Nyhavn was laid out in the 17th century by Swedish prisoners of war and was once a notorious place for beer, sailors and prostitution. Today, Nyhavn is full of colorful houses, cozy cafes and restaurants, and historic wooden ships. Among the famous residents of Nyhavn was the writer H.C. Andersen, who lived in three different houses during his life. Nyhavn is also known as “Scandinavia’s longest bar” due to the long stretch of bars along the canal