Qassimiut

Qassimiut Bødker
View of Qassimiut
Qassimiut Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 60°46′53″N 47°09′35″W
State	Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country	Greenland
Municipality	Kujalleq
Population  (2024)
• Total	14
Time zone	UTC−02:00 (Western Greenland Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−01:00 (Western Greenland Summer Time)
Postal code	3920 Qaqortoq

Qassimiut, also known by its Danish name Bødker, is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The settlement was founded in 1835 as a trading station. With a population of 14 in 2024, it is the smallest organised, permanent settlement in Greenland.[1]

Until January 2009, the settlement—along Eqalugaarsuit and Saarloq, as well as 13 sheep farms—belonged to Qaqortoq municipality. On 1 January 2009 the settlement became part of Kujalleq municipality, when the Narsaq, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik municipalities ceased to exist. The settlements are presently governed by a joint settlement council,[2] although Qassimiut has no direct representation in the council. It was founded in 1835 by Julianehåb buisnesmann Frederik Lassen, with Bødker Peter Bendtsen as first bestyrer.

Healthcare and infrastructure

The healthcare services for the settlement are provided by the Napparsimavik Hospital in Qaqortoq. The hospital boat regularly visits the settlement, and an emergency helicopter is available if needed.

KNI subsidiary Pilersuisoq operates a local, all-purpose general store in the settlement.[3]

Settlement school

The settlement school--Atuarfik Qassimiut, Greenlandic for "school of Qassimiut" is part of the Qaqortoq education district. The two-classroom school building was moved to Qassimiut in 1965. The most recent refurbishing and renovation of the school was in the late 1980s.

Transport and communications

Main article: Qassimiut Heliport

The settlement has its own heliport, Qassimiut Heliport, which is operated by Mittarfeqarfiit. All other transportation is by boat only. The settlement has gravel roads, but there are no cars.

Internet and phone communications are provided by Greenland Home Rule.

Famous people from Qassimiut

• Jonathan Motzfeldt – politician (S)

Population

Most towns and settlements in southern Greenland exhibit negative growth patterns over the last two decades, with many settlements rapidly depopulating. Qassimiut has been rapidly losing population over the last two decades. Its population has decreased by more than two thirds relative to the 1990 levels.[4]

Qassimiut population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[4]

References

1. Statistics Greenland, Population in Localities January 1st 1977-2024 [BEESTD]
2. "Kujalleq Municipality" (in Danish). Kujalleq Municipality. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
3. "Medlemmar ag GA" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
4. Statistics Greenland Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)