What By & Havn does

By & Havn I/S is a publicly-owned Danish urban development and port management company established in 2007 under Danish law, jointly owned 95% by Copenhagen Municipality and 5% by the Danish State. The company plans, develops, and sells building plots and building rights in Copenhagen's new city districts — Ørestad, Nordhavn, Lynetteholm, Stejlepladsen, Fælledby, and Kløverparken — and operates the city of Copenhagen's commercial and recreational harbor, including container, cruise, and bulk terminal operations through its wholly-owned subsidiary CMP Copenhagen Malmö Port. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: one-time land/plot sales to developers, recurring property leasing of historical port buildings, recurring parking operations across 14 facilities with ~7,200 spaces and 400+ EV chargers, and port-related transaction fees. By & Havn is also constructing Lynetteholm, a new peninsula providing storm flood protection for Copenhagen that will add roughly 3% to the city's land area, with a ~30-year earth-filling horizon.

The company's core technology stack consists of the PARKinCPH self-service digital parking platform (license management, ANPR-based short-term parking, EV charging), the KBH Havn mobile app for harbor users (bathing, sailing, kayaking, fishing information), and interactive district maps for Ørestad and Nordhavn. Operationally, the company manages a major civil engineering program — Lynetteholm alone required a 7 km stone perimeter completed in June 2026, with Per Aarsleff A/S as main contractor and COWI as technical advisor. By & Havn's business model is a hybrid: private-sector execution (plot sales, leases, parking) combined with a public-sector mandate (storm flood protection, metro financing, public space creation) — revenue from land sales is reinvested into public infrastructure including Copenhagen's metro.

The company serves multiple customer segments: residential buyers and tenants in mixed-use districts, commercial tenants leasing office and showroom space, parking customers (residents, businesses, visitors), harbor users and Copenhagen citizens using 19 approved bathing areas, and — at the mandate level — Copenhagen Municipality and the Danish State as ultimate owners defining strategic priorities. Distribution is direct across all channels: land sales are handled by an in-house sales department with an interactive plot map, property leasing by a dedicated team, and parking through the self-service PARKinCPH portal. All operations are domestic within Denmark.

Name

By & Havn

Legal name

By & Havn I/S

Website

https://byoghavn.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

By & Havn is a publicly-owned Danish urban development and port management company (95% Copenhagen Municipality, 5% Danish State) that plans and sells building plots in Copenhagen's new districts (Ørestad, Nordhavn, Lynetteholm), operates 14 parking facilities with 7,200 spaces, and manages Copenhagen's commercial and recreational harbor via subsidiary CMP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Real Estate Development and Port Management

NAICS

Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) (531120), Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Lessors of Real Estate (5311)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Transitional/Development Land Brokerage (Entitled, In-Path-of-Growth) (BPAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Urban real estate development
• Port operations management
• Land and property sales
• Commercial property leasing
• Parking facility operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Köpenhamn

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Grundvig (Land/Plot Sales): By & Havn sells building plots and building rights for residential and commercial development in new Copenhagen districts (Nordhavn, Ørestad, Lynetteholm, Sydhavn). Revenue from plot sales funds public infrastructure including metro construction.
2. Udlejning (Property Leasing): By & Havn leases historical port buildings and land areas to businesses, offering office, showroom, and satellite spaces primarily in Nordhavn. Total leasable area referenced at approximately 4,759 m² for one property (Pakhus53-1).
3. Parking Operations: By & Havn owns and operates 14 parking facilities with approximately 7,200 parking spaces in Nordhavn, Ørestad, Marmormolen, Nordre Toldbod, Søndre Frihavn, Slusen, and Refshaleøen. Revenue from parking licenses, short-term parking (ANPR-based), and EV charging (400+ chargers).
4. Port Operations (Copenhagen Malmö Port): The commercial harbor includes container and cruise terminal in Nordhavn and bulk facilities at Prøvestenen. Operated via subsidiary CMP Copenhagen Malmö Port. Revenue from port cargo, cruise operations, and freight.
5. Infrastructure Revenue Reinvestment: Revenue from By & Havn's activities funds public infrastructure including Copenhagen metro and public spaces, canals, quays, parks and community initiatives in new districts. This is a central part of the company's mandate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

