VisitNyhavn
EN
The history of Nyhavn — from harbour canal 1673 to tourist attraction.
Nyhavn was dug 1670–1673 by Swedish prisoners of war as an inner commercial harbour for Christian V. For three centuries it was a sailors' district — pubs, brothels, tattoo parlours. Only in the 1970s was the quay transformed into the tourist setting we know today.
Excavated in the 1670s as a busy commercial port, Nyhavn has a rich history shaped by sailors, trade, and the writer Hans Christian Andersen. Today, the preserved warehouses and historic ships serve as a living monument to Copenhagen's maritime past.
When the canal was dug 1670–1673 it was to give grain ships direct access to the Kongens Nytorv market. In the 1700s and 1800s, H.C. Andersen lived in three different buildings here — Nyhavn 18, 20 and 67. He wrote some of his most famous fairy tales at Nyhavn 18.
For most of the 1900s Nyhavn was a working-class quarter with sailors, pubs, and a rough reputation. The canal was closed to commercial shipping in 1967, and the current restaurateur transformation began in the 1980s. The houses were painted in their signature pastels in 1992–1995 as part of an urban beautification programme.
The places.
We're gathering our first picks here — coming soon. In the meantime, see our A–Z directory for every place we cover.
Ten verified facts about the harbour.
Numbers we could document — from addresses and opening dates to visitor counts. Sources noted per field.
Estimates are marked. The rest are from public registries, official tariffs, or the venue's own pages.
Frequently asked.
Why are the Nyhavn houses coloured?
They were painted in their current pastels in 1992–1995. Before that they were typically white or grey sailors' houses. The colours were chosen to match the character the city wanted to highlight as a tourist attraction.
Did H.C. Andersen really live in Nyhavn?
Yes — in three different buildings. Most famously Nyhavn 18 (1844–1864), where he wrote many of his fairy tales. The building still stands and is marked.
When was the canal dug?
1670–1673, under Christian V. It was dug by Swedish prisoners of war from the Scanian War and served as the inner grain harbour for the Kongens Nytorv market.