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Privateering It is interesting to note that in the following years there was a steady stream of proposals for a large new harbour for Helsingør. One of the contributory factors to this demand was the somewhat unruly nature of the life which grew up around the quays. It was not so much that the sailors had to prove their manliness here (it was generally accepted that no sailor could claim to be able-bodied until he had survived a beating at the Helsingør Customs House Quay); the problem lay rather in the privateering which was rife in the port with systematic raiding of those who had to pay the Sound Toll. When the skipper arrived at Helsingør quay he had to be escorted to the Øresund Customs House by one of the two quay wardens posted there by the Ferry Guild's inspector. As new ships were constantly arriving, it was difficult for the wardens to accompany all the skippers on the 10-11-minute trip to the Øresund Customs House. The shipping agents' privateers made the most of the opportunity to waylay the most recent arrivals and divert them to a place of business before the quay wardens had a chance to take charge.
There is only one known picture showing Helsingør's first harbour: An illustration by draughtsman H.G.F. Holm, better known as "Fattigholm", who produced some of his earliest known drawings in Helsingør in 1821. One of these is a view from the south pier, looking through the entrance to the small harbour and out over Kronborg Castle. On the left of the picture we see the imposing Øresund Customs House building. Can be seen at Helsingør Kommunes Museer (the Helsingør Municipality Museums). Work was therefore put in train to enlarge the harbour, whose north wall was moved further north, closer to Tolkammerets Plads; proposals were made to build stairs and an entrance outside the customs house itself.
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History of the Port - part 1