Open air bathing in central Copenhagen - Havnebad

Swim in Copenhagen Harbour
Since June 2002 the Copenhageners no longer need to visit the beaches in the summer season outside of the city to have a fresh swim in crystal clean blue water, as the bathing water around the harbour area has reached a quality equal to the bathing water at the many blue flag beaches on the coastline of Copenhagen.

Clean water conditions
An advanced alarm system to ensure clean water conditions and the establishment of large underground rainwater basins to protect against contaminated wastewater to run into the harbour area, together with effective environmental investments has contributed to create large recreational areas in and around the harbour area.

The large bathing basin was established in the harbour area in 2002 as a floating unit and has since been a tremendous success from the very start - also due to the location nearby the city centre.

The local police on horseback inspecting the harbour bathing site on their daily stroll through the park area, ensuring that everyone is having an enjoyable time and that everything is safe and sound.

Due to the historically clean water conditions in the harbour, new bathing facilities have been established near the centre of the city and are available for the citizens and tourists, who are eager to take on their bathing suits and jump into sparkling water, with high hygienic and sanitary standards.

Harbour bathing on a hot summer day in cool fresh and clean water. The Island Brygge basin has a capacity of servicing more than 600 people and is a stationary unit.

The opening of the harbour bathing season is from June to September - here are some very enthusiastic swimmers entering the harbour water.

New harbour bathing sites
Two new outdoor bathing sites in the harbour area have been established - The stationary bathing facility at Islands Brygge, with a capacity of roughly 600 people – opened in June 2002 near Langebro - and the floating harbour swim bath called Copecabana, close to the shopping mall Fisketorvet, with three basins that cover more than 650 square meters. The bathing facilities have life savers constantly on duty and both bathing places have from the very beginning been a great success. The Opening harbour bathing season is from June to September and a third harbour bathing plant is still in the planning stage.

Many small bathing houses was placed around the harbour areas of Copenhagen from the beginning of 1800. The picture from 1832 shows bathing houses on water, with the Church of Our Saviour and Christian's Church at the back.

Picture from 1865 of the first public bathing place in Copenhagen called "Rysensten Badeanstalt". The establishment was built in 1824 in the inner harbour and not far from Langebro or the new modern harbour bathing site at Islands Brygge.

The first harbour bathing in Copenhagen
The citizens of Copenhagen have always had access to outdoor bathing facilities and public baths beside the beach areas around Copenhagen. One of the first outdoor public bathing facilities in the city was actually placed near Langebro and called “Rysentens Badeanstalt” established about 1824. At that time the coastline went up to the centre of the town as well as the harbour area and many small public bathing sites was in function alongside the waterfront.

The most popular public bathing place near the city was "Helgoland". The premises were established in 1913 and demolished in 2004. The picture is from "Helgoland" in 1925, showing two passionate swimmers ready to dive.

Bathing Nymphs at the public bathing property "Helgoland" in 1928, with the latest fashion in sleeveless bathing costumes and swimwear in woollen jersey. The two part bikini was later introduced in France in 1946.

Public bathing at “Helgoland”
One of the most popular open air public bathing facilities up to date was “Helgoland” – established in 1913 out on the Sound and 350 meters from the shore. “Helgoland” was later demolished in 2004 to give place for the present “Amager Strandpark”, which is the new beach and recreational area for Copenhageners located on east Amager. The plan is to re-established “Helgoland” as a public bathing place in the near future.

Location
On the Isle of Amager - just over the Langebro Bridge and 5 minutes from the Town Hall Square.

Harbour Bathing Address Københavns Havnebad Islands Brygge 110 meters south of Langebro Vestamager Busses: 12 - 33 - 5A - 250S Metro – Islands Brygge Station