Aarsdale

Aarsdale (also: Årsdale) is a village on the eastern coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark. Located between Svaneke and Nexø, it has a population of 375 (1 January 2020).[1] Once a prosperous fishing village, its economy now relies mainly on tourism thanks to its half-timbered houses, its harbour and its windmill.[2]

Aarsdale
Village
Aarsdale harbour
Aarsdale
Location on Bornholm
Coordinates: 55°06′00″N 15°08′00″E
CountryDenmark
RegionCapital (Hovedstaden)
MunicipalityBornholm
Population
 (2020)
 • Total375
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

History

The name Aarsdale can be traced back to 1410 in connection with herring processing when it occurred as Osdael. The fishing village has been inhabited at least since the 17th century,.[3] The harbour built in 1870 has been extended several times since.[3] It still has three smokehouses.

Tourism
1877[4] windmill at Aarsdale

The eight-sided Dutch windmill (1877) close to the main road at the southern end of the village is a local landmark. It is the only windmill on the island which has been in constant operation since it was built serving three generations of the Mikkelsen family. Flour production is now for private use only.[5]

The village has many half-timbered houses, some of them 200 years old. The harbour, originally built for fishing boats, now also has facilities for pleasure craft. Aarsdale has a small beach suitable for bathing on Bornholm's rocky eastern coast. The village also has three smokehouses providing a variety of smoked fish and seafood.[2][6]

There are interesting walks along the rocky coastline both towards Svaneke to the north and Nexø to the south.

References
  1. BY3: Population 1st January, by urban areas The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark
  2. "Det gamle, idylliske fiskeleje Årsdale byder på ægte, bornholmsk atmosfære med fiskerbåde, røgerier og klippekyster" Archived 8 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Sol og Strand. (in Danish) Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  3. Bormholm.info
  4. Bornholm Museum Archived 31 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Årsdale mølle" Archived 31 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Bornholmsmuseum.dk. (in Danish) Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  6. "Årsdale", Den store Danske, (in Danish) Retrieved 20 May 2010.

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