Former Solgården resident welcomes swift state compensation

Denmark’s Ministry of Social Affairs has reached a settlement with 13 former residents of Solgården, a children’s home in Tarm, DR reports. Each will receive 300,000 kroner in compensation.

Among them is Tove Dohn Lauridsen from Holstebro, who says she was repeatedly raped while living at the home. Solgården operated from 1949 to 1976 and was run by the Lutheran Mission.

The 13 former residents sued the state on March 23, 2026, seeking 300,000 kroner each. Lauridsen said the speed of the settlement was important because some of the former residents are now very old or seriously ill.

“Some people are now so old and ill that they are struggling to live long enough to receive the money. We have lost one,” she said.

Lauridsen said she was not completely satisfied with the compensation because, in her view, notes show that the Lutheran Mission knew about the abuse.

“I believe it would be appropriate for the Lutheran Mission to pay half of our compensation to the state. If they do not want to do that, they should donate money to children in care,” she said.

A 2023 book by Peter Øvig Knudsen documented how the home’s director abused children throughout his time there. The Lutheran Mission has issued an apology to the victims.

For Lauridsen, however, the Ministry of Social Affairs’ acknowledgement that the state failed in its supervisory duty is crucial.

“It means everything. Now they have said that they knew, that everything we told them was true, and that is also stated in the documents,” she said.