Harbour Flags and Port Authorities (Denmark)

Last modified: 2025-10-25 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: harbour | vandbygningsvaesenet |
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• Aarhus Havn
• Fredrikshavn Port
• Gilleleje Harbour
• Helsingør Harbour
• København Free Port Ensign
• København Harbour Police
• København Havnevæsen
• Nyborg Havn
• Odense Havnevæsen
• Water Building Industry (Vandbygningsvæsenet) (all other ports)

• Denmark

Aarhus Havn

The current flag is dark blue with centred white inscription "AARHUS HAVN". The 2nd word is in bold font type and abased interrupted by a dark blue horizontal wavy line.
Sources: harbour history page and facebook
Tomislav Šipek, 22 Oct 2025

Old Flag of Aarhus Havn

The old flag was blue with a yellow anchor in pale.
Source: Danmarks Skibsliste 1953, p.262 rnr.108
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 June 2025

Fredrikshavn Port

The square flag is white with centred logo, consisting of three waves of blue-green-blue, increasing to top, and beneth an inscription of black initials "PORT OF FREDERIKSHAVN", the word "OF" is smaller and underlined.
Source: Danish Broadcasting webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 July 2025

Old Flag of Fredrikshavn Port

As long as run by the Danish state the port had a state ensign defaced with a golden letter"H" under a royal crown in the canton.
Source: Pedersen 1979, p.168
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 Aug 2025

Gilleleje Harbour

The square flag is blue with a white centred inscription “Gilleleje/Havn” and an irregular wavy white bottom edge.
Source: I spotted this flag on 10 June 2016 in the harbour of Gilleleje.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Feb 2021

Helsingør Harbour

As long as run by the Danish state the port had a state ensign defaced with golden letters "HF. VIII R." under a royal crown on a white square in centre of the flag.
Source: Pedersen 1979, p.168
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 Aug 2025

København Free Port Ensign

The flag of the Free Port of Copenhagen was introduced by Royal resolution of 5 November 1894.
Source: Pedersen´ 1979 (Norwegian edition)
Paige Herring 23 Apr 1998
Golden initial "F" (stands for Frihavn = free port) in the canton of the state ensign.
Željko Heimer, 1 June 2004

København Harbour Police

The state flag defaced in the canton with letters "HP" topped with a yellow crown. "HP" stands for "HAVNEPOLITIET" (English: The Harbour Police).
Željko Heimer and Hugh Jenkins, 25 May 2004

København Havnevæsen

København Havnevæsen (København port) hoists a splitflag undefaced (state ensign).
Source: Pedersen 1979, p.168
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 Aug 2025

Nyborg Havn

Nyborg Havn hoists a splitflag undefaced (state ensign).
Source: Pedersen 1979, p.168
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 Aug 2025

Odense Havnevæsen

The pennant was red with a yellow fleur-de-lis in French style.
Source: Danmarks Skibsliste 1953, p.261 rnr.97
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Feb 2021

Vandbygningsvæsenet

Golden initials "VBV" (standing for Vandbygningsvæsenet: the department of water building industry (canals, harbours, embankments, watergates)), crowned with a royal crown proper in the canton of the state ensign. This flag should still be in use. If I am not much mistaken, these vessels would include mostly those vessels performing duties in keeping the channels and waterways navigable and clean.
Željko Heimer, 1 June 2004

All other harbours and ports run by the Danish state and having no proper flag also hoist the flag of the Vandbygningsæsenet (water building industry).
Source: Pedersen 1979, p.168
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 Aug 2025

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