By & Havn is a publicly owned urban development and port management company that plans, develops, and sells building plots in new Copenhagen districts (Nordhavn, Ørestad, Lynetteholm, Stejlepladsen, Fælledby, Kløverparken), leases commercial and historical port properties, operates 14 parking facilities with approximately 7,200 spaces and 400+ EV chargers, and manages Copenhagen's harbor including commercial port operations via subsidiary CMP Copenhagen Malmö Port. Revenue from property sales funds public infrastructure including metro construction.

Product overview

By & Havn is a city development and harbor management company (95% owned by the City of Copenhagen, 5% by the Danish state) offering a portfolio of integrated urban development services, digital platforms, and harbor management operations. Its digital product portfolio includes PARKinCPH (a digital parking platform for managing parking licenses, ANPR-based short-term parking, and EV charging across ~7,200 parking spaces), the KBH Havn mobile app (harbor information including bathing, sailing, kayaking, and fishing), and interactive map tools for its development districts. Its core urban development activities encompass the development and sale of building plots in Nordhavn, Ørestad, Lynetteholm, and Sydhavn; rental of historic harbor buildings and areas for commercial and residential use; and management of Copenhagen's harbor including commercial operations via subsidiary CMP, recreational bathing facilities, and maritime regulations. The company also operates the Havnebygmesterens Studiesamling exhibition at Nordre Toldbod.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PARKinCPH Digital Parking Platform By & Havn's digital parking platform enabling online purchase and management of parking licenses for residents and businesses, short-term parking via ANPR (license plate recognition) technology up to 48 hours post-exit, and EV charging with over 400 charging stations across 14 parking facilities with approximately 7,200 spaces in Copenhagen's new districts (Nordhavn, Ørestad, Marmormolen, Nordre Toldbod, Søndre Frihavn, Slusen, Refshaleøen).
• KBH Havn Mobile App Mobile application for harbor users in Copenhagen providing information about 19 approved bathing sites, swimming conditions, sailing routes, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), rowing, fishing, and general real-time harbor conditions and regulations.
• Land Sales (Grundsalg) Sale of building plots and building rights for residential and commercial development across By & Havn's urban districts, including Nordhavn, Ørestad, and Sydhavn. Properties are listed for sale, under negotiation, or sold status. Revenue funds public infrastructure including metro construction. Sold directly through By & Havn's sales department.
• Property Leasing (Udlejning) Rental of historical port buildings and land areas in Copenhagen's harbor, including office and showroom spaces (e.g., Pakhus53 with 4,759 m²), land areas, and houseboat moorings primarily in Nordhavn. Managed via By & Havn's rental department with a direct leasing team.
• Copenhagen Harbor Management Management and operation of Copenhagen's harbor, including commercial port operations (container and cruise terminal via subsidiary CMP Copenhagen Malmö Port, bulk facilities at Prøvestenen), recreational facilities, 19 approved bathing areas, maritime regulations, safety oversight, and environmental monitoring. Balances commercial freight, cruise operations, and public recreational use.
• Harbor Bathing Facilities Designated bathing areas in Copenhagen's harbor including havnebade (harbor bath houses with lifeguard coverage), badezoner (beach zones), dyppezoner (plunge zones), and beaches at Valbyparken and Svanemøllen, with ongoing water quality monitoring. In 2026, five new baderåd (bathing councils) were introduced.
• Havnebygmesterens Studiesamling (Exhibition) An exhibition about Copenhagen's harbor history housed in the Visitationsbygningen at Nordre Toldbod 3, open weekdays 09-15, free of charge. Features photos, maps, drawings, films, and the company's living archive, including a special exhibition 'Lynetteholm nedefra' (Lynetteholm from below).

