When the new sculpture “Smykket” was erected at Hal Harbour, in May 2004, it excited a lot of comment. Should it be the town’s new symbolic landmark? Some felt Hals already had such a landmark: the whale jaw on the Square. Others felt the Fort and its cannons were the town’s landmark. Still others pointed to the Hals Barre lighthouse as the town’s symbol.

Everyone was right, of course. Hals is a town that differentiates itself from others because of its many monuments and diverse settings. One could also mention the harbour, the ferry, the fjord, the whale vertebrae, or the beach.

Hals is North Jutland’s smallest market town with just 2,800 residents. But, in fact, it is this small size that contributes to the special ambience of the town. Try visiting Hals on a Wednesday in July, when it is Market Day, with over 10,000 visitors in town. It is not least the town atmosphere that has made this one of Denmark’s most popular markets.

But back to the symbols. The newest – Smykket – is a 12-meter high ring designed by the late Bent Exner, a goldsmith. It is designed in highly polished stainless steel, and captures the light in a unique way.

The whale jaw is a classic symbol of Hals. It stands in the Square in Hals, and is so big that trucks can easily pass through. It was erected in 1954, and comes from a blue whale. A little further up Midtergade, you will find a sculpture made from blue whale vertebrae.

The Fort in Hals is Denmark’s best-preserved fieldwork from the Renaissance times. It was build during the reign of King Christian IV, and has been used countless times in wars against Sweden and England. The cannons at the Fort have been restored, and look out over the Limfjord, harbour, and town.

And then there is Hals Barre lighthouse, which is a shining landmark at the mouth of the Limfjord. It replaced a lightship in 1912, back when it took six people to man the light. Today, it is fully automatic, powered by solar cells on the light’s southern gable. The light stands about 10 kilometres out from Hals harbour, but is easily seen in clear weather.