Højer Mølle

About the museum

Emil Roll had the octagonal Dutch-style windmill built in the middle of Højer in 1857. At 22 meters, with seven floors and a cellar, it is among the tallest mills of its type in Northern Europe; the inverted boat-shaped cap is typical of Schleswig's west coast. The sails and cap are operated by hand from a gallery. Until 1972 the miller's family ran both the mill and a grain business here.

The mill was restored in 1976–77 and turned into a mill and marsh museum; the sails were shortened by about two meters for visitor safety. Most of the original furnishings survive, and the protected mill is still in working order. Today the site is run by Museum Sønderjylland.

Besides the mill, two granaries belong to the museum: in Store Spiker, three floors explain the landscape, dikes, sluices, and pumping stations of the Tøndermarsk as well as the life of people and birds in the marsh. In Lille Spiker, the interactive KlimaLab shows how the marsh has to cope with storm surges and inland water. The former miller's house contains a shop and café. The mill sees itself as a gateway to the Tøndermarsk and the Vadehavet National Park.

Highlights

• 22-meter-high Dutch-style windmill from 1857 with original fittings
• Grind your own flour with grain from the museum shop
• Exhibition on the Tøndermarsk in the Store Spiker granary
• Interactive KlimaLab on storm surges and coastal protection
• Café in the miller's house with South Jutland cakes

Permanent exhibitions

• Højer Mølle – The original milling machinery, spread over several floors, tells the story of grinding and the grain trade between 1857 and 1972.
• Tøndermarsken i Store Spiker – Three floors on the landscape and formation of the Tøndermarsk, on dikes, sluices, canals, and pumping stations, and on the life of people and birds.
• KlimaLab og Marsken bag digerne – Interactive lab in Lille Spiker where you protect your own marsh against sea and inland water, complemented by examples from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Founded

1857

Operated by

Museum Sønderjylland

Admission & discounts

Daycare and school groups visit the museum free of charge on their own after registering.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The miller's house and the exhibition in Store Spiker are wheelchair-accessible; the mill itself, with steep stairs across six floors, and Lille Spiker are not. Guide dogs for the blind and service dogs are allowed in the museum; other dogs only on a leash outdoors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities: not available

In the KlimaLab, children can experiment playfully with water and weather and design their own marsh; in the mill you can grind flour. Holiday activities are offered during the fall break. With strollers, only the outdoor areas are easily accessible; a baby changing table is still missing.

Getting there & parking

Hiking and cycling trails lead from the mill into the Tøndermarsk and to the Wadden Sea.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café and shop in the former miller's house with homemade South Jutland cakes, light lunch dishes (11:00–15:00), regional specialties, and crafts; seating indoors and in the miller's garden. Outside food is allowed outdoors.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit