Of Broken Dams and Resourcefulness

Can you hear it?

A small shriek and startled laughter break the silence. Not a breath of wind stirs, and the moon reflects in the calm surface of the water, which five winter swimmers have just broken.

Once upon a time, there wasn’t much fun to be had swimming off the coast of Tambohus. The water was no more than 10 cm deep and smelled terrible after the dam between Thyholm and Jegindø was closed in 1956. But in 2003, a small group of locals from the village guild came together and, over the years, managed to raise millions of kroner. The breach in the dam was restored, the water returned, and a new dinghy harbor replaced the old one.

Since then, the residents of Tambohus have collectively raised another small fortune to build a bathing jetty, a sauna, a new playground, and much more. They call the harbor "The Town Square," and on a warm summer evening, hundreds of people can be found sitting there, enjoying the view and the atmosphere.

Fifty households and a handful of holiday homes can achieve a great deal if everyone contributes—whether you are an engineer, a blacksmith, or simply great at rolling up your sleeves when it’s community work day at the harbor. With unity and resourcefulness, you can go a long way. Tambohus is living proof of that.