Lønstrup beach revitalization project aims to combat erosion and enhance local coastline

Jakob Knudsen and Thomas Holst, self-proclaimed year-round bathers, make their daily trek to the beach in Lønstrup, northern Denmark, regardless of weather conditions. However, navigating the large stones on the beach presents a challenge to reach the water’s edge. The local beach is valuable to the Hjørring municipality, which is situated along the coast.

Although Lønstrup appears to be a typical sandy beach at first glance, erosion has significantly reduced its width, with hard coastal protection measures such as granite and stone taking up more space. The municipality envisions a large-scale sand replenishment project aimed at widening beaches like Lønstrup’s, a prospect that excites the duo. “It’s a fantastic initiative to restore what the sea has taken due to wind and weather,” says Knudsen.

This spring, residents got a taste of this vision with additional sand replenishment. The goal is to transform all the municipal coastlines into broad, soft sandy beaches. Christina Kærsgaard, a coastal staff member, expresses hope for beautiful coastal landscapes that will benefit residents, summer homeowners, and tourists alike.

The municipality plans to replenish 10 million cubic meters of sand, equivalent to over 20 years of sand loss along its coasts. Merely removing stones and granite blocks won’t solve the problem if the aim is to protect summer houses from washing away. Kærsgaard emphasizes the project’s significance, stating, “Our dream is to return development 20 years.” She warns of a worst-case scenario leading to long stretches of stones and no beach, a situation reminiscent of less desirable coastal conditions found in Southern Europe.

Holst, a daily swimmer, notes the significant changes to the beach over the past 20 years, yet declares that Lønstrup has never looked better than now, following the initial sand replenishment efforts. Both men believe that significantly increasing the sand volume would create a much more appealing beach essential to the municipality’s identity.