Signs in both German and Danish are common in northern Germany, and the bilingual signs are now making their way into southern Jutland.
Thus, the Danish name Haderslev has been joined by its German counterpart ‘Hadersleben’ on a new town sign.
The idea of Danish/German signs in Denmark has been the topic of much discussion in recent months.
The German minority living in the area said they wanted bilingual signs in four southern Jutland towns: Aabenraa, Haderslev, Sønderborg and Tønder.
READ MORE: South Jutland against signs in German
A recognition of history
Haderslev mayor Hans Peter Geil decided to try the idea when a sign needed replacing. Geil had earlier said Danish/German signs would be inappropriate during the 75th anniversary year of the occupation of Denmark by the Germans during WWII.
The German minority praised the mayor for deciding on a bilingual sign.
“This is not about showing the way for tourists, but rather recognising the history of a border town that has two cultures,” Hinrich Jürgensen, the representative of the German minority in Haderslev, told the newspaper Der Nordschleswiger.
The finance committee of Tønder Municipality will be looking at the feasibility of Danish/German signage later in the month.
