Herman Sallings Plads

A waterfront square where city and harbour meet

Herman Sallings Plads unfolds along Aarhus’ inner harbour, an open rectangle of paving, timber decks and water edges that feels at once maritime and distinctly urban. Set between the angular Navitas building and the glass-and-steel volume of Dokk1, the square acts as a generous forecourt to the water, pulling pedestrians towards the bay with its long sightlines and big sky. Stand anywhere on the square and you are surrounded by contrasts: ferries and working vessels on one side, the historic skyline of Aarhus and the cathedral spire on the other. The space functions as a hinge between the old compact city centre and the new harbourfront neighbourhoods, with promenades leading you smoothly towards Aarhus Ø and its striking contemporary housing.

Everyday hangout and stage for major events

On a typical day the square feels like a living room for the city. Locals sit on broad wooden benches facing the water, cyclists roll through, and informal games of football or basketball play out on the marked courts. The open paving invites movement: children race scooters across it, joggers loop along the waterfront, and office workers spill out for a breath of sea air between meetings. Several times a year, Herman Sallings Plads transforms into an events arena. Temporary stages, market stalls, food tents and exhibition pavilions slot easily into the open footprint, turning the harbour edge into a festival-like landscape. Its direct access to the water also makes it a natural embarkation point for harbour tours and water-based activities, with boats occasionally loading passengers right beside the square.

Endless Connection: art you can walk through

At the heart of the square, Jeppe Hein’s artwork "Endless Connection" functions as both sculpture and playground. Dozens of jets rise straight from the ground, forming shifting walls of water up to head height, then dissolving and reappearing in new patterns. Paths briefly open, close and open again, inviting you to dart through, wait, or simply watch the choreography. The fountain becomes a magnet for children on warm days, an impromptu splash park where shoes are abandoned and squeals echo against the harbour walls. In cooler seasons, it reads more like a kinetic pavilion, with reflections of sky and city flickering in the vertical sheets of water. After dark, subtle lighting adds another layer, turning the piece into a luminous centrepiece.

A name tied to Aarhus’ retail story

The square is named after Herman Salling, the Aarhus-born merchant who transformed a family grocery store into what became Denmark’s largest retail group. His name is closely associated with department stores and supermarket chains that helped shape everyday shopping across the country. Honouring him at the harbourfront quietly acknowledges the city’s commercial heritage and its long-standing entrepreneurial spirit. Yet the square feels anything but corporate. Its design language is understated – robust materials, clean lines, an absence of clutter – allowing the harbour, the artwork and the surrounding architecture to take centre stage. In this way, it mirrors the pragmatic, low-key character often associated with Jutland: functional, people-focused spaces that invite use rather than spectacle.

Gateway between old streets and new seafront

One of Herman Sallings Plads’ defining qualities is its role as a connector. Behind it lie cobbled streets, historic quarters and dense shopping lanes; ahead stretch piers lined with new-build apartments, creative offices and cultural institutions. Moving across the square, you feel the transition from medieval street grid to open waterfront. For visitors, this makes the square an ideal starting or finishing point. You can pause here between museum visits and harbour walks, use it as a meeting place in all seasons, or simply stop to watch the changing light over the bay. Wind, gulls, the low hum of the city and the splash of the fountain combine into a distinctly Aarhus soundscape, anchoring you in a place that looks firmly to the future while remaining rooted in its maritime past.