Skagen Lighthouse—known as Det Grå Fyr (“The Grey Lighthouse”)—is one of Denmark’s most important navigational landmarks. First lit in 1858 and standing 46 meters tall, it remains an active aid to navigation and today also serves as an international center for migratory bird research.
I visited the lighthouse in July 2024 on a U.S. Lighthouse Society tour. My travel pal, Wanda, and I enjoyed the site--very wild and windy, overlooking the confluence of the North Sea with the Skagerrak and Kattegat. It's a Baltic beauty! Below is information about it, as well as pictures.
Location and Significance
Skagen Lighthouse stands near Grenen, the northernmost point of Denmark, where the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas meet. This region has long been one of the busiest—and most treacherous—maritime crossroads in Northern Europe.
Coordinates: 57°44′08″N, 10°37′49″E
Status: Active lighthouse
Range: Visible up to 20 nautical miles (37 km)
Its strategic position made Skagen essential for guiding ships navigating the shifting sands, strong currents, and fog common to the area.
The First Lighthouse: Det Hvide Fyr (The White Lighthouse) – 1747
Before the current tower, Skagen was home to Denmark’s first brick lighthouse, completed in 1747 and designed by architect Philip de Lange. This earlier lighthouse marked a turning point in Danish maritime safety, but by the mid‑19th century, increasing ship traffic demanded a more powerful structure.
Construction of the Grey Lighthouse (1858)
The present Skagen Lighthouse—Det Grå Fyr—was designed by architect Niels Sigfred Nebelong and entered service on 1 November 1858.
Architectural Features
Height: 46 m (151 ft), making it Denmark’s tallest lighthouse until 1952
Material: Unpainted brick, giving it its characteristic grey appearance
Shape: Tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Attached building: A bright yellow two‑story keeper’s house
When built, the lighthouse stood near the center of the Skagen Odde peninsula. Due to coastal erosion, it now sits much closer to the sea than originally intended.
Evolution of the Light
The lighthouse’s illumination technology reflects the broader history of lighthouse engineering:
Original Light (1858)
A five‑wick paraffin lamp powered the first beacon.
Technological Upgrades
Replaced by a 1000‑watt electric lamp, later upgraded to 1500 watts.
Today, the lighthouse uses a 400‑watt sodium lamp with a flash every 4 seconds.
Lens System
The rotating lens weighs two
tonnes and floats on mercury, a common 19th‑century engineering solution to reduce friction.
A Modern Role: Center for Migratory Birds
In 2017, Skagen Lighthouse was transformed into the Skagen Grey Lighthouse – Center for Migratory Birds, an international bird research and education hub.
The center includes:
An interactive exhibition
A working bird observatory
Viewing platforms ideal for spotting the region’s famous spring and autumn migrations
Skagen is one of Europe’s premier birdwatching locations, with species funneling through the narrow tip of Jutland during migration seasons.
Visiting Skagen Lighthouse
The lighthouse is open to visitors seasonally:
April–mid‑June: 10:00–16:00
Mid‑June–August: 10:00–17:00
September–October: 10:00–16:00
Climbing the tower rewards visitors with sweeping views of the peninsula, the meeting of the seas, and the surrounding dunes.
Why Skagen Lighthouse Matters
Skagen Lighthouse is more than a navigational aid—it is:
A monument of Danish maritime history
A masterpiece of 19th‑century engineering
A living research center for migratory birds
A symbol of Skagen’s coastal identity
Its endurance through centuries of shifting sands and harsh weather reflects the resilience of Denmark’s maritime heritage.
The foregoing article was written with the help of AI and a few images from Batz Travel Adventures.
