The buildings around the harbour are mostly from the period 1880 to 1920. That was when coastal traffic blossomed as a result of the brick industry on the island. Hven's seamen earned good money and could build decent houses.

By 1910, Hven was handling Sweden's 5th largest merchant shipping tonnage. Hven's coasters delivered tiles and bricks all over Europe. Much of Copenhagen's inner city is built and roofed with bricks and tiles from the tileworks on Hven. Today, the boats in the harbour are smaller, but there are many, many more of them.