The island is a nature reserve for birds. There is a human population of three, who manage the reserve farm in order to keep grazing levels ideal for the nesting birds. Humans have lived in some numbers on the island since the middle ages.
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In 1915 cannon batteries were installed on the island to defend the capital.
In 1941 plans were drawn up to build a new Copenhagen airport on the island. During the 1960s and 70s these plans were extensively studied. However, local protests blocked the plan, and they were eventually formally dropped in 1979.