Volunteer soldiers from the support group of The Tordenskjold Days are guarding Krudttårnet all summer long and they also service visitors to Krudttårnet.
In Krudttårnet there is an exhibition about the Port of Frederikshavn and you can see the cannons at the top of the tower. Here the enormous wooden construction supporting the roof is another spectacular experience.
Krudttårnet was the central building in the citadel (the fortification) Fladstrand which was established at the end of the 17th century. In addition to storing powder the tower was also used as a platform for cannons.
Frederikshavn – at that time called Fladstrand – had not yet become a real town but was only a fishing village. The sea outside Fladstrand represented the best anchorage on the northern part of the east coast for large ships seeking shelter from bad weather before they has to pass the dangerous waters around Skagen. The citadel was therefore established as a stronghold for the sailing traffic between Denmark and Norway. The fortification was for example very important strategically during the Great Northern War (one of many wars between Denmark and Sweden) at the beginning of the 18th century. Therefore the famous naval hero Peder ‘Tordenskjold’ Jansen Wessel often used Fladstrand as his base.
During the Gunboat War against England (1807-14) the citadel also played a central role. Danish merchant ships sought shelter from the English Navy below the cannons of Krudttårnet and Fladstrand was also used as a base and regional headquarter for gunboats between their attacks on British ships.
Originally Krudttårnet was situated in the open on a ness protruding into Kattegat. Later when the tower had lost its strategic importance this changed dramatically. The fishing village Fladstrand became the market town and the industrial town Frederikshavn with an updated harbour. The sea around the old citadel was filled up with sand and Krudttårnet was squeezed in by the new big workplace in the town – a modern shipyard.
In 1974 it was therefore decided to move Krudttårnet to its present place – a more appropriate place 270 metres from its original place. This lasted 13 months and the enormous building was moved in one piece.
On August 5 1976 Krudttårnet reopened for the public in the presence of the Royal family.
PAY A VISIT TO KRUDTTÅRNET
If you want to visit Krudttårnet you will find further information on opening hours, events and prices on the website www.krudttårnet.dk