Denmark's 'Cold Hawaii': the artfully cool surf zone on the Jutland coast
Denmark's northwest Jutland coast, nicknamed 'Cold Hawaii', is gaining popularity among surfers and art lovers thanks to its waves, national park, and new cultural venues.
Origins of Cold Hawaii
The North Sea winds and waves attract surfers, windsurfers, and paddleboarders to Denmark's northwest Jutland coast, which earned the nickname 'Cold Hawaii' in the 1990s. The term was coined by the international surfing community and popularized by world champion windsurfer Josh Stone. The area spans about 50 kilometres from just north of Hanstholm to the sandy beaches of Agger, featuring 31 official surf spots.
Nature and Activities
Unlike tropical Hawaii, the landscape here is dominated by the heathlands, dunes, and forests of Thy National Park. The weather is cooler, requiring a wetsuit. The coastline is less crowded than the resorts on Zealand's north coast or Skagen, and is difficult to reach by public transport, which has kept it a local secret. Even in winter, when summer houses are empty, the community remains strong.
Klitmøller and Vorupør
Klitmøller is the unofficial center of Cold Hawaii, hosting an annual international surfing competition. It now boasts surf shops, a wine bar, a spa, and a co-working space. Several artists, including internationally renowned Jeppe Hein, are based in the area. In the nearby town of Vorupør, the Vorupør Badehotel opened in 2023, an expansion of the original Vø Surfshop. Its pink-hued rooms offer sea views and freestanding tubs.
Gastronomy and Art
Close by is the restaurant Tri, founded in 2022 by chef Nicolas Min Jørgensen, who earned a Michelin star just a year later. The menu features hyperlocal ingredients from the sea, Thy National Park, and the Limfjord. Another new addition is SMK Thy, an outpost of Denmark's National Gallery, opened in 2024 in a former grain silo in Doverodde. Its exhibitions include 'Living Landscapes' (until 18 October), featuring artists from Claude Lorrain to Edvard Munch. A winding steel staircase offers views over the Limfjord. There's also a 'Nature Village' with pavilions for outdoor education.
Across the Limfjord is Kunsthal Thy, opened in 2023 by artist Rasmus Søndergaard Johannsen in a barn on the Boddum Bisgaard estate. It showcases international and Danish avant-garde art.
Getting There and Accommodation
Despite limited accessibility, Cold Hawaii is drawing more tourists from Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. Doubles at Vorupør Badehotel start at £178 B&B. Trains from Copenhagen to Sjørring connect to local buses; a DSB ticket costs around £60.
