Denmark is widely known as the Hawaii of Europe. Ok, not really, but one stretch of coastline in North Jutland has earned the nickname “Cold Hawaii,” as well as a reputation as one of the hottest surfing scenes on the continent. Cold Hawaii is a loosely defined area that spans from Agger to Hanstholm, with a coastline that includes Thy National Park and the town of Klitmøller, which has become the unofficial headquarters of Denmark’s growing surf culture.

Klitmøller is a modest fishing village of about 1,000 inhabitants. Due to its location on the North Sea, and because of two reefs nearby, big winds and waves ideal for surfing conditions are created. Despite harsh conditions (Cold Hawaii is one the same latitude as Alaska!), the waves drew in windsurfers, kite surfers, and well, regular surfers of course. When athletes began flocking to the area in the 1990s, it took the locals some time to warm up to its newfound reputation as a surf colony. But today the town regularly hosts various water sports championships and also has a surf school called Cold Hawaii Surf Camp.