A small community by the fjord

Sortehusene consists of around 30 small, self-built cabins constructed from timber, tar paper and other recycled materials. The first cabins were built in the early 1900s, and over time the area developed into a small community. Local workers, nature lovers and families found a retreat by the fjord here, and at its peak the settlement was home to 63 cabins.

From 1945 until the area's redevelopment in 1967, several families lived here year-round. Life was simple. The cabins had no running water, toilets or electricity, but the fjord was right on their doorstep, and many residents earned their living from fishing, work at the nearby shipyards or harvesting mussel shells from Odense Fjord.

The story behind the two-kroner rent

Sortehusene was never officially recognised as a residential area, yet it was tolerated for many years. Odense Municipality even charged a symbolic annual rent of just two kroner per cabin. It was not until the late 1960s that permanent residency came to an end, and nearly half of the cabins were demolished. The remaining cabins were allowed to stay and continue as holiday homes.

A different side of Odense

Today, Sortehusene is a rare reminder of life by the fjord and of the people who lived and worked here. The area is surrounded by the scenic landscapes of Stige Ø, with views across the fjord, salt marshes and rich birdlife. Sortehusene recalls a time when life by the fjord was closely connected to nature, work and community. Nestled between the salt marshes and the waters of the fjord, the cabins still stand as a living reminder of a unique chapter in Odense's history.