Harteværket Kolding

Just three kilometres from Kolding, you’ll find Harteværket – an exciting experience centre for both children and adults. Learn about energy, water, and movement, explore the historic buildings from the early 1900s, and enjoy a day dedicated to hydropower. Go canoeing, discover the beautiful river valley, and bring your own lunch to enjoy in the picnic house.

From Water to Power – Harteværket in Kolding
Hydropower has been used in Denmark for more than 1,000 years. Early watermills could replace the labour of up to 100 people, and by the late 1800s, especially in Jutland, water was harnessed to produce electricity. When Harteværket opened in 1920, it became Denmark’s first major hydroelectric power plant – the most modern of its time.

Today, Harteværket still produces electricity when water levels allow, but it now serves mainly as an experience centre. Here, children and adults can get close to the giant turbines, play with the interactive sandbox, and explore historic electrical devices – even seeing what a power socket looked like in grandfather’s day.

Enjoy Nature at Harteværket
Right outside Harteværket, children can spend hours at the water playground or try the new trampoline park with eight trampolines. For adults, the area offers green trails and peaceful walks in the river valley. Don’t miss the huge water pipe that powers the turbines with up to 6,000 litres per second – equal to 1,350 horsepower.

Rent a Canoe and Explore Kolding from the Water
Rent a canoe at Harteværket and discover Kolding from the fjord and the valley. Paddle into the town centre for lunch at a café, or head into nature and enjoy a picnic outdoors. Find suggested routes and book your canoe online – and remember, the return trip takes longer as you’ll be paddling against the current.

Read more about Harteværket here

Does Harteværket Still Play a Role in Today’s Energy Supply?
Yes! Although water flow has decreased to about one-third of what it was in 1920, Harteværket still produces electricity for Kolding. Back then, it supplied half of the city’s electricity – today around 1%.

Its true strength lies in flexibility: hydropower can be regulated up or down quickly, making it a valuable supplement to wind energy, which is unpredictable. At full capacity, 6,000 litres of water per second rush through the plant – equal to 1,350 horsepower or about 1,000 kW.

Remarkably, Harteværket still runs on its original turbines and generators, more than 100 years old – a living piece of Danish energy history.