The Art of Balancing Port-City Relationships Between Transit and Livability

This article presents key findings from a comparative research project on the evolving relationship between ports and cities in Danish coastal cities. While Denmark remains a leading maritime nation - with the “Blue Denmark” sector accounting for nearly a third of the country’s exports - its port-cities face growing tensions between economic transit functions and local livability. The study adopts a relational and mobility-theoretical approach to examine how port-cities simultaneously operate as nodes of global flow and as places for everyday life and settlement. Methodologically, it combines multiple traditions and draws on mobile methods to capture the complexity of port-city dynamics. Findings reveal a paradox: while transit and trade thrive, social and physical decline challenges urban cohesion and the ability to attract and retain qualified labor. The article argues that ensuring livability and social integration is essential for the long-term sustainability of port-cities and offers recommendations for more balanced, inclusive development.