Søkvæsthuset is a former

Naval A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

hospice located on Christianshavn Canal in the

Christianshavn Christianshavn (literally, "ingChristian's Harbour") is a neighbourhood in Copenhagen, Denmark. Part of the Indre By District, it is located on several artificial islands between the islands of Zealand and Amager and separated from the rest of th ...

district of

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

. The listed building housed the

Royal Danish Naval Museum The Royal Danish Naval Museum (Danish: Orlogsmuseet) is a museum dedicated to the history of the Royal Danish Navy. The displays include a collection of naval models which dates back to late 17th century. The museum is based in ''Søkvæsthuset'', ...

indtil 2016. The collection has been moved to and is exhibited at the Arsenal Museum (Tøjhusmuseet) at

Christiansborg Christiansborg Palace ( da, Christiansborg Slot; ) is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament ('), the Danish Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme ...

History

Earlier locations

It is known that a hospital for boatsmen was founded in 1618, most likely at

Church of Holmen The Holmen Church ( da, Holmens Kirke) is a Parish church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having ...

. It was moved to Gothersgade in 1628 and again in 1658 to ''Sejlhuset'' at

Bremerholm Gammelholm ( lit. "Old Islet") is a predominantly residential neighbourhood in the city centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is bounded by the Nyhavn canal, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Kanal, Niels Juels Gade and the waterfront along Havnegade. For ce ...

. In 1668, the hospital moved to '' Børnehuset'' in Christianshavn and in 1675 to ''Guldhuset'' in Rigensgade. The name ''Kvæsthus'' was introduced with the inauguration of a new building for the institution at present day

Sankt Annæ Plads Sankt Annæ Plads (English: St. Ann's Square) is a public square which marks the border between the Nyhavn area and Frederiksstaden neighborhoods of central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is a long narrow rectangle which extends inland from the waterfron ...

in 1685. It was designed by

Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest (1639–1700) was a Danish architect and sculptor, son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger and grandson of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he became ...

. The institution was later split into a ''Søkvæsthus'' for the Navy which remained in the old building and a ''Landkvæsthus'' for the Army, which took over '' Københavns Ladegård'', a former farm under

Copenhagen Castle Copenhagen Castle ( da, Københavns Slot) was a castle on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built in the late 14th century and was located at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace. History In 1167, Bisho ...

At Christianshavn Canal

The current building was originally built as a royal orphanage (''Opfostringshuset'') in 1754-1755. The architect and builder was

Johan Christian Conradi Johan Christian Conradi (1709 – 30 September 1779) was a German born, Danish master builder, contractor and architect. Early life and education Conradi was born at Gotha in the Sazon duchy of Saxe-Gotha. He moved to Denmark in 1739 where h ...

. The Royal Naval Hospital took over the building when the Royal Orphanage moved to

Store Kongensgade Store Kongensgade ( lit. English. Great King's Street) is the longest street in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends northeast from Kongens Nytorv to Esplanaden, running parallel to Bredgade, where it breaks left, continuing northwest to Grøn ...

in 1775.

Johan Bernhardt Schottmann Johan Bernhardt Schottmann (2 November 1734 – 1786) was a German-Danish master builder who worked in Copenhagen, where he was an early proponent of the Neoclassical style. The Schottmann House at Strandgade 10 in Christianshavn is named af ...

expanded the building with a new wing on Bådsmandsstræde in 1780-1781.

The Heiberg's home

A garden house was built by the architect G. E. Rosenberg in 1779. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1838. The poet and professor Johan Ludvig Heiberg together with his wife, the actress

Johanne Luise Heiberg Johanne Luise Heiberg (; née Pätges; 22 November 1812 – 21 December 1890) was a Danish actress of the 19th century. She is most famous for her work at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, where she achieved great success. Though she was clo ...

, had his home in the building from 1844 until his death in 1860. It was frequented by many of the leading writers, politicians, priests and other cultural figures of the day. Johan Ludvig Heiberg's mother,

Thomasine Gyllembourg Thomasine may refer to: * Thomasine (given name), an English feminine given name * Thomasine Church, a community of Christians from Kerala, India * Thomasines, early Christian Gnostic or a mysticist sect * Thomasine Rite, used in churches descended ...

who was also a writer, also lived in the house from 1844 until her death.

Later use

The

Danish Maritime Safety Administration The Danish Maritime Safety Administration (DaMSA) ( da, Farvandsvæsenet) was a department of the Danish Ministry of Defence with administration located in Christianshavn, Copenhagen. DaMSA operated throughout Denmark as part of the Danish Sear ...

was based in the building from its formation in 1973 until its abolition in 2011.

Architecture

The long building stands in yellow-dressed masonry with light grey pilasters. The rounded pediment is decorated with war trophies.

Current use

The

was located in the Bådsmandsstræde wing.

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sokvaesthuset Listed buildings and structures in Christianshavn Defunct hospitals in Copenhagen Buildings and structures completed in 1755 Listed buildings and structures in Copenhagen