Quantifiable outcome

• Lynetteholm will add nearly 3% to Copenhagen's total land area
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Per Aarsleff A/ScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPer Aarsleff A/S is the main contractor for Lynetteholm's construction (anlægsarbejdet). Since construction began in January 2022, Aarsleff has built Lynetteholm's stone perimeter (phases 1 and 2) and continues earth filling operations. The project is on schedule and within budget.
• CMP Copenhagen Malmö PortcoreOthersCMP Copenhagen Malmö Port is By & Havn's wholly-owned subsidiary operating the commercial port of Copenhagen (container and cruise terminal in Nordhavn, bulk facilities at Prøvestenen). By & Havn holds the shares as a subsidiary within the group.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBy & Havn has a partnership with WWF regarding biodiversity in Copenhagen's harbor, part of By & Havn's environmental monitoring and sustainability efforts for the harbor ecosystem.
• HOFOR (Hovedstadsområdets Forsyningsselskab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBy & Havn works in partnership with HOFOR (Copenhagen's main utility company) to develop and apply new energy and supply solutions in Nordhavn, including rainwater reuse pilot projects.
• ØICC (Ørestad City Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerØrestad Innovation and Commerce City (ØICC) supports collaboration and business growth across industries in Ørestad. By & Havn, as the developer of Ørestad, collaborates with ØICC to strengthen the business network.
• Partnerskab for Sikker HavnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Safe Harbor comprising Copenhagen Municipality, Søsportens Sikkerhedsråd (Water Sports Safety Council), Copenhagen Police, and Hovedstadens Beredskab (Capital Region Rescue Services), along with Hovedstadens Svømmeklub and TrygFonden. By & Havn co-developed the five harbor bathing guidelines with this partnership.
• Science Based Targets InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBy & Havn works toward joining the Science Based Targets Initiative to support the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C, as part of its CO2 reduction partnership efforts.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Skanska AB: Global construction and real estate developer with deep Nordic operations including Denmark. Comparable to By & Havn on the development and project execution side, with comparable scale in mixed-use district creation and civil engineering.
• HafenCity Hamburg GmbH: Publicly-owned urban regeneration company developing Hamburg's former harbor into mixed-use districts. Direct structural peer: government-mandated, single-city waterfront urban developer with combined residential, commercial, and public space mandate, similar in scope to By & Havn's role in Copenhagen.
• Veidekke ASA: Norwegian construction and real estate developer with Scandinavian operations. Comparable to By & Havn on the development and civil engineering execution side, with overlapping market presence in Nordic urban development.
• Oslo Havn KF (Port of Oslo): Municipally-owned Norwegian port and urban development entity. Comparable to By & Havn in being a publicly-owned port authority that develops harbor-front districts (e.g., Bjørvika, Sørenga) into mixed-use neighborhoods with public mandate over both freight and recreational use.
• JM AB: Sweden's largest residential developer with significant Nordic presence. Direct comparable to By & Havn's residential plot sales model in prime Nordic urban markets, particularly in mixed-use inner-city district development.
• NCC AB: One of the largest Nordic construction and property development companies, active across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Direct comparable for By & Havn's residential and commercial development activities in Copenhagen districts, particularly in the Nordic cross-border market.
• Bonava AB: Nordic homebuilder spun off from NCC, active in Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Baltics. Direct comparable for By & Havn's residential development pipeline in Ørestad, Nordhavn, Stejlepladsen, and other districts.

Emerging players

• NREP A/S: Leading Nordic real estate investor and developer with a strong focus on logistics, residential, and urban infill projects across the Nordics. Comparable to By & Havn as a peer in Nordic urban real estate development, though operating as a private capital-backed platform rather than a public-mandate entity.

Regional players

• Stockholms Hamnar (Port of Stockholm): Municipally-owned Swedish port operator with real estate development mandate. Operates in a similar Nordic capital market with a comparable dual mandate of commercial port operations and waterfront urban regeneration, though primarily focused on Stockholm.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Rotterdam Authority: Publicly-owned port authority (municipality + state) that combines commercial port operations with large-scale adjacent real estate development. Comparable to By & Havn's combined port operation (via CMP) and urban development mandate, though on a significantly larger scale and broader geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/byenshavn
• Xx.com/byoghavn
• Facebookfacebook.com/byoghavn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about By & Havn