Årsdale brings together the history of its windmill and its fishing heritage. The harbour was established in 1869, and the town was once Bornholm’s largest smokehouse town. If you choose Bornholm, you’ll find a clear local focus here: the mill, harbour and smokehouse tell different chapters of the town’s history. When looking for a holiday apartment, consider whether you want this history to shape your stay or whether you’d also like to explore other cultural and natural themes across the island.

A windmill with a family history

Årsdale Mølle was built by millwright Didrik Kjøller from Nexø together with his four sons. After it was built, it remained in the Kjøller family. The mill is an attraction and has a family history closely connected to Årsdale. It was the last of Bornholm’s windmills to be decommissioned, in 2003. Bornholm had a total of eight windmills of this type, characteristic of the island. If you want to visit the mill, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

Harbour, fishing and smokehouses

Årsdale’s harbour was established in 1869. There is an active smokehouse near the harbour and a fish shop where you can buy fish. As the business status may change, check what is currently on offer before making a special trip. Årsdale was one of the island’s larger fishing communities and had more than 30 fishing boats. Together with its former status as Bornholm’s largest smokehouse town, this paints a picture of local fishing history in which the harbour, fishing and smoking fish are important themes.

At Aarsdale Røgeri & Bistro, vegetables are smoked as well as fish. This is another facet of the town’s smoking tradition. Offer details may change.

Bornholm’s smokehouses in the island-wide context

Smokehouses also have a distinct history across Bornholm: Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, where herring has been smoked ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked in the traditional way, using open chimneys and alder wood. These three local references highlight different aspects of the island’s tradition: Årsdale’s former importance as a smokehouse town, Gudhjem’s early smokehouse history and the smoking method in Hasle.

More themes to explore on Bornholm

Bornholm also offers nature and cultural attractions for those with other interests. Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging and interactive way. At the NaturBornholm experience centre, you’ll find dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition; exhibits may change. If a particular exhibition is important to you, check what is currently on offer in advance. These attractions are part of the wider destination of Bornholm; landscapes, medieval history and nature exhibits offer their own highlights alongside Årsdale’s milling and fishing heritage.

Getting to Bornholm

Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad in Sweden to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Check current timetables before planning your journey.

Discover more destinations: Listed, Svaneke, Snogebæk, Østerlars, Vester Sømarken, Aakirkeby, Bodilsker, Balka.

Back to the main travel guide: Bornholm.