Øens Have (Refshaleøen Urban Farm)
Copenhagen, Denmark · Operator: Øens Have (team behind ØsterGro, Denmark's first rooftop farm)
Overview
A vacant plot in Copenhagen's former industrial district of Refshaleøen transformed into one of Scandinavia's largest urban farms. Integrating fields, bees and chickens with a restaurant, it models regenerative agriculture and food experiences in the city, carrying forward the ØsterGro legacy of connecting people and nature through farming and food.
Citizen participation
An urban farm launched in 2019 in the former shipyard district of Refshaleøen by the team behind ØsterGro, Denmark's first rooftop farm. Weekly volunteer days every Tuesday let anyone join the farm work and share a communal lunch, while tours, classes and workshops teach citizens about organic farming and food cycles.
Operating model
A social business centred on a farm-to-table restaurant and events (dinners, weddings and meetings in handcrafted yurts). Produce from the farm supplies the restaurant, certified organic since 2023, with volunteers and education programs supporting operations.
Impact
Shows the potential of agricultural use on former industrial land awaiting redevelopment and features in Danish and international media as a hub of Copenhagen's sustainable food culture. Its volunteer days also serve as a gateway to local participation for newcomers and young people.
Land tenure
Leases former shipyard land owned by the Refshaleøen property company, in a district earmarked for future redevelopment.
Crops
- vegetables
- herbs
- berries
- edible-flowers
- eggs
- honey
Scale
3,000 m² — About 3,000 m² on the former B&W shipyard canteen plot on Refshaleøen; described as the largest urban farm in Scandinavia, with vegetable fields, berries, edible flowers, bees and chickens
Sources（3）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
Related cases
Huerto del Rey Moro
ESSeville, Spain
A permaculture garden on about 5,000 m2 of vacant land in Seville's historic centre, occupied by residents in 2004 for communal use. Grounded in recycling and self-management, it remains a rare green space and site of environmental education downtown.
una.city+1
Huerto Tlatelolco (Tlatelolco Community Garden)
MXMexico City, Mexico
Created in 2013 by the NGO Cultiva Ciudad as a citizen initiative on the ~1,650 sqm site of a demolished, earthquake-damaged housing tower, Huerto Tlatelolco is one of Mexico City's largest community urban gardens. It hosts 120+ plant varieties and runs a community composting program with 40 local families, functioning as a hub for agroecological education and citizen participation.
cultivaciudad.org+1
ØsterGRO (Copenhagen)
DKCopenhagen, Denmark
Denmark's first rooftop farm, built atop a five-storey former car-auction building. Run as a CSA in which citizens invest and participate, with an on-site restaurant serving the harvest.
oestergro.dk+1
CERES Community Environment Park
AUMelbourne, Australia
Established in 1982 on a reclaimed 10-acre former landfill near Melbourne, CERES is an environment park and urban farm combining environmental education, urban agriculture, and social enterprise.
ceres.org.au+1