Skjern River

Facts

Nature restored

In March 1962, excavators moved in to drain 4,000 hectares of wetlands in the Skjern River Valley. This had been preceded by heated debate over the sense in reclaiming agricultural land at the expense of the natural landscape, given the surplus of agricultural products. The Ministry of Agriculture financed two-thirds of the project to straighten the Skjern River, which cost 233 million kroner at today's prices, but soon toxic ochre was streaming into Ringkjøbing Fjord, while the meadows subsided and reverted to wetlands. In May 1987, Parliament decided to restore the river to its original course. The riverbank owners were compensated for their failed project, nature was restored and West Jutland gained a world-class tourist attraction.

Public place

Selected entry

You're wrecking the countryside, man!

Story written by Kjeld Hansen

Time / Periode 1962 1968

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The changing attitudes to the natural landscape in an increasingly affluent nation are reflected in an anecdote about the chairman of the committee of riverbank owners who forced through the straightening of the Skjern River in the 1960s. In recognition of the chairman's personal efforts in the greatest land reclamation project of the century, the Danish Heath Society had nominated him for a knighthood. While in Copenhagen to thank King Frederik IX for this honour, he ventured to enquire as to whether His Majesty might contemplate a visit to see the work. A royal visit would of course be good publicity for a controversial project. But the King retorted: I will not, you're wrecking the countryside, man!" "