The history of clinker-built boats

The clinker-built boat has been an important part of Nordic maritime culture for more than two thousand years. This traditional construction method is characterised by overlapping wooden planks, creating strong and flexible vessels suited to Nordic waters.

The boats varied in shape and size depending on local waters and sailing conditions. In 2021, the Nordic clinker boat tradition was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Guided tour through the Boat Halls and the historic fishing village

The tour begins in the Boat Halls at Gilleleje Museum, where participants are introduced to the clinker-building technique and the historic fishing boats of North Zealand.

From there, the tour continues through the old fishing village and on to Gilleleje Harbour, where stories about fishing, boatbuilding and coastal life place the region’s maritime history into perspective.

Fishing and boatbuilding on the North Coast

Along the way, visitors will hear about the history of fishing along the North Zealand coast and the craftsmanship traditions that shaped local communities for generations.

The tour offers insight into how boatbuilding and fishing were deeply connected to everyday life in the small coastal communities where the sea formed the basis of work and survival.

Practical information

Date: Tuesday, 4 August
Time: 5 pm – 6.30 pm
Meeting point: Gilleleje Museum, Østergade 20, 3250 Gilleleje
Price: DKK 95 + booking fee
The ticket includes admission to Gilleleje Museum.
Please note that the number of places is limited. The event will be cancelled if too few tickets are sold.
Parking is recommended near the station or at the parking area on Kystvejen, as the museum does not have its own parking facilities.
Unfortunately, the tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Guide

Jon Voss is curator and historian at Museum Nordsjælland. He works with the preservation of cultural environments and has a particular interest in fishing history, forest history, and the history of hunting.