access directly from the car park, hence offers people with walking difficulties the opportunity to get close to the beach.

Living

Dark Sky Park Bulbjerg

With the Dark-Sky-Park-Bulbjerg Lild Strand has managed to reverse the remoteness and dark place into an asset: Here you can experience magnificent dark skies with thousands of stars without disturbing light pollution. For five years Lild Strand has prepared for this and in December 2023 they succeeded and was certified. With this they were also met with certain requirements for instance annual light-measurements and directional public lamppost, which is also copied by some of the villagers. They now cooperate with several institutions and local guides are educated, enabling them to assist tourists to have the best Dark-Sky experience.

Economy | Living

Small (Quiet) tourism based on local assets

Small Tourism is both a Process and a Product. The Process is done in fruitful cooperation between the permanent inhabitants and the second-homers and the Products are not considered business only but equally important improvements of life-quality for villagers. They don’t seek many tourists but the proper ones. All to be based on the DNA of the area characterized by tranquility, authenticity, space and time for reflection surrounded by magnificent, protected nature. Several projects have been implemented, for instance: Dark-Sky-Park-Bulbjerg, Coastal-Terrasses, Picnic House, nature restoration; and more are ongoing: Inclusion in Thy National Park and completing renovation of village hall.

Environment | Living | People

Contact Information

Hawboernes Forening Lild Strand, hawboerne@gmail.com

https://hawboerne.dk/

Deputy on the board Sørensen Bjarne, sandhojgaard.bjarne@gmail.com