Hvalfisken Sculpture

The Whale at Svendborg Harbor is far more than just a sculpture,
for it tells the eventful story of a legendary ship and is a symbol
of the city's maritime identity.
The figure was created by the artist František Balek and donated by the Albani Foundation
to commemorate Svendborg's 750th anniversary in 2003. It commemorates a ship built in Kalmar in 1801 and later known as "The Whale Fish," inspired by its figurehead, the whale itself.
The ship itself had a long life:
It sailed for the Royal Greenland trading company until 1899.
Afterward, it served as a stationary training ship for the Svendborg Maritime School.
Finally, it was even used as a barge during the construction of the Limfjord Bridge
before it sank in 1942.
Today's sculpture at the harbor keeps this story alive and invites visitors to reflect
on Svendborg's close connection to the sea.

Hvalfisken "The Whale" is a sculpture by the artist Frantisek Balek. It was donated by the Albani Foundation on the occasion of Svendborg's 750th anniversary as a market town on February 25, 2003. The figure is connected to the story of a ship built in Kalmar in 1801.