OUR HISTORY
The History of PAKHUSET
PAKHUSET is located in the heart of Skagen Marina, offering stunning views of the yachts and the classic, historic warehouses that characterize Skagen. The building was designed by the renowned Danish architect and designer Thorvald Bindesbøll and constructed between 1905 and 1907.
Both inside the restaurant and on the exterior façade, the building is adorned with faithful replicas of figureheads. These were purchased from shipwreck auctions and collected by hotel owner Ludvig Emil Andersen between 1893 and 1910, adding a unique historic charm to the building.
The Figureheads -
A Collection Like No Other
When visiting PAKHUSET on the quay in Skagen today, it’s easy to let your eyes wander upward in curiosity and admiration. Here, you’ll discover a total of 42 figureheads and carved ornaments adorning the building, both inside and out.
This remarkable and unique collection was originally created between 1893 and 1910 by hotel owner Ludvig Emil Andersen, who acquired the pieces over decades from various shipwreck auctions. The collection originally decorated the dining room of Andersen’s now-closed Skagen Hotel. Later, Hans Sund, a former owner of PAKHUSET, made the restaurant the home for this historic collection from old Skagen.
For many decades, the figureheads were admired and celebrated, until they were controversially purchased by the Swedish shipowner Axel Axelsson Johnsson. The sum offered – 70,000 DKK at the time (equivalent to around 4 million DKK today) – was impossible for the financially struggling Skagen Hotel to refuse.
Today, visitors to PAKHUSET Skagen experience faithful replicas of the original figureheads, but these are no ordinary copies. Each figurehead, large or small, is hand-carved from solid mahogany, weighing up to 300–400 kg for the largest pieces. They were carefully painted by a French artist to perfectly match the originals, which can now be seen at the Maritime Museum in Gothenburg. Handling, placing, and hanging these substantial works of art has been a significant undertaking, preserving the historic grandeur of Skagen’s maritime heritage.
Who’s Behind PAKHUSET?
Young Entrepreneurs with Big Ambitions
PAKHUSET is currently run by brothers Sylvester and Sebastian Vinther Madsen, who took over the restaurant in 2016 at the ages of 28 and 25. They succeeded the previous owners, Karen and Hans Sund, who opened the restaurant in its current form back in 1994.
Both brothers grew up in Skagen and bring solid experience from the hospitality industry. Sylvester’s journey is a perfect example of dedication and hard work: he started as a dishwasher at PAKHUSET in 2002 under Karen and Hans Sund, later became a waiter, and eventually served as café and restaurant manager before taking ownership with his brother in 2016.
Sebastian also brought valuable experience, having previously worked at Jakobs Café before joining PAKHUSET.
Since taking over, the brothers have maintained PAKHUSET’s original spirit as a traditional seafood restaurant, focusing on high-quality, local ingredients with a touch of New Nordic cuisine, while preserving the warm and authentic atmosphere that makes the restaurant a Skagen favorite.
