The Vidå Sluices in Højer

To the far west lie the flat marshlands and Vadehavet.

Here, you will find vast open spaces and an endless horizon that makes you feel small and at peace on the edge of the sea. One moment, Vadehavet is a dry seabed stretching as far as the eye can see, and only a few hours later, the sea returns to flood the landscape.

The Vidå sluice and the advanced dike protect the 12,000 hectares and 15,000 residents of Tøndermarsken from the powerful tides of Vadehavet.

The old sluice in Højer

The old sluice in Højer, situated west of Tønder, was built at the same time as the Højer-Siltoft dike in 1861. In earlier times, ships sailed freely into Højer Kanal. With an open sluice in the dike, masted ships could reach the harbour in Højer, which was built safely behind the dike.

Vidå sluice

The new sluice in Højer (the Vidå sluice) was finished in 1981. It features three concrete chambers, each with two wooden gates. A parking area and a restaurant are located conveniently close to the sluice.

Boatmen by Vidåen

A glimpse of life from around 1900. From the turn of the century until 1920, more than 100 fishermen were active at Rudbøl lake and along Vidåen. Today, only 15 remain. A charming memory from the early days is the old fisherman’s house, built around 1870. In the early 1990s, this house became the heart of a project to recreate the historical environment, showing visitors how a small community lived and worked over a century ago. You can park at the Højer sluice and take the walking path over the dike to reach the exhibition.