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COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen considers limit to outside seating for bars and cafés

Over 1,500 Copenhagen residents have submitted their views on a municipal plan to limit how late bars and restaurants are permitted to serve outside in specific parts of the city.

Copenhagen considers limit to outside seating for bars and cafés
Late outside serving (although not in the Meatpacking District, pictured) could be limited under a Copenhagen Municipality proposal. Photo:Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix

A hearing phase in which the public can submit its views on the plan closes today with over 1,500 people have sent in their opinions, broadcaster DR reports.

A narrow majority at the city government is in favour of a proposal to enforce a closing time of 10pm for outside serving at bars, cafes and restaurants in most of the Copenhagen municipality. Some central areas will be excluded from the rules.

The 1,500 submissions on the municipality’s website during the open hearing period is the highest number of responses received on an individual question by a huge margin, according to DR.

The second-highest number, received in relation to the environmental impact of the M5 Metro line, got 39 responses.

Specifically, the proposal would see service for outside seating stop at 10pm on weekdays. This would apply to the entire municipality of Copenhagen with the exception of the so-called “Metropole Zone” between the historic part of inner Copenhagen and Vesterbro; the Meatpacking District in Vesterbro; and Nyhavn.

A key element in the debate is the noise and disturbance experienced by neighbours to outside seating areas. Weighting in favour of late outside service is the positive impact for businesses and giving the capital a more lively atmosphere.

Sector interest organisation Danmarks Restaurants og Caféer said it had submitted its view under the hearing process.

More limited outdoor serving would have a severe impact on the city’s atmosphere, Freja Brandhøj, political director with the organisation, told DR.

“We simply believe that this proposal degrades rather than improves the capital. Many people have worked hard for a vibrant Copenhagen,” she said.

The chairperson of the Residents’ Association for Indre Nørrebro, Gøje Rostrup, said it is unfair that people may be forced to move out of the area if they don’t like noise emanating from the city’s streets.

The association was founded to campaign in favour of resident complaints stemming from being neighbours to bars and other businesses that serve food and drinks until late.

“Many of us have lived here for decades and have experienced how the noise has invaded,” said Rostrup, who has sent a consultation response on behalf of residents.

All 1,500 hearing responses are to be forwarded to councillors on the city works (Teknik og Miljø) committee, who will decide on how the finalised version of the proposal will look.

The Social Democrats, Socialist People’s Party (SF), Conservative and Alternative parties were behind the initial proposal. The latter party said it will decide on its final position once it has considered the hearing responses.

Hearing responses can still be sent to Copenhagen Municipality until midnight on Thursday.

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FAMILY

Ten great (and free) playgrounds to take your kids in Copenhagen

With more than 140 different playgrounds in Copenhagen, families are spoilt for choice when it comes to free play areas for their children. Here are ten of our favourite options.

Ten great (and free) playgrounds to take your kids in Copenhagen

Nørrebroparken 

One of the unique elements of playgrounds in Copenhagen is that some of them are staffed. This means they have a little indoor area full of activities, led by adults, as is the case at Nørrberoparken. There are tricycles and games for the children to use, areas to grow vegetables and special events held throughout the year.

The playground is easily identified by the big aeroplane in the middle, designed for children to climb on. There’s also a sandpit, slide, swings and large ship to explore.

During the summer, Nørrebroparken is one of the places in the city that have a soppebassin. This is an area filled with water, so that a giant paddling pool is created for children to enjoy. 

Add in the fact the playground is on the trendy Stefansgade with plenty of options to grab good food and coffee, it’s a win-win choice for parents and children.

 
 
 
 
 
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Remiseparken, Sundby

This park includes a farm where children can feed the animals including chickens, rabbits, ponies, pigs and a paddock with lots of goats. Free activities are also run by the staff at the playground such as building insect houses and making birds’ nests. 

The playground opposite includes a large castle with a dragon slide, play houses, bonfire area, ball field, table tennis and much more.

Another highlight is the Thomas Dambo creation of the pacifier troll called Sanka. Similar to the pacifier tree (suttetræ), toddlers can take their pacifiers here when they are ready to stop using them. Thomas Dambo is a Danish artist who creates sculptures from recycled materials, including the Six Forgotten Giants.

 
 
 
 
 
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De Skæve Huse, Østerbro

Hidden away in the district of Østerbro is this creative playground designed by architect group Monstrum.

