Experiences

Tønder Festival is an annual event that takes place in the last weekend of August. Tønder’s population doubles and the entire town throbs with music. Many genres are represented, including folk, country, blues, Americana, Cajun and world music. Tønder Festival is one of Northern Europe’s largest festivals and an important festival for folk and roots music.

Tønder Festival is famous for encouraging new and upcoming artists. Many well-known artists started their career at Tønder Festival.

In the run-up to the festival, the town buzzes with crowds and activities. The crowds can experience much more than music. In the run-up to the festival, the so-called “4+ Days”, there is a full programme of activities and events, designed to give visitors to the festival and local people opportunities to discover the many great stories and attractions in the Tønder area. The 4+ Days also give festivalgoers a chance to extend their visit to Tønder Municipality for as many as four days ahead of the festival itself.

Read more about Tønder Festival and 4+ Days here.

Højer Windmill dates back to 1857. Today it houses a museum. The windmill is a well-preserved vestige of a cultural environment at the perimeter of the marshes, an amazing cultural landscape, in which a constant struggle to tame the water has affected and marked the people and buildings here for centuries. Northern Europe’s tallest Dutch windmill with its storage barns, miller’s cottage and charming miller’s garden have enthralling stories to tell – about the mill, its history and grinding techniques. Absorb the imposing view of Tøndermarsken and the Wadden Sea from the mill, stroll in the miller’s garden and enjoy refreshments in the café.

In summer 2019, Højer Museum presented brand-new exhibitions and amenities. Two of the old grain storage barns house the history of Tøndermarsken and a family-friendly climate laboratory, which is an interactive exhibition where visitors can play their way to understanding how the water has affected this area.

Learn more about Højer Mølle Windmill here

Schackenborg Castle is one of the attractions in Møgeltønder. The Bishop of Ribe lived and reigned from Møgeltønderhus, the original fortress on the site. Then, when the present castle was completed in 1666, it was conferred on Hans Schack. The castle received its name in 1671 when Hans Schack became an Earl. The castle reverted to the Danish Royal Family in 1978. It was later handed over to Prince Joachim. On a guided tour, you can see the castle from inside the gates, its elegant gardens and opulent halls and chambers.

Learn more about Schackenborg Castle here

Visit the Water Tower at the museums in Tønder and discover one of Denmark’s most important collections of furniture designed by Hans J. Wegner, a titan of Danish design. Take a seat and discover for yourself why Wegner and his chairs became famous across the globe. From the Water Tower, there are fantastic panoramic views over the town of Tønder and the breath-taking Tøndermarsken landscape.

Read more about the exhibition here

Tønder Museum houses two exhibitions. One describes the cultural history of the town and the other is Tønder’s Art Museum. In the oldest parts of the museum complex, there are examples of Southern Jutland handicrafts that are specific to this area. This is an exhibition of silverware, furniture, bobbin lace, Dutch tiles and faience (tin-glazed earthenware). The Water Tower houses a very special exhibition about the work of furniture designer Hans J. Wegner. The more recent buildings house the art collection that includes modern Danish and Nordic art with special focus on exposing new aspects of famous and not-so-famous artists’ works.

Read more about the museum here