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Flipping through a travel magazine and encountering photos of Copenhagen, chances are you will see a picture or two of Nyhavn.
Upon my first trip to the capital city of Denmark, this is what I wanted most to see. The problem with my first trip, however, was that it was about 28 degrees and snowing. Yes, I still made it to Nyhavn, but seeing it at dusk through a white sheet of snow didn’t quite match up to to my expectations.
Fast forward to my next trip…summertime in Copenhagen…blue skies, warm temperatures! As I made my way up to the canal and purchased a ticket for a boat tour, I stood mesmerized, in awe of the colorful buildings and the multitude of boats parked there. This was the Nyhavn that I wanted to see and about a hundred pictures were probably snapped on my camera before my tour boat even left the area.
Now, each time that I return to Copenhagen, I always make time to visit the area, first stopping by a small corner store and picking up a couple of beers. I sit along the dock and enjoy my drinks while watching the tour boats come and go and the tourists milling about. It’s still quite magical to me.
Nyhavn, meaning New Harbor, was created in 1671 when King Christian V began the excavation of the new harbor, within the city, with the work being completed by Swedish prisoners of war from the Dano-Swedish War. A gateway to the sea, it became a home for sailors, prostitutes and beer as well as the home for many artists. Nyhavn’s most notable resident was the fairly-tale writer, Hans Christian Anderson, who lived in number 67 for eighteen years.
The brightly colored, 17th and 18th century townhouses, bars, cafes and restaurants (the oldest dates, number 6, dates back to 1687) line the canal and are a hub of activity throughout most of each day. In 1980, the area became a pedestrianized zone.
The canal is also home to many historical wooden ships. In 1977, Nyhavn was introduced as a veteran ship and museum harbor by Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor Egon Weidekamp. Between the Nyhavn Bridge and Kongens Nytorv, there are dozens of old ships which make up the Nyhavn Veteran Ship and Museum Harbour. The Danish National Museum owns many museum ships which reside in the south side of the canal. The northern side of the canal, run by the Nyhavn Society, houses privately owned and still usable wooden ships.
As you wander this amazing area, take the time to examine the awe-inspiring architecture of the area and maybe a tour of one of the museum boats, such as the Light-vessel Gedser Rev. (The light-vessels are my favorites…a boat and a lighthouse in one!)
Climb up on and take pictures with the great Memorial Anchor, (once used on the Frigate Fyn) which commemorates more than 1700 Danish officers and sailors in the service for the Navy, merchant fleet or Allied Forces, who sacrificed their lives during World War II. If you happen to be there on May 5, Denmark’s Liberation Day, an official ceremony is held to honor and commemorate the fallen at the Memorial Anchor.
And…if you want to see the great city of Copenhagen, jump on one of the tour boats that depart from Nyhavn. They start at this magnificent place, take you throughout the many canals and waterways, giving you an overview of the city, and return you to the same spot….then…you can grab a drink or dinner and enjoy the view!
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Nyhavn
- http://www.nyhavn.com/#!home/cd30
- Nyhavn 45 DK-1051 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Admission: free
- Getting There: Copenhagen Harbour Bus, Routes 901, 902, 903 and 904 stop at the bus stop next to the Royal Playhouse. Kongens Nytorv metro station is located at the end of Nyhavn and is served by lines M1 and M2.