Skagen locals struggle as holiday homes push up prices

More than a third of detached houses in Skagen are now owned by people from outside the municipality, a DR analysis of public records shows, making it harder for local families to settle in the popular tourist town.

In some streets near Ankers Hus and Skagens Museum, it is now the exception rather than the rule for homeowners to be local residents, according to DR. Fie Kastor, a Skagen native, calls the issue a “hot potato” in the town, where 36 percent of detached houses are owned by out-of-town buyers who often use them as summer homes.

“On one hand, tourism creates growth, but it also makes it difficult for families with children to put down roots when houses are bought up for holiday use,” Kastor said. She fears locals may give up trying to stay in Skagen.

Emma Mercedes Riis, chair of Skagen Byting (the local town council), shares the concern. “We worry that Skagen is becoming a backdrop town, and it’s tough for young families to move here,” she said. While reversing the trend is difficult, the council is exploring ways to strengthen local settlement.

Stine Bjerre, who moved to Skagen from Copenhagen seven years ago, said it took time to find a family-friendly home. She has seen houses along her route, even near schools, bought for holiday lets, which she says weakens community ties. Still, she acknowledges tourism also creates jobs and keeps the town vibrant.

Jens Have and Lene Priesborg, who bought a detached house in Skagen as a summer home 15 years ago, reject the idea they are displacing locals. The property, a probate sale from a fisherman, had been on the market for a year and a half before they purchased it. “We don’t feel we’ve taken anything from anyone,” Priesborg said. The couple, now pensioners, spend over 100 days a year in Skagen and contribute to the local economy.

Steffen Damsgaard, chair of Landdistrikternes Fællesråd (the National Association of Rural Districts), warns the trend risks undermining community ties and local services. In the worst cases, schools and daycare centres could close if homes are bought as holiday properties instead of housing local residents. However, he notes that in some areas, holiday homes prevent properties from falling into disrepair.

Skagen’s population has declined by about a quarter over 25 years. Have and Priesborg argue that holiday homes help fill the gap left by departing residents and shuttered workplaces.