Night Watchmen in Aabenraa and Haderslev | VisitSønderjylland

Skip to main content

Night watchmen in Aabenraa

Print

In the past the Night Watchmen used to patrol the streets of Danish Market towns.

In many of the towns the citizen watch groups were formed from the 14th Century as civil watchmen's groups. The participating citizens took turns patrolling the streets in order to prevent and contain fires that often started in the thatched roofs of the wooden buildings or the in the stables and barns behind the houses. The tools to combat fires at the time were lousy and you had to run far to fetch water.

Night watchmen in Aabenraa

VisitAabenraa

From approx. 1550 initially Copenhagen and soon other towns such as Helsingør, Kolding, Ribe, Haderslev and Aabenraa formed actual Night Watchmen's Guilds whose job it was to ensure order in the dark streets of the town.

From 1681 the first towns became oil lamps in the streets and through a Royal Decree in 1683 regarding "Street lights and Night Watchmen" the guilds became mandatory in all market towns.

Much more Sønderjylland...

Tilting-at-the-ring

Tilting at the Ring

Sperm whale at "Kommandørgaarden" on Rømø

Spindrift, Ships and Whaling - the maritime history of Sønderjylland

The museums at Frøslev Prison Camp

Top 10: Historic attractions in Sønderjylland

Nature Centre Tønnisgaard

Top 10: Nature experiences in Sønderjylland

Share your moments with us:

Destination Sønderjylland

VisitSønderjylland © 2022

English