Østerby Havn sits on the east coast of Læsø in the Kattegat and is the island's busiest fishing harbour. It is home to Denmark's largest fleet of langoustine cutters, and the delicate shellfish are landed fresh each day and served at local eateries. Around the harbour basin stand low, yellow-painted skipper's houses, while the surrounding countryside reveals Læsø's famous seaweed-roofed cottages, thatched with eelgrass gathered from nearby shores. From the piers you can watch the cutters return, breathe in the scent of tar and saltwater, and see gulls wheeling over the catch. Østerby also makes a fine base for exploring the island's wide beaches, dune heaths and quiet south, where salt-boiling houses simmer seawater into the prized Læsø Salt. A bicycle is the best way to get around, along calm, flat lanes that cross a bright, open landscape. A ferry links the island to the mainland, and the town's unhurried pace makes it a restful retreat.
