In the 19th century, Jutland’s rugged heathlands and their resilient inhabitants captivated poets and painters alike. Yet, for the founders of the Danish Heath Society (Det Danske Hedeselskab), the heath’s vast expanses held not only poetic beauty but economic potential. Led by the visionary engineer Enrico Dalgas, the society embarked on an ambitious project to transform the barren landscape into fertile farmland. Thousands of shelterbelts rose to shield against the wind, canals brought water to the soil, and endless loads of manure and marl laid the groundwork for new growth.

The transformation of a landscape shaped by humans and animals for over 5,000 years was profound, and the heath’s great chronicler, Steen Steensen Blicher, would have been astonished by the result.

Join anthropologist Lotte Isager from Holstebro Museum as she traces the heath’s remarkable journey — from wilderness to prosperity — in The Hope on the Heath.

The book is written in Danish and will be released on 13 November 2025. You can read more about the publication here.