Fiskeriets Hus will become part of Ringkøbing Fjord Museer from the turn of the year

November 11, 2024

At the beginning of 2025, Fiskeriets Hus will become part of Ringkøbing Fjord Museums. The course has been set for a merger since the two museums signed a cooperation agreement in January 2022. The aim is to secure the future of Fiskeriets Husand the potential of Fiskeriets Hus. In practice, much will continue as usual after the turn of the year.

Familiar everyday life

In many ways, daily life at Fiskeriets Hus will be the same after January 1, 2025. All employees at Fiskeriets Hus will continue their daily work in the building, now just with employment at Ringkøbing Fjord Museer. But formally, the Fiskeriets Hus Foundation will be closed down and the activities will be transferred to the museum. The formal process has been initiated and is expected to be completed after a consultation period at the beginning of the new year.

For the past three years, Ringkøbing Fjord Museer has handled some of the tasks in Fiskeriets Hus, especially around the website, marketing, upgrading cash register systems and the like. The fact that Fiskeriets Hus' own staff has been supplemented with the museum's resources can be seen in a significant increase in visitor numbers over the past few years.

From the turn of the year, even more employees from the museum will be found at Fiskeriets Hus. Many will not be physically in Hvide Sande on a daily basis, as much of the work is done from the museum's offices. Others will be in the building on a daily basis, for example when exhibitions are being created and when the collection is being reviewed. The museum expects that the first few years will be spent strengthening the shop, café and communication in the same way that the museum has contributed to the school service and marketing in the last few years.

It has been agreed that all regular events hosted by Fiskeriets Hus will continue in 2025, such as bingo games, lectures held by Maritime Knowledge, Hvide Sande Masterclass and the Marine Association. It will still be possible to hold parties by appointment, e.g. funerals, when it is feasible in relation to Fiskeriets Hus' program.

As the Foundation Fiskeriets Hus will be closed, the board will also be closed. The current chairman of Fiskeriets Hus, Kurt Adsersen, will continue on the board of Ringkøbing Fjord Museer. Ringkøbing Fjord Museums hopes that the local support from the Friends of the House and the other local collaborations can continue to benefit the future dissemination of fishing and local history in Hvide Sande.

Fiskeriets Hus has great potential

Fiskeriets Hus has been a prominent institution in Hvide Sande since 1992, both for locals and tourists. Two years after its opening, visitor numbers reached 83,000, and for 20 years it maintained visitor numbers around 40,000. After that, visitor numbers steadily declined, reaching a low of less than 20,000 visitors during the COVID-19 years. After the collaboration with the museum in 2022, visitor numbers have increased again, and last year more than 45,000 guests visited the house again.

There is therefore great potential for even higher visitor numbers, as Hvide Sande is a focal point for west coast tourism. The town's many visitors are looking for an attraction where they can experience the history of the town and the coast. Ringkøbing Fjord Museum's goal is therefore to develop Fiskeriets Hus into an attraction that tells the history of fishing, rescue services, locks, the sea, the fjord and the dunes.

Ringkøbing Fjord Museums is now getting down to work on a development and action plan for Fiskeriets Hus so that it lives up to the expectations of today's tourists. The existing framework in Fiskeriets Hus is very worn out. Fortunately, the building's load-bearing structures and roof are in good condition, but both the exterior and indoor facilities need updating. In addition, new exhibitions that can appeal to both children and adults will eventually be created.