Rasmus Fejerskov is still the surfer dude who came to Hanstholm and Klitmøller 23 years ago with the plan to live there for a year and surf. But he stuck around and has since become a serial entrepreneur and businessman with 50-70 employees on the entire west coast of Jutland.
It has become a smokehouse, guesthouses and clothing stores as well as a surf cafe, surf school and rental from two containers on the beach area of Hanstholm Harbour. It was originally a rental agreement with the harbour, but neither Rasmus Fejerskov nor the harbour had applied for the necessary permit from Thisted Municipality. Therefore, the municipality has now issued an order to close and remove the containers by July 1.
- When it's windy here, it attracts between 500 and 1000 vans with surfers. It's Europe's best windsurfing stretch right here. Klitmøller is known for it, but 80 percent of the good surfing days are right here in Hanstholm. It's a gem that they want to destroy, says Rasmus Fejerskov, looking out at the blue waves.
He also has no intention of following the municipality's order.
- Now I've hired a lawyer and complained, but I've tried to have a dialogue with the municipality first, says Rasmus Fejerskov.
The thought that the area would end up being incorporated into the harbor really deters him.
- Now they're also talking about coastal protection here, and that will destroy the opportunity to surf. In reality, the harbor could fence off the entire area so that surfers can't get out. The municipality is turning a blind eye, this is completely unique, he says, turning to the problem of the harbor expansion to 650 million. DKK:
- The politicians have helped to make people believe in this port adventure. But who would build so big without having the lease agreements in place, says Rasmus Fejerskov, who believes that this is something the citizens of the municipality are thinking about.
- There is massive dissatisfaction with the role of politicians in this, he concludes.
Green transition and tourism side by side
He does not believe it is a question of either or between the green transition and tourism.
- It is interesting with offshore wind, PtX and CCS, but that does not rule out that we can be here too, says Rasmus Fejerskov.
Even though it is a conflict about two containers on the port's beach area, there is much more at stake for Rasmus Fejerskov, because he views the entire tourism effort critically.
- The neighboring municipalities are drooling over what we have created here with Cold Hawaii. I would like the politicians to understand this. I would also like to have a good dialogue with them about the entire tourism development in the municipality, says Rasmus Fejerskov.
DOI.dk has been in contact with Thisted Municipality's technical director Mogens Kruse Andersen, who may have a comment on the matter at a later date.
Text, graphics, images, sound, and other content on this website are protected under copyright law. DK Medier reserves all rights to the content, including the right to exploit the content for the purpose of text and data mining, cf. Section 11b of the Copyright Act and Article 4 of the DSM Directive.
Customers with IP agreements/major customer agreements may only share Danish Offshore Industry articles internally for the purpose of handling specific cases. Sharing in connection with specific cases refers to journaling, archiving, or similar uses.
Customers with a personal subscription/login may not share Danish Offshore Industry articles with individuals who do not themselves have a personal subscription to Danish Offshore Industry.
Any deviation from the above requires written consent from DK Medier.
