Location: Hjerl Hedevej 14
Tel. 97 44 80 60
Open: Apr & Oct:
11am- 4pm days vary
May- Sep: 10am- 5pm daily
Late June- mid- Aug:
10am- 6pm daily
Late Nov- mid- Dec: 10am- 5pm Sat & Sun
Hjerl Hede Frilandsmuseum (also known as Frilandsmuseet Hjerl Hede) is a prominent open-air museum in West Jutland, Denmark, near Vinderup between Skive, Struer, and Holstebro. It focuses on rural Danish cultural history from roughly 1500 to the early 1900s, showcasing relocated or reconstructed buildings, period gardens, traditional crafts, old Danish livestock breeds, and living history demonstrations.
Founding and Early History (1910–1930s)
The museum's origins trace
back to businessman Hans Peter Hjerl Hansen (1870–1946). In 1910, he
purchased Vadsøgaard along with large heath parcels (Jattrup and Hjelm
Heder) near Flyndersø lake, naming the area Hjerl Hede. His initial goal
was afforestation of the heathland, but this drew criticism from poet
Jeppe Aakjær and others who sought to preserve the traditional Jutland
heath landscape. Hjerl Hansen agreed to leave parts unplanted, and the
area received protected status in 1934.
Hjerl Hansen had a strong
interest in history and cultural preservation. In 1928, he bought
Vinkelgården — considered Denmark’s oldest preserved farmhouse — from
the village of Vinkel east of Viborg. This late-medieval farm
(dendrochronologically dated to winter 1545/46) was dismantled and
rebuilt at Hjerl Hede in 1929. The National Museum regretted losing it
but could not secure funds in time. This move laid the foundation for
the open-air museum.
On July 27, 1930, Hjerl Hansen invited locals to
view the rebuilt Vinkelgården before public opening. Around 500–600
people attended, with speeches by Hjerl Hansen, architect Mogens
Clemmensen, and folklorist H.P. Hansen. This date marks the symbolic
start of the building collection. Additional structures soon followed:
1930: Stub mill (stubmølle) from Frøslev.
1931: Blacksmith’s
workshop from Vester-Kærby and a bullade (cattle shed) from Hejsager.
In 1931, Hjerl Hansen transferred Hjerl Hede and its buildings to
the Hjerl Foundation (Hjerl-Fonden) to ensure long-term preservation.
Official Opening and Development (1930s–1970s)
The first major
living history event ("levendegørelse") occurred on July 24, 1932,
themed "a day in the village 100 years ago." Locals in period clothing
demonstrated traditional crafts and daily tasks. Organizers expected
about 5,000 visitors but drew roughly 10,000; the event was filmed as
the documentary Indvielse af Hjerl Hede. At that time, the site had only
four buildings of today’s nearly 50.
The museum grew steadily as a
private institution under the Hjerl Foundation, collecting buildings
from across Denmark to illustrate rural architecture, building
techniques, and daily life. It emphasized authenticity, with each "home"
featuring period-appropriate gardens (flowers, fruit trees, and utility
plants).
Later Institutional Changes
1979: Became a
state-recognized, self-governing cultural history specialist museum.
2006: A large 1,875 m² visitor center was built, including ticketing, a
shop, exhibition spaces, classrooms, and offices.
2012: Merged with
Holstebro Museum and Strandingsmuseum St. George into De
Kulturhistoriske Museer i Holstebro Kommune (The Cultural History
Museums in Holstebro Municipality), a state-recognized entity. The three
sites continue operating independently while sharing administration.
Living History and Modern Role
Hjerl Hede is renowned for
levendegørelse (living history) — especially in summer and at Christmas
— where costumed interpreters demonstrate crafts (baking, blacksmithing,
etc.), daily chores, and traditions. It preserves old Danish rural
crafts and livestock breeds. The site sits amid protected heathland,
offering a scenic, immersive experience.
Notable modern uses include
filming locations for the Danish film Bastarden (The Promised Land) with
Mads Mikkelsen (parts shot around the 1818 Hedegården).
Significance
Hjerl Hede represents a private initiative in Danish
open-air museum history, driven by one individual’s vision during a time
of rapid modernization and industrialization. Hjerl Hansen sought to
document and preserve pre-industrial rural life and craftsmanship
without opposing progress. Today, it serves as an educational,
family-friendly attraction (with free entry for children and dogs in
some contexts) that brings history to life through interactive
experiences in a beautiful natural setting.
