Marienborg

Marienborg, a mid 18th-century country house perched on a small hilltop on the northern shore of Bagsværd Lake, Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality, north of downtown Copenhagen, has served as the official residence of Denmark's prime minister since 1962. It is frequently used for governmental conferences, summits and other official purposes, including the prime minister's new year speech. Unlike the residences of many other heads of government and state (e.g. the White House, 10 Downing Street, La Moncloa and Élysée Palace), Marienborg does not serve as the government headquarters or contain the office of the prime minister. The Prime Minister's Office is instead located in Christiansborg on Slotsholmen in downtown Copenhagen. Marienborg was listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1964.

History

18th century

In the 18th century, the region north of Copenhagen became popular for its scenic views and opportunities for recreation with the surrounding meadows, woods and lakes, with many summer residences being built. Marienborg is one of several properties which were sold off from the Frederiksdal estate from the middle of the 18th century and used for the construction of country houses. They were collectively referred to as Ny Frederiksdal (New Frederiksdal) and also comprised Søro, Tusculum, Sophienholm and Christianelyst. The main building was constructed in around 1745 for the naval officer and director of the Danish Asiatic Company Olfert Fas Fischer. He was the father of the much more famous naval hero Olfert Fischer.

In 1750, Fischer sold the estate to Peter de Windt. Windt's widow, Maria Cathrine Michaelsdatter Fabritius, a daughter of the wealthy merchant Michael Fabritius, sold the estate to Jacob Frederik Schaffalitzky de Muckadell a few years after his death. The next owner Gysbert Behagen, from 1764 to 1792, was a wealthy merchant, ship-owner and director of the Danish Asiatic Company. His city home was the Behagen House in Christianshavn. He was succeeded by Hans Werner Rudolf Rosenkrantz Giedde.

The estate was in 1795 acquired by Johan Frederik Lindencrone, the owner of the Lindencrone Mansion in Copenhagen as well as Gjorslev Manor on Stevns, who named it Marienborg after his wife Marie.

19th century

In 1800, Lindencrone had to sell Marienborg due to economic difficulties. The buyer, Johann Traugott Lebrecht Otto (1766-1824), had served as garrison surgeon on Saint Thomas in the Danish West Indies. In 1801, he sold the estate to Julius Ludvig Frederik Rantzau and Johan de Windt. In 1803, Marienborg changed hands again when it was acquired by Jean de Coninck (1744-1807). He was the brother of Frédéric de Coninck.

Peter Boll Wivet (1760-1824), a Supreme Court attorney, owned Marienborg from 1809 and until his death in 1824.

Marienborg was in 1853 acquired by Vilhelm Junius Lorentz Petersen, the owner of Lorentz Petersen, a wine business with roots dating back to 1788. On his death in 1863, it was sold to Rosalie Hennings, whose husband, Adam Gottlob Moltke of Espe and Bonderup, had also just died. On her death, Marienborg remained in the hands of the Moltke family for the next 15 years.

20th century

Oscar Wandel, owner of Carl Wandel & Søn, a wine company, purchased Marienborg in 1899. In 1915, he sold the estate to Vilhelm Skovgaard-Petersen,

Upon the death of the last private owner, barrister and patron of the arts C. L. David, Marienborg was bequeathed in 1960 to the Danish state as a summer residence for the prime minister in office.

Architecture

Many different owners have left their marks on Marienborg and its architecture. The interiors have also been modified repeatedly. Today, Marienborg stands out as a restored classicist estate with a few carefully selected modern accents.

Interior

The interior of the mansion was refurbished in 2018. The A.P. Møller and Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation has made a DKK 3.65 million donation for new furniture and art for the mansion.

List of owners

* (1745–1750) Captain Olfert Fas FischerMarienborg - sammenkomster - Den Store Danske
Accessed: 2 September 2012 .
* (1750–1753) Peter de Windt
* (1753–1755) Maria Cathrine Michaelsdatter Fabritius
*1755–1764: Jacob Frederik Schaffalitzky de Muckadell
* (1764–1793) Gysbert Behagen
* (1793–1795) Hans Werner Rudolf Rosenkrantz Giedde
* (1795–1800) Johan Frederik Lindencrone
* (1800–1801) Johann Traugott Lebrecht Otto
* (1801–1803) Julius Ludvig Frederik Rantzau/Johan de Windt
* (1803–1807) Jean de Coninck
* (1807–1809) Estate of Jean de Coninck
* (1809–1824) Peter Boll Wivet
* (1824–1849) Cathrine Ernst
* (1849) Cecilie Wivet
* (1849–1855) Edvard Knudsen
* (1855–1863) Vilhelm Junius Lorentz Petersen
*1863–1864: Estate of Vilhelm Junius Lorentz Petersen
*1864–1885: Rosalie Hennings
*1885–1899: Moltke family
*1899–1915: Oscar Wandel
*1915–1934: Vilhelm Skovgaard-Petersen
*1934–1960: C. L. David
*1960–1962: Estate of C. L. David
*1962–present: State residence

State ownership: Prime Ministers

* Viggo Kampmann 1960–1962 (born Viggo Olfert Fischer Kampmann, a descendant of the original owner)
* Jens Otto Krag 1962–1968, 1971–1972
* Hilmar Baunsgaard 1968–1971
* Anker Jørgensen 1972–1973; 1975–1982
*Poul Hartling 1973–1975
* Poul Schlüter 1982–1993
* Poul Nyrup Rasmussen 1993–2001
* Anders Fogh Rasmussen 2001–2009
* Lars Løkke Rasmussen 2009–2011, 2015–2019
*Helle Thorning-Schmidt 2011–2015
* Mette Frederiksen 2019–present

References

External links

Official website of the Prime Minister

*
Fra Marienborg
'

Source

{{Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality

Official residences in Copenhagen
Prime ministerial residences
Houses in Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality
Listed buildings and structures in Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality