For 15 years, 10,000 schoolchildren have joined ‘Jakob’ on harbor tours. This year, demand has been especially high
1,000 Aarhus schoolchildren.
That’s how many the tugboat ‘Jakob’ has hosted in 2025 on guided tours in and around the harbor of Aarhus.
But the potential was much greater. Because 62 school classes didn’t manage to secure a spot before ‘Jakob’ had to announce it was sold out.
‘Jakob’ is actually out of service and docked at Dokk1.
But during 2025, the tugboat hasn’t had many opportunities to enjoy its retirement, as students from over 30 public school classes in Aarhus Municipality have joined harbor tours.
Here, the children have gained insight into the harbor’s diverse activities combined with stories from both the harbor and the city.
The Jakob Foundation currently owns the tugboat Jakob and is run by volunteers, most of whom have experience from the maritime industry.
– At the Jakob Foundation, we’re happy to contribute to passing on Aarhus’ history as a port city and educating the youth about what the Aarhus harbor means for our everyday lives, says Mogens Ellerbæk, chairman of the Jakob Foundation.
Aarhus Harbor, along with Sparekassen Thy, is the foundation’s main sponsor.
Harbor tours aimed at schoolchildren are nothing new for the Jakob Foundation—in fact, the tugboat has hosted around 10,000 schoolchildren on sailing trips since 2010.
But this year, demand has been particularly high. The Jakob Foundation had to turn away a total of 62 school classes because the fastest classes had already filled the scheduled tours. That’s why there are also plans to repeat the success in 2026.
– If sponsorships allow, we’ll repeat the success next year. The high demand for the tours tells us that the Jakob Foundation can make a difference for both the city and the harbor. It’s meaningful work we’re proud of, says Mogens Ellerbæk.
At Aarhus Harbor, they’re pleased that the Jakob Foundation is experiencing great success with the guided harbor tours.
– The Jakob Foundation is a loyal mascot for both the city and the harbor, and with harbor tours for citizens of all ages, they carry out important educational work that helps strengthen awareness of the harbor and Aarhus as a port city. That’s why we’re happy to support the foundation’s work, says Daniel Møller Jensen, Head of Communications & Press at Aarhus Harbor.
