The Svenstrup Guild
Photo: H.P. Rasmussen
The Svenstrup Guild came up with the idea of drawing attention to the Hjortspring boat that was excavated in Svenstrup parish in 1922. The first thought was to borrow the boat, which is on display at the National Museum in Copenhagen, and exhibit it in Nordborg. However, this idea was quickly rejected, but a proposal was subsequently made to build a full-size replica of the boat. The municipality made a sum of money available to investigate the idea further.
Søren Vadstrup from the National Museum's department in Brede, who in 1971 had been the driving force behind the production of such a replica (Roar Linde), was invited to Svenstrup to clarify the possibilities and difficulties of building a replica.
At a publicly announced meeting at Alsingergården in Svenstrup, attended by 40 people, Søren Vadstrup shared his experiences and it quickly became clear that it was a complicated task. The problem of obtaining sufficiently large lime logs was emphasised as the most difficult. Søren Vadstrup also believed that making a copy like this was only valuable if it contained the latest interpretations of the find.
Founding general assembly
At the meeting, the assembly decided to form an association. Based on the interests of those present, the meeting was divided into groups with topics such as organisation, history, tools, wood procurement, etc. so that the difficulties or challenges could be detailed.
On 3 June 1991, the founding general meeting of the Hjortspringbådens Laug, as the association was called, was held.
After approval of the articles of association, a 7-man board was elected, divided as follows:
- Chairman of the Board
- Vice Chairman
- Treasurer
- and 3 non-executive board members