The tugboat Jakob has helped more than 1,000 schoolchildren learn about Aarhus as a port city

Many visitors to the city and Aarhusians themselves have seen the tugboat Jakob, which is likely to dock right next to Dokk1.

During 2025, Jakob has not had much time to enjoy his otium as a retired tugboat, because it has had well over 1,000 schoolchildren from Aarhus in more than 30 primary school classes on harbour cruises. Here, the children have gained an insight into the port's versatile activities combined with stories from both the port and the city.

“In the Jakob Foundation, we are pleased to share Aarhus' history as a port city and to make young people more aware of what the port of Aarhus means to our everyday lives,” says Mogens Ellerbæk, Chairman of the Jakob Foundation.

The Jakob Foundation currently owns the tugboat Jakob and is run by volunteers, most of whom have experience from the maritime industry. The Port of Aarhus, together with Sparekassen Thy, are the main sponsors of the foundation. Read more about the Jakob Foundation via the link here.

Overwhelming demand

The harbour tours targeting schoolchildren are not unknown to the Jakob Foundation — in fact, the tugboat has taken approximately 10,000 schoolchildren on trips since 2010.

But this year, demand has been particularly high. The Jakob Foundation has had to reject as many as 62 school classes because the fastest school classes had already filled up the planned trips. Therefore, it is also planned to repeat the success in 2026.

“If the sponsorships allow it, we will 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 port. It is a meaningful work that we are proud of,” says Mogens Ellerbæk.

The Port of Aarhus is pleased that the Jakob Foundation is experiencing great success with its guided harbour tours.

“The Jakob Foundation is a faithful mascot for both the city and the harbour, and with harbour tours for citizens of all ages, they carry out a great awareness of the harbour and Aarhus as a port city. That is why we are happy to support the Foundation's work, and we want to thank the many volunteers behind it all,” says Daniel Møller Jensen, Head of Communications & Press at the Port of Aarhus.

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