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Fishing in Lønstrup has been the main occupation amongst the town's inhabitants for generations. Today there are only hobby fishermen left. When they return to the shore, it's possible to do a deal for a couple of plaice, dab or lemon sole. A summer evening at the mooring site in Lønstrup is solace for the soul. Community singing, for example, is arranged at least once a week.
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At the small mooring site in Lønstrup you can still see how the fishermen pull their boats up onto the beach after a trip at sea.
Today there are only hobby fishermen left, but when the weather allows, they sail their small vessels out to sea, and on their return it's often possible to do a deal for a couple of plaice, dab or lemon sole. Fish tastes best when it's just been caught.
Last professional fisherman stopped in 1984Fishing has been the main occupation for Lønstrup's inhabitants for generations. At one time during the twentieth century there were more than 100 registered fishermen – although a number of them were only occasional fishermen.
In 1984 the last professional fisherman stopped fishing from Lønstrup. The steep landing site only enabled fishing with the traditional Lønstrup cutter, and modern catching methods had made these small vessels unprofitable.
The fishing industry moved to the port in Hirtshals, where much larger cutters can land their fish. At the storage site there are even two of the original twenty Lønstrup cutters.
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Community singing during the summerA summer evening at the mooring site in Lønstrup is solace for the soul. The building on the right of the picture is the old lifeboat building, where you can check the direction and strength of the wind.
One of the original Lønstrup boats has been lovingly restored and is exhibited in the lifeboat building. Here you can also see an exhibition about fishing and the lifeboat service in Lønstrup.
During the summer, community singing is arranged once a week at the mooring site led by personalities such as Lønstrup's well-known singer Inger Lauritzen.
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Close to disaster in 1981
The mooring site at Lønstrup has been subjected to serious damage on several occasions. The worst disaster took place in November 1981, when the mooring site, the road and the breakwaters were all washed away in a matter of hours.
The lifeboat station and Villa Vest were spared at the last minute when the storm suddenly blew itself out. The following day the town was visited by Prime Minister Anker Jørgensen, who immediately promised coastal protection for the town, and by 1983 work on the stable T-breakwaters had been completed.
They saved 260 men
The lifeboat station in Lønstrup was one of the country's first when it was established in 1852.
The waters around Lønstrup - and in particular at Rubjerg Knude - were treacherous and many ships ran aground here. In its more than 100-year history, the lifeboat station's crew saved 260 men from drowning.
Earlier, the station was located at Sdr. Strandvej, but was moved to its current location in 1936.
The first lifeboats were rowed by 10 men. In 1927 the station was equipped with a motorboat.
Small-vessel trade with NorwayIn the 19th century there was an extensive small-vessel trade with Norway. Vessels left Lønstrup loaded with agricultural products and returned home with timber.
Lønstrup's biggest merchant was Axel Segelcke, who at times had more than 100 employees on his books.
The current Hotel Marinella is the remains of his old estate.
The black lobster
Lønstrup was earlier known for its extensive lobster fishing business. One of Denmark's best stone reefs for lobster is found off the coast of Lønstrup. The lobsters were caught in lobster pots. The fishermen kept the live lobsters in large basins until they were sold.
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