A group of activists has occupied an abandoned allotment garden area in central Aarhus and named it “the autonomous region Abrinken.” Neither DSB Ejendomme nor Aarhus Municipality can say with certainty who owns the land.
The occupation is taking place in a small overgrown wooded area by Brabrandstien, next to the Åbrinken allotment gardens. According to Avisen Danmark, the activists say they have held the site since August 21, 2026. Reporters from the Aarhus newspaper Stiften visited the camp on Monday.
The group has built two wooden houses high up in the trees. As reported by Stiften, the structures allow the occupiers to hide if police attempt to clear the area. A tent camp has also been set up among the abandoned garden plots.
In their manifesto, the activists write that free spaces do not appear on their own and must be fought for. They call on others to join, referring to the state and DSB attempting to shut the site down. Their criticism is directed at DSB Ejendomme for evicting former allotment tenants ahead of plans for a future city park.
No one is sure who owns the land
There is one problem with that criticism. According to DSB Ejendomme, the activists are not on DSB land at all. Deputy director Lars Gøtke stated in an email to Stiften that the group uses DSB’s plot as an access route to an area belonging to Aarhus Municipality.
Gøtke also said the leases on DSB’s land have been terminated. Per his account, the company and Aarhus Municipality are in dialogue about an overall plan for the area, with large parts expected to become recreational space for residents. He added that the final plan and timetable are not yet settled.
Aarhus Municipality does not necessarily agree with DSB Ejendomme on who owns what. Stiften asked whether the activists had occupied municipal land, and administrators in the Teknik og Miljø department said they could not answer. The municipality is uncertain whether the group is on DSB’s plot or its own.
Data from the property database Resights suggests the occupiers are mainly on municipal land, though possibly also on part of DSB’s area. Stiften notes that certainty is difficult. Following the newspaper’s inquiry, the municipality said it will now contact DSB Ejendomme to clarify ownership.
The municipality also plans to visit the activists in an attempt to pursue dialogue. Because of the confusion over ownership, neither DSB nor Aarhus Municipality has filed a police report. Østjyllands Politi confirmed this to Stiften.
Officers have visited the site on their own initiative. So far, the occupiers have not been removed or evicted from the area by Brabrandstien.
