We live with the Wadden Sea - host article

We live with the Wadden Sea
The Marskgården marshland farm lies in Ballum parish. And Ballum lies between very fertile and very dry and sandy marshlands near the Wadden Sea near the island of Rømø. The parish consists of nine villages, which all end on the word Ballum: Bådsbøl-Ballum, Husum-Ballum, Harknag-Ballum, Rejsby-Ballum, Buntje-Ballum, Nørrehus-Ballum, Vesterende-Ballum, Østerende-Ballum and Mølby-Ballum.

One of the World’s wealthiest men saves the houses in the marshland
The towns in Ballum Parish are born under a lucky star, or to put it in more precise words, one of the World’s wealthiest men, Maersk McKinney Møller’s great grandmother was born in a Ballum-village. That is probably why, Mr. Møller has donated DKK 20 million to a special fond, and why the fond since 2009 has distributed grants for the renovation and restoration of about 80 properties in Vest—erende-Ballum and Østerende-Ballum. The large sums of money have been given for the preservation of the typical building style of Western Schleswig with brick walls, gables, pitched and half-hipped roofs, which are always thatched. In this way, Marskgården also received grants for the renovation of the windows made as the original and the thatched roof. It will present a fine appearance, when it is finished. And many old houses and farms in the villages around the parish have been preserved in the same way as the Marskgården farm. It is going to be a magnificent sight, once the entire renovation is completed.

The Marskgården marshland farm and Bed and Breakfast
But back to Marskgården, which today deservedly ought to be called the Mærsk-gård.
Anne Marie and Bent bought the farm 4 years ago, when they started considering a generational change on the old family farm, which their son wanted to succeed to, and where the entire family still lives today. When Marskgården came on the market, they seized the chance and bought it. Here they wanted to live and run a Bed and Breakfast for the many guests, who visit the area to see the bird life and especially the natural phenomenon of Black Sun, but also the unique nature and atmosphere, which the marshland features with its endless view. Very close to Marskgården you will find a system of paths, which straddle approximately 4.3 miles along the Wadden Sea. It is an incredibly pleasant walk.

With the Wadden Sea as their neighbour, Anne Marie and Bent have lived side by side with the threat of devastating floods. But it has never ruined their good humour. On the family farm, Bent still takes care of his holding of 105 Friesian milking cows. It is a state-of-the-art farm with milking robots, which you are welcome to see, if you choose to stay at Marskgården. Bent and Anne Marie will happily show you around. The renovation of Marskgården has not yet been fully completed, thus they stay on the family farm only 164 yards from Marskgården for some time yet. It’s going to be nice, getting settled in the new farm, Bent says with the typical sonerous dialect of the southern parts of Jutland, and continues our plan is to convert the stable on Marskgården into a nice apartment, where Anne Marie and I can live. Then our son can stay on the family farm and take care of the holding, while we stay on Marskgården with our guests, taking good care of them. It’s going to be a wonderful life. Our region has so much to offer all year round. Even when the wind is howling, it’s just a matter of putting on warm clothing before going stepping out into the magnificent nature, which we have been given.

On top of that, there is of course cross-border shopping, the island of Rømø and all the exciting events in the town of Tønder at Christmas time. Not to mention all the festivals during the summer with the tilt at the ring and that sort of fun. There are always things for our guests to do, and we will gladly assist them with good ideas, Bent concludes with a smile.