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"I wish you were on Sprogø"

By Erik Jensen

The quotation is from Ludvig Holberg. He used it in one of his many works, but the expression is a lot older. It was definitely not a kind wish!


Holberg had to spend the night on the island of Sprogø during a crossing in 1709. At that time there was only one single bed for travellers and it cost the monstrous sum of 2 Rix dollars to use it. Holberg did not find that the choice of culinary treats was matching his usual standard either.

Sprogø in the Middle

Sprogø has been the natural centre of a journey across the Great Belt at all times. Until the first of June this year travellers had only been able to observe Sprogø from a ferry. Now you can cross Sprogø by train via the West Bridge and the East tunnel, but the train does not stop on the island. In just about a year – when the East Bridge will be open for traffic – you will be able to take a closer look at the island from your own car.

In "the good old days" countless travellers have been forced to break their journey involuntarily on Sprogø for some period. The risk of "stranding" on Sprogø was highest during the winter season. It did not take much contrary wind or current before the sailing ships of that age had to give up crossing the strait without intermission

Things were at their worst during the hardest winters when the ice covered parts or – or perhaps even the entire Great Belt. When the paddle steamers appeared from 1828, the problem was partly remedied as long as the ice was not firm, but even in loose ice, the paddle wheel might be crushed by ice floes. Then the paddle steamers also gave up and then there was only one possibility of transport left: the iceboats. They always passed by Sprogø. In the new Post & Tele Museum an original iceboat will be on display. It will be introduced in the MuseumsPosten at a later date together with a review of the inconveniences and dangers of iceboat transport.

Comfort by Order of the King

For the travellers’ convenience a restaurant and accommodation had been established on Sprogø. They could be used in case the weather did not allow the journey to continue or if it had become too late in the day to carry on. The conditions were probably not always so pleasant. Under all circumstances Frederick the 2nd ordered in 1572 that a house should be built on Sprogø so that travellers in distress could get roof over their heads as well as food and drink. The background was that the King himself during a trip from Kolding to Copenhagen in 1569 had had to stop off on the island without being able to get anything either to eat or drink. In that very same house King Christian the 4th spent the night in January 1620.

A new house for post and travellers was built in 1755. In 1792, the house was refurnished at the expense of the General Directorate of Posts. In 1807, a bascule light was set up in order to help the mail boats. Originally, it was intended to erect a solid building with a lamp light, but the war against England prevented that the plan was carried through. By the way, all buildings were burned down by the English in 1810. On 1st February 1814, on his way home from the peace of Kiel, due to bad weather Frederick the 6th had to spend five days on Sprogø under poor conditions. Already in May the same year the General Directorate of the Post was therefore ordered to buy the island of Sprogø (from the Juelsberg estate) and move five low-rise half-timbered houses there from Korsør.

In 1822, the postal service erected a brick-built main building called "the Hotel" with 10 rooms for the somewhat distinguished guests and 20 "boxes" in the attic for the less well off. Besides, in the other buildings there were about 100 berths for the iceboat crew and the travellers’ servants. In 1853, a nightly stay at Sprogø cost 64 skilling for a full bed. If you were prepared to share the bed with someone else, you got off with paying 48 skilling! In this way married couples could "hold hands", and the postal service gained 32 skilling! For a berth or a mattress with a blanket 32 skilling were charged.

When the Great Belt service was transferred to the national railways in 1883, the iceboat complete with buildings - including the complex on Sprogø - was included in the deal. Since then the postal service has had no reason to stop on the island.



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