A few years ago the bathing people of Aarhus had a view of a commercial harbour. Today the view is of a new exclusive quarter. When the district “Aarhus Ø” is developed it becomes home for 12.000 citizens. The ten largest cities of Denmark situated at the coast because harbours have always been important. But for one hundred years ago the harbours of the cities were only industrial. The water was then referred to as dirty, polluted and black. Only the poorest lived there with all the windows facing away from the harbour, because the water was something you lived off, not something you looked at. Today the cranes, containers and shipyards are being replaced by high-rising buildings that fight for the ocean view at the waterfronts. The water is now referred to as blue, recreational and attractive and in most larger Danish cities new districts are rising at the harbours.