The Brumleby playground consists of three houses, a baker’s shop, and an ice-cream booth. Described as the ‘dizzy playground’, it is full of quirky fixtures to turn the world upside down and let children’s imaginations run free.

 
 
 
 
 
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Trafiklegepladsen, Østerbro

The Traffic Playground in Fælledparken, Østerbro is where many little Danes learn to ride a bike.

There are traffic lights, road signs, road markers, bike paths and pavements for children to practice their cycling skills. On weekdays you can hire bikes but at the weekend you need to bring your own.

There’s even staff on hand if you want your child to have a cycling lesson, or you need some advice about bikes.

Next to the Traffic Playground is a play area with swings, slide and sandpit. There are toilets, benches and plenty of trees providing shade. Afterwards, you can explore the rest of Fælledparken, Copenhagen’s largest park, where there are a further two playgrounds, flower gardens, lake and plenty of space to run and cycle.

 
 
 
 
 
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Enghaveparken, Vesterbro

Dating back to 1929, this park was designed to be a green space of calm in the middle of a busy Copenhagen. The well known Danish architect Arne Jacobsen was involved in its design, which has undergone a recent renovation in 2019. Part of the renovation includes a closed underground reservoir, where the equivalent of 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water can be retained. 

This playground is staffed at week days so children can freely borrow toys, balls, play cars and bikes. There’s a small ball court, a large spider web to climb, trampolines and a tunnel tube. There is also a fire pit and small bike lanes that wind around the playground.

There are also ongoing theatre shows and musical performances in the playground which can be found through the playground Facebook group.

Naturlegepladsen in Valbyparken

This is Denmark’s largest natural playground at 25,000 m2. The area is used by schools and parents alike and is staffed, with plenty of opportunities to learn and explore through nature.

The circular walkway connects the playground’s hilled landscape, with five towers representing the themes of light, wind, birds, change and green. Around the playground there are green paths, climbing trees and caves to explore. There’s a sandpit, tennis courts, beach volleyball court, hockey and table tennis, and it is possible to borrow tricycles, balls and other equipment from the playground staff, who also hold various activities. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Konditaget Lüders

It’s not where you’d naturally look for a playground but this one is worth climbing to the top of a multi-storey car park for. 

24-metres high lies a recreational space with trampolines, a climbing spiral, swings and an area of adults to exercise. With views across the city and harbour, this is a unique playground to experience.

The area of Nordhavn has undergone a huge transformation over recent years, from an industrial port area to an independent neighbourhood with a Metro line, new Scandinavian architecture, modern apartments and amenities.

 
 
 
 
 
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Christianshavns Vold, Christianshavn

A visit to this playground can be combined with a scenic walk around this historic area, where you can enjoy views of the Church of Our Saviour. The vold is a former rampart which was part of the old fortification that surrounded Copenhagen.

The staffed playground has plenty for all ages: Swings, a playhouse, slide and sand pit for younger children and a zip wire and climbing frame for older children, where there is a nice view of the rampart.

There are fields to play football, badminton, hockey, basketball, table tennis and you can borrow balls, bats, rackets, hockey sticks and bikes when staff are on site. 

The playground also has a focus on nature and biodiversity, so there are on-going staff-led activities around this topic.

Toddling around Christianshavns Vold. Photo: Michael Barrett

Skydebanehaven, Vesterbro

Also called the Parrot playground, this is a little green gem in the middle of urban Vesterbro. It’s been on of Vesterbro’s most popular playgrounds since it opened in 1946.

The playground is staffed so there are often creative and fun activities inside and outside. Every Friday for example they hold football training. There are also bikes and tricycles that can be used. Inside there is table tennis toys, games and books.

There’s also a large sandpit, nature corner, playhouses, climbing net, see-saws, zip wire, swings and an area for ball games. In the summer they have a paddling area (soppebassin).

 
 
 
 
 
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Guldberg School Playground, Nørrebro

This playground on Prinsesse Charlottes Gade in Nørrebro is actually part of Guldberg School. But as is the case in Denmark, it is free for the public to use outside of school hours and is a good example of being able to find playgrounds around almost every corner in Copenhagen.

Here children can enjoy the huge slide and trampolines while parents hang out on benches in the square in front of Simeons Church and also take in the view of Assistens Kirkegård, the cemetery where famous Danes like Hans Christian Andersen, are buried. 

 
 
 
 
 
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