History: 📚
Mandø, a pearl in the Wadden Sea, offers a unique experience of tranquility, nature, and cultural heritage. This charming and authentic island, accessible at low tide, enchants with wide horizons, Wadden Sea plains, and a rich bird life. 🌿🌊🐦Here, one encounters Mandø Inn, dating back to before 1906, where Danish inn cuisine merges with local beverages in a fine symphony. 🍽️🍺
The inn's accommodation options offer not just coziness, but also the opportunity to immerse in the beauty of nature and culinary experiences in peaceful surroundings. We are proud to welcome you, and below, we will take you back through the inn's history. 🏠📜
In 1906, Ove Anders Theodor Hansen and Mikoline Metea Bundesen (our ancestors) settled at the current inn.
Theodor Hansen ran a freight sailing business transporting laths and inherited his father's passion for adventures in the Wadden Sea, where he knew every channel and sandbank. He fished, hunted seals, and salvaged shipwrecked goods.
Theodor Hansen was married to Mikoline Metea Bundesen. In addition to managing a small farm and the community hall, it was primarily Mikoline who undertook these tasks. 🌾🏠
At the request of the board of the newly formed Mandø Association, Theodor Hansen expanded the hall by adding 3 sections, which were completed in time for the first Mandø Festival in 1934. 🛠
Theodor, Mikoline and Johanne
Theodor was employed by the lifeboat until 1935. In 1936, Theodor and Mikoline moved away from the inn. Their children include Knud Hansen, also known as Knud Skipper (owner of Karen af Mandø), Mikkel Bunde Hansen (a postman on Mandø for many years), Agnes Marie Hansen, Carl Hansen (also called Carl the priest), and Meta Johanne Hansen.
Johanne, along with her brother Carl, ran the inn as leaseholders (Carl was a co-leaseholder for only a short period). Later, Johanne and her husband, Kristen Marius Christensen, took over the lease, and they purchased the property a year later. In 1949, the property was remodeled towards the north with the addition of rooms in the attic. The inn became popular among holiday guests, and Johanne, who was primarily in charge of the operations, was recognized as a skilled and well-regarded innkeeper.
Johanne as young
Marinus, a blacksmith, came to Mandø in the 1930s to work for the contractor Lotz during the construction of the dyke. Later, he established a forge located in the southeastern corner of the current inn's garden.
In 1938, an island-wide vote was held on whether Marinus should be allowed to serve strong liquor. 46 voted against, 18 in favor, and 2 ballots were blank.
He applied again in 1945 and was granted a license in 1946. Marinus Christensen sold the inn on May 1, 1959, for 65,000 to Thomas Poulsen.
The inn as drawn by a German soldier in 1942.
Marinus Smedje
Many thanks to the Mandø Museum/Archive for lending us the history and pictures.
Note the beautiful illustrated pictures in each room, featuring birds, many thanks to Niels Knudsen.