Overall Architectural Character
The architecture at Hjerl Hede is
dominated by traditional Danish vernacular rural styles, emphasizing
functionality, local materials, and adaptation to the climate and
agricultural needs. Key recurring features include:
Half-timbered
construction (bindingsværk): Exposed wooden frames filled with brick,
clay, or wattle-and-daub, often whitewashed or left natural. This was a
common, cost-effective method using locally available timber.
Thatched roofs: Predominantly straw, but also heather or other materials
in some cases. Thick thatch provides excellent insulation against
Jutland's winds and cold winters.
Low, elongated forms: Many farm
buildings have long, low profiles to withstand strong winds and
integrate with the landscape.
Regional variations: Buildings reflect
differences between Jutland, Funen, Zealand, etc., in timber framing
techniques, roof pitches, and detailing.
Integration with landscape:
Structures are placed organically amid heath, fields, and woods, with
historical gardens (kitchen gardens, orchards) that match the building's
era.
The museum has around 50 buildings, many original structures
dismantled from their original sites and meticulously rebuilt.
Notable Buildings and Their Architecture
Vinkelgården (c. 1545/46):
Jutland's oldest known farmhouse and one of Denmark's oldest preserved
peasant houses. Dendrochronologically dated to winter 1545/46. It
features a combined dwelling and barn under one roof (a "through-house"
or tværhus type). Construction uses high-frame (højremskonstruktion)
timber framing with jetties (udskud) on most sides. The chimney ends in
the loft space with smoke escaping through a louver (lyrehul). Inside:
large living room with alcove beds and a long fixed bench table. One
post has a "need-fire hole" for ritual cattle purification. This
building exemplifies early post-medieval rural architecture—simple,
multifunctional, and robust.
Village Inn (Landsbykro, c. 1750, from
Skovsgårde, Northwest Funen): A classic half-timbered inn preserved as
it appeared around 1865. It represents social and commercial village
architecture, with rooms for travelers and gatherings.
Pastor's House
(Præstegård, 1600s/1854, from Nr. Aarslev near Randers): An impressive
half-timbered structure with a brick gable. It shows the evolution of
clergy housing, blending earlier timber traditions with 19th-century
updates.
Watermill (Vandmølle, first mentioned 1858, from Vesterby
near Vejle): A fully functional, traditional half-timbered red watermill
powered by a stream. It highlights industrial vernacular architecture
tied to water power.
Stub Mill (Stubmølle, 1778, from Frøslev,
Zealand): A post mill (tree stump mill) on a high point of the museum
grounds. One of the earliest acquisitions; its elevated position makes
it a visual landmark. Typical of Danish windmill architecture for grain
processing.
Romanesque Church Reconstruction: Based on Tjørring
Church north of Herning (12th-century style). Dimensions follow Roman
feet (nave 40x25, choir 19x19). Features replicas of medieval frescoes
(kalkmalerier) inspired by Råsted Church. It demonstrates early medieval
ecclesiastical architecture in a rural context—simple, sturdy
stone-inspired forms (though built with period-appropriate techniques).
Other Structures:
Bullade (c. 1777, from Hejsager near
Haderslev): A type of barn or storage building.
Smallholder's Cottage
(Husmandssted, 1815, from Kvosted near Viborg).
Schoolhouse (1823,
from Hinge near Silkeborg).
Cheese Dairy (Mejeri, 1897, from Mandø).
Various barns, forges, fire engine houses, and workshops illustrating
craft and agricultural buildings.
Construction Techniques and
Materials
Timber framing: Evolved over centuries; early buildings
like Vinkelgården use simpler, heavier posts, while later ones show
refined joinery.
Infills: Brick nogging became common; earlier might
use wattle-and-daub.
Roofs: Steep pitches for thatch drainage; thatch
thickness and tying methods vary by region and material.
Foundations:
Often simple stone or wooden sills, raised to combat dampness.
Interiors: Whitewashed walls, painted furniture, alcove beds, open
hearths (evolving to stoves), reflecting social status and technological
progress.
The buildings illustrate the transition from
self-sufficient medieval farms to more specialized 19th-century rural
life, influenced by agricultural reforms and industrialization.