Port-City Relations: Rødbyhavn

The Danish coastline stretches over approximately 8,500 kilometers, and life along the coast has for centuries formed the framework for the work and everyday life of many Danes.
Denmark has traditionally been a maritime nation, and port cities have played a crucial role in the development of society. Port cities still function as hubs for trade, transport and industry and are therefore essential for
economic growth and development. In today's globalized world, port cities have become even more important as gateways for international trade and tourism. This makes them
central players in the regional and national economy.

COWI's report for the Danish Maritime Authority 2023 shows that 'Blue Denmark' with 29.7 percent is the country's largest export industry, and if you add indirect exports, the figure is almost 33 percent. Danish ports dock
75% of Danish imports and exports. Furthermore, Denmark ranks third among Europe's ferry nations.

But port cities are also challenged. The city was formerly a home for fishermen or industrial workers with jobs at the port, and for their families and everyday lives. This ensured a natural connection between port and city, but today
that connection is no longer so clear. The modern port city more often functions as a transit point for tourists on their way to their destinations elsewhere, where the city itself risks being ‘forgotten’.

In the research project “Port City Relationships” (PoCiRe), we examine the complex relationships between ports and cities with a special focus on Danish port cities with international ferry connections. The project seeks to understand how these cities function as settlement cities, and what it means to have an active commercial port. We want to identify common characteristics and special features and qualities for the individual port cities that can contribute to the future development of the ports. In addition, we have been curious about how the cities live with their ports, and how the ports live with their cities.