Summer nights in Denmark are so pretty, the blue light makes me feel so good, but the nights can also be a bit cold, especially if you are out of the sun. The beach here is rather narrow, but with a big grassy area where people can enjoy the view over Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden, and access is only by foot or bike. When I arrived, around 21:00, some people were still BBQing, others playing frisbee and others just sitting enjoying a beer and others again a water pipe.

People come here to have a good time. No one was annoyed at the 3 guys with Sound Box playing hip hop or the young girls with their huge pink swim-ring-flamingo and loud, Danish, 80 disco music. Some come to skinny dip and others do not want to be seen changing their clothes. 

The picture was taken June 16, just 5 days before midsummer, at 22:30, about half an hour after sunset.

Copenhagen harbor used to be used for ships to get the industries in the southern part of the harbor and  I believe no-one would dream about jumping into the water back then, but over the years the city of Copenhagen worked on encouraging the industries to move out of what pretty much was downtown and started to ensure that the water was clean. In 2002 Islands Brygge Harbor Bath was the first to open and now there a dusins of, big and small places, used for swimming. Some with changing, others with safety markings to make them visible for boats.

Danish summer nights can be so calming. The wind died down while I was waiting for the light to fade and get me the right balance in the light. People hanging out on the grass facing Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden, playing with the dog, taking a dip, sharing a bottle of wine or a water pipe. No one was in a hurry, not even the Instagram mom with her 8-9 year old girl with their fluffy dog posing the girl and the dog with one hand while snapping with the other hand. Even that seemed calming.

There are many of these baths around where you swim in the salty water of Øresund, and get a place to change and shower. Charlottenlund Sea Bath is from 1901. It was a public pool from 1917 until 1979, when maintenance had become too expensive. In 1985 a group of people founded the association to preserve the place.

The picture is taken June 22nd, the day after midsummer, at 22:38, a good half an hour after sunset.